Alas! my reckless child, where was your prudence when you ran headlong into such a snare ?" "Hear me, father," said Catharine; "there is still one mode of safety held out: it is one which I have often proposed, and for which I have in vain supplicated your permission." "I understand you--the convent," said her father.

"But, Catharine, what abbess or prioress would dare--" "That I will explain to you, father, and it will also show the circumstances which have made me seem unsteady of resolution to a degree which has brought censure upon me from yourself and others.

Our confessor, old Father Francis, whom I chose from the Dominican convent at your command--" "Ay, truly," interrupted the glover; "and I so counselled and commanded thee, in order to take off the report that thy conscience was altogether under the direction of Father Clement." "Well, this Father Francis has at different times urged and provoked me to converse on such matters as he judged I was likely to learn something of from the Carthusian preacher.

Heaven forgive me my blindness! I fell into the snare, spoke freely, and, as he argued gently, as one who would fain be convinced, I even spoke warmly in defence of what I believed devoutly.

The confessor assumed not his real aspect and betrayed not his secret purpose until he had learned all that I had to tell him.