But his sufferings had sprung from remorse of conscience, not
from remorse of love. No! except as his deliverer, he would probably not
be pleased to see her. As soon as this thought had seized her mind,
then, indeed, all the bitterer scenes in the past started up to life,
and broke down the defenses reared by love, and faith, and hope, and let
in the tide of anguish and despair that rolled over her soul, shaking it
as it had not been shaken for many years. And her head fell upon her
bosom, and her hands were clasped convulsively, as she walked up and
down the floor--striving with herself--striving to subdue the rebel
passions of her heart--striving to attain her wonted calmness, and
strength, and self-possession, and at last praying earnestly: "Oh,
Father! the rains descend, and the floods come, and the winds blow and
beat upon my soul; let not its strength fall as if built upon the sand."
And so she walked up and down, striving and praying; nor was the
struggle in vain--once more she "conquered a peace" in her own bosom.
She turned her eyes upon little Angel. The infant was drooping over one
arm of her rocking-chair like a fading lily, but her soft, hazy eyes,
full of vague sympathy, followed the lady wherever she went.
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