A door leading to the chapel was open, which enabled her
to overhear the conclusion of the sermon. As the preacher's words
fell on her ears, she listened intently, and edged nearer to the
door communicating with the chapel. His message seemed meant
expressly for her. It told her that, despite anything anyone might
presume to urge to the contrary, God was ever the loving Father of
His children; that He rejoiced when they rejoiced, suffered when
they sorrowed; however much the faint-hearted might be led to
believe that the world was ruled by remorseless law, that much faith
and a little patience would enable even the veriest sinner to see
how the seemingly cruellest inflictions of Providence were for the
sufferer's ultimate good, and, therefore, happiness.
Presently, when the rain stopped, Mavis came away feeling mentally
refreshed. As is usual with those in trouble, she applied anything
pertinent she read or heard about sorrow to herself. The fact of her
intercourse with Perigal having been in the nature of deadly sin did
not trouble her so much as might have been expected. She felt that
God would understand, and believed that to know all was to forgive
all.
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