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'Stay! Oh! stay!' She cried in the accents of despair, while She threw herself at the Friar's feet, and bathed them with her tears 'Father, coence on a Won to conceal my frailty! The rele fault, and your lenity will bring back a soul to heaven!'

'A confidence! What! Shall St Clare's Convent become the retreat of Prostitutes? Shall I suffer the Church of Christ to cherish in its bosom debauchery and shame? Unworthy Wretch! such lenity would make me your accomplice Mercy would here be criminal You have abandoned yourself to a Seducer's lust; You have defiled the sacred habit by your i er! Where is the Lady Prioress?' He added, raising his voice

'Hold! Father, Hold! Hear me but for one moment! Tax me not with impurity, nor think that I have erred fro before I took the veil, Raymond was Master of my heart: He inspired me with the purest, themy lawful husband An horrible adventure, and the treachery of a Relation, separated us from each other: I believed him for ever lost to me, and threw ain united us; I could not refusehtly in the Gardens of St Clare, and in an unguarded moment I violated my vows of Chastity I shall soon become a Mother: Reverend Ambrosio, take co whose existence is attached to mine If you discover my imprudence to the Domina, both of us are lost: The punishn to Unfortunates like myself is most severe and cruel Worthy, worthy Father! Let not your own untainted conscience render you unfeeling towards those less able to withstand temptation! Let not mercy be the only virtue of which your heart is unsusceptible! Pity me, most reverend! Restore my letter, nor doom me to inevitable destruction!'

'Your boldness confounds me! Shall I conceal your crined confession? No, Daughter, no! I will render you a more essential service I will rescue you from perdition in spite of yourself; Penance and mortification shall expiate your offence, and Severity force you back to the paths of holiness What; Ho! Mother St Agatha!'