mbers of Clotald's household were
catholics in secret, though in public they affected to follow the
religion of the state. Clotald had a son about twelve years old, named
Richard, who was brought up by his parents to love and fear God, and to
be very stedfast in the truths of the catholic faith. Catherine, the
wife of Clotald, a noble, Christian, and prudent lady, conceived such an
affection for Isabella, that she reared her as if she was her own
daughter; and the child was so well endowed by nature, that she readily
learned all they taught her. Time and the kind treatment she received,
gradually wore out from her recollection that which her parents had
bestowed upon her; not so much so, however, but that she often thought
of them with a sigh. Though she learned English, she did not forget her
native tongue, for Clotald took care to bring Spaniards secretly to his
house to converse with her, and thus it was, that without ceasing to
speak Spanish, she became as proficient in English as if she had been
born in London.

After having learned all kinds of work becoming a young lady of good
birth, she was taught to read and write more than passably well; but
what she excelled in above all, was in playing all sorts of instruments
suitable to her sex, with extraordinary perfection of musical taste and
skill, and with the accompaniment of a voice which Heaven had endowed
with such melody that when she chanted she enchanted. All these graces,
natural and acquired, gradually inflamed the heart of Richard, whom she
loved and respected as the son of her lord. At first his affection for
her was like that of a brother for a sister, but when she reached her
twelfth year, this feeling had changed into a most ardent desire to
possess her, but only in the honourable way of becoming her lawful
spouse; for Isabella's incomparable virtue made it hopeless to obtain
her in any other way, nor would he have done so even, if he could, for
his own noble disposition, and the high estimation in which he held her,
forbade any bad thought to take root in his soul.

A thousand times he determined to make known his passion to his father
and mother, and as often broke his resolution, knowing that they had
destined him to be the husband of a young Scotch lady of great wealth
and good family, who, like themselves, secretly professed the catholic
faith; and it seemed clear to him, that after having betrothed him to a
lady of rank, they would not think of b