A Quiet Passion Page #3

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I have. It makes them very cross.

But surely they will forgive you.

Ah, but will I forgive them?

Weren't you at a ladies' seminary

at Fort Sumter or somewhere?

- Mount Holyoke.

- Yes, I thought it had a military ring to it.

But that was years ago.

And were your studies as disciplined?

Algebra, geometry, the natural sciences.

And for the sake of decorum,

ecclesiastical history.

I believe all women should have

the same educational advantages as men.

But ecclesiastical history?

It sounds as dreary as Paradise.

We brought her home.

Did you dislike Mount Holyoke so much?

She was bullied there.

There's bullying and there's coercion.

And which did you suffer?

A unique combination of both.

- It was appalling.

- Yes, but... it puts iron in the soul.

But what is the point of that when,

in the end, we are all extinguished?

- Do you fear death?

- No.

But I fear Heaven.

I'm afraid it will seem like an anticlimax.

Perfection usually does.

- And what of Hell?

I'm sure that will be even duller

than Heaven.

That will be the agony.

Will you go with us to church,

Miss Buffam?

Of course not.

Going to church is like going to Boston.

You only enjoy it

after you've gotten home.

We are to pray for the repose

of our late pastor's soul.

Doesn't that rather depend

on where it's gone?

We shall become fast friends.

Of course we shall. I'm irresistible.

- Everyone says so.

When the new pastor does arrive,

you must point him out to me.

So that you, too, may be saved?

No.

So that I will know whom to avoid.

Don't enjoy your praying too much.

It might become habit-forming.

- Do you come to God, sir?

- We do, sir.

Do you come humbly, sir?

I come as myself, Pastor.

You want to come to Christ as a lawyer?

You need to come as a poor sinner.

Get down on your knees

and let me pray for you.

And then you can pray for yourself.

- And you, Miss Dickinson. What of you?

- What of me, sir?

Will you not kneel

and give yourself to God?

No, sir, I will not kneel.

Though I think that God has

already given Himself to me.

- That was profane.

- It was not meant so, sir.

- Do you guard your soul, Emily?

- As best as I am able, sir.

And Hell? What of Hell?

Avoid it if I can. Endure it if I must.

- That was irreligious, young lady.

- Then I beg God's pardon for my impiety.

Let us pray for all sinners.

How dare you conduct yourself

in such a manner?

It is both unchristian and unseemly!

I will not be forced to piety!

- You will do as you are instructed.

I know your Christian shore is safer,

Father.

And I know I must seem recalcitrant,

but my soul is my own.

Your soul is God's!

You neglect it at your peril.

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