登陆注册
5168000000020

第20章

"Then I have to speak before two gentlemen who, however they may differ from me in faith, are yet fully impressed with the fact that there are evil powers going about continually to take cognizance of our evil thoughts: and, if their Master gives them power, to bring them into overt action.Such is my theory of the nature of that sin, which I dare not disbelieve--as some sceptics would have us do--the sin of witchcraft.Of this deadly sin, you and I are aware, Bridget Fitzgerald has been guilty.Since you saw her last, many prayers have been offered in our churches, many masses sung, many penances undergone, in order that, if God and the holy saints so willed it, her sin might be blotted out.But it has not been so willed.""Explain to me," said I, "who you are, and how you come connected with Bridget.Why is she at Antwerp? I pray you, sir, tell me more.

If I am impatient, excuse me; I am ill and feverish, and in consequence bewildered."There was something to me inexpressibly soothing in the tone of voice with which he began to narrate, as it were from the beginning, his acquaintance with Bridget.

"I had known Mr.and Mrs.Starkey during their residence abroad, and so it fell out naturally that, when I came as chaplain to the Sherburnes at Stoney Hurst, our acquaintance was renewed; and thus Ibecame the confessor of the whole family, isolated as they were from the offices of the Church, Sherburne being their nearest neighbour who professed the true faith.Of course, you are aware that facts revealed in confession are sealed as in the grave; but I learnt enough of Bridget's character to be convinced that I had to do with no common woman; one powerful for good as for evil.I believe that Iwas able to give her spiritual assistance from time to time, and that she looked upon me as a servant of that Holy Church, which has such wonderful power of moving men's hearts, and relieving them of the burden of their sins.I have known her cross the moors on the wildest nights of storm, to confess and be absolved; and then she would return, calmed and subdued, to her daily work about her mistress, no one witting where she had been during the hours that most passed in sleep upon their beds.After her daughter's departure--after Mary's mysterious disappearance--I had to impose many a long penance, in order to wash away the sin of impatient repining that was fast leading her into the deeper guilt of blasphemy.She set out on that long journey of which you have possibly heard--that fruitless journey in search of Mary--and during her absence, my superiors ordered my return to my former duties at Antwerp, and for many years I heard no more of Bridget.

"Not many months ago, as I was passing homewards in the evening, along one of the streets near St.Jacques, leading into the Meer Straet, I saw a woman sitting crouched up under the shrine of the Holy Mother of Sorrows.Her hood was drawn over her head, so that the shadow caused by the light of the lamp above fell deep over her face; her hands were clasped round her knees.It was evident that she was some one in hopeless trouble, and as such it was my duty to stop and speak.I naturally addressed her first in Flemish, believing her to be one of the lower class of inhabitants.She shook her head, but did not look up.Then I tried French, and she replied in that language, but speaking it so indifferently, that I was sure she was either English or Irish, and consequently spoke to her in my own native tongue.She recognized my voice; and, starting up, caught at my robes, dragging me before the blessed shrine, and throwing herself down, and forcing me, as much by her evident desire as by her action, to kneel beside her, she exclaimed:

"'O Holy Virgin! you will never hearken to me again, but hear him;for you know him of old, that he does your bidding, and strives to heal broken hearts.Hear him!'

"She turned to me.

"'She will hear you, if you will only pray.She never hears ME: she and all the saints in heaven cannot hear my prayers, for the Evil One carries them off, as he carried that first away.O, Father Bernard, pray for me!'

"I prayed for one in sore distress, of what nature I could not say;but the Holy Virgin would know.Bridget held me fast, gasping with eagerness at the sound of my words.When I had ended, I rose, and, making the sign of the Cross over her, I was going to bless her in the name of the Holy Church, when she shrank away like some terrified creature, and said -"'I am guilty of deadly sin, and am not shriven.'

"'Arise, my daughter,' said I, 'and come with me.' And I led the way into one of the confessionals of St.Jaques.

"She knelt; I listened.No words came.The evil powers had stricken her dumb, as I heard afterwards they had many a time before, when she approached confession.

"She was too poor to pay for the necessary forms of exorcism; and hitherto those priests to whom she had addressed herself were either so ignorant of the meaning of her broken French, or her Irish-English, or else esteemed her to be one crazed--as, indeed, her wild and excited manner might easily have led any one to think--that they had neglected the sole means of loosening her tongue, so that she might confess her deadly sin, and, after due penance, obtain absolution.But I knew Bridget of old, and felt that she was a penitent sent to me.I went through those holy offices appointed by our Church for the relief of such a case.I was the more bound to do this, as I found that she had come to Antwerp for the sole purpose of discovering me, and making confession to me.Of the nature of that fearful confession I am forbidden to speak.Much of it you know;possibly all.

同类推荐
  • 佛灭度后棺敛葬送经

    佛灭度后棺敛葬送经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 六因条辨

    六因条辨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 阴丹内篇

    阴丹内篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE

    THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 吴越备史

    吴越备史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 哈佛优等生的学习方法和培养细节

    哈佛优等生的学习方法和培养细节

    哈佛优等生的成功.除了他们有一套行之有效的学习方法之外,还取决于他们在点滴之间培养起来的智慧和能力。本书汲取百年哈佛培养优等生的经典智慧,全方位、多角度地对哈佛优等生的学习方法和培养细节进行了细致的阐释和归纳。旨在为广大青少年和家长朋友们提供一个可以借鉴和学习的读本。
  • 重生之霸道皇太后

    重生之霸道皇太后

    一碗毒药,一场阴谋,杜妤被至亲毒害,葬于地下皇陵。再次醒来,时光倒流回五年前。她是柔弱少女,伯父溺宠,姐妹情深,青梅竹马相伴。杜妤冷看所有人假面和善,揣着滔天的仇恨,怀中一把利刃,笑看天下人。上辈子她死,这被子就只能你们亡……
  • 九道星劫

    九道星劫

    人世间,上苍之间,无数的星辰,回旋流转。一个少年,识海星辰,从零开始,世界的王者之路,从这里开始!
  • 饮食细节决定健康

    饮食细节决定健康

    越来越多的医学专家告诉我们:食物是最好的医药!可是我们身边的很多人,却不知如何正确使用我们身边熟知的食物,不知如何在饮食细节中学会养生,这不能不说是一种悲哀!事实上,只有吃对食物才能治对病。为此,我们借鉴了很多医学专家的建议编著了《饮食细节决定健康》一书,本书的宗旨是为了让更多的人了解更多的饮食细节,以在食物中获得合理的营养。因为只有获得合理的营养及掌握正确的饮食细节才能有效增进人体健康,而不注重饮食的细节就会引起疾病。全书布局合理,内容真实准确,语言通俗易懂,是广大读者梦寐以求的一部食用宝典。
  • 奸臣上位手扎:与凰为盟

    奸臣上位手扎:与凰为盟

    一场变故,沈家全族尽被处死。作为沈家出嫁女的母亲被送佛堂。顾华采亦因“养病”为由而被送离上京。生活艰苦?被人欺凌?与猪狗为伍?这些都没什么,她只想好好活着。然而——前有心思歹毒的继母。后有深藏不露的父亲。外带一堆别有用心的姐姐妹妹。顾五小姐表示:我也很无奈。
  • 靖佳皇后

    靖佳皇后

    为了拯救战乱中的姐妹,她屈辱的委身给了敌国的皇帝,也为了可怜的姐妹们,她成了他的妃子。她以为自己不会爱上他,但在金殿之上,坐在他的身边,看着一地向他和她参拜的,他宠幸过的美人时。她竟有些不舒服,“怎么这么多……真是种猪!”
  • 无限幻想降临

    无限幻想降临

    这天我终身难忘………(回忆中)我……居然变成了了一只蝙蝠,还是假面骑士Kiva中的那只KivatBatⅢ世!(不敢置信)我在想,我下半生的幸福怎么办?(思考人生)对了,我还有一个主角必备的金手指系统,它能带我穿梭世界。等等,为什么这个感到十分面熟啊?话说不是假面骑士世界吗?!导演?导演!
  • ninepercent从此余笙

    ninepercent从此余笙

    我的少年百分九,长腿完颜全都有,锦绣花路一起走,nine's陪你到永久。
  • 锦衣王侯

    锦衣王侯

    本是京剧演员,穿越至大明正德年间,成为一名世袭锦衣。江山变幻,荣衰谁主。喝一杯满殿香,且看那红尘俗景。嚼一块虎皮肉,且听那雨打浮萍。哼一曲临江仙,且随那风起云涌。呼一声大丈夫当如是,这才要独掌权衡。且看锦衣缇骑,股肱心腹,鲜衣怒马,绣春刀出……
  • 韩娱之我为搞笑狂

    韩娱之我为搞笑狂

    杯具的人生不需要解释,莫名的魂穿成棒子,莫名的被夺舍,莫名的被逼当搞笑艺人,罗凤恩带你领略2017的韩娱故事。 2017年女团盛世已经过去,曾经盛极一时的女团也逐渐凋零。少女时代经过队员退团,解约,恋爱,结婚等一系列的冲击已是昨日黄花。生在傻帽公司给了少女时代坚实的后盾和更广阔的天空,当她们人气不在时带给她们的是悲哀。 求收藏...求推荐....有啥求啥,因为我什么都没有。本书前期巨坑,如果能坚持下来将会看到什么叫没有最坑只有更坑