idols and images,-when adopting a religion also where they must neither think nor pray for themselves; they have all intellect enough to sit as the people sit, while others think and pray for them."

"It is an interesting thought," said Lady Edith, "that as we feeble and sinful mortals could not have borne the glorious vision of our Creator, the Divine Saviour of man assumed a human form to adapt himself to our nature and necessities; but the Romanists seem still to find their senses so dazzled by contemplating the holy and majestic character of our Divine Redeemer, that they have recourse to the intercession of the angels; but even the angels being too bright for their contemplation, they have had recourse to canonizing the saints; but finding even they were too dazzling in their glorified state, they have recourse to images of these saints, and at last, to relieve the oppression of their superiority, the Papists take a living mortal man, sinful like themselves, and seeing him ordained to be a priest they finally transfer to him that office of intercession which our Saviour came on earth to assume himself. Thus you see Lord Eaglescairn dines and walks and talks politics every day with Father Eustace, to whom he afterwards confesses the sins of idle talking or infringing on a fast, which they have probably committed to

gether, and for which he receives a very easy absolution in his own house."

"It is time now for all the fearful evils of Romanism to be pointed out in every house throughout Great Britain, as the people have not in general been preparing their minds against the danger in England, nor bringing up their children to apprehend the practised wiles of Jesuitism, continued Sir Evan, in a voice both solemn and impressive: "few men on earth are so practised from their earliest youth in making the worse appear the better cause as the Jesuits, who have often controlled the most despotic monarchs. At the early age of thirty-seven Acquaviva, already general of the Jesuits, reigned over every cabinet in Europe, and their present aim is again to make England revolve obediently around their orbit. Under Jesuitical influence our nation would soon have to mourn over divided families, prostrated intellects, confiscated incomes, alienated friends, forfeited Bibles, and the iron rule of a false religion which substitutes the senses for the spirit, earth for heaven, and man for God. Such a superstition is characterised in Holy Scripture as full of dead men's bones, and all manner of uncleanness.'

"Their gods but gold and silver are,

The works of mortal hands ;

With speechless mouth and sightless eyes,
The molten idol stands."

There are sometimes conversations heard once in our lives by an apparent accident, which remain engraved on our memory, and make us think for ever, especially when for the first time they call up reflection to an unaccustomed mind. Beatrice was seated on a stool at the feet of Lady Edith while these remarks were made, some of which she partially understood, and they long afterwards haunted her recollection. She had in her arms a large doll, given her that day by Lady Edith, who had purchased it at a charity bazaar in Cromarty. Whenever she looked at it afterwards, and pulled the wire to open or shut the eyes, she became reminded of so much as she had understood of what passed, and pursued the subject in subsequent years to its very centre, under the tuition of those into whose affectionate care she had fortunately fallen. Sir Evan and Lady Edith having resolved to be her friends, and even more than friends, instructed Beatrice by degrees during the long lapse of years in the profoundest depths of theology, being conscious that if ever reclaimed by her Spanish relatives it would be no superficial knowledge that could enable her to withstand the wiles by which she would be immediately beset.

"It will not do," said Lady Edith afterwards, in conversation with Mrs. Clinton, "merely to fill this dear girl's heart and soul with music, paint

ing, languages, arts, sciences, and dancing, which are too often thought to be all the acquirements necessary for life. How many now are thrust out into the arena of life totally uninstructed in the part they are really to act, surrounded as every mortal must sooner or later be by perplexities, tried by temptations, infatuated with pleasure, or wrung with sorrows. Who does not pity any girl plunged into the whirlpool of society without a conception how difficult a thing human life is? The whole happiness of her existence may be shipwrecked by one heedless action, by a mistaken estimate of its objects, by a false estimate of its attachments, or by any one headlong impulse of a young, unsophisticated, and affectionate heart. Above all, in the case of Beatrice we must guard her mind against the present tendency of idle enthusiastic young minds to Romanism, that fearful blight to the intellect and happiness of all who embrace its withering tenets."

"She will receive from you," replied Mrs. Clinton earnestly, "what I consider the best part of education, so strangely neglected by many mothers in our day, the familiar companionship and conversation of one whose experience in life can direct her judgment for future years in the prospects, hopes, and objects of existence."

CHAPTER IV.

"Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous wolves,
Who all the sacred mysteries of heaven
To their own vile advantages shall turn
Of lucre and ambition; and the truth
With superstition and tradition's taint,
Left only in these written records pure,
Though not but by the Spirit understood.

Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names,
Places, and titles, and with these to join
Secular power: though feigning still to act
By spiritual, to themselves appropriating
The Spirit of God, promised alike and given
To all believers."

MILTON.

THE next day after this conversation Sir Evan sent a friendly note to Lord Eaglescairn, announcing that more than a week having now elapsed he meant to call at the castle next day at four o'clock, with Lady Edith, when he trusted that no impediment would be permitted to interfere with their seeing the Spanish lady who had been recently delivered from shipwreck, as he felt entitled to an interview, and was resolved to obtain one even though she might choose to observe her vow by remaining both deaf and dumb during their whole visit.