The Abbey of Innismoyle A Story of Another Century

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Abbey chapel the hour of prayer, made him whip on his horse to its former pace. CHAPTER V. Since she had ceased to be entirely his pupil, Edith was ace .stomed to spend one hour each day with her confessor: this hour was esteemed a privileged, and was a prized one; it often contributed to while away a dull or tedious hour, to think that the next was to be spent in the company of Father Tennison. For a few days previous to the departure of her cousin, Edith had not availed herself of this privilege; she had spent her time in her own apartments, or sauntered alone and thoughtfully in the park. Father Tennison took no notice of her neglect; but when she resumed her practice, he received, her with his usual affability and affection, and kindly inquired after the cause of her absence: "I have missed you, daughter," said he, and could not find a substitute for the hour usually devoted to you." Edith coloured at the compliment, which at another time would have elated and gratified her more. As their conversation generally turned on subjects connected with literature, Edith did not find it difficult to introduce that, which in fact had brought her to her confessor's apartment. " Father, I met the other day in a book I was read ing, an allusion to a dispute in the church, shortly, I think, after the formation of your holy order; to hint at what I mean will, I know, be sufficient for you, as I am not skilled in such things. Pascal, whom I am so fond of, though I remember you shook your head on seeing me reading him, was opposed to the fathers of your order." I " I know whai you mean, daughter; but how came such things to occupy your mind ? If you have met an allusion to disputes, caused by men who wanted to set up their own judgment, and bring error into the chur...