ed
more and more distinctly that many roads lead to the Lord, and that he,
as he himself has promised, has prepared many dwellings in his house.
What the innovators, who have split asunder the church, desire, many of
the apostles and earlier teachers have already wished. I hope, this
disunion will just preserve the eternity of the Word. I also perceived,
that to form a spiritual state, to represent a great community, a great
deal by far of that enthusiasm of solitude must be checked, if it were
only to preserve the constitution pure, the strength which alone
renders possible that innate spirit of love for the present as well as
for the future, and prepares for it an asylum. It was granted to my
desire to live here in a small commune, retired from the whole world,
almost like a hermit and thus to suffice for myself. I honour the body
of our church, and am not angry with it, because it has no spirit; I
forgive it the letter, if sometimes it appears to annihilate the
spirit, because I trust in the wisdom and love of the Almighty, who
thus accomplishes all to his ends."

Thus they separated, Edmond could not sleep. How agitatingly did all
this old man's words work upon him, whom he had so unexpectedly met of
whom his father had so often spoken to him in his childhood. He felt
troubled, and prayed fervently, that at length this rebellion, which he
had been sent forth to excite, might not rage in this valley over the
venerable head of this peaceful hermit. But he indeed knew best how
impossible this was, how inevitable must be the dreadful event. In
short slumbers, fearful dreams tormented him, and with the dawn of
morning, he hastened over the mountain to Lacoste to send him off to
Roland and Cavalier.

CHAPTER IX.

In the mean while Martin's wound, through the watchful care of his
doctor, had astonishingly improved. Eveline had soon become
familiarised with him, and the young man seemed even more than the
father to doat on her. He exerted himself with humble devotedness to
perform every little service, and was only happy when he was able to
win a smile from the Lord of Beauvais. When the father now returned
from the fields with his daughter, the latter said to him: "Is it not
true, papa, that when I am grown up, I too shall be obliged to marry."

"Probably," answered the Lord of Beauvais, "Well then," continued she,
"give me the young handsome Martin for a husband." "Does he then pl