THE FAITHFUL HELPMATE. Judge Hale, to whom she presented her petition, praying that her husband's case might be taken im- partially into consideration. Touchedby her earnest pleading for one so dear to her, and whose life was so valuable to his children, Sir Matthew received the paper very mildly, and, on reading it, told her that he was willing to do her and her husband all the good in his power, but that that, he feared, would be very little indeed, for he was unable to act, her husband having been " convicted." Being assured by one of the Justices present on the occasion that Bunyan was scarcely worth his attention, being a " hot- spirited fellow," he thought no more of the matter, but dismissed the anxious young wife. The next day, as Judge Twisden was going to the Court, she threw another copy of her petition, with a trembling, eager hand, into his carriage. She did not meet with so favourable a reception as on the preceding day, for Twisden " snapt her up," saying that there was nothing for her husband but continued imprisonment, except on one condition. " He is a convicted person," he cried angrily, " and cannot be released unless he promise to preach no more." This she knew perfectly well he would never agree to, nor did she wish him to consent ; but she returned to the prison, with a heavy heart. She had almost ceased hoping against hope, and was beginning to depai', when the High Sheriff - who evidentlY,--took a great interest in the case- 21
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