e I said?"

Such were Elise's broken and only half-defined thoughts, whilst tears
streamed down her cheeks.

"Words, words, words!" says Hamlet, disparagingly. But God preserve us
from the destructive power of words! There are words which can separate
hearts sooner than sharp swords--there are words whose sting can remain
in the heart through a whole life!

Elise wept long and violently; her whole soul was in excitement.

In moments of violent struggle, bad and good spirits are at hand; they
surrounded Elise and spoke to her thus:

Bad Spirits.--"Think on that which thou hast given up! think on thy own
merits! Recollect the many little acts of injustice which thou hast had
to bear, the bitter moments which the severity of thy husband has
occasioned thee! Why shouldst thou humbly crawl in the dust? Raise
thyself, depressed one! raise thyself, offended wife! think of thy own
worth, of thy own rights! Do not allow thyself to be subjected; show
some character. Requite that which thou hast endured. Thou also canst
annoy; thou also canst punish! Take refuge in thy nerves, in unkindness;
make use of thy power, and enjoy the pleasure of revenge!"

Good Spirits.--"Think on thy wants, on thy faults! Recollect all the
patience, all the kindness, all the tenderness which has been shown
thee! Think on the many beautiful moments! Think on thy husband's worth,
on his beautiful noble qualities! Think also on life, how short it is;
how much unavoidable bitterness it possesses; how much which it is easy
either to bear or to chase away; and think on the all-rectifying power
of affection. Tremble before the chains of selfish feeling; free thyself
from them by a new sacrifice of love, and purify the heaven of home.
Ascending clouds can easily expand into a destructive tempest, or can
disperse and leave not a trace in the air. Oh, chase them hence with the
powerful breath of love!"

The happiness of a long life depends, not unfrequently, upon which of
these invisible counsellors in such moments we give ear to. On this it
depends whether the gates of heaven or of hell shall be opened upon
earth to men. Elise listened to the good counsellors; she conversed long
with them, and the more pure recollections they sent into her soul the
lighter it became therein. The light of love was kindled in her, and in
its light she became clear-sighted in many directions. She saw now what
it was right for her to do respecting her novel, and this revelat