RETRIBUTION. 203 



Never to one of them (whatever she might have done in the 

 confessional) did she open the dark secret of her soul ; but 

 those of the sisterhood, who occupied adjoining dormitories, 

 told fearful tales of the sounds of agony groans from the 

 depths of overwhelming dread which, at times, were heard to 

 issue from her cell. Other of her habits caused remark. 

 Seldom in broad day-light, never of an evening when the 

 nuns were assembled in the convent garden, was she of their 

 number ; but always after sunset did she keep the window of 

 her cell close shut, however sultry might be the weather. 

 Could Beatrice have feared the gentle breezes of a summer's 

 eve? Them she loved not; but far more had learned to 

 hold in terror and aversion the fire-flies, the Lucciole which 

 came forth when they arose. 



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