No! In five and twenty years that I have been Superior of this Convent, never did I witness a transaction more infamous!' 'You must expect much opposition to your will;' the Other replied in a milder voice; 'Agnes has many Friends in the Convent, and in particular the Mother St.Ursula will espouse her cause most warmly.

In truth, She merits to have Friends; and I wish I could prevail upon you to consider her youth, and her peculiar situation.

She seems sensible of her fault; The excess of her grief proves her penitence, and I am convinced that her tears flow more from contrition than fear of punishment.

Reverend Mother, would you be persuaded to mitigate the severity of your sentence, would you but deign to overlook this first transgression, I offer myself as the pledge of her future conduct.' 'Overlook it, say you?
Mother Camilla, you amaze me! What?
After disgracing me in the presence of Madrid's Idol, of the very Man on whom I most wished to impress an idea of the strictness of my discipline?
How despicable must I have appeared to the reverend Abbot! No, Mother, No! I never can forgive the insult.

I cannot better convince Ambrosio that I abhor such crimes, than by punishing that of Agnes with all the rigour of which our severe laws admit.