1829.] ike late Mr. Hermann Ahager. J 4/ 



In fact, she I'eminded me of Virgil's heroine ; but her name, hickily, was 

 more euphonious — it was Hortense. I see you are smiling, Hermann, 

 and anticipating the upshot of my tale. You are right : I fell distractedly 

 in love with this fair creature. We read, we conversed, we walked toge- 

 ther ; and a spell was thus thrown over Terracina, which Naples, with 

 all its voluptuousness, with all its scenery, with all its classic associations, 

 had wholly failed to inspire. But now comes the more serious portion 

 of my romance. Poor Hortense had been for some years — and, as I 

 verily believe, unknown to herself — betrothed to her cousin, a foolish- 

 loolcing fellow, whose sole recommendations were a thick head and a long 

 pedigree, and who, at this particular juncture, was momentarily expected 

 at Terracina. 0.n receiving this intelligence I was, as you may conceive, 

 in a very pretty state of anxiety, but Avas calmed by the solemn assurance 

 of Hortense, made in the course of one of our long evening rambles together, 

 that nothing on earth should ever induce her to marry her booby kinsman. 

 And nobly she redeemed her Avord — the high-minded, generous girl ! 

 When her cousin came, and the purport of his mission Avas declared, she 

 at once remonstrated with her fatlier, and, on his refusing to listen to 

 her supplications, explained to him candidly the state of her heart, and 

 even Avent so far as to implore his consent to our union. The old gen- 

 tleman was thunderstruck. ' Marry a heretic !' he exclaimed, ' dashing 

 his hand against his forehead — ' my daughter, the descendant of a hun- 

 dred ancestors, marry a heretic ! — Never ! I would sooner see her 

 stretched dead at my feet.' And, accordingly, that very day month, 

 Hortense, it being found impossible to overcome her abliorrence to her 

 cousin, Avas sent off post-haste to a nunnery about twelve miles distant 

 from Terracina. Here in due time she was entered as a novice, and 

 compelled to undergo all those annoying preliminary ceremonies, Avhich, 

 tliough they do not irrevocably bind the nun to solitude, at least suffice 

 to prevent her from ever marrying. In a few Aveeks, hoAvever — no mat- 

 ter by Avhat means — I contrived to find out her place of abode ; and, by 

 dint of bribery, perseverance, and an incredible stock of that impudence 

 Avhicli, I am proud to say, has never yet deserted me, managed to gain, 

 first one interview Avith her, then a second, then a third, then a fourth, 

 and finally to prevail on her to elope from the detested nunnery, and 

 accompany me to Stockholm, Avhere she noAV is." 



" And, of course, your Avife. What an insipid termination to a 

 romance !" 



" Probably so ; nevertheless, it is j^recisely that sort of insipidity 

 which I ;uTi most anxious to secure to myself." 



" HoAv ! are you not married, then ?" 



Herwaldsen's countenance fell. — " I am not," he hurriedly replied ; 

 " for Hortense herself is the obstacle to our union. Whenever I entreat 

 her to let me make the only reparation noAv in my power, she answers 

 nie — and the reply serves to shew the disinterestedness of her affection — 

 by a reference to the conventual laAvs, Avhich declare, it seems, at least in 

 Italy, pei-jietual imprisonment to Avhoever is sacrilegious enough to steal 

 a nun from her voavs. Even here, in Stockholm, this dreadful idea pur- 

 sues lier. KnoAving nothing of the world, it has groAvn with her growth 

 and strengthened Avith her strength ; and not all my persuasions — not 

 even my remonstrances, which I push at times to severity — have poAver 

 to change lier mind. Slie sobs, it is true, bitterly — distractedly — as if 

 licr heart a\ ouKl burst ; but, nevertlicless, remains inflexible." 



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