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 were over, and they had tried him, and found him guilty, and the judge had sentenced him to five years' penal servitude."

Hepworth thought she would break down again at this point. But she went on hurriedly, as though she feared to linger over details.

"I didn't cry after that, sir, though I had wept day and night before. I grew hard and angry, for it seemed to me that we were friendless. And I gave up believing in God, because I felt certain that if there was a God he would never allow innocent people to go through such misery as we were enduring."

When she said this Elisabeth looked up at Hepworth with something of defiance in her eyes. She was clearly remembering the discussion she had had with him after his sermon in the village chapel. Hepworth remembered it too, but in face of her trouble and the story she had told he could say nothing.