r, and all the people
of consequence. After a sojourn of three days, I removed to the convent
of which I was the supposed abbess, and was enthusiastically received by
the nuns, who flocked round me with mingled veneration and delight.

On the second day of my establishment as abbess, the two elder sisters,
who could with difficulty be got rid of even when I retired to bed the
night before, introduced the whole of the nuns in rotation, beginning
with the elder, and ending with those who last took the vow of chastity.
I felt little interest, I must confess, at the commencement of my levee;
but as it came near to a close, many beautiful countenances attracted my
attention and I gave the kiss of peace with more zest than prudence
would have justified. The last of the sisterhood came forward, and was
introduced as Soeur Marie. Gracious Heaven! it was the poor girl whom I
had deserted. I started when I saw her advance: her eyes were bent upon
the ground, as if in reverence to my acknowledged sanctity. As she knelt
before me to receive the kiss, she raised them up. Love can pierce
through all disguises.--At the moment, she thought that she beheld her
fugitive lover, and caught her breath in amazement--but recollection
pointed out to her the utter impossibility of the fact, and she sighed
at the uncommon likeness, as she received the kiss from those lips which
had indeed been so often pressed to hers before.

When the ceremony had been gone through I complained of fatigue, and
requested to be left alone.

I wished to reflect upon what had passed, and determine how I was to
act: to escape the danger which threatened me, I had placed myself in a
situation of still greater difficulty. Where could it end? After a long
reverie, I decided that I would make Marie my confidante, and trust to
circumstances to guide my future conduct. I rang the bell, and,
requesting the presence of the elder sister of the convent, commenced an
inquiry into the different characters of the nuns who had been
presented.

Flattered by the confidence demanded, there was no end to the loquacity
and the ill-natured remarks of the old beldame: she held her list in her
hand, and ran over the families and private history of each. It was two
hours before she had finished, which she did with Marie, of whose
history she gave me a most minute detail; and if she was as correct in
her reports of all the others, I certainly had no reason to compliment
myself upon bei