ned the young maiden to the chair.

Flora rose, but fell back again on the seat--for her limbs were stiff in
consequence of the length of time they had been retained in one
position. The nun disappeared by the little door for a few minutes; and,
on her return, presented the wretched girl a cup of cold water. Flora
swallowed the icy beverage, and felt refreshed.

Then, by the light of the lamp in the niche, she hastily examined the
countenance of the nun; but its expression was cold--repulsive--stern:
and Flora knew that it was useless to seek to make a friend of her.

A frightful sense of loneliness, as it were, struck her like an
ice-shaft penetrating to her very soul; and clasping her hands together,
she exclaimed: "Holy Virgin! protect me!"

"No harm will befall you, daughter," said the nun, "if you manifest
contrition for past errors and a resolution to devote your future years
to the service of Heaven."

"My past errors!" repeated Flora, with mingled indignation and
astonishment. "I am not aware that I ever injured a living soul by a
word or deed--nor entertained a thought for which I need to blush!
Neither have I neglected those duties which manifest the gratitude of
mortals for the bounties bestowed upon them by Providence."

"Ah! daughter," exclaimed the nun, "you interpret not your own heart
rightly. Have you never abandoned yourself to those carnal
notions--those hopes--those fears--those dreams of happiness--which
constitute the passion which the world calls love?"

Flora started, and a blush mantled on her cheeks, before so pale!

"You see that I have touched a chord which vibrates to your heart's
core, daughter," continued the nun, on whom that sudden evidence of
emotion was not lost. "You have suffered yourself to be deluded by the
whisperings of that feeling whose tendency was to wean your soul from
Heaven."

"And is it possible that a pure and virtuous love can be construed into
a crime?" demanded the young maiden, her indignation overpowering her
fears.

"A love that is founded on, and fostered by ambition is a sin," replied
the nun. "Marriage is doubtless an institution ordained by Heaven; but
it becomes a curse, and is repulsive to all pious feelings, when it
unites those whose passion is made up of sensuality and selfishness."

"You dare not impute such base considerations to me!" exclaimed Flora,
her cheeks again flushing, but with the glow of conscious innocence
shamefully outraged by