"I know," quoth he, "but dare not breathe it."
SIR THOMAS.
"I thought I had taken a glass of wine, verily. Attention to my
duty as a magistrate is paramount. I mind nothing else when that
lies before me.
"Carnaby! I credit thy honesty, but doubt thy manhood. Why not
breathe it, with a vengeance?"
JOSEPH CARNABY.
"It was Euseby who dared not."
SIR THOMAS.
"Stand still! Say nothing yet; mind my orders. Fair and softly!
compose thyself."
They all stood silent for some time, and looked very composed,
awaiting the commands of the knight. His mind was clearly in such a
state of devotion that peradventure he might not have descended for
a while longer to his mundane duties, had not Master Silas told him
that, under the shadow of his wing, their courage had returned and
they were quite composed again.
"You may proceed," said the knight.
JOSEPH CARNABY.
"Master Treen did take off his cap and wipe his forehead. I, for
the sake of comforting him in this his heaviness, placed my hand
upon his crown; and truly I might have taken it for a tuft of bents,
the hair on end, the skin immovable as God's earth!"
Sir Thomas, hearing these words, lifted up his hands above his own
head, and in the loudest voice he had yet uttered did he cry, -
"Wonderful are thy ways in Israel, O Lord!"
So saying, the pious knight did strike his knee with the palm of his
right hand; and then gave he a sign, bowing his head and closing his
eyes, by which Master Carnaby did think he signified his pleasure
that he should go on deposing.
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