"But this is not Christian submission."
"I am not a Christian, Dr. Browne; you cannot expect from me submission. Do you expect grapes from thorns?"
"Not a Christian, Mrs. Temple?"
"You know I am not a Christian, Dr. Browne! I have never known but one Christian in my life, and that was John Temple."
Dr. Browne felt somewhat scandalized. A member of his church to say boldly she had never known but one Christian, and that Christian a Roman Catholic; was it not incomprehensible? But then Mrs. Temple was not now in her usual mind. Due allowance must be made, and he would seek a more favorable opportunity for renewing the subject. He arose to leave.
"What shall I do, Dr. Browne? I cannot bear day nor night; life is a torture; I cannot bear life, nor can I endure to think of death. O, help me, Dr. Browne."
"Only God can help you, Mrs. Temple, and I pray that His grace may be sufficient for you."
"But you forget that I have no God."
"Mrs. Temple, you are beside yourself. No God?"
"No! He is afar off, or I am shut out from Him. I have never known Him. I cannot pray to Him."