'But it be all right,' she thought, as she curled up luxuriously in the
strangely clean and comfortable bed, 'it'll be all right. Him above'll
see as Mr. Reddin ne'er shows his face here; for the old lady said Him
above looked after good folks, and Ed'ard's good. But I wish some un
'ud look after the bad uns,' she thought, looking across the room to
the north where Undern lay.

* * * * *

'My dear, wait a moment!' said Mrs. Marston to Edward downstairs, as he
was lighting her candle. I have something to tell you. I fear you must
brace yourself.'

'Well, mother?' Edward smiled.

'Hazel's not a Christian!' She spoke in a sepulchral whisper, and
looked at him afterwards, as if to say, 'There, now, I _have_
surprised you!'

'And how do you make that out, mother?'

Edward found in his heart this fact, that it made no difference to his
love whether Hazel were a Christian or not; this troubled him.

'No. She's not a Christian, my dear,' said Mrs. Marston in a kind of
gasp; 'she refuses to be died for!'

Upstairs, Hazel was saying her orisons at the window.