to establish himself, as he was before with _Isabella_; for he
imagin'd, since already she knew his Passion, and that if after that she
would be prevail'd with to see him, he might, some lucky Minute or
other, have the pleasure of speaking for himself, at least, he should
again see and talk to her, which was a joyful Thought in the midst of so
many dreadful ones: And, as if he had known what pass'd in _Isabella's_
Heart, he, by a strange sympathy, took the same measures to deceive
_Katteriena_, a well-meaning young Lady, and easily impos'd on from her
own Innocence, he resolv'd to dissemble Patience, since he must have
that Virtue, and own'd, his Sister's Reasons were just, and ought to be
persu'd; that she had argu'd him into half his Peace, and that he would
endeavour to recover the rest; that Youth ought to be pardon'd a
thousand Failings, and Years would reduce him to a condition of laughing
at his Follies of Youth, but that grave Direction was not yet arriv'd:
And so desiring, she would pray for his Conversion, and that she would
recommend him to the Devotions of the Fair _Isabella_, he took his
leave, and came no more to the _Nunnery_ in ten Days; in all which time,
none but Impatient Lovers can guess, what Pain and Languishments
_Isabella_ suffer'd, not knowing the Cause of his Absence, nor daring to
enquire; but she bore it out so admirably, that Dame _Katteriena_ never
so much as suspected she had any Thoughts of that nature that perplex'd
her, and now believ'd indeed she had conquer'd all her Uneasiness: And
one day, when _Isabella_ and she were alone together, she ask'd that
fair Dissembler, if she did not admire at the Conduct and Resolution of
her Brother? 'Why!' (reply'd _Isabella_ unconcernedly, while her Heart
was fainting within, for fear of ill News:) With that, _Katteriena_ told
her the last Discourse she had with her Brother, and how at last she had
persuaded him (for her sake) to quit his Passion; and that he had
promis'd, he would endeavour to surmount it; and that, that was the
reason he was absent now, and they were to see him no more, till he had
made a Conquest over himself. You may assure your self, this News was
not so welcom to _Isabella_, as _Katteriena_ imagin'd; yet still she
dissembled, with a force, beyond what the most cunning Practitioner
could have shewn, and carry'd her self before People, as if no Pressures
had lain upon her Heart; but when alone retir'd, in order to her
Devotion, s