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Agnes interrupted these disputes by introducing her own troubles:

she was obliged to relinquish the hope of seeing her dear Lucy,

for some time at least; for she could not expect that Donna

Prassede would come into this vicinity under such circumstances.

The sight of the well-remembered places through which they were

passing increased the anguish of her feelings. Leaving the

fields, they had taken the high road, the same which the poor

woman had travelled, in re-conducting, for so short a time, her

daughter to her home, after having been with her at the tailor's.

As they approached the village, "Let us go and visit these worthy

people," said Agnes.

"And rest a little, and eat a mouthful," said Perpetua, "for I

begin to have enough of this basket."

"On condition that we lose no time, for this is not by any means

a journey for amusement," said Don Abbondio.