the early ages and now, re-opening her Catholic book, she searched for the real doctrine of Catholics on that point. Not meeting with the subject directly, she turned to the table of contents, under the title of 'Miracles,' or 'miraculous gifts;' but in vain; till having, in the hope of discovering the subject under a different head, turned over every leaf in the book, and being reluctant again to disturb Mr. Everard, she endeavoured fruitlessly to unravel the mystery of so important an omission as that of 'miracles,' in a book professing to state the faith of Catholics.' No opportunity occurred of consulting her learned friend till the evening, when, having expressed her surprise at having been baffled where she had least expected it, Mr. Everard increased this surprise still more, by asking "how she came to expect, amongst the vital doctrines of Catholics, that which was optional to all, and forced on none?" "Do you really mean, Mr. Everard, that Catholics do not believe in miracles?" 66 They must, as true Catholics," replied he, "believe in the miracles of the Old and New Testament; but I repeat that the Church forces on no one the belief in any later fact of supernatural intervention." "Then why do they choose to believe in such perpetual wonders as are occurring, or appear to occur, in their Church, till Catholics have become the laughing-stock of Protestants ?” 66 They are not forced to credit, but, at the same time, they are not forced to discredit, those manifestations of supernatural intervention, to which, if attested by well accredited authority, they yield historical belief. The enlightened Catholic owns, with pious gratitude, that the power of miracles has continued in the Church of God; for he finds no warrant, either in Scripture or ecclesiastical record, to suppose that any of the divine gifts once imparted are withdrawn; but, on the contrary, finds every thing to confirm his belief that the promises of the unchangeable God are for ever. The well instructed Catholic feels assured, therefore, that God has continued in and by his Church, miraculous powers; but he expects the manifestation of them to be but seldom, and when they do take place, he is ready to own that the judgments of the Lord are inscrutable, and his ways past finding out!" "The belief of the enlightened Catholic is perfectly comprehensible and beautiful," said Geraldine; " but that same belief in weak and ignorant minds leads to all that folly and superstition, of which I have heard so much to disgust and alarm me.” "Yes!" said Mr. Everard, "that same belief would lead the ignorant and weak to expect that, on every occasion seemingly important, within the narrow circle of their intelligence, God would vouchsafe a miracle. Their own especial place of worship, their favourite saint, his relics, and representation, stand in the foreground of their limited view, and they are ready to believe in perpetual wonders respecting them. Still, in the credulity of the most ignorant Catholic-mark this, Geraldine, the germ of truth is there, in the persuasion that God Almighty's love and watchfulness are ever with his Church, and that ministering spirits hover round its courts." CHAPTER XV. Why should we faint and fear to live alone, KEEBLE. AND here, for a time, Geraldine paused, not from thought, for that was impossible, but from giving utterance to the results of her unremitting labours, even to Mr. Everard. And there were moments when she looked so ill, and the continued excitement of her studies gave so hectic a glow to her cheek, that her two attached friends became anxious to give a change to her thoughts, and rejoiced when, on the 8th of October, 183-, the authorities of Elverton gave public notice that the parish church and chapels were to be re-opened on the following Sunday, and that no restriction was to be henceforth imposed on the parishioners, beyond that of not frequenting the new burial ground, in which the victims of the late disease had been interred. Sunday came, and the sun shone forth in splendour to grace the day of gladness. The Church of the valley was thronged, and the countenance of the Reverend Edmund Sinclair, as he once more addressed his congregation, beamed with holy joy. The text was from the sixty-second Psalm, "În God is my health and my glory, the rock of my might, and in God is my trust;" and most eloquently did the preacher impress on the hearts of 66 his hearers the gratitude due to the First Great Cause of deliverance from the late awful visitation. In the town of Elverton, the church and chapels were equally crowded, and the meeting-houses thronged to suffocation. Nought but kindness and sympathy for a time was felt between the hitherto contending parties in the neighbourhood, and the lovers of peace and conciliation began to hope, that health of mind would unite with health of body to render that beautiful part of shire "A little spot in mercy lent, A home before the grave." Visitors flocked to the hall, and Katherine Graham, who had lately begun to watch her friend with anxiety, was greatly pleased, as well as surprised, to find Geraldine denied to none, and cheerful and friendly to all, entering with apparent ease of heart into various plans of re-union with the families around, and scarcely once reverting with regret to the constant interruption she now sustained, from the sociability run rampant, which had seized on all the neighbourhood. The fact was, that Geraldine, after long indecision of purpose, had now resolved to seek an interview with the Catholic priest of Elverton, as soon as she could do so without risk to the friendship between her uncle and Mr. Everard; and when, after severe conflict, a fixed resolution is formed; there is peace, even before this resolution can be acted upon: and while the cherished under-current of thought lies hidden beneath, the mind, become master of itself, can lend a gay and quiescent attention to all around. Amongst the several topics of conversation brought by the visitors to the Hall, was the discovery that, during the past months of the disease, when the Abbey Hill had been deserted by even the children of the town, the small inner court of the ruin had been floored and roofed, and a window of richly painted glass inserted in the still perfect carved work of the arch at the eastern extremity. Walls had also been raised to form a small but complete residence within the vast fabric; and the whole had been so skilfully arranged, that no change was perceptible from without, excepting that of the painted window. No one, however, could arrive at any certainty respecting the perpetrator of these innovations on property hitherto possessed by the corporation of the town, and which, from the pride attached to its singular beauty, it was supposed could never have become the property of any individual but at an enormous pecuniary sacrifice. Geraldine, who had immediately guessed the whole to be the work of Sir Eustace de Grey, now hesitated, as she remembered the impoverished fortune of the young Catholic; and fixed the deed more upon Mr. Everard, whose enthusiasm for the ancient worship would lead him to delight in its restoration, in buildings erected in former days for that purpose, where all would be in harmony with the dignity and pomp of the Catholic ritual. But Mr. Everard would own to no more than the painted window, on which he expatiated both as artist and antiquary, appealing to the learned "Whitaker" for sympathy and support. "Yes!" said he, after a digression to piers, arches, transepts, and the date of brickwork, and returning to his cherished window, "Yes! our ancestors were a serious thoughtful race of men. The habits of their minds were religious, however they might sometimes deviate in their acts. They loved to see the dim religious light through the devotional glow of painted glass. Ah! how unlike the stare and glare of our modern chapels!" "And when are we again to visit the ruin, and see this new Catholic chapel?" said Geraldine. |