Pagina 262 di 1118

If, sometimes, the little Gertrude betrayed perversity and

impetuosity of temper, they would say to her, "Thou art but a

child, and these manners are not becoming: wait till thou art the

mother abbess, and then thou shalt command with a rod; thou shalt

do whatever pleases thee." At other times, reprehending her for

the freedom and familiarity of her manners, the prince would say,

"Such should not be the deportment of one like you; if you wish

at some future day to have the respect of all around you, learn

now to have more gravity; remember that you will be the first in

the monastery, because noble blood bears sway every where."