above. It was in this way that the deacon had arrived at his preferment in
the meeting. He had all the usual sectarian terms at the end of his
tongue; never uttered a careless expression; was regular at meeting;
apparently performed all the duties that his church required of its
professors, in the way of mere religious observances; yet was he as far
from being in that state which St. Paul has described succinctly as "for
me to live in Christ, and to die is gain," as if he had been a pagan. It
was not the love of God that was active in his soul, but the love of self;
and he happened to exhibit his passion under these restrained and
deceptive forms, simply because he had been born and educated in a state
of society where they composed an integral part of existence. Covetousness
was the deacon's besetting sin; and, as it is a vice that may be pretty
well concealed, with a little attention to appearances, it was the less
likely to expose him to comments than almost any other sin. It is true,
that the neighbourhood sometimes fancied him 'close,' or, as they
expressed it, "cluss," and men got to look sharply to their own interests
in their dealings with him; but, on the whole, there was perhaps more
reason to apprehend, in such a community, that the example of so good a
man should be accepted as authority, than that his acts should impeach his
character, or endanger his standing.

Very different were the situation, feelings, and motives of the niece. She
devoutly loved God, and, as a consequence, all of those whom he had
created, and placed around her. Her meek and gentle spirit led her to
worship in sincerity and truth; and all that she thought, said, and did,
was under the correction of the principles such motives could best
produce. Her woman's love for Roswell Gardiner, alone troubled her
otherwise happy and peaceful existence. That, indeed, had caused her more
than once to falter in her way; but she struggled with the weakness, and
had strong hopes of being able to overcome it. To accept of any other man