e. What course to pursue he did not know.
As far as circumstances permitted, he would help her, but how to
effect this was beyond his present comprehension.

"I have not told thee in vain? Thou wilt aid me?" she inquired.

"My child, I must have time to meditate," answered the Jesuit. "I
cannot give thee advice upon such a weighty matter without due
deliberation; but," he added hastily, "all is safe for a time at
least; thy father is in France."

"I pray God," exclaimed the girl, "that I shall not have reason to
regret opening my heart unto thee. Nay, thou couldst not be so cruel
as to make known what I have told. Swear," she cried in sudden fear,
noting a strange expression on the other's face, "swear thou wilt keep
secret all I have revealed."

"Alarm not thyself," replied the prelate; "what thou hast uttered is
as safe as if 'twere said under the seal of the confessional. Know
further, thou hast told thy trouble to one who will ever cherish the
confidence, even if his help avail thee little. But," added he,
tenderly--in the sincerity of his heart forgetting the sword which
hung at his side--"may the peace of Him whose hand was ready to turn
the water into wine, or raise the widow's son, descend and give thee
relief."

"Thou speakest like a priest," she said.

Garnet started, but quickly replied, "Never could a priest grant thee
absolution with a gladder heart, than I would release thee from this
trouble, were it in my power, and were it the will of God that I
should do so."

"And dost think it is God's will that I suffer thus?"

"Perchance, yes," said he, in a thoughtful voice, as if communing with
himself, "and it may be His decree that many more do groan with thee.
Be not regretful thou has told thy sorrow, for even to confide a grief
is to make it lighter."

"Nay, I do not regret, I think there is little else left me but to
endure; would that I were dead and beyond the touch of sorrow," she
added, with a hopeless sigh.

"Thou shouldst not wish thyself dead, for to do so is to be
unreconciled to the will of God. If this poor hand doth fail to bring
comfort, my prayers shall ever be for strength that thou mayst bear
with fortitude all which the wisdom of heaven deems just to send. Try
to look upon thy grief as a tribute God demands to work out some
mighty project of His own."

"I will try," the girl said, a sad smile coming into her face. "Think
not I am ungrateful for thy words of comfort."

"And n