"By the holy well, away on the Stronde, west of Lud Gate. Any body you meet on that road will tell you where to find him. His hut stands a bit back from the high way, on the north." "Very good. I'll find him." The next day, until nearly the hour of curfew, nothing was seen of Countess. She took Olaf with her as guard, and they returned at the last moment, just in time to enter the City before the gates were closed. David and Christian had finished their work, shut up the shop, and put the children to bed, when Olaf made his stately entrance, with his mistress behind him. "Thy old hermit," she said, addressing David, "is the first decent Christian I have found--the first that goes by his Master's words, and does not worry me with nonsense." She drew off her hood, and sat down in the chimney-corner. "You found him then?" answered David. "Had you much trouble?" "I found him. Never mind the trouble." "Has he settled the puzzle for you, then?" "I think I settled it for him." "I ask your pardon, but I don't understand you." "I don't suppose you do." "Countess," said Christian, coming down the ladder, "I bought the herrings as you bade me; but there is no salt salmon in the market to-day." "To whom are you speaking?" inquired Countess, with an expression of fun about the corners of her lips. "You," replied Christian in surprise. "Then, perhaps you will have the goodness to call me by my Christian name, which is Sarah." "O Countess! have you been baptised?" "I have." "By the hermit?" "By the hermit." "But how?" "How? With water. What did you expect?" "But--all at once, without any preparation?" "What preparation was needed? I made my confession of Christ, and he baptised me in His name. The preparation was only to draw the water." "What on earth did you do for sponsors?" "Had none." "Did he let you?" A little smothered laugh came from Countess. "He had not much choice," she said. "He did try it on. But I told him plainly, I was not going to give in to that nonsense: that if he chose to baptise me at once, I was there ready, and would answer any questions and make any confession that he chose. But if not--not. I was not coming again." "And he accepted it!" said David, with a dozen notes of exclamation in his voice.