as she knelt leaning on a chair in
front of the priest, could with difficulty support herself; her heart
felt bursting; she was nearly fainting; the colour mounted to her cheeks
and brow; she could not lift her eyes from the ground towards the man
who was questioning her. More than once she was inclined to rise and
flee from the room rather than continue to undergo the mental torture
she was suffering. Never afterwards did she look the vicar in the face.
At length the ordeal was over, the _Te absolvo_ was pronounced, and
she, with trembling knees, hanging down her head, tottered to her pew by
the side of her aunt, where she knelt to conceal her features, while
uncontrollable sobs burst from her bosom.

"What's the matter?" whispered Miss Pemberton. "Take my
smelling-bottle. Don't let people hear you; they'll fancy there must be
something very dreadful."

The music that day was unusually good. Several first-rate performers
had been engaged to attend, with three or four clergymen from various
parts of the county. They, in their richest robes, glittering with
embroidery, walked round the church. There were the acolytes with
lighted candles, the thurifer, with the cross-bearer, and others
carrying banners; while the organ played, and the fumes of incense
filled the church. Clara's agitation ceased, but no peace was brought
to her soul. She returned home with her aunt, humbled and more wretched
than she had ever before felt in her life.

CHAPTER FOUR.

Monday morning brought Clara Harry's looked-for letter. She hurried
with it to her room. It was full of love and tenderness, but Harry
expressed his regret at hearing of the changes which had been made in
the church, and still more of the ritualistic practices of the new
vicar.

"I need scarcely urge you, dearest, not to be inveigled by them," he
continued, "as I have often said I cannot conceive a man in his senses
marrying a girl who has submitted to the abominable confession--it must
ultimately deprave her mind, and prevent her from placing that
confidence in her husband which he has a right to expect; while it
proves her ignorance of one of the most vital truths of our holy faith,
that we have a High Priest in heaven, who knows our infirmities, and is
touched by our sorrows, and who is more tender and loving than any human
being, and is ever ready to receive those who come to Him. Oh! do warn
any girls of your acquaintance not to yield to the sophist