human
Mr Marshall, did God send you up this road this afternoon?
gpt
I have no doubt He did, my friend, if anything I say or do can help you to the right way. You see, I knew not of your being here, and He did.
human
When you came up, said the low voice,
gpt
I thought all was over, and my mind was very near made up to enlist as a common soldier, and leave no trace behind. I see now, it should have been an ill deed to do.
human
An ill deed in truth for your poor friends, if the only news they had ever heard of you were your name in a list of the dead.
gpt
Yes, I wished to be killed as soon as might be--get to the end as fast as possible.
human
Would that have been the end, Aubrey?
gpt
No, I suppose not.
human
Take up your burden instead, my son, and bear it by God's grace. He does not refuse that, even when the burden is heaped and bound by our own hands. Unlike men, His compassion faileth never. He has maybe emptied thine heart, Aubrey, that He may fill it with Himself.
gpt
Well, come now, said he, rising from the bank, and in a more cheerful tone.
human
Let us go to Shoe Lane, and see if Agnes hath any supper for us. The prodigal son was not more welcome to his old father than you shall be to my poor lodging, for so long a time as may stand with your safety and conveniency. My Lady Oxford, you say, was to give my Lady Lettice to know how things went with you? but methinks it shall do none ill if I likewise visit her this evening. `Two heads are better than one,' and though 'tis said `o'er many cooks spoil the broth,' yet three may be better than two.