The English Coast, 1794  
 
It was late afternoon when Tobias and Mary returned.  Outside the sea was restless.A storm was coming and Mathilda pulled her threadbare cloak tighter around her as Tobias opened the  ramshackle door of their cottage, followed by Mary, her 12 year old face set in its normal grim mask.

 ‘Come Esther, ’Mary said, pulling her by the arm.    

‘To where?  ’Esther asked innocently.  

 
‘To the room, ’Mary said.  ’We must fall on our knees and pray.  We must beg the Lord our God to give us the strength to grow up in His righteous ways.  Everywhere we turn we are faced with evil. We must not let it corrupt our souls.  ’  

‘What h...

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