A Sicilian Romance

Madame, shocked by the stern indifference of this reply, was a moment

silent. The Abate went on. 'Whatever I shall determine upon, the

young lady has reason to rejoice that she is admitted into this holy

house; for I will even now venture to assure her, that if the marquis

fails to demand her, she shall be permitted to remain in this

sanctuary unmolested. You, Madam, will be sensible of this indulgence,

and of the value of the sacrifice I make in granting it; for, in thus

concealing a child from her parent, I encourage her in disobedience,

and consequently sacrifice my sense of duty, to what may be justly

called a weak humanity.'

Madame listened to pompous declamation in silent sorrow and

indignation. She made another effort to interest the Abate in favor

of Julia, but he preserved his stern inflexibility, and repeating that

he would deliberate upon the matter, and acquaint her with the result,

he arose with great solemnity, and quitted the room.

She now half repented of the confidence she had reposed in him, and of

the pity she had solicited, since he discovered a mind incapable of

understanding the first, and a temper inaccessible to the influence of

the latter. With an heavy heart she returned to Julia, who read in her

countenance, at the moment she entered the room, news of no happy

import. When madame related the particulars of the conference, Julia

presaged from it only misery, and giving herself up for lost--she

burst into tears. She severely deplored the confidence she had been

induced to yield; for she now saw herself in the power of a man, stern

and unfeeling in his nature: and from whom, if he thought it fit to

betray her, she had no means of escaping. But she concealed the

anguish of her heart; and to console madame, affected to hope where

she could only despair. Several days elapsed, and no answer was returned from the Abate.

Julia too well understood this silence.

One morning Cornelia entering her room with a disturbed and impatient

air, informed her that some emissaries from the marquis were then in

the monastery, having enquired at the gate for the Abate, with whom,

they said, they had business of importance to transact. The Abate

had granted them immediate audience, and they were now in close

conference. At this intelligence the spirits of Julia forsook her; she trembled,

grew pale, and stood fixed in mute despair. Madame, though scarcely

less distressed, retained a presence of mind. She understood too

justly the character of the Superior to doubt that he would hesitate

in delivering Julia to the hands of the marquis. On this moment,

therefore, turned the crisis of her fate!--this moment she might

escape--the next she was a prisoner. She therefore advised Julia to

seize the instant, and fly from the monastery before the conference

was concluded, when the gates would most probably be closed upon her,

assuring her, at the same time, she would accompany her in flight.