not any of her vows, nor of her bonds, wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand. And the Lord shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her.'"
"And was not," said Lady Ashton, fiercely and triumphantly breaking in,—"was not our's the case stated in holy writ?—Will this person deny, that the instant her parents heard of the vow, or bond, by which our daughter had bound her soul, we disallowed the same in the most express terms, and informed him by writing of our determination?"
"And is this all?" said Ravenswood, looking at Lucy—"Are you willing to barter sworn faith, the exercise of free-will, and the feelings of mutual affection, to this wretched hypocritical sophistry?"
"Hear him!" said Lady Ashton, looking to the clergyman—"hear the blasphemer!"
"May God forgive him," said Bide-the-bent, "and enlighten his ignorance!"
"Hear what I have sacrificed for you," said Ravenswood, still addressing Lucy,
