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THE CORAL KING. 209 
religion is treated with contempt, as if the con- 
tempt were shown to herself. Do you not knov) 
the pov/er which is given to yon women to awe 
and restrain us in your presence, and to guard the 
sacredness of things which you treat as holy ? 
Believe me, Florence, that Fortesque, infidel as he 
is, would reverence a woman with whom he dared 
not trifle on sacred subjects." 
Florence rose from her seat with a heightened 
color, her dark eyes brightening through tears. 
" I am sure what you say is just, cousin, and 
yet I have never thought of it before. I will I 
am determined to begin, after this, to live with 
some better purpose than I have done." 
'^ And let me tell you, Florence, in starting a 
new course, as in learning to walk, taking the first 
step is every thing. Now, I have a first &tep to 
propose to you." 
" Well, cousin." 
" Well, you know, I suppose, that among your 
train of adorers you number Colonel Elliot." 
Florence smiled. 
" And perhaps you do not know, what is cer- 
tainly true, that among the most discerning and 
cool part of his friends, Elliot is considered as a 
lost man." 
" Good Heavens ! Edward, what do you mean? " 
" Simply this, that^ with all his brilliant talents, 
his amiable and generous feelings, and his success 
in society, Elliot has not self-control enough to 
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