voice of Father Morris; "in what have I offended you?"
"Pardon, holy father," returned Edmund "I knew you not—I knew not what I did—my passion blinded me."
"And what has caused this passion? The mind of Edmund is too noble to be lightly moved."
"Oh! talk not of the nobleness of my mind, father; I feel I am but a poor weak worm. Nobleness belongs to God alone; 'tis blasphemy to apply the term to man."
"Tell me your grievances. They must, I am sure, be great, or they would not thus affect you. It is my holy office to console affliction. Speak then, my son; for, remember, that though joy is doubled by being partaken, grief is lessened by being shared—and woe robbed of half its bitterness."
"I have little to confess, father. I was weak and foolish; but Elvira—"
"And are you astonished at a woman's fickleness? Light as the eider down, and unstable as the changing wind, inconstancy is natural to
D 5
