gave

it

withheld her consent; but she with a foreboding, that Julia would, ere long, repent the choice that she had made. The nuptials were solemnized with much splendour; and, soon after, Don Juan and his lady departed for Spain.

"I have been thinking of a plan, my Valeria (said Alberto, to his beloved), that will, I hope, be pleasing to you. You have a legal right to the demesnes of D'Rosouio; but I think with you, that the possession of them would not add to our happiness: yet, they might be so disposed of as to be a blessing to thousands."

"I think I comprehend you (said she), you mean to employ them in founding a monastery." "I did, indeed, think of such a plan (cried Alberto), but our convent, my love, should not be merely a house of prayer and meditation. For the mere recluse, I have, I must own, little respect; but those men who voluntarily resign the riches

and pleasures of the world in order to devote themselves to the service of Heaven, and of their fellow creatures, these are indeed to be venerated. The demesnes of D'Rosonio are amply sufficient to found a monastery on such a plan as to be a blessing to the neighbouring poor, not by encouraging them through its blind and lavish donations to live in idleness, but by reliev ing their real wants; by inciting them to industry, and gradually dispelling those mists of ignorance and error into which the lower orders are plunged: but it is not only to the hungry and the weary, but to the distressed and persecuted that our monastery would afford a refuge. Its gates should ever be open to suffering virtue or penitent vice; and could be benevolent spirit of D'Rosonio look down on the disposal of his property, it would, I am convinced, meet with his approbation."

"Oh! Alberto (cried she), how superior are you every way to the poor

Valeria! when I declared that I would renounce all right to the demesnes of D'Rosonio, I forgot of what a happiness I deprived myself the power of doing good. Yes, dear Alberto, most cheerfully do I agree to a plan equally wise and benevolent; and oh! may the riches so dreadfully acquired, answer the pious and charitable purpose to which you intend to devote them."

Tears of painful recollection fell from the lovely eyes of Valeria; but the soothings of Alberto soon dried them. The twelvemonths had now expired, and the signora reminded Valeria of her promise. She pleaded for yet a little longer delay; and as Signora Sforza had reason to think that her daughter Laura would soon add another votary to the train of Hymen, she consented; and prevailed on Alberto to indulge Valeria.

"Think me not affected or capricious (said she to her lover), but indeed I feel most grateful to you for this indul

gence; my mind is daily recovering its peace, but I would, if possible, be free from every unpleasant reflection when I bestow upon you my hand. You

merit a whole and undivided heart, no cankering cares, no painful recollections, should poison the happiness of your bride."

"Nor shall they, my beloved (cried Alberto). To share your regrets, and to endeavour to chase them from your mind, will be at once my pleasure and my care; that good and pure mind has, in fact, no cause for painful recollections, but such as arises from its own susceptibility, and every day will di

minish those."

Valeria proposed, and Alberto agreed to request the good Francisco to take upon himself the superintendance of their monastic plan; to which he readily consented. The spacious and noble castle of D'Rosonio, which had so long witnessed the pangs of unrepented villainy was now appropriated to the

VOL. II.

purposes of religion and charity. Money rendered the workmen employed in the necessary alterations expeditious; and it was soon fit for the reception of the monks. Father Francisco was their abbot, and well were the mild virtues of his character adapted to that sacred office. The monastery of St. Francis, as it was called, might indeed be termed of the order of mercy; for most truly did Father Francisco second the pious views of its founders; and while, with the mild benignity of a true christian, he comforted the dismayed and guilty penitent, the treasures of the convent were ever open to the distressed; and never did the poor or destitute turn from its gates unrelieved.

A short time justified the signora's suspicions, that the heart of Laura had played its misstress truant. Count D'Albertini, a young and amiable Neapolitan, solicited from her the hand of her daughter, and the blushing Laura owned, that if her mother consented,