THE FURZE-BUSH. 33 



soul put in force to the uttermost his crafty wiles, 

 to the strengthening of a cause that, to all but me, 

 appeared frequently triumphant : and when her 

 bold, decided avowal that she tuould hear the 

 scriptures read, and listen to my instructions, 

 silenced those who had built their predictions on 

 her long hostility to protestantism, the old and 

 more subtle charge of hypocrisy was resorted to. 

 Instances were adduced of her frequent deviation 

 from strict veracity, while yet under the power of 

 that religion which teaches, even in its first cate- 

 chism, the fearful doctrine that such sins are venial 

 only, and to be readily atoned for by a few forms 

 and penances. The recent change in her expres- 

 sions was referred to a prudential application of the 

 same convenient sophistry ; and I was told that the 

 trifle which I occasionally left on her pillow went 

 duly to the priest, in purchase of absolution for 

 the sin of listening to me. This I knew to be 

 utterly false ; but I felt at times those painful 

 misgivings, which were as delicate thorns intro- 

 duced into the flesh, harassing me, and tending to 

 indispose me from further exertion. Still, by keep- 

 ing my eye upon the power which alone could ac- 

 complish such a work, the power which, if once 

 brought into operation, none could let, I was en- 

 abled to go on, grasping the flower, and applying 

 every energy to draw it from its adverse concomi- 

 tants. 



