144 The Guardians of the Door

time he saw the twelve awful figures in
strange clothing, guarding the lonely thatched
hovel on the edge of the moor.

After this there were no more stories told of
Mary, and no one even dared speak to her
of the wonderful manner in which her prayer
was answered, so that she never knew what
the old Vicar had seen. But late at night
people would rather go a great way round
than take the road which passed by her poor
hut.