"
"In those few words you express the essence of my philosophy."
"There may be," continued Lady Mabel, "as much piety, and certainly
more wisdom, in frankly enjoying the good things given us, than in
despising the world which God made, and rejecting the blessings it
teems with, like these self-tormenting ascetics, the monks and friars
around us."
"Heaven help your simplicity, Lady Mabel! They only pretend to do so,
the hypocrites! Rest assured, every one of these fellows is on the
sly."
"What! No exceptions? Is it true of every one--
'His eyes are set on heaven, his heart on earth?'"
"It fits them to a man!" said the colonel. "Their vocation is securing
to themselves the god things of this world, by promising to others the
blessings of the next: and as for the friars, true to their motto,
_Nihil habentes et omnia possidentes_, they profess to hold no special
property, merely that the whole country might be bound to maintain
them. They know the value of the good things of this life, and how to
enjoy them in a corner."
"These odd-looking monks and friars attract me much," said Lady Mabel:
"perhaps they will not bear a close inspection; but, with all my
prejudice against them, I must own, that many seem truly devout, and
the friars, at least, very zealous in their labors among the people.
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