1 Aaron- Man of Holiness

"How often have I told you, that you should never interrupt when someone is speaking!?" Martha rebuked.

"Tell me, why such a crowd is assembled today in Cathedral?" Agatha asked without even listening to Martha.

"How can you possibly be this ignorant? Didn't you see the notice yesterday that Aaron will be joining our church from today? You have heard of him rig..."

"Alas! My mind is already full of my own issues that I am not so informed of what is going in the rest of the world. Before now, I had never heard his name." Cutting Martha before she could even finish, Agatha replied.

"Right now everyone is talking about him. It seems like he had some kind of charm that can fascinate everyone who hears his voice; and not having attended his guest lectures myself before, I am astonished at the enthusiasm which he has caused. The adoration paid to him by students and other professors, by man and woman is unexampled. He is known through the entire city by the name of the "Man of Holiness"." Martha praised.

"Undoubtedly he is of noble origin…"

"That… actually he is a discarded child. Late Father Joseph found him at the Big Church's door when he was an infant. Some attempts were made to discover his origin but all the attempts were vain. Then he was educated in the there, where he has remained ever since. He showed a strong inclination for study. No one has ever appeared to claim him or clear up the mystery which conceals his birth.

He is now twenty years old, every hour of which period has been passed in study, total seclusion from the world. His knowledge is said to be the most profound, his eloquence the most persuasive. In the whole course of his life, he has never been known to transgress a single rule of his order. You can't even discover a single stain on his character. The common people, therefore esteem him as Saint.'

"That's all needed for him to be called 'Saint'?!" enquired Agatha; "Then, I am also a saint."

"Shut up! Both of you." exclaimed Leola;" These are not fit subjects for young women to handle. You seem to…"

Luckily for Agatha, before her aunt could even start lecturing her, the announcement was made of the arrival of today's guest.

Don Leola rose from her seat to take a better view of him, and Agatha followed her example.

A young man entered the hall. He had a commanding presence around him. His stature was lofty, his features were uncommonly handsome. His nose was aquiline, his eyes large black and sparkling. His complexion was of a deep but clear brown.

Tranquility reigned upon his smooth unwrinkled forehead; and content expressed upon every feature, seemed to announce the man equally unacquainted with cares and crimes.

After reaching in front of the crowd, he bowed himself with humility to the audience.

There was a certain severity in his look and manner that inspired universal awe, and few could sustain the glance of his fiery eyes at first. Those eyes penetrated deep in the soul of others, making them feel like an open book in front of him.

Agatha, while she gazed upon him eagerly, she felt a pleasure fluttering in her bosom which was unknown to her till then.

She waited with impatience for him to speak and when he started, the sound of his voice seemed to penetrate into her very soul. Though no other of the spectators felt such violent sensations as did the young Agatha, yet every one listened with interest and emotion. Even those who were insensible to the subject's merits before were still enchanted with Aaron's oratory. All found their attention irresistibly attracted while he spoke, and the most profound silence reined inside the crowded hall.

Even Lancelot could not resist the charm. He forgot that Agatha was seated near him, and listened to the preacher with undivided attention.

The Monk expatiated on the beauties of religion. He explained some abstruse parts of the sacred writings in a style that carried with it universal conviction. His voice at once distinct and deep was fraught with all the terrors of the tempest, while he inveighed against the vices of humanity, and described the punishments reserved for them in a future state. Every hearer looked back upon his past offenses and trembled. The Thunder seemed to roll, whose bolt was destined to crush him, and the abyss of eternal destruction to open before his feet.

But when Aaron, changing his theme, spoke of the excellence of an unsullied conscience, of the glorious prospect which Eternity presented to the Soul untainted with reproach, and of the recompense which awaited it in the regions of everlasting glory, His Auditors felt their scattered spirits insensibly return.

They threw themselves with confidence upon the mercy of their Judge; They hung with delight upon the consoling words of the Preacher; and while his full voice swelled into melody, They were transported to those happy regions which He painted to their imaginations in colors so brilliant and glowing.

The discourse was of considerable length; yet when it concluded, the audience grieved that it had not lasted longer. Though the Monk had ceased to speak, enthusiastic silence still prevailed through the Church: At length, the charm gradually dissolving, the general admiration was expressed in audible terms. As Aaron descended from the podium, his audience crowded round him, loaded him with blessings, threw themselves at his feet, and kissed the hem of his garment. He passed on slowly with his hands crossed devoutly upon his bosom, to the door opening, at which other monks waited to receive him.

He ascended the steps, and then turning towards his followers, addressed to them a few words of gratitude, and exhortation.

Agatha 's eyes followed him with anxiety. As the door closed after him, it seemed to her as had she lost someone essential to her happiness. A tear stole in silence down her cheek.

"He is separated from the world!" She said to herself; "Perhaps, I shall never see him more!"

As she wiped away the tear, Lancelot observed her action.

"Are you satisfied with our orator?" He said; "Or do you think that everyone overrates his talents?"

Agatha 's heart was so filled with admiration for the Monk, that she eagerly seized the opportunity of speaking of him: Besides, as she now no longer considered Lancelot as an absolute stranger, She was less embarrassed by her excessive timidity.

"Oh! He far exceeds all my expectations" She answered; "Till this moment I had no idea of the powers of eloquence. But when he spoke, his voice inspired me with such interest, such esteem, I might almost say such affection for him, that I am myself astonished at the acuteness of my feelings."

Lancelot smiled at her expressions.

"You are young and just entering into life," He said; "Your heart is new to the world and full of warmth and sensibility, receives its first impressions with eagerness. Artless yourself, you do not suspect others of deceit; and view the world through the medium of your own truth and innocence; you fancy all who surround you to deserve your confidence and esteem. What pity, that these innocent visions must soon be dissipated! What pity, that you must soon discover the baseness of mankind, and guard yourself against your foes!"

"Alas!" replied Agatha ; "The misfortunes of my parents have already placed before me but too many sad examples of the perfidy of the world! Yet surely in the present instance, the warmth of sympathy cannot have deceived me."

"In the present instance, I allow that it has not. Aaron's character is perfect without reproach; and a man who has passed the whole of his life within the walls of a Convent cannot have found the opportunity to be guilty.

But now, when, obliged by the duties of his situation, He must enter occasionally into the world, and be thrown into the way of temptation, it is now that it behooves him to show the brilliance of his virtue. The trial is dangerous; He is just at that period of life when the passions are most vigorous, unbridled, and despotic; His established reputation will mark him out to seduction as an illustrious victim; Novelty will give additional charms to the allurements of pleasure; and even the talents with which nature has endowed him will contribute to his ruin, by facilitating the means of obtaining his object. Very few could return victorious from a contest so severe."

"Ah! Surely Aaron will be one of those few."

"Of that, I myself have no doubt: By all accounts, he is an exception to mankind in general, and envy would seek in vain for a blot upon his character."

"You delight me by this assurance! It encourages me to indulge my prepossession in his favor; Ah! Dearest Aunt, entreat my mother to choose him for our Confessor.'

"I entreat her?' replied Leola

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