So saying, the good old minister laid a gentle hand in blessing on Blonda's little fair head, then he opened the door and passed out into the night.
[CHAPTER VI]
BEARDING THE LIONS IN THEIR DEN
"MAY I enter?" said Pastor Oshart.
He had knocked several times at the door of the Valdens' cottage, but there was so much noise inside that he could not be heard. So at last he opened the door, and standing on the threshold, faced the three men, who turned toward him as he spoke.
"You here, Master Oshart! Truly, this is a day of marvels! Pray what will you with us?" asked Jaspar, with a frown.
"Ay," screamed the shrill, mocking voice of Hervitz, "what dealings can this saint of Carfoos have with us sinful Valdens?"
"I come on urgent business," replied the pastor, with grave gentleness. "Have I your permission to come in and tell my errand?"
"Oh, come in, come in, of course, most righteous prophet and teacher!" sneered Dorlat. "Think you that we could be so wanting in courtesy as to keep our best of friends outside our door? Why, bethink thee, father, and thou, brother Hervitz, what reason we have for loving and reverencing this holy man! We have not forgotten—have we—what we owed him in the past?"