Wigan went off to the empty hut. But all his coaxing calls of "Puss, puss!" proved vain. Gib was in Ermine's arms; and Ermine was travelling towards London in a heavy carrier's waggon, with Stephen on horseback alongside. He gave up the search at last, and went home; charging Brichtiva that if Gib should make a call on her, she was to be careful to extend to him an amount of hospitality which would induce him to remain. But Gib was never seen in the neighbourhood of Bensington again. "What wonder?" said Erenbald. "The thing was no cat--it was a foul fiend; and having been released from the service of its earthly mistress, had returned as a matter of course to Satan its master." This conclusion was so patent to every one of his neighbours that nobody dreamed of questioning it. Morally speaking, there is no blindness so hopelessly incurable as that of the man who is determined to keep his eyes shut. Only the Great Physician can heal such a case as this, and He has often to do it by painful means. "Christ save you!" said Isel, coming into the anchorhold one evening, a fortnight after Stephen's disappearance. "Well, you do look quiet and peaceful for sure! and I'm that tired!--" "Mother, I am afraid you miss me sadly," responded Derette, almost self-reproachfully. "I'm pleased enough to think you're out of it, child. Miss you? Well, I suppose I do; but I haven't scarce time to think what I miss. There's one thing I'd miss with very great willingness, I can tell you, and that's that horrid tease, Anania. She's been at me now every day this week, and she will make me tell her where Stephen is, and what he's gone after,--and that broom knows as much as I do. She grinds the life out of me, pretty nigh: and what am I to do?" Derette smiled sympathetically. Leuesa said-- "It does seem strange he should stay so long away." "Anania will have it he is never coming again." "I dare say she is right there," said Derette suddenly. "Saints alive! what dost thou mean, child? Never coming again?" "I shouldn't wonder," said Derette quietly. "Well, I should. I should wonder more than a little, I can tell you. Whatever gives you that fancy, child?" "I have it, Mother; why I cannot tell you." "I hope you are not a prophetess!" "I don't think I am," said Derette with a smile. "I think Ermine was a bit of one, poor soul! She seemed to have some notion what was coming to her. Eh, Derette! I'd give my best gown to know those poor things were out of Purgatory. Father Dolfin says we shouldn't pray for them: but I do--I can't help it. If I were a priest, I'd say mass for them every day I lived--ay, I would! I never could understand why we must not pray for heretics. Seems to me, the more wrong they've gone, the more they want praying for. Not that _they_ went far wrong--I'll not believe it. Derette, dost thou ever pray for the poor souls?" "Ay, Mother: every one of them."