70 THK ^iONK. 



shall be going that way, and shall have pleasure in accompanying 

 you." I acknowledged his kindness, and, retiring to a short 

 distance, waited until his instructions to the young lady were brought 

 to a conclusion. 



The lesson was soon ended. The monk, who had taken his seat 

 by his young pupil, arose, and said, " You may now return homo — 

 be with me to-morrow at sunrise. Go, my child ; and the blessing 

 of heaven protect you." The young girl courtesied and departed — the 

 monk accompanying her with his eyes until the distance hid her from 

 his view ; when, rousing himself as from a dream, h^^jjologised for 

 his inattention, and we proceeded on our journey. He observed a 

 profound silence until we reached the town, when I respectfully and 

 earnestly requested him to sup with me ; he then informed me thai 

 for twelve years he had not partaken of animal food, and no drink 

 stronger than water. " Nevertheless, sir," he added, " your con- 

 versation is a repast which, by 3^our pennission, I will not deny my- 

 self." Still he appeared abstracted ; his very soul seemed absorbed 

 and almost to have quitted him with Clarissa — for that was the 

 name of his young and lovely pupil. 



At first sight I was struck with the dignity of my new acquaint- 

 ance ; his every word and action inspired me with awe and esteem. 

 I projected many schemes to draw from him the particulars of his 

 life, yet had not resolution enough to put any of them in execution, 

 though perhaps no woman, however great her curiosity, longed more 

 to divulge a secret than I to obtain this. 



The embarassment I felt at the dejection of this poor Franciscan 

 prompted me at length to remark that I thought he bore a strong 

 resemblance to his pupil, at the same time adding, " But probably, 

 sir, she is a relation under your care." "A relation!" exclaimed 

 the monk, his cheek suffused with crimson, and his utterance of the 



words being given with unguarded wannth ; " she is " But 



immediately recollecting himself, his agitation became almost in- 

 supportable. I felt as if I could have walked a pilgrimage to Rome 

 rather than have hurt his feelings for a moment. 



On observing my distress at the thought of being the cause of 

 his anguish, he eagerly grasped my hand between his, and 



