h his Lady's wishes: But knowing the
sentiments of the Duke, his Brother, respecting a Monastic life, it was
determined that your Sister's destination should be carefully concealed
from him. The better to guard the secret, it was resolved that Agnes
should accompany her Aunt, Donna Rodolpha into Germany, whither that
Lady was on the point of following her new-married Husband, Baron
Lindenberg. On her arrival at that Estate, the young Agnes was put
into a Convent, situated but a few miles from the Castle. The Nuns to
whom her education was confided performed their charge with exactitude:
They made her a perfect Mistress of many talents, and strove to infuse
into her mind a taste for the retirement and tranquil pleasures of a
Convent. But a secret instinct made the young Recluse sensible that
She was not born for solitude: In all the freedom of youth and gaiety,
She scrupled not to treat as ridiculous many ceremonies which the Nuns
regarded with awe; and She was never more happy than when her lively
imagination inspired her with some scheme to plague the stiff Lady
Abbess, or the ugly ill-tempered old Porteress. She looked with
disgust upon the prospect before her: However no alternative was
offered to her, and She submitted to the decree of her Parents, though
not without secret repining.

That repugnance She had not art enough to conceal long: Don Gaston was
informed of it. Alarmed, Lorenzo, lest your affection for her should
oppose itself to his projects, and lest you should positively object to
your Sister's misery, He resolved to keep the whole affair from YOUR
knowledge as well as the Duke's, till the sacrifice should be
consummated. The season of her taking the veil was fixed for the time
when you should be upon your travels: In the meanwhile no hint was
dropped of Donna Inesilla's fatal vow. Your Sister was never permitted
to know your direction. All your letters were read before She received
them, and those parts effaced, which were likely to nourish her
inclination for the world: Her answers were dictated either by her
Aunt, or by Dame Cunegonda, her Governess. These particulars I learnt
partly from Agnes, partly from the Baroness herself.

I immediately determined upon rescuing this lovely Girl from a fate so
contrary to her inclinations, and ill-suited to her merit. I
endeavoured to ingratiate myself into her favour: I boasted of my
friendship and intimacy with you. She listened to me with a