roused by a gentle rap at my door, and the soft voice of Madelina recalled me to recollection.

I hurried to let her in, and saw in a moment by her countenance that she had succeeded in her mission. She proceeded to relate, that upon telling her mother she had been kindly offered a seat on the travelling carriage of the English lord to convey her to Florence, (where Laura well knew she had often expressed a wish to go,) she made not the least objection; on the contrary, she showed as much pleasure as she was capable of feeling at her daughter being so fortunate.

Not so the madre, who was.evidently fearful lest the secrets of the prison-house should be disclosed, and she had a long conflict with her son on the subject, who, for once, took part with his wife. It was not, however, to please her, but he wished to get rid of Madelina as a useless piece of lumber, and, as he fancied, a spy of the old nuns, and to break off the link between his house and the convent.

It was

therefore agreed, after much debate, that Made

lina should accept the generous offer made her, on two conditions. First, that she should never mention the name of her mother's residence to her aunt at Florence, nor ever come near it herself again; and, secondly, that she should never speak of her step-father or his occupations, or by word or sign direct any one to his abode. This, as may be imagined, Madelina willingly and solemnly promised; and as the madre would not allow her to return to my room, she occupied herself till morning dawned in packing up her small wardrobe. Having completed this, she sat by her poor mother till the bustle in the court-yard announced that preparations for our departure were going on.

She then, as I have stated, ran up to me, who was also soon ready to accompany her down stairs, when I acquainted Patrick and Griffith of this addition to our party. Carlos joined us, and we all, I am sure, felt in high spirits at the idea of so soon being out of this gloomy place.

Lord Henry came to send me up to my lady, who was delighted that she had been an instru

ment in rescuing the grateful Madelina from this detestable abode.

It was evident, when we were about to start, that the madre and her son were quite out of spirits at being obliged to part with us at so easy a rate as merely charging Lord Henry ten times the value of every thing which himself and suite had partaken of, to say nothing of an enormous charge for beds which had never been slept in. I feel certain, that nothing but the number of our party, and the fear of attacking persons of so much consequence as they saw Lord and Lady Henry to be, protected us from being plundered, and perhaps murdered.

I never felt so relieved as when the carriage passed through the great gates of the gloomy court-yard, and we arrived on the high road.

The postillions were ordered to call at Santa Maria, and Madelina was quite aware that her proceeding on the journey with us, or returning to the miserable abode she had just left, depended entirely upon the character to be given of her by the holy sisters.

Madelina was in high spirits; conscious of the truth of her story and the innocence of her life, she felt she had nothing to fear from inquiry.

We drove above five miles on the high road, and then, turning short to the left, entered so narrow a lane that the shrubs on either side brushed the carriage, and we fancied no vehicle had ever passed there before. It was, however, the principal approach to the convent which Madelina had mentioned, and we pursued our way till we came to a very high wall, in which was a small Gothic door, strongly studded with nails. As soon as we reached this, Madelina got down from the rumble of the carriage and rang the bell.

In the mean time, Lady Henry, who had intended to ask permission to see the abbess, to make the necessary inquiries herself respecting her protegée, whispered to me that she felt her heart fail her, and that she positively could not venture to enter a convent again, and desired that I would act for her. In fact, the recollection (I suppose) of what she had her

self suffered in the Spanish convent had such an effect upon her, that Lord Henry and myself had much to do to keep her from fainting. Had his lordship guessed the effect the sight of this place would have had upon her, I am sure he never would have brought her there.

By the time her ladyship was a little recovered, the portress appeared at the wicket, and nodding to Madelina, asked our business. She explained that an English lady, who was kindly going to take her to Florence, wished first to have an interview with the abbess on

the subject.

The little grate was again closed, while the portress went to ask the desired permission.

This convent was one of the most strict order, and though I had some curiosity, I confess that I felt a little nervous at my approaching interview with the awful abbess.

The portress returned, and admitted Madelina and myself within the sacred edifice, locking and bolting the door behind us. I found myself in a gloomy cloister, at the

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