contrary, pure and praiseworthy, the heavenly virtues of which
you have given me an example since your abode here would expiate
and ransom, in the eyes of the Lord, any past life, however
culpable. And now, my dear daughter, judge if your modesty ought
not to be reassured."

These words of the abbess were, as you may think, my Clemence,
the more precious for Fleur-de-Marie, as she believed the past
ineffaceable. Unfortunately, this scene had deeply moved her,
and, although she affected calmness and serenity, I saw that her
features altered in a most distressing manner.

"I believe I have convinced you, my dear daughter," said the
Princess Juliana; "and you will not cause so great a grief to
your sisters as to refuse this mark of their confidence and
affection?"

"No, holy mother," she said, with an expression which struck me,
and in a voice more and more feeble, "I think now I may accept;
but as I feel myself fatigued and in pain, if you will permit
it, holy mother, the ceremony of the consecration shall not
take place for a few days."

"As you wish, my dear daughter; but in the meanwhile, until your
dignity is blessed and consecrated, take this ring, come to your
place, and our dear sisters will do you homage according to our
rules."

And the superior, putting the pastoral ring on Fleur-de-Marie's
finger, led her to the abbatial seat. It was a simple and
touching sight. Supported on one side by the grand prioress,
bearing the golden crozier, and on the other by the Princess
Juliana, each of the sisters, as she passed by, made obeisance
to our child, and respectfully kissed her hand. But judge of my
affright when she swooned before the procession of the sisters
was terminated. David had not quitted the convent, and he
hastened to the abbess's apartment, whither we had conveyed her,
and then attended to her.

The superior having returned to close the sitting of the
chapter, I remained alone with my daughter. After looking at me
for some time, she said:

"My dear father, can you forget my ingratitude? Can you forget
that at the moment when I was about to make my painful
confession--when you implored me--"

"Silence! I beseech you!"

"And I did not reflect," she continued, with bitterness, "that,
in telling in the face of all the world from what