he noise of the well-known
machinery was heard; the revolution of wheels and the play of the
dreadful mechanism raised ominous echoes throughout the subterrane.
Another victim came: all the cells were tenanted: and the new-comer was
therefore lodged with Flora, whose own grief was partially forgotten, or
at all events mitigated, in the truly Christian task of consoling a
fellow-sufferer.

Thus it was that the Countess of Arestino and Flora Francatelli became
companions in the Carmelite convent.

At first the wretched Giulia gave way to her despair, and refused all
comfort. But so gentle, so willing, so softly fascinating were the ways
of the beautiful Flora, and so much sincerity did the charming girl
manifest in her attempts to revive that frail but drooping flower which
had been thrown as it were at her feet; at the feet of her, a pure
though also drooping rosebud of innocence and beauty: so earnest did the
maiden seem in her disinterested attentions, that Giulia yielded to the
benign influence, and became comparatively composed.

But mutual confidence, that outpouring of the soul's heavy secrets,
which so much alleviates the distress of the female mind, did not spring
up between the countess and Flora; because the former shrank from
revealing the narrative of her frailty, and the latter chose not to
impart her love for the young Count of Riverola. Nevertheless, the
countess gave her companion to understand that she had friends without,
who were acquainted with the fact of her removal to the Carmelite
convent, and on whose fidelity as well as a resolute valor she could
reckon; for the promise made to her by the robber-captain, and the idea
that the Marquis of Orsini would not leave her to the dreadful fate of
eternal seclusion in that place, flashed to her mind when the first
access of despair had passed.

Flora was delighted to hear that such a hope animated the Countess of
Arestino: and throwing herself at her feet, she said, "Oh! lady,
should'st thou have the power to save me----"

"Thinkest thou that I would leave thee here, in this horrible dungeon?"
interrupted the countess, raising Flora from her suppliant position on
the cold pavement of the cell, and embracing her. "No, if those on whom
I rely fulfill the hope that we have entertained we shall go forth
together. And, oh!" added the countess, "were all Florence to rise up
against this accursed institution, pillage it, and sack it, and raze it
to the grou