som in disorder at first had
prevented her being recollected. The Prioress had put every artifice
in practice to induce Virginia to take the veil; for the Heiress of
Villa-Franca would have been no despicable acquisition. Her seeming
kindness and unremitted attention so far succeeded that her young
Relation began to think seriously upon compliance. Better instructed
in the disgust and ennui of a monastic life, Agnes had penetrated the
designs of the Domina: She trembled for the innocent Girl, and
endeavoured to make her sensible of her error. She painted in their
true colours the numerous inconveniencies attached to a Convent, the
continued restraint, the low jealousies, the petty intrigues, the
servile court and gross flattery expected by the Superior. She then
bad Virginia reflect on the brilliant prospect which presented itself
before her: The Idol of her Parents, the admiration of Madrid, endowed
by nature and education with every perfection of person and mind, She
might look forward to an establishment the most fortunate. Her riches
furnished her with the means of exercising in their fullest extent,
charity and benevolence, those virtues so dear to her; and her stay in
the world would enable her discovering Objects worthy her protection,
which could not be done in the seclusion of a Convent.

Her persuasions induced Virginia to lay aside all thoughts of the Veil:
But another argument, not used by Agnes, had more weight with her than
all the others put together. She had seen Lorenzo, when He visited his
Sister at the Grate. His Person pleased her, and her conversations
with Agnes generally used to terminate in some question about her
Brother. She, who doted upon Lorenzo, wished for no better than an
opportunity to trumpet out his praise. She spoke of him in terms of
rapture; and to convince her Auditor how just were his sentiments, how
cultivated his mind, and elegant his expressions, She showed her at
different times the letters which She received from him. She soon
perceived that from these communications the heart of her young Friend
had imbibed impressions, which She was far from intending to give, but
was truly happy to discover. She could not have wished her Brother a
more desirable union: Heiress of Villa-Franca, virtuous, affectionate,
beautiful, and accomplished, Virginia seemed calculated to make him
happy. She sounded her Brother upon the subject, though without
mentioning names or circums