Doubtlesse I lookt noe less surprised than I felt;--a suddain Prick at the Heart prevented Speech; but it shot acrosse my Heart that I had made out the Words "_Aldersgate_" and "new Home," in the Fragments of the Letter my Father had torn. _Rose_, misjudging my Silence, burst forth anew with, "Oh, _Cousin_! _Cousin_! coulde anie Home, however dull and noisesome, drive me from _Roger Agnew_? Onlie think of what you are doing,--of what you are leaving undone!--of what you are preparing against yourself! To put the Wickednesse of a selfish Course out of the Account, onlie think of its Mellancholie, its Miserie,--destitute of alle the sweet, bright, fresh Well-springs of Happinesse;--unblest by _God_!"
Here _Rose_ wept passionatelie, and claspt her Arms about me; but, when I began to speak, and to tell her of much that had made me miserable, she hearkened in motionlesse Silence, till I told her that _Father_ had torn the Letter and beaten the Messenger. Then she cried, "Oh, I see now what may and shall be done! _Roger_ shall be Peacemaker," and ran off with Joyfulnesse; I not withholding her. But I can never be joyfulle more--he cannot be Day's-man betwixt us now--'tis alle too late!
Now that I am at _Forest Hill_ agayn, I will essay to continue my Journalling.--
Mr. _Agnew_ was out; and though a keene wintry Wind was blowing, and _Rose_ was suffering from Colde, yet she went out to listen for his Horse's Feet at the Gate, with onlie her Apron cast over her Head. Shortlie, he returned; and I heard him say in a troubled Voice, "Alle are in Arms at _Forest Hill_." I felt soe greatlie shocked as to neede to sit downe instead of running forthe to learn the News. I supposed the parliamentarian Soldiers had advanced, unexpectedlie, upon _Oxford_. His next Words were, "_Dick is_ coming for her at Noone--poor Soul, I know not what she will doe--her Father will trust her noe longer with you and me." Then I saw them both passe the Window, slowlie pacing together, and hastened forth to joyn them; but they had turned into the pleached Alley, their Backs towards me; and both in such earnest and apparentlie private Communication, that I dared not interrupt them till they turned aboute, which was not for some While; for they stood for some Time at the Head of the Alley, still with theire Backs to me, _Rose's_ Hair blowing in the cold Wind; and once or twice she seemed to put her Kerchief to her Eyes.