When alone, she knelt down before an ivory image of the Blessed Virgin and prayed--not to the polished ivory--but to the Mother of purity whose intercession it suggested, with a fervency and constancy which only they venture to ridicule who cannot record the virtues of Mary without a sneer.
Though not apprehensive, Father Omehr was pleased to learn from Linda that the knife had not been poisoned.

Gilbert's eye brightened at the intelligence, though he had not given utterance to his fears--_fears_ they were--for even the young and brave recoil in terror from death, when it assumes a form and hovers near in a detested shape.

Having informed the youth that a messenger had been despatched to his father, the priest left Gilbert in charge of the sacristan, and proceeded on his daily errand of mercy through the neighborhood.

By men like him, fervent, fearless, faithful, the rude Northern hordes were induced to abandon their idolatry, and embrace the faith of the Church of Rome.
These noble missionaries slowly but surely prepared the canvas on which were afterward laid, in colors of enduring brightness, the features of Christian civilization.
When Father Omehr returned, Gilbert was asleep.

The sacristan put in his hands a letter from a distinguished prelate, informing him of the nomination of Henry, canon of Verdun, by Henry IV.
"O God, protect Thy holy Church!" exclaimed the missionary, crushing the paper in his excitement.