"In _Esaias_, Mistress _Joyce_. Fifty-eighth chapter, first and second verses. There's fine reading in _Esaias_." "Ay, _Nan_, there is," saith Aunt _Joyce_. "But what toucheth it? I am ill set to remember chapter and verse." "Well, Mistress, first it saith, `Show My people their transgression.' And i' th' very next verse,--`Yet they seek me daily,'--nay, there's more--`they take delight in approaching to God.'" "Well, _Nan_? That reads strange,--no doth it?" "Ah, it doth, Mistress _Joyce_. But I think, look ye, there's a deal i' th' word _approaching_. See ye, it saith not they take delight to get near. Nay, folk o' that make has a care not to get too near. They'll lay down a chalk line, and they'll stop outside on't. If they'd only come near enough, th' light 'd burn up all them transgressions: but, ye see, that wouldn't just suit 'em. These is folk that wants to have th' Lord--a tidy way from 'em--and keep th' transgressions too. Eh, Mistress, but when a man can pray right through th' hundred and thirty-ninth Psalm, his heart's middlin' perfect wi' the Lord. Otherwise, he'll boggle at them last verses. We don't want Him to search us when we know He'll find yon wedge o' gold and yon _Babylonish_ garment if He do. Nay, we don't so!" Now, I know not o'er well what old _Nan_ meaneth: but this do I know-- that whenever I turn o'er the _Psalter_, I ever try to get yon Psalm betwixt two leaves, and turn them o'er both together, so that I see not a word on't. I reckon _Nan_ should say my heart was not perfect by a great way. Well, may-be she'd be none so far out. SELWICK HALL, NOVEMBER YE XXIX. To-morrow shall be the last day of my month, and _Tuesday_ even must I give up the book to _Edith_. I shall not tear out the leaves till the last minute, and I will keep them when I do. I do never see nought of my _Protection_ of a _Sunday_, but all other days meet I him now (whenas I can) in the little copse that lieth _Thirlmere_ way, not so far from _Nanny's_ hut. Last even was he essaying to win me for to wed him (as he hath done afore) without _Father_ and _Mother_ knowing. I have ever held off till now: but I am not so sure I shall do it much longer. He saith he wist a _Popish_ priest that should do it: and it so done, _Father_ and _Mother_ must needs come in and give us leave to be wed rightly in church. But I will consider of the same a day or twain longer. As to setting down what we do of a _Sunday_, 'tis alway the same o'er again, so it should be to no good. Once is enough for all.