THE PASSION-FLOWER. 253 



rather cloud than assist the mental perception of 

 what is so simply and sweetly set forth in the writ- 

 ten word. Perhaps a consciousness of the idola- 

 trous purpose to which such pictures have been 

 perverted, may have contributed to produce this 

 effect. 



The Passion-flower was not placed on my list 

 of favourites, until I met with it — can any reader 

 guess where ? — growing against the walls of a 

 Roman Catholic chapel. It then became endeared 

 to me indeed ; and holds, to this day, a high place 

 among the most touching of my lovely remem- 

 brancers. I was dwelling in Ireland, not far from 

 a flourishing nunnery, which it was the fashion for 

 strangers to visit : but I had never felt any incli- 

 nation so to do, until a friend mentioned to me 

 that, among the children of the convent school, 

 there was a deaf mute, whom they could by no 

 means teach. My interest was excited : and, as I 

 knew something of the mode of instructing such, 

 I readily accompanied my friend to the convent, to 

 proffer my help. As we passed along, she laugh- 

 ingly remarked, ' I did not. think any thing would 

 have tempted you to visit such a place.' I replied, 

 * Where God is pleased to point out a path of duty, 

 I care not in what direction it may lie. As a mat- 

 ter of idle curiosity, you would not have prevailed 

 on me to go there.' 



It was with some trepidation that I entered, for 



22 



