It is possible that some
small self-denial at the right moment may spare us some costly expiation
later on. Christianity must perish if it loses sight of this law."
Mrs. Bolton did not answer him. Was he thinking of her own refusal to
remove temptation out of the way of his wife when she first began to
fall into her fatal habit? He was not in reality thinking of her at all,
but her conscience pricked her, though her pride kept her silent. It was
such an unheard-of course for a person in her station, that none but
fanatics could expect her to take it. Quixotic, irrational, eccentric,
visionary, were words that flitted incoherently through her brain; but
her tongue refused to utter them. Was Christ then so prudent, so
cautious, so anxious to secure innocent indulgences and to grasp worldly
advantages? Could she think of Him making life easy and comfortable to
Himself while hundreds of thousands, nay, millions of unhappy souls were
hurrying each year into misery and ruin?
There was not much conversation between her and her nephew; for as a
parting draws very near, our memories refuse to serve us, and we forget
to say the many, many things we may perhaps never again have any season
for saying.
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