Yet it was not until the close of the year that the subject was again named between them. The day before Christmas, a cold, snowy day, he was amazed to see Elizabeth coming through the rectory garden, fighting her way, with bent head, against the wind and snow. At first he feared Harry was ill, and he went to open the door himself in his anxiety; but one glance into her bright face dispelled his fear. "Why, Elizabeth, whatever has brought you through such a storm as this?" "Something pleasant. I meant to have come yesterday, but did not get what I wanted to bring to you until this morning. My dear, dear, old friend! Rejoice with me! I am a free woman again. I have paid a great debt and a just debt; one that, unpaid, would have stained forever the name we both love and honor. O thank God with me! the Lord God of my fathers, who has strengthened my heart and my hands for the battle!" And though she said not another word, he understood, and he touched her brow reverently, and knelt down with her, and the thin, tremulous, aged voice, and the young, joyful one recited together the glad _benedictus_: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, "And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; "As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: "That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; "To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; "The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, "That he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, "In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. "And thou, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; "To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, "Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us, "To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." And Elizabeth rose up with a face radiant and peaceful; she laid upon the table L100, and said, "It is for the poor. It is my thank-offering. I sold the bracelet my brother gave me at his marriage for it. I give it gladly with my whole heart. I have much to do yet, but in the rest of my work I can ask you for advice and sympathy. It will be a great help and comfort. Will you come to the hall after Christmas and speak with me, or shall I come here and see you?" "I will come to the hall; for I have a book for Harry, and I wish to give it to him myself."