for several days. John hurried to Richard's cottage and when he didn't get a response at the door, he let himself in. He was shocked to find Richard sitting on the floor in the dark.
'Richard,' John said, but there was no movement. John walked over to Richard and shook him gently. 'Richard, are you well?' he asked.
Richard slowly raised his head. John was surprised at his appearance. He looked as though he hadn't eaten or slept in several days and facial hair was covering his normally clean face.
'Richard, you are nay well. You must eat.'
Richard looked at John with hollow eyes and didn't respond right away. When he did, he simply asked, ''ow can I go on withoot Margaret?'
'Richard, I am going to fetch Father James. 'ere, eat this bread while I am gone.' With that, John handed him some bread that Geva had sent and he left to get James at the Saint Leonard's Priory.
John returned to the cottage a couple of hours later with James. They were pleased to discover Richard sitting at the table eating some of the bread. They both sat at the table with him.
'Richard, it is gud to see you eating,' said James. 'I am certain that Margaret wuld be 'appy to see you up. I 'ope to provide encouragement to you.'
'Aye Father, boot it is so 'ard. I miss Margaret so much.'
'Of course you miss 'er,' replied James. 'You wuld nay be a man if you did nay miss 'er. You need time to mourn 'er lose.'
'I 'ave lost members of me family before and it 'urts very much,' said Richard.
'And 'ow did you get past the 'urt then?' asked James.
'It was a long time ago,' replied Richard. 'Losing Margaret 'as brought back the feelings that I 'ad then. I was yung and I suppose that I did nay allow meself time to mourn properly. I lost sumeone very dear to me then, and now I feel that 'urt as well as the 'urt of losing Margaret.'
James looked at John. He had only known Richard for a short while and didn't know who Richard was referring to. John shrugged his shoulders slightly. He had lost touch with Richard while away at school and didn't know who Richard might be referring to either.
'Richard, the living need to live,' said James. 'You will see Margaret again.'
With that, Richard looked straight at James for the first time as though to encourage him to continue. James looked nervously at John, he wasn't certain how the two men were going to react to what he was about to tell Richard. James then related to Richard the things that he had learned regarding the writings of Paul and Peter.
Richard's countenance lighten considerably as James spoke. 'I can be with me Margaret again after I dee?' he asked with enthusiasm.
'Aye,' James replied, 'I believe so, if you follow The Lord.'
'I 'ave never 'eard a priest teach soch a thing,' said Richard.
'Nor 'ave I,' John interjected.
James continued to explain the things regarding the need for a prophet, a falling away from truth and a future return to truth and authority. All of which he said that he was learning from the writings of Paul.
'Sumedee,' said James, 'I believe that God will make 'is will known and there will be a prophet to guide us in these mat'ers. There will be a way for you to be with Margaret and you, John, with Agnes.'
'Do you 'ave license to teach these things, then?' asked John.
'From the Church? Nay. Boot from the 'oly Spirit? Aye.'
Richard stood up from the table and walked to the fireplace. 'I will be with me Margaret sumedee,' he said mostly to himself. He turned back to the other two men and said, 'Praise be to God! I am so grateful to you, Father. Surely, this is God's will.'
Richard walked back to the table and continued, 'The pain of lose still 'urts, boot I can go on. I will return to work on the church tomorrow.'
After John and James were outside, John said to James, 'This is a strange thing that you teach, boot I am greatly in favor of the doctrine.'
'I believe it to be so, John,' replied James. 'I shuld nay tell others, boot I can 'ardly 'elp meself. I am so excited aboot it.'
'Well, regardless, it 'as Richard back on 'is feet.'
The next day, Richard was back at the church working on the windows again and he greeted James with a smile when James arrived.
'I 'ave enjoyed