177 , MARGARET GODOLPHIN, an altar, she wrote -" Be this the symbol of in- violable friendship : Marg : Blagge, 16th October, 1672,-For my brother E.," and handed it to Evelyn with a smile. Their respective ages war- ranted the request ; and from thenceforth he looked upon the young maid of honour " as his child," assisting her with his experience and advice. He was enabled to materially aid her in pecuniary affairs, for shortly after, she entrusted the management of her small fortune to his care, and he found on investigation, that she lay in danger of losing her income. He was enabled to assist her, too, in many spiritual dilemmas. Finding that she was allowing herself to be drawn into an undue austerity in prayer, fast, and vigil, he would " reprove her tire- some methods," and endeavour to dissuade her from an idea she was beginning to entertain that the more laborious forms and ceremonies she went through, the more acceptable Christian she would become. He frequently objected to her constant fasting, telling her it would injure her health, although she laughingly assured him that " she was as strong as a lion." For several years she kept the Lent with such strictness that at length she really did impair her health and delicate constitution, and was obliged to relax her self-imposed rule. Her habits of devotion were such that every Sunday, " were it never so dark, wet, or uncomfortable, during the severity of winter," she would attend 24
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