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peace within, which arose from her truly Christian character shedding its own soft lustre like lamplight over flowers, on every trait of conduct, and showing forth new beauties not else observable.
We scarcely know whether the touching depth, purity and devotedness of her woman's heart is more exquisitely shown in her love to her cousin, or in her affection to her father. So gentle, so disinterested was the former attachment, it is described as "the deepest and holiest feeling of her nature next to her love for her parent. It was love in its gentlest, tenderest, least earthly essence: it was hopeless, for in her humility she had never dreamed of a return. It was unalloyed by any meaner motive of vanity or interest, and surrendered its whole existence in a spirit of the purest and richest devotion." How is this exemplified in the scene with her father on the morning of her marriage with that cousin whom she so utterly loved, and who, though a former attachment rankled in his heart, had been induced, by family reasons, to wed the gentle Constance? "I never dreamt," were her words, "that one so beautiful and gifted could waste a thought on myself; but it was happiness to hope that he might be happy,–to think of him, to pray for him,—and now to know that he loves me (for he would not marry me without);"—how does the pure and trusting nature of woman shine forth in these few simple words!—"yet his love scarcely fills me with a deeper joy than does yours, my father!"
"As the door closed after Lord Norborne, Constance fell on her knees, and half said, half wept a thanksgiving for her entire happiness." Thus in the hour of joy did her Christian feelings bless the Gracious Hand whose Divine support she would soon need in the hour of trial.
