"But I do thank thee from the bottom of a sad heart," he said, and added, "God bless thee and reward thee!"
Inside the hall, with the dignity and formality of which neither fewness of numbers nor bareness of surroundings could rob our forefathers, the court filed down the room, Mistress Brent on her brother's arm.
"Now, Giles," said his sister, "art thou satisfied at last who is the guilty man?"
"I fear there can be no doubt."
"I should say not, indeed. Even Margaret must needs give over her hot defence and admit that the voice of the Lord hath spoken."
"I wish it would tell me what were good to do."
"It does, Giles. It says, 'Be firm! Let not ill-timed tenderness protect the criminal! Blood guiltiness must be wiped out in blood.'"
"That is not a gospel of love, Mary."
"'Tis the gospel of justice. I feel a sense of guilt in myself that Holy Church hath suffered such outrage in the bosom of my household, and this guilt can only be purged away when we withdraw fellowship and sympathy from the evil-doer and deliver him up to justice. To-morrow, Giles, thou must go to St. Mary's and—"