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the whole countryside。 But the Rector was an alert and gallant fighter。 He quickly recovered his poise。
〃If Mrs。 Gwynne； our good friend and neighbour； desires to address this meeting；〃 he said with a courteous and elaborate bow； 〃and I am sure by training and tradition she is quite capable of doing so； I am confident that all of us will be delighted to listen to her。 But the question in hand is not quite so simple as she imagines。 It is〃
〃Liberty of speech；〃 said the voice again from the dark corner。
The Rector wheeled fiercely in the direction from which the interruption came。
〃Who speaks；〃 he cried； 〃why does he shrink into the darkness？ Let him come forth。〃
Again discretion held the interrupter silent。
〃As for youyou； sir；〃 continued the Rector； turning upon the evangelist； 〃if you desire〃
But at this point there was a sudden commotion from the opposite side of the room。 A quaint dwarfish figure； crippled but full of vigour； stumped up to the platform。
〃My son；〃 he said； grandly waving the Rector to one side； 〃allow me； my son。 You have done well。 Now I shall deal with this gentleman。〃
The owner of the misshapen body had a noble head； a face marked with intellectual quality； but the glitter in the large blue eye told the same tale of mental anarchy。 Startled and astonished； the evangelist backed away from the extraordinary creature that continued to advance upon him。
〃Sir；〃 cried the dwarf； 〃by what right do you proclaim the divine message to your fellowmen？ Have you known the cross； have you felt the piercing crown； do you bear upon your body the mark of the spear？〃 At this with a swift upward hitch of his shirt the dwarf exposed his bare side。 The evangelist continued to back away from his new assailant； who continued vigorously to follow him up。 The youngsters in the crowd broke into laughter。 The scene passed swiftly from tragedy to farce。 At this point the Rector interposed。
〃Come； come； John；〃 he said； laying a firm； but gentle； hand upon the dwarf's shoulder。 〃That will do now。 He is perfectly harmless； sir；〃 he said； addressing the evangelist。 Then turning to the audience； 〃I think we may dismiss this meeting；〃 and； raising his hands； he pronounced the benediction； and the people dispersed in disorder。
With a strained 〃Good…night； sir；〃 to the evangelist and a courteous bow to Mrs。 Gwynne； the Rector followed the people； leaving the evangelist and his wife behind packing up their hymn books and organ； their faces only too clearly showing the distress which they felt。 Mrs。 Gwynne moved toward them。
〃I am truly grieved；〃 she said； addressing the evangelist； 〃that you were not given an opportunity to deliver your message。〃
〃What a terrible creature that is；〃 he exclaimed in a tone indicating nervous anxiety。
〃Oh； you mean poor John？〃 said Mrs。 Gwynne。 〃The poor man is quite harmless。 He became excited with the unusual character of the meeting。 He will disturb you no more。〃
〃I fear it is useless；〃 said the evangelist。 〃I cannot continue in the face of this opposition。〃
〃It may be difficult； but not useless；〃 replied Mrs。 Gwynne； the light of battle glowing in her grey eyes。
〃Ah； I do not know。 It may not be wise to stir up bad feeling in a community； to bring the name of religion into disrepute by strife。 But；〃 he continued； offering his hand； 〃let me thank you warmly for your sympathy。 It was splendidly courageous of you。 Do youdo you attend his church？〃
〃Yes； we worship with the Episcopal Church。 I am a Friend myself。〃
〃Ah； then it was a splendidly courageous act。 I honour you for it。〃
〃But you will continue your mission？〃 she replied earnestly。
〃Alas； I can hardly see how the mission can be continued。 There seems to be no opening。〃
Mrs。 Gwynne apparently lost interest。 〃Good…bye；〃 she said simply； shaking hands with them both； and without further words left the room with her boy。 For some distance they walked together along the dark road in silence。 Then in an awed voice the boy said：
〃How could you do it； mother？ You were not a bit afraid。〃
〃Afraid of what； the Rector？〃
〃No； not the Rectorbut to speak up that way before all the people。〃
〃It was hard to speak；〃 said his mother； 〃very hard； but it was harder to keep silent。 It did not seem right。〃
The boy's heart swelled with a new pride in his mother。 〃Oh； mother；〃 he said； 〃you were splendid。 You were like a soldier standing there。 You were like the martyrs in my book。〃
〃Oh； no； no； my boy。〃
〃I tell you yes； mother； I was proud of you。〃
The thrilling passion in the little boy's voice went to his mother's heart。 〃Were you； my boy？〃 she said； her voice faltering。 〃I am glad you were。〃
Hand in hand they walked along； the boy exulting in his restored pride in his mother and in her courage。 But a new feeling soon stirred within him。 He remembered with a pain intolerable that he had allowed the word of so despicable a creature as Mop Cheatley to shake his faith in his mother's courage。 Indignation at the wretched creature who had maligned her； but chiefly a passionate self…contempt that he had allowed himself to doubt her； raged tumultuously in his heart and drove him in a silent fury through the dark until they reached their own gate。 Then as his mother's hand reached toward the latch； the boy abruptly caught her arm in a fierce grip。
〃Mother；〃 he burst forth in a passionate declaration of faith； 〃you're not a coward。〃
〃A coward？〃 replied his mother； astonished。
The boy's arms went around her； his head pressed into her bosom。 In a voice broken with passionate sobs he poured forth his tale of shame and self…contempt。
〃He said you were a Quaker； that the Quakers were cowards； and would never fight； and that you were a coward； and that you would never fight。 But you would； mother； wouldn't you？ And you're not a real Quaker； are you； mother？〃
〃A Quaker；〃 said his mother。 〃Yes； dear； I belong to the Friends； as we call them。〃
〃And they； won't they ever fight？〃 demanded the boy anxiously。
〃They do not believe that fighting with fists； or sticks； or like wild beasts；〃 said his mother； 〃ever wins anything worth while。〃
〃Never； mother？〃 cried the boy； anxiety and fear in his tones。 〃You would fight； you would fight to…night； you would fight the Rector。〃
〃Yes； my boy；〃 said his mother quietly； 〃that kind of fighting we believe in。 Our people have never been afraid to stand up for the right； and to suffer for it too。 Remember that； my boy；〃 a certain pride rang out in the mother's voice。 She continued； 〃We must never be afraid to suffer for what we believe to be right。 You must never forget that through all your life； Larry。〃 Her voice grew solemn。 〃You must never； never go back from what you know to be right； even if you have to suffer for it。〃
〃Oh； mother；〃 whispered the boy through his sobs； 〃I wish I were brave like you。〃
〃No； no； not like me；〃 whispered his mother； putting her face down to his。 〃You will be much braver than your mother； my boy； oh； very much braver than your mother。〃
The boy still clung to her as if he feared to let her go。 〃Oh； mother；〃 he whispered； 〃do you think I can be brave？〃
〃Yes； my boy；〃 her voice rang out again confident and clear。 〃It always makes us brave to know that He bore the cross for us and died rather than betray us。〃
There were no more words between them； but the memory of that night never faded from the boy's mind。 A new standard of heroism was set up within his soul which he might fail to reach but which he could never lower。
CHAPTER III
THE ESCUTCHEON CLEARED
Mr。 Michael Gwynne； the Mapleton storekeeper； was undoubtedly the most popular man not in the village only but in the whole township。 To begin with he was a man of high character； which was sufficiently guaranteed by the fact that he was chosen as Rector's Warden in All Saints Episcopal Church。 He was moreover the Rector's right…hand man； ready to back up any good cause with personal effort； with a purse always open but not often full； and with a tongue that was irresistible； for he had to an extraordinary degree the gift of persuasive speech。 Therefore； the Rector's first move in launching any new scheme was to secure the approval and co…operation of his Warden。
By the whole community too Mr。 Gwynne was recognised as a gentleman； a gentleman not in appearance and bearing only； a type calculated to repel plain folk； but a gentleman in heart； with a charm of manner which proceeded from a real interest in and consideration for the welfare of others。 This charm of manner proved a valuable asset to him in his business； for behind his counter Mr。 Gwynne had a rare gift of investing the very calicoes and muslins which he displayed before the dazzled eyes of the ladies who came to buy with a glamour that never failed to make them appear altogether desirable； and even the hard…headed farmers fell under this spell of his whether he described to them the superexcellent qualities of a newly patented cream separator or the virtues of a new patent medicine for ailing horses whose real complaint was overwork or underfeeding。 With all this； moreover； Mr。 Gwynne was rigidly honest。 No one ever thou