RENOUNCING THE WORLD. 21^ 



chant, and the last time the white nuns gathered 

 around her, strewing flowers upon her head and in her 

 path. Slowly they led her to the back part of the chap- 

 el, and all kneeled before the altar. 



At this time a strain of music was heard at the other 

 end of the church ; a way was cleared through the 

 crowd, and a procession advanced, consisting of the 

 principal priests, clothed in their richest robes, and 

 headed by the venerable provesor, an octogenarian 

 with white hair, and tottering on the verge of the grave, 

 as remarkable for the piety of his life as for his venera- 

 ble appearance. A layman bore on a rich frame a gold 

 crown and sceptre studded with jewels. The proces- 

 sion advanced to a small door on the right of the gra- 

 ting, and the tAvo black nuns and the probationer ap- 

 peared in the doorway. Some words passed between 

 her and the provesor, which I understood to be an ex- 

 amination by him whether her proposed abandonment 

 of the world was voluntary or not. This over, the pro- 

 vesor removed the wreath of roses and the white veil, 

 and put on her head the crown and in her hand the 

 sceptre. The music sounded loud notes of triumph, 

 and in a few moments she reappeared at the grating 

 with the crown and sceptre, and a dress sparkling with 

 jewels. The sisters embraced her, and again threw 

 roses upon her. It seemed horrible to heap upon her 

 the pomp and pleasures of the world, at the moment 

 when she was about to bid farewell to them forever. 

 Again she kneeled before the altar ; and when she rose 

 the jewels and precious stones, the rich ornaments with 

 which she was decorated, were taken from her, and she 

 returned to the bishop, who took away the- crown and 

 sceptre, and put on her head the black veil. Again she 

 appeared before the grating ; the last, the fatal step was 



