THE PASSION-FLOWER. 261 



with any hope of finding poor E. ; but while sit- 

 ting in the parlour, I was startled by her bursting 

 into the room, so changed in appearance that I 

 scarcely recognized her ; and in great agitation. 

 She sat down by me, and throwing her arm round 

 my neck said, ' I was resolved to see you once 

 more.' Before another word could be spoken, 

 three elderly nuns entered; and with looks that 

 expressed both alarm and anger, actually forced 



her away, one of them saying, that Sister was 



not well enough to be spoken to, and ought not to 

 have quitted her room. The impression left on 

 my mind by this strange interview was painful in 

 one sense — in another joyous. That the interest- 

 ing nun was under actual constraint, and severely 

 dealt with, I could not doubt : that her mind was 

 awakened to the fearful peril of her apostate state, 

 I had strong reason to believe : and well I knew 

 that if the Lord was working, none could let it. 

 Often and bitterly have I reproached myself, that 

 I did not more boldly and more unequivocally, 

 during our first interviews, bear a distinct testi- 

 mony against her dreadful delusion ; but I relied 

 on her performance of the promise, which she 

 certainly intended to fulfil, of reading my remarks 

 on the books that were lent to me. As it was, a 

 consciousness of having failed in using the means, 

 threw me in deeper humility at the footstool of the 

 Lord, in fervent intercession for my friend. I 



