in the matter; besides that, every spadeful he heaved up, every chop
he gave the stubble, seemed to be a comfort, while there was a prayer
on his soul all the time that he might be true to his trust.

By-and-by he saw Tom Oates running and beckoning to him, "Stead,
Stead Kenton, you are to come."

"What should I come for?" said Stead, gruffly.

"The soldiers want you."

"What call have they to me?"

"They be come to cleanse the steeple house, they says, and take the
spoil thereof, and they've been routling over the floor and parson's
garden like so many hogs, and are mad because they can't find
nothing, and Thatcher Jerry says, says he, 'Poor John Kenton as was
shot was churchwarden and was very great with Parson. If anybody
knows where the things is 'tis Steadfast Kenton.' So the corporal
says, 'Is this so, Jephthah Kenton?' and Jeph, standing up in his big
boots, says, 'Aye, corporal, my father was yet in the darkness of
prelacy, and was what in their blindness they call a Churchwarden,
but as to my brother, that's neither here nor there, he were but a
boy and not like to know more than I did.' But the corporal said,
'That we will see. Is the lad here?' So I ups and said nay, but I'd
seen you digging your croft, and then they bade me fetch you. So you
must come, willy-nilly, or they may send worse after you."

Stead was a little consoled by hearing that his brother was there.
He suspected that Jeph would have consideration enough for his