It fairly perplexes me to know why." Keziah also lowered her voice as she replied: "We were forbid his house because that he and his household be all Papists." "Ay, verily, that I know.

But they be none the less Papists now, and yet we give them good day when we meet, and sit at the same board with them in all amity.

Are they turning Protestant then, or what ?" Keziah shook her head.
"It is not that," she said.
Nay, then, what is it ?" "Marry, methinks it is that we are companions in distress, and that a common trouble draws us the closer together.

Thou must have heard--" "Oh, I hear words, words, words! but I heed them not.

It is like eating dust and ashes." "Nay, thou art but a child, and these things are not for children," answered Keziah, indulgently.