raits of the
Domina of St. Clare's character, from a Friend who was educated in the
same Convent with her. She reported her to be haughty, inflexible,
superstitious, and revengeful. I have since heard that She is
infatuated with the idea of rendering her Convent the most regular in
Madrid, and never forgave those whose imprudence threw upon it the
slightest stain. Though naturally violent and severe, when her
interests require it, She well knows how to assume an appearance of
benignity. She leaves no means untried to persuade young Women of rank
to become Members of her Community: She is implacable when once
incensed, and has too much intrepidity to shrink at taking the most
rigorous measures for punishing the Offender. Doubtless, She will
consider your Sister's quitting the Convent as a disgrace thrown upon
it: She will use every artifice to avoid obeying the mandate of his
Holiness, and I shudder to think that Donna Agnes is in the hands of
this dangerous Woman.'

Lorenzo now rose to take leave. Elvira gave him her hand at parting,
which He kissed respectfully; and telling her that He soon hoped for
the permission to salute that of Antonia, He returned to his Hotel.
The Lady was perfectly satisfied with the conversation which had past
between them. She looked forward with satisfaction to the prospect of
his becoming her Son-in-law; But Prudence bad her conceal from her
Daughter's knowledge the flattering hopes which Herself now ventured to
entertain.

Scarcely was it day, and already Lorenzo was at the Convent of St.
Clare, furnished with the necessary mandate. The Nuns were at Matins.
He waited impatiently for the conclusion of the service, and at length
the Prioress appeared at the Parlour Grate. Agnes was demanded. The
old Lady replied, with a melancholy air, that the dear Child's
situation grew hourly more dangerous; That the Physicians despaired of
her life; But that they had declared the only chance for her recovery
to consist in keeping her quiet, and not to permit those to approach
her whose presence was likely to agitate her. Not a word of all this
was believed by Lorenzo, any more than He credited the expressions of
grief and affection for Agnes, with which this account was interlarded.
To end the business, He put the Pope's Bull into the hands of the
Domina, and insisted that, ill or in health, his Sister should be
delivered to him without delay.

The Prioress received the paper with an air