26 Miranda d'Aragon ; QJuLY 



request I have to make. To fulfil a mother's wishes, I was about to 

 adopt a monastic life, when I accidentally became acquainted with a 

 young lady, who was also to take the veil. The similarity of our fate, 

 the repugnance we both felt at our destined mode of life, drew our 

 hearts together by ties to which persecution but gave strength. By the 

 assistance of a female companion, who beheld with sacred sympathy her 

 mistress's affection, I contrived to effect her escape, though the poor and 

 faithful girl was left behind. We fled to a solitary valley in the moun- 

 tains of the Lower Pja-enees. I had carefully guarded against any trace 

 of discovery, and heard nothing of pursuit. We lived in this retreat in 

 a happiness known only to those who love, to the forgetfulness of an 

 exterior world. 



" But my restless mind was not to be satisfied for ever in seclusion. 

 By degrees I ventured from our asylum to partake of the pleasures of 

 the chase. ]My imprudence shewed my pursuers the way to our abode. 

 I was watched and discovered. Returning one day across the moun- 

 tains, I looked down from the heights, and beheld with horror our little 

 hut suri-ounded by soldiers. Isabella was carried off" by an escort of 

 troops, whilst others guarded the passes of the valley to secure me. My 

 courage failed. The knowledge of the punishment that awaited the 

 crime of having carried off" a noviciate from a convent, rendered it 

 impossible for me to advance. Like a recreant I fled, leaving my poor 

 Isabella to her fate. I proceeded to a frontier town of France, where I 

 met a recruiting party, and enlisted as a common soldier. ]My know-^ 

 ledge of the French language, and numerous acquirements, gained me 

 favour and distinction. I was rapidly promoted ; and, after ten years' 

 service, obtained the rank of captain ; and should have, perhaps, con- 

 tinued to advance, had not an extraordinary circumstance happened, 

 which overthrew my schemes of ambition, by holding out to me again the 

 phantasm of love — a feeling to which my heart still clung. 



" In a skirmish with a squadroia of the enemy, I was dangerously 

 wounded, and left behind at an obscure village till I recovered. As I 

 lay helpless in inexpi-essible torments on my bed, I prayed Heaven to 

 give me relief, or instant death. A gipsy Avoman, named Zagurina — the 

 lame hag Avho sells provisions in our camp — inhabited a shed of the 

 house in which I lived. She liad with her a remarkably fine, half-grown 

 girl, who to me appeared an angel. She seemed to attach herself to me, 

 and I felt such an interest in her, that her presence alone contributed to 

 my convalescence. An indescribable sensation of delight took possession 

 of my soul whenever she was near me. The old woman appeared to 

 regard my attachment towards my young nurse with pleasure, though 

 she alwa3's kept at a distance herself. Scarcely, however, was I restored 

 to health, when she came one morning into my room, and said she 

 was obliged to take her leave of me .' I heard these words with grief 

 and dismay ; for I could no longer live without the child, and, intreat- 

 ing her to leave her with me, I threw down a purse of gold. 



'^ ' No, Sir,' said she, looking kindly at me, ' I do not sell my child ; 

 but, on condition you will behave to her like a fjither, she may remain 

 W'ith you. In the course of time, I will return to claim her.' 



" Ashamed of my offer, I put away my gold ; gladly promised every 

 thing that the old woman required, Avho then left us. At first, the girl 

 was in great distress at finding herself thus forsaken by her mother ; but 

 tay caresses tranquillized her, and she became glad of my affection. She 



