His calling had taught him many of the hidden secrets of human nature and of Life: he guessed that the time--if not already here--was nigh at hand, when this unfortunate woman would realize the emptiness of her life, and would begin to reap the bitter harvest of the barren seeds which she had sown.
"Aye! I lay it all at the door of these 'Friends' who turned a mother's heart against her own daughter," continued Mistress de Chavasse vehemently.

"She never told me that she was sick, sent me neither letter nor message; only after her death a curt note came to me, writ in her hand, entrusted to one of her own co-worshipers, a canting, mouthing creature, who grinned whilst I read the heartless message.

My mother had sent her grandchildren away, so she told me in the letter, when she felt that the Lord was calling her to Him.

She had placed my boys--my boys, master!--in the care of a trusted 'friend' who would bring them up in the fear of God, away from the influence of their mother.

My boys, master, remember! ...