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"The curate shall render me an account of this," said the

cardinal.

"No, my lord, no," resumed Agnes. "I did not speak on that

account, do not reprove him; because what is done, is done; and

it would answer no purpose. He is a man of such a character, that

if the thing were to do over again, he would act precisely in the

same way."

But Lucy, dissatisfied with this manner of telling the story,

added, "We have also been to blame; it is plain that it was the

will of God the thing should not succeed."

"How can you have been to blame, my poor child?" said Frederick.

Lucy, notwithstanding the winks of her mother, related in her

turn the history of the attempt made in the house of Don

Abbondio, saying, as she concluded, "We did wrong, and God has

punished us."

"Accept from his hand the chastisement you have endured, and take

courage," said Frederick; "for who has a right to rejoice and

hope, if not those who have suffered, and who accuse themselves?"