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