of Heaven? As the lily among
thorns, so are you among the daughters of Adam!* Yes, Denis, she will
support me--she will support me! I feel her power on me now! I see the
angels of heaven about her, and her mild countenance smilin' sweetly
upon the broken flower! Yes, Denis, her glory is upon me!" The last
words were uttered with her eyes flashing wildly as before, and her
whole person and countenance evidently under the influence of a highly
excited enthusiasm, or perhaps a touch of momentary insanity.

* The form of the Service of the Virgin, from which
most of the above expressions are taken is certainly
replete with beauty and poetry.

Poor Denis stood with streaming eyes, incapable of checking or
interrupting her. He had always known that her education and
understanding were above the common; but he never anticipated from
her such capacity for deep feeling, united to so much vivacity of
imagination as she then displayed. Perhaps he had not philosophy enough,
at that period of his youth, to understand the effects of a solitary
life upon a creature full of imagination and sensibility. The scenery
about her father's house was wild, and the glens singularly beautiful;
Susan lived among them alone, so that she became in a manner enamored of
solitude; which, probably mote than anything else, gives tenderness
to feeling and force to the imaginative faculties. Soon after she had
pronounced the last words, however, her good sense came to her aid.

"Denis," said she, "you have seen my weakness; but you must now see
my strength. You know we have a trial to go through before we part for
ever."

"Oh! Susy, don't say 'for ever.' You know that the vow you made was a
rash vow. It may be set aside."

"It was not a rash vow, Denis. I made it with a firm intention of
keepin' it, and keep it I will. The Mother of God is not to be mocked,
because I am weak, or choose to prefer my own will to hers."

"But, Susy, the Church can dissolve it. You know she has power to bind
and to loose. Oh, for God's sake, Susy, if you ever loved me, don't
attempt to take back your promise."

"I love you too well to destroy you, Denis. I will never stand between
you and God, for that would be my crime. I will never bring disgrace, or
shame, or poverty, upon you; for surely these things would fall upon you
as a punishment for desartin' him. If you were another--if you weren't
intended to be the servant of God, I could beg with you--sta