Jack had but one consolation, and that indeed was a great one. He made the shepherd repeat to him all that he could remember of Holy Scripture. The old man's memory, though somewhat impaired as to late occurrences, was as vivid as ever for all those things which had happened in his youth, and he was able to repeat whole chapters of Wickliffe's version of the Bible, which, rude and imperfect as it was, had been as a savor of life unto life to many hungry souls. Jack was astonished at the things he heard, and still more at those he did not hear; and not a little grieved to find that some of his favorite legends of saints had no place in the Scripture at all. "Tell me of St. Anne, our Lady's mother," he said one day. "There is only one place about St. Anne," replied the shepherd, and he repeated the story of our Lord's presentation in the temple. "Is that all?" asked Jack in a disappointed one. "I do not see that it says a word about her being our Lady's mother." "Nothing at all," answered the shepherd. "Perhaps the story is in some other place," Jack suggested. But the old man shook his head. "I have read the New Testament all through," he said. "There is not a word said about our Lady's mother, and very little about our Lady herself." Jack looked startled. "But do you think it could have been the true and right Gospel, Uncle Thomas?" he said. "The priests tell us more about our Lady than about our Lord himself; and I am sure that Anne says ten prayers to her for one that she says to our Lord." The old man did not answer immediately, and Jack repeated his question, "Do you think it could have been the true Gospel after all?" "I have been thinking, Jack—" said the shepherd, after a little silence, and without answering or seeming to hear the question, "I have been thinking that I have perhaps done wrong in this matter." "How?" asked Jack. "Because the knowledge I have given you, may bring you into danger. Because the questions I have raised in your young mind will not be lightly laid again. And how shall I answer it to your father, if anything happen to you?" "But, Uncle Thomas," said Jack, after a little silence, "your father did not fear to expose you to the danger." "No, because my father was fully persuaded in his own mind. He esteemed the true knowledge of God and his truth worth every danger which could befall. I well remember his words to me, whispered in my ear as he gave me his last embrace, 'My son, remember the words of our Lord: Fear not them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do; but fear him who is able to cast body and soul into hell!'"