At this second interview I learned the reason of her mysterious appearances and departures.

Her father, she told me, was one of a new sect, who imagine--with what reason it is impossible to comprehend--that they recommend themselves to their Deity by making their lives one perpetual round of bodily suffering and mental anguish.
Not content with distorting all his own feelings and faculties, this tyrant perpetrated his insane austerities upon the poor child as well.
He forbade her to enter a theatre, to look on sculpture, to read poetry, to listen to music.

He made her learn long prayers, and attend to interminable sermons.

He allowed her no companions of her own age--not even girls like herself.

The only recreation that she could obtain was the permission--granted with much reluctance and many rebukes--to cultivate a little garden which belonged to the house they lived in, and joined at one point the groves round my palace.