might be, and prayers were said there as in old times. In fact the
bells were ringing for morning prayer, and Stead was so glad to hear
them that he thought he might venture in and join in the brief daily
service. There were many others who had done so, for these anxious
days had quickened the devotion of many hearts, and people had felt
what it was to be robbed of their churches and forbidden the use of
their prayer-books. Moreover, some had sons or brothers or husbands
fighting on the one side or the other, and were glad to pray for
them, so that Stead found himself in the midst of quite a
congregation, though the choir had been too much dispersed and broken
up for the musical service, and indeed the organ had been torn to
pieces by the Puritan soldiers, who fancied it was Popish.

But Stead found himself caring for the Psalms and Prayers in a manner
he had never done before, and which came of the sorrow he had felt
and the troubles that pressed upon him. He fancied all would come
right now, and that soon Mr. Holworth would be back, and he should be
able to give up his charge; and he went home, quite cheered up.

When he came into the gulley he heard voices through the bushes, and
pressing forward anxiously he saw Blane and Oates before the hovel
door, Patience standing there crying, with the baby in her arms, and
Rusha holding her apron, and an elderly man whom Stead knew as old
Lady Elmwood's steward talking to the other men, who seemed to be
persuading him to something.

As soon as Stead appeared, the other children ran up to him, and
Rusha hid herself behind him, while Patience said "O Stead, Stead, he
has come to turn us all out! Don't let him!"