Then I withdrew from both.

I thought it was the will of God.

I felt myself commanded to a living death--dead to every friend and kinsman--dead to every thing but my degradation and its punishment; and yet consciously close to you, near to all old haunts and familiar faces--lost to them all--lost to my child--" Her voice faltered, and the tears gushed from her eyes.

"But I persevered.

The old passionate pride was changed to a kind of religious frenzy.