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He uttered so many exclamations, such as, that it was not

customary-that it was a high family-that it was out of the

question to say No to such people-that it might make their

fortune-and that, in addition to all this, Donna Prassede was a

saint,-that Lucy was finally obliged to yield, especially as

Agnes seconded the remonstrances and arguments of the tailor.

The high-born dame received them with many congratulations; she

questioned and advised them with an air of conscious superiority,

which was, however, tempered by so many soft and humble

expressions, and mingled with so much zeal and devotion, that

Agnes and Lucy soon felt themselves relieved from the painful

restraint her mere presence had at first imposed on them. In

brief, Donna Prassede, learning that the cardinal wished to

procure an asylum for Lucy, and impelled by the desire to second,

and at the same time to anticipate, his good intention, offered

to take the young girl to her house, where there would be no

other service required of her than to direct the labours of the

needle or the spindle. She added, that she herself would inform

the cardinal of the arrangement.