the manly manner in which he had seen both French and Italian gentlemen enter their always open churches to partake the service of the hour, saying to himself, "let their religion be what it may, they are not ashamed of it, as we English too often are;" and he now determined to examine that which he professed as an Englishman.
The result was a full conviction that he never could become a good Catholic—he could love and honour many who professed the religion; and he could allow, unblamed, the wife of his bosom to hold its tenets, obey its precepts, and submit in part to its discipline—beyond this he could not go; and he well knew, that much less than this would be perfectly satisfactory to Count Riccardini.
Year after year passed by, and twice in each year had Glentworth spent several weeks in the same house with Margarita, either relighting the taper of passion, or confirming the warm admiration her distinguished talents and her virtuous conduct elicited: his esteem for her was perfect, and, although time tamed down in them both the more ardent portion of their love, the tenacity of their attachment seemed rather to increase, for the Countess had found it utterly impossible, even with the aid of the confessor, to make her daughter resign those dear interviews so fatal to her peace, even when she had proved they answered no end, save to feed
those flames which burn
To light the dead, and warm the funeral urn
