“That I am in the world, and must needs there abide.”
“What for no? Serve God in the world.”
“Good Father, if you did but know, you should not say the same!” said Agnes in the same hopeless tone in which she had spoken before.
“If I knew but what?”
In answer, Agnes told him her simple story; unavoidably revealing in it the hardships of her lot. “You must needs see, good Father,” she concluded, “that I cannot serve God and do Mistress Winter’s bidding.”
“I see no such a thing, good daughter,” replied the Friar. “Dost think the serving of God to lie in the saying of Paternosters? It is thine heart that He would have. Put thine heart in thy labour, and give Him both together.”
“But how so, Father?” inquired Agnes in an astonished tone. “I pray you tell me how I shall give to God the baking of bread?”
“Who giveth thee thy daily bread?”
“That, no doubt, our Lord doth.”
“Yet He giveth the same by means. He giveth it through the farmer, the miller, and the baker. It falleth not straight down from Heaven. When thou art the bakester, art not thou God’s servant to give daily bread? Then thy work should be good and perfect, for He is perfect. By the servant do men judge of the master; and if thy work is to be offered unto God, it must be the best thou canst do. Think of this the next time thou art at work, and I warrant thee not to forget the oven door. But again: Who hath set thee thy work? When this hard mistress of thine betook thee to her house, did not God see it? did not He order it? If so be, then every her order to thee (that is not sinful, understand thou) is God’s order. Seek then, in the doing thereof, not to please her, but Him.”