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"Sin, my child," said the father, "sin, to recur to the church,

and to ask her minister to use the authority which he has

received from her, and which she receives from God! I bless him

that he has given me, unworthy that I am, the power to speak in

his name, and to restore to you your vow. If you ask me to

absolve you from it, I shall not hesitate to do so; and I even

hope you will."

"Then-then-I ask it," said Lucy, with a modest confidence.

The friar beckoned to Renzo, who was watching the progress of the

dialogue with the deepest solicitude, to approach, and said aloud

to Lucy, "With the authority I hold from the church, I declare

you absolved from your vow, and liberate you from all the

obligations you may have contracted by it."

The reader may imagine the feelings of Renzo at these words. His

eyes expressed the warmth of his gratitude to him who had uttered

them; but they sought in vain for Lucy's.