Only Margaret Thurston knew who spoke three times that word never to be forgotten, once a terrible rebuke, now and evermore a benediction.
So went home the last of the Colchester martyrs.
As Mr Ewring turned back, he caught sight of Dorothy Denny, and made his way back to her.
“You come to behold, do you, Dorothy?” said he, when they had turned into a quiet side street, safe from hostile ears.
“Ay, Master, it strengthens me,” she said.
“Thou’rt of the right stuff, then,” he answered. “It weakens such as be not.”
“Eh, I’m as weak as any one,” replied Dorothy. “What comforts me is to see how the good Lord can put strength into the very feeblest lamb of all His flock. It seems like as if the Shepherd lifted the lamb into His arms, so that it had no labour to carry itself.”
“Ay, ’tis easy to bear a burden, when you and it be borne together,” said Mr Ewring. “Dorothy, have you strength for that burden?”
“Master Ewring, I’ve given up thinking that I’ve any strength for any thing, and then I just go and ask for it for everything, and methinks I get along best that way.”
“Ay, so? You are coming on fast, Dorothy. Many Christian folks miss that lesson half their lives.”