Chapter VI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 45, 7 March 1884, Page 7

Chapter VI.

You might have seen how well, an* even gay, I seemed after that trip. The truth was, that I very wisely, but with a great effort of determination, left Germain's letter behind me — that letter is a talisman that always throws me into dreamland. After a preat deal of rensoning with myself, and after a great deal of prayer. I couqucred myself, and came back from Italy wiser and better. God gave mo grace in thope long hours of union with Him, my heart became quieter and J a more reasonable being. I certainly always held to the desire of seeing Germain again, arid I know that 1 clunc to him with come sort of vague hope : but, then, how often do we take out dparest hopes and wishes and lay them sadly away in some hidden chamber of our hearts, knowing that they lie there just as dear and sacred as ever, though we must give them up 1 Sometime?, I would take my letter in my bands and look at it for a while, but I never let myself open it. I often said to myself: if I find that reason adviFes and my aunt's happiness demands that I should marry, I will take Germain's letter and burn it without ever opening it again, but nothing else can ever weaken or destroy the feelings that have taken so strong a hold upon my heart. I had just reached this heroic but rather gloomy height of determination, when I wrote that letter to you three weeks ago, on the subject of your marriage, which made me look back so sadly at my own life, and a few days after— l saw Germain 1