| And there
they stood, the only pair, as it seemed,
who were yet hesitating on the verge of wickedness
in this dark world. A basin was hollowed,
naturally, in the rock. Did it contain water,
reddened by the lurid light? or was it blood?
or, perchance, a liquid flame? Herein did
the shape of evil dip his hand and prepare
to lay the mark of baptism upon their foreheads,
that they might be partakers of the mystery
of sin, more conscious of the secret guilt
of others, both in deed and thought, than
they could now be of their own. The husband
cast one look at his pale wife, and Faith
at him. What polluted wretches would the
next glance show them to each other, shuddering
alike at what they disclosed and what they
saw!
"Faith! Faith!" cried the husband, "look
up to heaven, and resist the wicked one."
|
|
|
