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Ah! in what a monstrous moment of pride and passion he had prayed

that the portrait should bear the burden of his days, and he keep

the unsullied splendour of eternal youth! All his failure had

been due to that. Better for him that each sin of his life had

brought its sure swift penalty along with it. There was

purification in punishment. Not "Forgive us our sins" but "Smite

us for our iniquities" should be the prayer of man to a most just

God.