The Abbess (Volume 1-2); A Romance (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1833. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... himself. As he took his place before the altar, ha raised his eyes to the gallery, where he presumed the Abbess and her nuns to be placed. The curtains were elosely drawn, and the service commenced. CHAPTER XIII. Cette femme ra'a fait donner avis de tout. Beacjiarchais. No one had been permitted to approach Lady Geraldine* since the hour of dinner. She had declined the attendance of her nuns, saying, as she dismissed them, that she should perform her evening devotions in her oratory; having announced this, she farther informed them, that they were to proceea as usual, under the guidance of Lady Juliet's page, to the gallery of the chapel. Morgante listened with inexpressible astonishment to Juliet, when she bade him, as soon as he should have performed this duty to the nuns, to repair to the apartment of her aunt, and conduct her to the postern door of the garden, where she herself should be in waiting to join them. "And for the love of God, lady, whither shall you lead her?" "To the chestnut tree," answered Juliet, smiling. The boy, on hearing this reply, stood silently before her, with a look of such terrified surprise, that his young mistress laughed outright. "Oh --I understand you now, lady--what an ass was I, to believe you in earnest "' "But I am in earnest, Morgante--and you must be in earnest too, dear boy, and watch carefully--oh most carefully that no one may surprise us." The extreme quickness of Morgante, which on ordinary occasions, enabled him to understand the orders he received before they were well uttered, now only served to confound him more completely. A thousand strange thoughts chased each other rapidly through his head; but the simpie (act that Juliet intended to introduce the green and silver hunter to the Abbess of Sant' Catherina's, ...