Fabiola : or, The church of the catacombs - Digital Repository Services

'isolation of His creatures, would :
ime iii vain : w h none of :
i but n Bingle spark of dh filing
upon :i spirit innocent before, bnt i:i tho want of tho
high inspiration of His charity, surely, aurrlv, .Ifo who camo
to cast fire upon o;:rth, would not grudge Ilia pre: ..-.n-c, by
which it Inul been enkindled."
May Nettervillo p used in her passionate address, and mu-
''
:.hc. impulse. and Lady Oraniia.re eir;t,
tually, as if i
their eyes upon Agnese. Tho cliiM ^iing on the bed,
Jiud with her soft eyes closed, hnr long hair parted smoothly
on her foivlH'a i, and her white jobes flowing round her, she
d like, an answer to the thoughts of each " Would He
grudge it?"
May could not forbear adding, in a whisper :
" Though it were only to visit such a soul as Unit."
Then, without waiting for an answer, she passed to the bed,
and drew her sister gently towards the pillow, saying :
"Lie down, dearest; it is yet a long time to Francesco's
hour. Lie down, or you will be weary."
Agnese laid down as she was desired, whispering at the
same time, with a heavenly smile upon her countenance :
" Is it not lovely, Grace ? And did I not tell yon that here
the very air was full of Jesus ?"
"Yes, indeed !" May answered, in the same subdued voice.
of love and
" And it is sweet to live in such an atmosphere
faith."
" He is everywhere in "
Italy, returned Agnese; " in the people's
hearts, and on their lips, and in the churches and even
;
in the very streets we meet Him."
" And He is in the hearts of our own home people too, Agnese,
if you would but think it," answered May, in a tune as
nearly of reproach as she could use towards the gentle creature
she so tenderly cherished. "His faith and love are with us
also; only we are forced to lock up in our hearts the thoughts
which these may prate to every idle air. But you won't be-
lieve it."
"Indeed, indeed, I do believe it May; it would bo strange
if I could doubt it, after all that passed on that terrible day,"
and Agnese shuddered as she always did whenever she recurred
to the day of Father Netterville's murder. Poor child ! she
him, although she mechanically fallowed him to a room, which
he indicated by throwing wide the door, and into this she entered
without having formed one conjecture as to who or what
the person was who desired I o see her. He was sitting near
the window, his back towards her, and his face buried in both
his hands. May was started; something in his attitude
familiar, that she could not help fancying
'.:.',
to shrink !
b( fore; but. as he did not look up, or give any
: of
that she had s: en
other iudi-
being aware of her presence, she advanced a few steps
his attention. Far from
i in him in hopes of arousing
this effect, however, tho sound of her footsteps s
're completely into himself, and he boned
kimaeli down until hifl bn upon Dio bible, as if thus
, A'A'A'. 27
he hope,] inniv entirely to
'
secret i
Von went for me, ;
,'r J" the :
aid, B<
'.hiidder pHsx.v.l over Dm
1
"Pardon in , sir, "con! ini!. d May, with a little i in pa ticher
voice, and m;:'
., onld not hurry yon if I eon'
it, but I have left the i>;'d.,i.le o!' H >
summons. "
" Believe me, I would not idly have intruded upon
>W."
"John Nettervflle 1" cried Mav, recoiling a step in a,
ment, as the stranger, in savin;? these few v/ords, stood up and
removed his hands from his face.
" I knew you must loathe me; I knew you must detest and
hold me in abhorrence; but I almost hoped you would !
rne," said that unhappy man, in a tone of despair: and i
down again, ho passed his hands once ni'.ro over hi
to shut oat his niece's involuntary look of disgust.
For one moment May was tempted to leave the room ir
temptnons silence; and then she 1: ad to struggle !::
the proud and n"gry spirit which prompted her to pour
torrent of stinging reproaches on the fratricide. But she
thought upon Him who but a few miriuf
beneath her eyes, preaching peace and mercy and ]
men, and she checked the movement. She r -I how
He from the very cross had pardoned all His en
"
Father, forgive tlv m, for they know not wha'
d to ring in her ears, and she resolved that sh.
would pardon, and not coldly or by halves, but fully,
ronsly, and without conditions, even as He had done !
said to the repentant thief :
" This day thou shall bo with Ma
in Parailise;" and, promptly answering to tho inspiration, she
Hung her arms around her uncle's neck, exclaiming:
"I wi.l forgive you I do forgive you; and I pray yon io
pardon me, for I have been very guilty in my thoughts o:'
This very unexp;