Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 1).djvu/221

 On entering the apartment he had quitted the preceding evening, he found Father Ambrose alone, refreshments before him, and having inquired of the other his name and rank in life, he began to launch forth in the praise of a monastic life, as the only asylum from trouble and pain; that abstracted from the world, its hopes and fears, the holy Fathers fixed their thoughts on things above, where no cares or disappointments could attend their hopes or desires. He harangued so long, and so eloquently on the subject, that, had not the advice of Father Joseph guarded his mind from the fascination of the picture of contentment held to his view, it is more than probable that Ferdinand, under the impression of his present vexations, might have been induced to end his travels, and have fixed himself for life in that solitary mansion; but already pre-possessed, the avenues to his heart were closed, and the eloquence of the Superior was exerted in vain: He heard him, however, with complaisance, but alleged absolute necessity for his departure, as