第26部分(第2/7 頁)

s　to　suggest　that　this　may　be　so；　also　incidents　in　the　lives　of　the　saints　occur　to　me；　though　we　are　told　only　of　those　in　which　they　triumphed。　Of　course　if；　by　the　aid　of　terrible　abstinence　or　of　prayer；　every　human　desire　and　frailty　can　be　banished　and　the　mind　can　bee；　so　to　speak；　sterilised　of　all　harmful　thoughts；　then　a　condition　of　absolute　though　negative　virtue　will　be　attained。　Whether　the　virtue　thus　gained　—　if　it　be　possible　to　gain　it　while　even　sleep　and　its　dreams　remain　—　is　of　a　truer　and　higher　quality　than　that　proportion　of　goodness　which　can　be　won；　that　more　soiled　garment　which　must　be　worn　by　him　who　remains　in　the　world　and　bears　the　heat　and　burden　of　its　day；　often　falling；　but　struggling　to　his　feet　again；　sinning；　and　lamenting　his　sins；　striving　to　do　better；　yet　frequently　in　vain；　living　the　full　life；　bringing　others　into　that　life　and；　to　the　best　of　his　ability；　bearing　their　burdens；　doing　here　a　good　and　there；　perhaps；　a　harm；　and　at　length；　filled　with　experience；　departing　penitent　and　mercy…seeking　to　whatever　future　career　may　await　him　—　is　not　for　me　to　say。　Probably　the　question　must　be　answered　in　accordance　with　the　temperament　and　gifts　of　the　questioner。　For　me　it　is　too　hard。　However；　it　is　more　or　less　dealt　with　on　one　side　of　some　of　Sheil’s　remaining　epistles。

The　next　of　these　is　dated　nearly　a　year　later　than　that　which　I　have　quoted：

Mount　St。　Bernard’s　Abbey；　August　3；　1880。

I　thank　you　for　thinking　of　writing　to　tell　me　of　your　marrying；　you　were　right　in　thinking　it　would　interest　me。　If　joy　and　prosperity　came　by　my　wishing　you　would　certainly　have　your　fill　in　all　your　life　to　e。　I　am　glad　you　are　marrying；　as　I　think　it　much　better　for　a　man　than　knocking　about　by　himself。　I　suppo