Even as
regarded the bride, who felt the horror of her position, so much must be,
in truth, admitted. Though from day to day and hour to hour she would
openly declare her hatred of the things around her, yet she went on. Since
she had entered upon life she had known nothing but falsehood and scheming
wickedness; and, though she rebelled against the consequences, she had not
rebelled against the wickedness. Now, to this unfortunate young woman and
her two companions, Mr. Emilius discoursed with an unctuous mixture of
celestial and terrestrial glorification, which was proof, at any rate, of
great ability on his part. He told them how a good wife was a crown, or
rather a chaplet of ethereal roses to her husband, and how high rank and
great station in the world made such a chaplet more beautiful and more
valuable. His work in the vineyard, he said, had fallen lately among the
wealthy and nobly born; and though he would not say that he was entitled
to take glory on that account, still he gave thanks daily, in that he had
been enabled to give his humble assistance towards the running of a godly
life to those who, by their example, were enabled to have so wide an
effect upon their poorer fellow-creatures.
Pages:
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054