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Besides the obvious and ordinary benefit conferred by her

invitation, Donna Prassede proposed to herself another, which she

deemed to be peculiarly important; this was to school impatience,

and to place in the right path a young creature who had much need

of guidance. The first time she heard Lucy spoken of, she was

immediately persuaded that in one so young, who had betrothed

herself to a robber, a criminal, a fugitive from justice such as

Renzo, there must be some corruption, some concealed vice. "_Tell

me what company you keep, and I will tell you who you are._" The

visit of Lucy had confirmed her opinion; she appeared, indeed, to

be an artless girl, but who could tell the cause of her downcast

looks and timid replies? There was no great effort of mind

necessary to perceive that the maiden had opinions of her own.

Her blushes, sighs, and particularly her large and beautiful

eyes, did not please Donna Prassede at all.