260 THE PASSION-FLOWER. 



almost wished to overcome my scurples, on so 

 interesting an occasion : but in proportion as I be- 

 came acquainted with the fearful character of a 

 religion clearly opposed to the gospel of Christ, 

 and convinced of the rank idolatry perpetrated in 

 its stated devotions, I felt the wickedness, the in- 

 gratitude, the dishonesty of sanctioning in any 

 way, whatever, those grievous insults offered to 

 my redeeming God. I felt that every Protestant 

 who complacently looks on, becomes a participator 

 in those rites ; and I really dared not go into a 

 place where I had no warrant whatever for believ- 

 ing that God would go with me, under the pre- 

 sumptuous expectation that He would wait for me 

 at the door, again to enter into what he had deign- 

 ed to make His temple, after its wanton and un- 

 called-for agreement with idols. 



Accordingly I wrote as delicate and grateful a 

 refusal as I could; and my heart danced so lightly 

 in my bosom after it, that I trust there is »o dan- 

 ger of my ever trying what sort of sensation a con- 

 trary line of conduct would produce. 



My poor nun, meanwhile, was very rapidly 

 sinking: her health had never been good, from the 

 period of her apostacy, and she was now, at least 

 so I was told, confined to her apartment. I made 

 many visits to the convent, vainly desiring to see 

 her ; until very shortly before I left the neighbour- 

 hood, I called, rather as an act of civility, than 



