Mrs. Mortimer rang for the purpose of being shewn into her sleeping room, as she had very recently recovered from a dangerous illness. The fatigue of her journey, with the agitation that her spirits had experienced in again seeing her beloved friend, and the thought of being in a place which was endeared to her by the recollection of former times, had quite exhausted her spirits, and she was anxious to go early to rest, that she might gain sufficient composure of mind to enable her to meet the abbess and the rest of the nuns the following morning with cheerfulness; but she was disappointed in her calculations, for Monsieur du Crocq answered the bell.

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Ma foi Madame, I did not like to intrude when di Sœur St. Victoire was here, but Monsieur le Baron de St. Aubert have been here two or three times, to know if he could pay his respects to Madame, and he desires his compliments, and will call in de morning. Monsieur

le Baron be married, but he never have been happy since Madame left Calais. Why did you leave us? All de nuns were so fond of you, and le Baron de St. Aubert would have made you a better husband den any English mi lord: he be a good husband, aldo he only marry to please his mother, because he was di last of his family, as all de rest be guillotined."

"These are subjects on which I cannot enter: I have the greatest respect for the Baron de St. Aubert and his mother; it will give me pleasure to see him, and I trust he will be rewarded for his duty to his parent, by being happy as a husband and a father."

Excuséz, Madame, I do not mean to offend, but you look so different from what you was when Mademoiselle Godefroi, dat I cannot think you do like England so well as France; you used to be di life of Calais; at all di balls, di spectacles, no one so lively and gay as Mademoiselle,

and now, excuséz, you do not look happy." "You should not judge so hastily; I am fatigued with travelling, and seeing old friends creates a heartfelt melancholy, which is a delightful sensation to a feeling disposition. When you knew me I was young, and had every thing in view which could make this life desirable. I have now a family to think of; my husband I left in bad health, and those spirits which would be a recommendation at sixteen, would be deemed levity in a married woman of six-and-twenty."

Monsieur du Crocq took his leave, and the fille de chambre made her appear

ance.

The next morning Mrs. Mortimer was awakened by an alarming clap of thunder; the wind howled horribly, and the rain, which fell in torrents, penetrated into her room: she arose, and was pleased to find that it was only seven o'clock, as she purposed, as soon as she was dressed, to surprise the nuns by an early visit;

but before she had finished her toilet, she as informed that the abbess was come to fetch her to breakfast. This was an attention from a lad of eightyfour years of age tha he did not expect; and while she was expressing her thanks in a message, St. Etienne entered. It was the first visit she had paid since she was driven from her convent. She came, she said, out of respect to her late pupil, and she requested that Mrs. Mortimer would attend her home immediately, as the nuns would not go to prayer without her.

Mrs. Mortimer was a Protestant, but she respected every person who lived up to the faith of the religion they professed; consequently she had no objection to comply with the wishes of St. Etienne, and she was much gratified in seeing all her old friends assembled. It was in a cellar, for during the Revolution they were compelled to perform their religious duties in private; but the chapel was so

neatly fitted up that you soon forgot the approach to it. When the service was over she was conducted to the refectory. It is true that it had white-washed walls, oak tables, chairs and forms to correspond; but the crackling faggot blazed on the humble hearth: resignation and cheerfulness sat on the countenances of the sisterhood: the meal on the table was plain, but wholesome; and Mrs. Mortimer had the delight of seeing in this house of privation and abstinence, that luxury, which no riches can purchase-contentment.

As soon as the repast was finished the abbess invited Mrs. Mortimer into a small room, which she called her cell; for as soon as these ladies were compelled to leave their convent they took a house large enough to contain them all, as they determined to dedicate their lives to the benefit of society; and during the Revolution, did these valuable women, when the Catholic faith and all religious ceremonies were prohibited, run the risk