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ality, the spirit of the rules-obedience-these were the only distinctions in the Novitiate, and they redounded to individual credit with the heads of the Society.

Whether in a climate different to that of Britain, a climate where the glow of a more ardent sun sends the blood in quicker motion through the veins, the physical temperament could be repressed as easily as in the austerity of a Novitiate in the north of England, is a question which I will certainly not answer in the affirmative. But still I see no reason to doubt the adaptability of means to ends by the Jesuits, in order to meet the obstacles of climate; particularly in the matter of the second vow. Of the scrupulous purity of my own mind I have spoken. I could not possibly be expected to express an opinion of others in this matter otherwise than favourable. On the other hand, if any particular legislation presupposes crime, I say that the disgusting minuteness of several matters in the lecture on that vow, staggered my belief in the omnipotence of all rules and regulations against depraved nature. That lecture completely disgusted me I shuddered as the Superior read it. I had nothing to write on the slate when we assembled for that purpose in the dormitory; and to my horror-I must speak the fact-to my horror, I say, the whole lecture was minutely repeated on the following day; and, to make the matter worse, the Superior sternly questioned the novice who stood before him as to passages which the latter seemed inclined

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to pass over! There are subjects on which one must speak enigmatically: this is one; and the reader must solve it to his own satisfaction.

All special friendships-all preference for one "brother" more than for another-were strictly proscribed. One day the Superior sent for me; he said, "Brother, I wish to warn you. Brother

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inclined to court your society; treat him coollyavoid his conversation-until he learns to conform to the rules." Strange! I actually felt an affection for the youth that very moment-I felt inclined to love him for his apparent love for me! Of course, the "brother" was lectured for his misdemeanour; but I must confess, I, at least, had not before been conscious that he had any extra affection for my poor self. I was at the time struggling with doubts, and this incident did not allay them. I complied as well as I could with the injunction, but from that day certainly felt more inclined to my "admirer” than to any other "brother." It was only two or three months after, that I left Hodder, and the affection thus sown by the Superior brought forth mutual tears as we parted-perhaps for ever-on that memorable leave-taking which was publicly vouchsafed to me on my departure from the Novitiate. Truly, this last struggle was the greatest; and, had not my mind, as it were, taken arms against my heart on that occasion, I know not how much longer I should have continued "a child of IGNATIUS."

Such a public farewell was not given to any other novice that left-three left during my year-and I

leave it to the Superiors to say what induced them to grant me that signal favour-that favour which well nigh laid me at their mercy once more! ̓Αλλὰ και διανάστησον σεαυτόν. "Rouse thyself!" whispered my mind, and my heart said, "perhaps it was right!"

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CHAPTER XIV.

VISITS FROM FRIENDS.-LETTERS.-FESTIVITIES.STRANGERS' RETREATS.

THE novice must learn to forget his father, mother, brother, sister, and friends; except in his "universal prayer" for the salvation of all mankind. This requisition is at least consistent: a Jesuit must necessarily forswear all the claims of kindred. The Society is everything to him-all the world nothing: that is, of course, as far as the sympathies are concerned. The novelist has invented a strong case, in which the most sacred feeling of our nature-mother's love—is unscrupulously thwarted, resisted, crushed. Whether such a case has ever occurred, or will ever occur, matters not to the question; but such a case, in the circumstances supposed by EUGENE SUE, I believe to be quite in accordance with the spirit of Jesuit policy. The rule of the summary on this subject is, I remember, one of the longest: it mentions all whom we had "to leave" in the world, viz., father, mother, brother, sister, and friends, in order to be adopted by the Society; and the strong words of the rule were

enforced by the stronger words of the lecture thereon. My impression, after that lecture, was that a total oblivion of all human ties was to be the result, and the test of our true vocation to the Society of Jesus; whose well-known words were made to sanction the requirements of IGNATIUS.

In the Novitiate, of course, the novice is only in a state of probation; some relaxation as to the strictness of the letter and the spirit must, therefore, be made: besides, it would not "look well" if all intercourse of friends were interdicted. Permission is therefore, on application, granted by the Superior, to friends and relatives sometimes to visit the novices: except during the great retreat. During that time, some friends from St. Cuthbert's College wished, as I was afterwards informed, to see me; but permission was refused. We saw our friends in a parlour below the Superior's room; and as they generally, if not always, came attended by some of the Jesuits from the college, the meeting was a public one: permission was, however, granted me to accompany my fellow-collegian to some distance on his way back to Stonyhurst. As we always "heard the report" when strangers came, I can say that the visits were very few during my year: whether resulting from application not being made, or refused, I cannot state; nor have I a positive opinion on the subject, unless I appeal to the spirit of the rule and its exposition in the lecture thereon.

The same lecture dwelt with considerable earnestness on the correspondence by letters, which we were

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