"He was generous to me.--But I did not mean such ties;
it was one of my sins that I was ready to break them all without
scruple--for you."
"Are you speaking of your vows?" the General asked, frowning. "I
did not think that anything weighed heavier with your heart than
love. But do not think twice of it, Antoinette; the Holy Father
himself shall absolve you of your oath. I will surely go to Rome,
I will entreat all the powers of earth; if God could come down
from heaven, I would----"
"Do not blaspheme."
"So do not fear the anger of God. Ah! I would far rather hear
that you would leave your prison for me; that this very night you
would let yourself down into a boat at the foot of the cliffs.
And we would go away to be happy somewhere at the world's end, I
know not where. And with me at your side, you should come back
to life and health under the wings of love."
"You must not talk like this," said Sister Theresa; "you do
not know what you are to me now. I love you far better than I
ever loved you before. Every day I pray for you; I see you with
other eyes. Armand, if you but knew the happiness of giving
yourself up, without shame, to a pure friendship which God
watches over! You do not know what joy it is to me to pray for
heaven's blessing on you. I never pray for myself: God will do
with me according to His will; but, at the price of my soul, I
wish I could be sure that you are happy here on earth, and that
you will be happy hereafter throughout all ages.
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