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"Approach, young woman," said the signora. "I know that the

father is truth itself; but no one can be better informed than

you with regard to this affair. To you it belongs to tell us if

this lord was an odious persecutor." Lucy obeyed the first

command, and approached the grating; but the second, accompanied

as it was with a certain malicious air of doubt, brought a blush

over her countenance, and a sense of painful embarrassment, which

she found it impossible to overcome. "Lady--mother--reverend--"

stammered she. Agnes now felt herself authorised to come to her

assistance. "Most illustrious lady," said she, "I can bear

testimony that my daughter hates this lord as the devil hates

holy water. I would call him the devil, were it not for your

reverend presence. The case is this: this poor maiden was

promised to a good and industrious youth; and if the curate had

done his duty--"