human
I am bringing you to old Dame Westel and her granddaughter Matilda, he said.
gpt
When Matilda was but a babe in arms, her father, tempted by the bait of large wages in Suffolk, was returned by the sheriffs, branded. But his wife being big with child, and he watching her cheeks grow hollow day by day, he grew desperate and made a second attempt. For this he was thrown into gaol and suffered to lie there and rot. He died of gangrene of both feet while his wife slowly starved to death, and her babe within her.
human
Horrible, horrible! exclaimed Annys;
gpt
Ay! thy cry of patience burns on thy tongue, doth it not?
human
Ay, so. But tell me some more.
gpt
You will see for yourself. The poor old woman lives only for two things--to hide others who should pass through, and to pore over a torn and dog-eared copy of the Bible which a poor priest did leave with her.
human
Ah, she will get much comfort and peace from the Holy Book.
gpt
As to that, I wot not; rather she does suck the vengeance and wrath from its pages e'en as a babe sucks its mother's milk.
human
Say you so? 'Tis ill, indeed. I shall change all that, and bring speedy comfort to her.
gpt
Well, thou hast a bold heart, then. I wish thee joy of thy task.
human
Lives she all by herself?
gpt
Nay, her granddaughter, Matilda, is an angel if ever one walked this earth. She does devote herself to the old woman, and yet never is word of complaint suffered to pass her lips.
human
And that is all?
gpt
Oh, he replied, with a shrug of his shoulders,
human
Poor woman! she seems to have had trouble enough.
gpt
Trouble! Ay! And yet, alas, the tale is not a rare one. It is hard to have faith in the goodness of God when one sounds all the misery on earth.
human
The works of God are hidden among men,