Читать книгу Cherry & Violet: A Tale of the Great Plague онлайн

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“But is it not an extraordinary Thing, now,” saith he to my Mother, “that they should, except for the Sake of catching a Man in his Talk, so hardly insist on the literal Acceptance of a Dogma which they themselves must know they overstrain? For would one of them dare to pray that his Father or Mother might come to Life again in this present World, however much he might long to see them in the Body? Or that all Jews, Infidels, and Heretics, might be converted this very Moment, however desirable a Thing it might be? We do the Word of God Dishonour and make it of none Effect when we interpret by the Letter instead of the Spirit.”

In this Fashion would the excellent Master Blower vouchsafe to converse with my Mother in my Hearing, much to her Edification and mine. Meantime Violet Armytage was much more given to Flirting than Preaching; and had more Admirers than any Girl on the Bridge; but the Man whom she and her Mother were chiefly desirous she should captivate was no Admirer of hers at all. This was Hugh Braidfoot, the Glover, who lived next Door to us; and who talked the Matter over with my Father very freely when they had the Shop to themselves; I sewing in the Parlour behind.