Yes, sir — better than is well for me. I feel as if greater
trials were necessary to me — ^necessary to my peace. This
poor weak heart of mine needs to be driven to its faith —
Ah ! Mary ! John ! (an accidental recognition of two
faces hitherto unobserved) — driven to it, or else I relapse into
doubt, and especially here, where I am so much alone."

During this brief and disconnected address, Mrs. Pynchon
had dropped her work, and sat drinking in the words without
a very perfect comprehension of their import. It was enough
to know that the speaker was her minister, and his subject
religion, and she had no doubt that he was dropping pearls ;
and so, while he removed his muffler and cloak, she said, " how
true !" — an unguarded expression, as she had not heard her



THBBAYPATH. 13

husband's opinion, which she gracefully sought to cover by
brushing up the hearth with a turkey's wing.
Mr. Pynchon sat down, and gazed for some moments into
the fire, and then, in his calm way, said — " Mr. Moxon,
unbelief never troubles me here. It never troubles me
when I am alone. Here, in these solitudes, I live with God.
