Mr. Corbet has come back, and has brought me a great packet of letters and little keepsakes from the friends at home—so large a parcel that I fear it must have been inconvenient to him, but he made light of it. Betty and I were out in the woods, as usual, she running about—for she can really run a little now—and I very busy with my pretty work, when Mr. Corbet came out of the side door and down to where I was sitting. Betty gave a cry of joy at seeing her cousin, whom she loves dearly, and with some reason, for he is ever kind and gentle with her. He caressed her, and gave her a pretty box of comfits he had brought, and then turned smiling to me. "And Mrs. Merton must also have her box of comfits," said he, putting my precious packet into my hand. "I am sure to bring my welcome, since I come from Chester and Saintswell." "And did you really go to Saintswell?" I asked. "I really did," he answered. "I stayed a week with my good friend, Mr. Carey, and made acquaintance with your honored mother, and with Master Jacky and his sisters, as well as with many other folk, old and young, gentle and simple. I should have been much flattered by their attentions, only I was forced to lay all to the account of my knowing the last news of dear Mistress Margaret." I asked him many questions, as to dear mother's looks, and I know not what all, some of which I doubt he thought silly enough. I know I asked him whether the twins were grown. "That I can hardly tell you, as I never saw them before. But 'tis not likely that they have changed a great deal in three months," said he. "I can't think that I have been hardly three months away," said I. "It seems so long since I have seen any of them." And then I began with new questions, which he answered patiently enough. He told me that Mr. Carey seemed to be much liked by all his people, though some of them thought his preaching not so plain and simple as my father's. He had even been taken by the twins to see the almshouses, and had been able to give dear old Goody Crump news of her sister, and of other folk she had known. The old woman had sent me her blessing, as had also Dame Higgins; the latter hoping that I had safely kept her precious medal. "We shall have to begin watching you as a dangerous person," said he, smiling: "since you deal with such trinkets as medals blessed by the pope." "I could not well refuse the old woman's gift," I said. "'Tis but a bit of tarnished silver, when all is said. And as to the pope's blessing, I fancy, as Goody Higgins said, if it does no good, it can do no great harm—especially as I keep it with the stone old Esther gave me to keep off the witches." "Do you believe in witches, Mrs. Merton?" asked Mr. Corbet.