tion at the Convent door. This was
granted without difficulty: His sweet voice, and in spite of his
patched eye, his engaging countenance, won the heart of the good old
Porteress, who, aided by a Lay-Sister, was busied in serving to each
his Mess. Theodore was bad to stay till the Others should depart, and
promised that his request should then be granted. The Youth desired no
better, since it was not to eat Soup that He presented himself at the
Convent. He thanked the Porteress for her permission, retired from the
Door, and seating himself upon a large stone, amused himself in tuning
his Guitar while the Beggars were served.

As soon as the Crowd was gone, Theodore was beckoned to the Gate, and
desired to come in. He obeyed with infinite readiness, but affected
great respect at passing the hallowed Threshold, and to be much daunted
by the presence of the Reverend Ladies. His feigned timidity flattered
the vanity of the Nuns, who endeavoured to reassure him. The Porteress
took him into her awn little Parlour: In the meanwhile, the Lay-Sister
went to the Kitchen, and soon returned with a double portion of Soup,
of better quality than what was given to the Beggars. His Hostess
added some fruits and confections from her own private store, and Both
encouraged the Youth to dine heartily. To all these attentions He
replied with much seeming gratitude, and abundance of blessings upon
his benefactresses. While He ate, the Nuns admired the delicacy of his
features, the beauty of his hair, and the sweetness and grace which
accompanied all his actions. They lamented to each other in whispers,
that so charming a Youth should be exposed to the seductions of the
World, and agreed, that He would be a worthy Pillar of the Catholic
Church. They concluded their conference by resolving that Heaven would
be rendered a real service if they entreated the Prioress to intercede
with Ambrosio for the Beggar's admission into the order of Capuchins.

This being determined, the Porteress, who was a person of great
influence in the Convent, posted away in all haste to the Domina's
Cell. Here She made so flaming a narrative of Theodore's merits that
the old Lady grew curious to see him. Accordingly, the Porteress was
commissioned to convey him to the Parlour grate. In the interim, the
supposed Beggar was sifting the Lay-Sister with respect to the fate of
Agnes: Her evidence only corroborated the Domina's assertions. She
said that Ag