Orsaro, Feast of Saint Gingo.
My dear Molly,--The Earl of Guzeberry, that leaves this to-day for
England, kindly offers to take charge of my letters to you; and so I
write "Favored by his Lordship" on the outside, just that you may show
the neighbors, and teach them Davises the respect they ought to show us,
if it 's ever our misfortune to meet.
The noble Lord was here doing his penances with us for the last
three weeks, and is now my most intimate friend on earth. He 's the
kindest-hearted creature I ever met, and always doing good works, of
one sort or other; and whenever not sticking nails in his own flesh, or
pulling hairs out of his beard or eyelashes, always ready to chastise a
friend!
We came here to see the wonderful Virgin of Orsaro, and beg her
intercession for us all, but more especially for K. I., whose temper
proves clearly that there's what Father James calls a "possession of
him;" that is to say, "he has devils inside of him." The whole account
of the saint herself--her first manifestation and miraculous doings--you
'll find in the little volume that accompanies this, written, as you
will see, by your humble servant. Lord G. gave me every assistance in
his power; and, indeed, but for him and Father James, it might have
taken years to finish it; for I must tell you, Molly, bad as Berlin-work
is, it 's nothing compared to writing a book; for when you have the wool
and the frame, it's only stitching it in, but with a book you have to
arrange your thoughts, and then put them down; after that, there 's the
grammar to be minded, and the spelling, and the stops; and many times,
where you think it's only a comma, you have come to your full period! I
assure you I went through more with that book--little as it is--than in
all my "observances," some of them very severe ones. First of all, we
had to be so particular about the miracles, knowing well what Protestant
bigotry would do when the account came out. We had to give names and
dates and places, with witnesses to substantiate, and all that could
corroborate the facts. Then we had a difficulty of another kind,--how to
call the Virgin. You may remember how those Exeter Hall wretches spoke
of Our Lady of Rimini,--as the "Winking Virgin." We could n't
say sneezing after that, so we just called her "La Madonna dei
Sospiri,"--"Our Lady of Sighs." To be sure, we can't get the people here
to adopt this title; but that's no consequence as regards England.
By the time the volume reaches you, all Europe will be ringing with the
wonderful tidings; for there are three bishops here, and they have all
signed the "Memoire," recommending special services in honor of the
Virgin, and strongly urging a subscription to build a suitable shrine
for her in this her native village.
You have no idea, dear Molly, of what a blessed frame of mind
these spiritual duties have enabled me to enjoy. How peaceful is my
spirit!--how humble my heart! I turn my thoughts away from earth as
easily as I could renounce rope-dancing; and when I sit of an evening,
in a state of what Lord Guzeberry calls "beatitude," K. I. might have
the cholera without my caring for it.
The season is now far advanced, however, and, to my infinite grief,
we must leave this holy spot, where we have made a numerous and most
valuable acquaintance; for, besides several of the first people of
England, we have formed intimacy with the Duchessa di Sangue Nero,
first lady to the Queen of Naples; the Marquesa di Villa Guasta, a great
leader of fashion in Turin; the "Noncio" at the court of Modena; and a
variety of distinguished Florentines and Romans, who all assure us that
our devotions are the best passports for admission in all the select
houses of Italy.
Mary Anne predicts a brilliant winter before us, and even Cary is all
delight at the prospect of picture galleries and works of art. Is n't it
paying the Protestants off for their insulting treatment of us at home,
Molly, to see all the honor and respect we receive abroad? The tables
are completely turned, my dear; for not one of them ever gets his nose
into the really high society of this country, while we are welcomed
to it with open arms. But if there 's anything sure to get you well
received in the first houses, it is having a convert of rank in your
train. To be the means of bringing a lord over to the true fold is to be
taken up at once by cardinals and princes of all kinds.
As Mary Anne says, "Let us only induce Lord George to enter the Catholic
Church and our fortune is made." And oh, Molly, putting all the pomps
and vanities of this world aside, never heeding the grandeur of this
life, nor caring what men may do to us, is n't it an elegant reflection
to save one poor creature from the dreadful road of destruction and
ruin! I'm sure it would be the happiest day of my life when I could
read in the "Tablet," "We have great satisfaction in announcing to our
readers that Lord George Tiverton, member for"--I forget where--"and son
of the Marquis "--I forget whom,--"yesterday renounced the errors of the
Protestant Church to embrace those of the Church of Rome."
Maybe, now, you 'd like to hear something about ourselves; but I 've
little to tell that is either pleasant or entertaining. You know--or,
at least, you will know from Kitty Doolan--the way K. I. destroyed poor
James, and lost him a beautiful creature and four thousand a year. That
was a blow there's no getting over; and, indeed, I'd have sunk under it
if it was n't for Father James, and the consolation he has been able to
give me. There was an offer came for Caroline. Captain Morris, that you
've heard me speak of, wrote and proposed, which I opened during K. I.'s
illness, and sent him a flat refusal, Molly, with a bit of advice in the
end, about keeping in his own rank of life, and marrying into his own
creed.
Maybe I mightn't have been so stout about rejecting him, for it's the
hardest thing in life to marry a daughter nowadays, but that Father
Giacomo said his Holiness would never forgive me for taking a heretic
into the family, and that it was one of the nine deadly sins.
You may perceive from this, that Father G. is of great use to me when I
need advice and guidance, and, indeed, I consulted him as to whether I
ought to separate from K. I., or not. There are cases of conscience,
he tells me, and cases of convenience. The first are matters for the
cardinals and the Holy College! but the others any ordinary priest can
settle; and this is one of them. "Don't leave him," says he, "for your
means of doing good will only be more limited; and as to your trials,
take out some of your mortifications that way; and, above all, don't be
too lenient to _him_." Ay, Molly, he saw my weak point, do what I would
to hide it; he knew my failing was an easy disposition, and a patient,
submissive turn of mind. But I 'll do my endeavor to conquer it, if it
was only for the poor children's sake; for I know he'd marry again, and
I sometimes suspect I 've hit the one he has his eyes on.
On Friday next we are to leave this for Genoa. It's the end of our
Novena, and we would n't have time for another before the snow sets in;
for though we're in Italy, Molly, the mountains all round us are tipped
with snow, and it's as cold now, when you 're in the shade, as I ever
felt it in Ireland. It's a great tournament at Genoa is taking us there.
There 's to be the King of Saxony, and the King of Bohemia, too, I
believe; for whenever you begin to live in fashionable life, you must
run after royal people from place to place, be seen wherever they
are, and be quite satisfied whenever your name is put down among the
"distinguished company."
I was near forgetting that I want you to get Father John to have my
little book read by the children in our National School; for, as K.
I. is the patron, we have, of course, the right. At all events _I'll_
withdraw if they refuse; and they can't accuse me of illiberality or
bigotry, for I never said a word against the taking away the Bible. Let
them just remember _that!_
Lord Guzeberry is just going, so that I have only time to seal, and sign
myself as ever yours,
Jemima Dodd.
I send you two dozen of the tracts to distribute among our friends. The
one bound in red silk is for Dean O'Dowd, "with the author's devotions
and duties."