of humility: But no sooner
had her eye glanced over the contents, than her resentment baffled all
the efforts of Hypocrisy. A deep crimson spread itself over her face,
and She darted upon Lorenzo looks of rage and menace.

'This order is positive,' said She in a voice of anger, which She in
vain strove to disguise; 'Willingly would I obey it; But unfortunately
it is out of my power.'

Lorenzo interrupted her by an exclamation of surprize.

'I repeat it, Segnor; to obey this order is totally out of my power.
From tenderness to a Brother's feelings, I would have communicated the
sad event to you by degrees, and have prepared you to hear it with
fortitude. My measures are broken through: This order commands me to
deliver up to you the Sister Agnes without delay; I am therefore
obliged to inform you without circumlocution, that on Friday last, She
expired.'

Lorenzo started back with horror, and turned pale. A moment's
recollection convinced him that this assertion must be false, and it
restored him to himself.

'You deceive me!' said He passionately; 'But five minutes past since
you assured me that though ill She was still alive. Produce her this
instant! See her I must and will, and every attempt to keep her from
me will be unavailing.'

'You forget yourself, Segnor; You owe respect to my age as well as my
profession. Your Sister is no more. If I at first concealed her
death, it was from dreading lest an event so unexpected should produce
on you too violent an effect. In truth, I am but ill repaid for my
attention. And what interest, I pray you, should I have in detaining
her? To know her wish of quitting our society is a sufficient reason
for me to wish her absence, and think her a disgrace to the Sisterhood
of St. Clare: But She has forfeited my affection in a manner yet more
culpable. Her crimes were great, and when you know the cause of her
death, you will doubtless rejoice, Don Lorenzo, that such a Wretch is
no longer in existence. She was taken ill on Thursday last on
returning from confession in the Capuchin Chapel. Her malady seemed
attended with strange circumstances; But She persisted in concealing
its cause: Thanks to the Virgin, we were too ignorant to suspect it!
Judge then what must have been our consternation, our horror, when She
was delivered the next day of a stillborn Child, whom She immediately
followed to the Grave. How, Segnor? Is it possible that your
countenance expresses no