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Don Abbondio was obliged to obey, and they departed. They passed

through a small door into the churchyard. Perpetua closed it from

custom; not for the security it could now give. Don Abbondio cast

a look towards the church,-"It is for the people to guard it,"

thought he; "it is their church: let them see to it, if they have

the heart." They took the by-paths through the fields, but were

in continual apprehension of encountering some one, who might

arrest their progress. They met no one, however; all were

employed, either in guarding their houses, or packing their

furniture, or travelling, with their moveables, towards the

mountains.