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. Cease then your supplications; They will all
be unavailing. My resolution is taken: Tomorrow Agnes shall be
made a terrible example of my justice and resentment.'

The Mother Camilla seemed not to give up the point, but by this
time the Nuns were out of hearing. The Prioress unlocked the
door which communicated with St. Clare's Chapel, and having