The next day proved as uneventful as other days at Bradmond. No rioters came near them. In the evening Dr Thorpe appeared. When the old man saw Robin, he cast up his hands, and thanked God. "Lad," said he, "I thought thou wert dead." "I count God hath somewhat for me to do," answered Robin. "But if He hath not, I would I were." "Hush thee, Robin dear!" said Isoult, uneasily. "What wouldst thou be, Robin?" inquired Kate, her eyes wide open. "Dead and buried," answered he. "Then may I be dead and buried too?" she asked. "Nay, Kate, not so!" cried Isoult, in dismay. "It will not do, Robin," said Dr Thorpe, smiling. And his face growing grave, he pursued, "Lad, God setteth never too hard a lesson, nor layeth on us more than we are able to bear." "Too hard for what?" answered Robin. "There have been that have had lessons set that they might not learn and live. Is that not too hard?" "Nay, child!" Dr Thorpe answered. "If it be not too hard to learn, and keep hold on eternal life, the lesser life of this little world is of no matter." "Nor the happiness of it, I suppose?" said Robin, gloomily. "The plant God careth to grow now in us is holiness," he answered. "That other fair flower, happiness, He keepeth for us in His own garden above, where it is safer than in our keeping. 'Tis but stray fragments and single leaves thereof that find their way down hither." "I think so," said Robin, bitterly. "Lad, lad! kick not against the pricks!" exclaimed Dr Thorpe, more sternly. "God's will is the best for us. His way is the safe way, and the only way." "Easy to say so," answered Robin, slowly. "And it was easy to think so--yesterday morning." Dr Thorpe looked on him and did not reply. "O Robin!" cried Kate, running to him from the door. "The sun is shining again. It was raining so fast all the morn; and now the sun is come, and all the little drops are so pretty in the sunshine. Come and see! They are so pretty shining on the roses." Robin rose to follow her, with the first smile (though a mournful one) that Isoult had seen flit across his face. "Kate is the better comforter, Dr Thorpe, and hath learned the sweeter lesson," he said. "At least she hath learned it me. You would have me count the chastening joyous, even at this present: God's word pointeth to the joyousness to come. `Blessed are they that mourn,--for they shall be comforted.'" And he went after Kate. For a few days more after Robin's coming all was quiet. No one came to inquire for him, and they began to hope the worst was over. But late on the Sunday evening, which was the seventh of July, suddenly there came a rapping on the door. And there, to the surprise of all, stood Dr Thorpe. "Welcome, good friend!" said Avery; "but your occasion should be great to have you forth this even." "So it is," said he. "Is it not bed-time, Mrs Avery?" "In very deed, Doctor," she answered. "We were going above but now."