extremity of which was a strong door, at which the portress rang; and in a few minutes a nun appeared, who, desiring me to follow her, led the way through several dreary passages (lighted only by long narrow slits high up in the walls) till we came to a sort of ante-room, where she told me to wait till the lady abbess was informed of my arrival. There was only a skylight in this apartment, strongly, but I should think unnecessarily grated, as it appeared unapproachable.

The stillness of the place was quite awful, and I could hardly suppose it possible that there were, according to Madelina's account, above two hundred females immured within its walls.

I was roused from my reverie by the drawing back of the bolts of the door, for the nun had fastened me in, and she again appeared, desiring me to follow her. She once more conducted me through fresh and intricate passages, and, at last, opening a door, she beckoned me into a large oblong apartment, which was divided in the centre by an immense grating,

stretching quite across the room, and reaching to the ceiling. She desired me, in a low voice, to be seated, on a bench placed close to the grating, and again left me alone, securing the door after her. Here I waited rather impatiently for nearly half an hour, fearing that Lord and Lady Henry would imagine that something must have happened, as I was detained so long.

There was nothing in this disconsolate apartment beyond the grating, except an image of Santa Maria. Strains of music at last broke in upon the death-like silence, and though the sounds were sweet, they were also very sad. My heart seemed to die within me as I listened, and thought of the breaking hearts of those who were, perhaps, joining in that solemn strain.

I was resting my head against the grate, and was inwardly thanking God that we had no such wretched prisons for the young and innocent in our free and happy England, when I was startled by a low deep voice close to me, and raising my eyes, saw two nuns on the other side of the grate. They must have

entered by some secret and noiseless door, or I should have heard them; and as the room was large, I wondered how they could have crossed it without my hearing them. The apartment was matted, and I observed that these nuns, like the portress and the other who had conducted me to this place, were barefooted. We looked at each other without speaking. I was awe-struck at the sight of these two unearthly-looking beings. They appeared to me as if they had just arisen from the tomb, so tall, so thin, so ghastly, so ashy white were their faces, hands, and feet.

At length one of these figures broke silence, and pointing to the other, said to me, "This is our holy mother, speak your wishes and begone."

I explained, as well and as rapidly as I could, the reason of my intrusion, with an apology for it, and for the absence of my lady, who, on account of temporary indisposition had been obliged to depute me to make the necessary inquiries respecting the character of Madelina Fasano.

"The girl is good and virtuous," said the abbess, who now spoke for the first time. "Your lady is to be commended for taking her from that unholy abode, but how much more would she have deserved our praises had she placed her in this sacred edifice, and dedicated her to the service of the Blessed Virgin, instead of leading her into a wicked and most miserable world. She has, however, made her election, and we shall pray the Virgin that the heedless maiden do not repent her choice. Farewell, daughter, depart in peace."

Saying this, and before I could raise my eyes from the ground, the two ghastly nuns had disappeared.

Perhaps I shall hardly be believed, indeed I could scarcely credit my own senses, but the nun who had conducted me to the parlour was at my side at the same moment the others vanished, though I neither saw nor heard her come in, or the others go out.

We retraced our steps till we came to the ante-room, without meeting with a human being, and there I found Madelina, looking

pale and agitated. We were taken into the cloister, where the portress, being summoned, took us again under her charge, and let us out at the narrow door.

I was rejoiced when I found myself outside those gloomy and mysterious walls, inwardly resolving never to enter a convent again, if I could avoid doing so.

Poor Madelina seemed equally rejoiced, and owned to me afterwards that her agitation arose from a jobation she had been receiving (all the time I was absent) from an old nun, because she could not persuade her to adopt a religious life.

Lord and Lady Henry being perfectly satisfied with what the abbess had stated respecting Madelina, we proceeded on our journey with that happy girl in company.

As none of the party had breakfasted, it may be supposed we were all not a little anxious to reach the town, at which we were to have slept the previous night. Here we spent a few hours, and then started refreshed on our journey, the remainder of which, the whole way