And although not in words, there came to her soul a great overpowering sense of the Love of God; and in that Love alone we can find the key which opens out the boundlessness of His mercy.
Like as a father pities! When man is pitiless and forgetful, when man judges with a hard judgment, the All-loving One _remembers_ our frame, and in His love and in His pity redeems and pardons.
Ten years had passed away, and Peter Palmer had long been laid to rest under the yew tree shade in the village churchyard.
Dorothy Burrow had found a soft place in the heart of a neighbouring farmer, and had taken to herself a second husband, and gone to live near Bath.
The old farm had passed into other hands, and little fair-haired children played under the boughs of the orchard, whence many of the old trees had been cleared and young ones planted in their stead.
The lichen-covered roof of the homestead had been repaired, and the appearance of the place bespoke prosperity and comfort.
It was a May evening in 1780 when heavy footsteps were heard coming slowly up the lane at the side of the farm, and a tall athletic man went to the wicket-gate and leaned upon it with folded arms.
Presently a woman, with a child in her arms, came up to him and said,--
'Good evening. Fine weather, isn't it? There was a sharp shower this morning, and we can almost see the things growing.'
'_I_ do,' was the prompt reply. 'My husband bought the place when Peter Palmer died four years ago. Are you a stranger in these parts?'
'Yes; that is, I knew the place once, years ago--ten years ago.'
'Ah, there's many changes in ten years! I can scarce believe it is twelve since I married, only for the children,' looking fondly down on a crowd of little boys and girls who were under the care of a tall girl of ten, 'only the children tell me it's true.'
'Do you happen to know where the Miss Palmers are? Are they--married?'
'One is married to the Squire at Rock House--a grand match it was. But she was a pretty, notable girl, and nursed him, so I hear, in an illness; but it was all before we came from the other side of Bath.'
'What do you mean? What is the Squire's name?'
'Bayfield, of course, of Rock House, six or seven miles off Binegar way. The other sister lives with Mrs Henderson, who had a seizure just about the time Farmer Palmer died. She was a fine ladyish person, and things would have gone to wrack and ruin if Miss Palmer had not gone to her. She has been like a mother to the girls, and taught them lots of things. Two are out in service, and one in Mrs Hannah More's school.' Jack turned away, the woman calling after him,--