spoke as if she were conscious that Lothair did not possess it.
Assuming that religion was true, for otherwise man would be in a more
degraded position than the beasts of the field, which are not aware of
their own wretchedness, then religion should be the principal occupation
of man, to which all other pursuits should be subservient. The doom of
eternity, and the fortunes of life, cannot be placed in competition.
Our days should be pure, and holy, and heroic -- full of noble thoughts
and solemn sacrifice. Providence, in its wisdom, had decreed that the
world should be divided between the faithful and atheists; the latter
even seemed to predominate. There was no doubt that, if they prevailed,
all that elevated man would become extinct. It was a great trial; but
happy was the man who was privileged even to endure the awful test. It
might develop the highest qualities and the most sublime conduct. If he
were equal to the occasion, and could control and even subdue these sons
of Korah, he would rank with Michael the Archangel.

This was the text on which frequent discourses were delivered to
Lothair, and to which he listened at first with eager, and soon with
enraptured attention. The priestess was worthy of the shrine. Few
persons were ever gifted with more natural eloquence: a command of
language, choice without being pedantic; beautiful hands that fluttered
with irresistible grace; flashing eyes and a voice of melody.

Lothair began to examine himself, and to ascertain whether he possessed
the necessary qualities, and was capable of sublime conduct. His
natural modesty and his strong religious feeling struggled together. He
feared he was not an archangel, and yet he longed to struggle with the
powers of darkness.

One day he ventured to express to Miss Arundel a somewhat hopeful view