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"It is well," said Frederick, after having read the letter, and

extracted its meaning from the trash of Don Ferrante's flowers of

rhetoric. He knew the family well enough to be certain that Lucy

had been invited into it with good intentions, and that she would

be sheltered from the snares and violence of her persecutor. As

to his opinion of Donna Prassede, we do not know it precisely;

probably she was not a person he would have chosen for Lucy's

protectress; but it was not his habit to undo things, apparently

ordered by Providence, in order to do them better.

"Submit, without regret, to this separation also, and to the

suspense in which you are left," said he. "Hope for the best, and

confide in God! and be persuaded, that all that He sends you,

whether of joy or sorrow, will be for your permanent good."

Having received the benediction which he bestowed on them, they

took their leave.