Pagina 796 di 1118

Lucy, with downcast looks and flowing tears, confessed at last

the vow which she had made. She clasped her hands, and asked

pardon of her mother for having concealed it from her, conjuring

her to speak of it to no one, and to lend her aid to enable her

to fulfil it.

Agnes was overwhelmed with consternation; she would have been

angry with her daughter for so long maintaining silence towards

her, had not the grave thoughts that the circumstance itself

excited, stifled all feeling of resentment. She would have blamed

her for her vow, had it not appeared to her to be contending

against Heaven; for Lucy described to her again, in more lively

colours than before, that horrible night, her utter desolation,

and unexpected preservation! Agnes listened attentively; and a

hundred examples that she had often heard related, that she

herself even had related to her daughter, of strange and horrible

punishments for violated vows, came to her memory. "And what wilt

thou do now?" said she.