Then they fell into talking of Texas and of the disastrous Santa Fe expedition; and Harry listened with blazing eyes to the tale of cruelty and wrong. Then the rector came and Elizabeth made tea for her guests, and after a happy evening, she watched them walk away together over the familiar road, down the terraces, and across the park. And she went to her room and sat down, silent with joy, yet thinking thoughts that were thanksgivings, and lifting up her heart in speechless gratitude and adoration.
By and by Martha came to her. “I couldn’t frame mysen to sleep to-night, Miss Hallam, till I said a word to you. God gave you a glad surprise this morning; that’s his way mostly. Hev you noticed that great blessings come when we are nivver expecting ‘em?”
“No, I don’t think I have; and why should they?”
“I hev my own thoughts about it. Mebbe it isnt allays as easy for God’s angels to do his will as we think for. T’ devil hes angels too, princes and powers o’ evil; and I shouldn’t wonder if they took a deal o’ pleasure in makkin good varry hard to do.”
“What, makes you think such a strange thing as that?”
“Why-a! I could tell you what looks uncommon like it out o’ my own life; but you may tak’ your Bible and find it plain as t’ alphabet can put it, Miss Hallam. Turn up t’ tenth chapter o’ t’ book o’ t’ prophet Daniel, and read t’ twelfth and thirteenth verses out to me.” Then, as Martha stood watching and waiting, with a bright expectant face, Elizabeth lifted the book, and read,
“‘Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me.’”
“Yet he was an angel, Miss Hallam, whose face was like lightning, and his eyes like lamps o’ fire, and his arms and feet like polished brass, and his voice like the voice of a multitude.”
“Then you think, Martha, that the Bible teaches us that evil as well as good angels interfere in human life?”
“Ay, I’m sure it does, Miss Hallam. If God is said to open t’ eyes o’ our understanding, t’ devil is said to blind ‘em. Are Christians filled wi’ t’ Spirit o’ God? ‘Why,’ said Peter to Ananias, ‘Why hath Satan filled thy heart?’ Does God work in us to will and to do? T’ devil also works in t’ children o’ disobedience. What do you mak’ o’ that now?”