"In the dreadful situation in which the woman was placed, such
language as this shocked the Chaplain; he appealed in vain to the
Prisoner's sense of propriety. 'You don't understand women,' she
answered. 'The greatest saint of my sex that ever lived likes to
look at a preacher as well as to hear him. If he is an agreeable
man, he has all the greater effect on her. This preacher's voice
told me he was kind-hearted; and I had only to look at his
beautiful eyes to see that he was trustworthy and true.'

"It was useless to repeat a protest which had already failed.
Recklessly and flippantly as she had described it, an impression
had been produced on her. It occurred to the Chaplain that he
might at least make the attempt to turn this result to her own
religious advantage. He asked whether she would receive
the Minister, if the reverend gentleman came to the prison.
'That will depend,' she said, 'on whether you answer some
questions which I want to put to you first.' The Chaplain
consented; provided always that he could reply with propriety
to what she asked of him. Her first question only related to
himself.

"She said: 'The women who watch me tell me that you are
a widower, and have a family of children. Is that true?'

"The Chaplain answered that it was quite true.

"She alluded next to a report, current in the town, that
the Minister had resigned the pastorate. Being personally
acquainted with him, the Chaplain was able to inform her that
his resignation had not yet been accepted. On hearing this, she