He succeeded. I have
heard that that picture has a strange power to soothe. Gazing upon it
the spirit grows calm and the voice unconsciously sinks into a
whisper. Our priests would tell the common people that it is a
miraculous influence exerted upon them by the Virgin herself, whereas
it is only the effect produced by the exquisite skill of the artist.
_Eh, bien!_ our church is full of superstitions".
"We will talk no more of it, _ma fille_. You do not love the holy
_Marie_ as you ought, I fear".
"Love her! indeed I do. She is the most blest and honored among
women,--the mother of the Saviour. But why should we pray to her, when
Jesus is the only intercessor for our sins with the Father? Why, _ma
chere mere_?"
_"Helas! ma fille_. You learned to slight the intercession of the holy
saints while you were at the convent. It is strange. I thought I could
trust you there".
"Do not think it the fault of the sisters, _chere mere_. They did
their duty. This way of thinking _came_ to me. I did not seek it,
indeed".
"How did it come to you, _ma pauvre fille_?"
"I will tell you. The first time I went into the convent parlor,
Sister Adrienne, thinking to amuse me, took me around the room and
showed me its curiosities. But I was filled, with an infinite disgust.
I did not distinctly know then why I was so sickened, but I understand
it all now".
"What did you see, Adele?"
"Eh! those horrid relics of saints,--those teeth, those bones, those
locks of hair in the cabinet.
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