her brow was ornamented with a sparkling Diadem。 After her
appeared St。 Genevieve； surrounded by a number of Imps； who
putting themselves into grotesque attitudes； drawing her by the
robe； and sporting round her with antic gestures； endeavoured to
distract her attention from the Book； on which her eyes were
constantly fixed。 These merry Devils greatly entertained the
Spectators； who testified their pleasure by repeated bursts of
Laughter。 The Prioress had been careful to select a Nun whose
disposition was naturally solemn and saturnine。 She had every
reason to be satisfied with her choice： The drolleries of the
Imps were entirely thrown away； and St。 Genevieve moved on
without discomposing a muscle。
Each of these Saints was separated from the Other by a band of
Choristers； exalting her praise in their Hymns； but declaring her
to be very much inferior to St。 Clare； the Convent's avowed
Patroness。 These having passed； a long train of Nuns appeared；
bearing like the Choristers each a burning Taper。 Next came the
reliques of St。 Clare； inclosed in vases equally precious for
their materials and workmanship： But they attracted not
Lorenzo's attention。 The Nun who bore the heart occupied him
entirely。 According to Theodore's description； He doubted not
her being the Mother St。 Ursula。 She seemed to look round with
anxiety。 As He stood foremost in the rank by which the
procession past； her eye caught Lorenzo's。 A flush of joy
overspread her till then pallid cheek。 She turned to her
Companion eagerly。
'We are safe！' He heard her whisper； ' 'tis her Brother！'
His heart being now at ease； Lorenzo gazed with tranquillity upon
the remainder of the show。 Now appeared its most brilliant
ornament。 It was a Machine fashioned like a throne； rich with
jewels and dazzling with light。 It rolled onwards upon
concealed wheels； and was guided by several lovely Children；
dressed as Seraphs。 The summit was covered with silver clouds；
upon which reclined the most beautiful form that eyes ever
witnessed。 It was a Damsel representing St。 Clare： Her dress was
of inestimable price； and round her head a wreath of Diamonds
formed an artificial glory： But all these ornaments yielded to
the lustre of her charms。 As She advanced； a murmur of delight
ran through the Crowd。 Even Lorenzo confessed secretly； that He
never beheld more perfect beauty； and had not his heart been
Antonia's； it must have fallen a sacrifice to this enchanting
Girl。 As it was； He considered her only as a fine Statue： She
obtained from him no tribute save cold admiration； and when She
had passed him； He thought of her no more。
'Who is She？' asked a By…stander in Lorenzo's hearing。
'One whose beauty you must often have heard celebrated。 Her name
is Virginia de Villa…Franca： She is a Pensioner of St。 Clare's
Convent； a Relation of the Prioress； and has been selected with
justice as the ornament of the Procession。'
The Throne moved onwards。 It was followed by the Prioress
herself： She marched at the head of the remaining Nuns with a
devout and sanctified air； and closed the procession。 She moved
on slowly： Her eyes were raised to heaven： Her countenance calm
and tranquil seemed abstracted from all sublunary things； and no
feature betrayed her secret pride at displaying the pomp and
opulence of her Convent。 She passed along； accompanied by the
prayers and benedictions of the Populace： But how great was the
general confusion and surprize； when Don Ramirez starting
forward； challenged her as his Prisoner。
For a moment amazement held the Domina silent and immoveable：
But no sooner did She recover herself； than She exclaimed against
sacrilege and impiety； and called the People to rescue a Daughter
of the Church。 They were eagerly preparing to obey her； when Don
Ramirez； protected by the Archers from their rage； commanded them
to forbear； and threatened them with the severest vengeance of
the Inquisition。 At that dreaded word every arm fell； every
sword shrunk back into its scabbard。 The Prioress herself turned
pale； and trembled。 The general silence convinced her that She
had nothing to hope but from innocence； and She besought Don
Ramirez in a faultering voice； to inform her of what crime She
was accused。
'That you shall know in time；' replied He； 'But first I must
secure the Mother St。 Ursula。'
'The Mother St。 Ursula？' repeated the Domina faintly。
At this moment casting her eyes round； She saw near her Lorenzo
and the Duke； who had followed Don Ramirez。
'Ah！ great God！' She cried； clasping her hands together with a
frantic air； 'I am betrayed！'
'Betrayed？' replied St。 Ursula； who now arrived conducted by some
of the Archers； and followed by the Nun her Companion in the
procession： 'Not betrayed； but discovered。 In me recognise your
Accuser： You know not how well I am instructed in your
guilt！Segnor！' She continued； turning to Don Ramirez； 'I commit
myself to your custody。 I charge the Prioress of St。 Clare with
murder； and stake my life for the justice of my accusation。'
A general cry of surprize was uttered by the whole Audience； and
an explanation was demanded loudly。n The trembling Nuns；
terrifiedat the noise and universal confusion； had dispersed； and
fleddifferent ways。 Some regained the Convent； Others sought
refugein the dwellings of their Relations； and Many； only
sensible oftheir present danger； and anxious to escape from the
tumult； ran through the Streets； and wandered； they knew not
whither。 The lovely Virginia was one of the first to fly： And
in order that She might be better seen and heard； the People
desired that St。 Ursula should harangue them from the vacant
Throne。 The Nun complied； She ascended the glittering Machine；
and then addressed the surrounding multitude as follows。
'However strange and unseemly may appear my conduct； when
considered to be adopted by a Female and a Nun； necessity will
justify it most fully。 A secret； an horrible secret weighs heavy
upon my soul： No rest can be mine till I have revealed it to the
world； and satisfied that innocent blood which calls from the
Grave for vengeance。 Much have I dared to gain this opportunity
of lightening my conscience。 Had I failed in my attempt to
reveal the crime； had the Domina but suspected that the mystery
was none to me； my ruin was inevitable。 Angels who watch
unceasingly over those who deserve their favour； have enabled me
to escape detection： I am now at liberty to relate a Tale； whose
circumstances will freeze every honest soul with horror。 Mine is
the task to rend the veil from Hypocrisy； and show misguided
Parents to what dangers the Woman is exposed； who falls under the
sway of a monastic Tyrant。
'Among the Votaries of St。 Clare； none was more lovely； none more
gentle； than Agnes de Medina。 I knew her well； She entrusted to
me every secret of her heart； I was her Friend and Confident； and
I loved her with sincere affection。 Nor was I singular in my
attachment。 Her piety unfeigned； her willingness to oblige； and
her angelic disposition； rendered her the Darling of all that was
estimable in the Convent。 The Prioress herself； proud；
scrupulous and forbidding； could not refuse Agnes that tribute of
approbation which She bestowed upon no one else。 Every one has
some fault： Alas！ Agnes had her weakness！ She violated the laws
of our order； and incurred the inveterate hate of the unforgiving
Domina。 St。 Clare's rules are severe： But grown antiquated and
neglected； many of late years have either been forgotten； or
changed by universal consent into milder punishments。 The
penance； adjudged to the crime of Agnes； was most cruel； most
inhuman！ The law had been long exploded： Alas！ It still
existed； and the revengeful Prioress now determined to revive it。
This law decreed that the Offender should be plunged into a
private dungeon； expressly constituted to hide from the world for
ever the Victim of Cruelty and tyrannic superstition。 In this
dreadful abode She was to lead a perpetual solitude； deprived of
all society； and believed to be dead by those whom affection
might have prompted to attempt her rescue。 Thus was She to
languish out the remainder of her days； with no other food than
bread and water； and no other comfort than the free indulgence of
her tears。'
The indignation created by this account was so violent； as for
some moments to interrupt St。 Ursula's narrative。 When the
disturbance ceased； and silence again prevailed through the
Assembly； She continued her discourse； while at every word the
Domina's countenance betrayed her increasing terrors。
'A Council of the twelve elder Nuns was called： I was of the
number。 The Prioress in exaggerated colours described the
offence of Agnes； and scrupled not to propose the revival of this
almost forgotten law。 To the shame of our sex be it spoken； that
either so absolute was the Domina's will in the Convent； or so
much had disappointment； solitude； and self…denial hardened their
hearts and sowered their tempers that this barbarous proposal
was assented to by nine voices out of the twelve。 I was not one
of the nine。 Frequent opportuniti