r a sparrow escaping from the
hawk, or a rabbit from the snare.

Next day Clara's irate parents arrived at the convent. They saw Clara,
and begged and entreated, and threatened, but all to no purpose. She
would not come away. She was absolutely unmovable. At last, seeing
that she was so determined, they gave up any idea of carrying her away
by main force, and listened to her while she talked to them, and
explained her position that she was consecrated to the living God,
and that nothing should come between Him and her. Her parents struck
by her words consented to leave her, and went away promising not to
trouble her again.

[Sidenote: _Agnes._]

But the troubles of the house of Scifi were not yet over. A fortnight
later, Agnes, a child of fourteen, ran away to join her sister. Agnes
had always been intensely devoted to Clara, and besides, she too had
been longing for some more satisfactory mode of life. It cannot be
said that Clara was surprised when Agnes knocked at the door, for ever
since her consecration she had prayed that Agnes' heart might be
touched too, and that she might be led to follow her out of the world.
Therefore she received Agnes with open arms.

"Ah, sweet sister," she cried, "how I bless God that He has so quickly
heard my earnest prayer for thee!" Agnes kissed her and declared that
she had come never to leave her, and together they braced themselves
for the storm that they felt was coming. And a terrible storm it was!
Favorina enraged at losing another daughter, took twelve men relatives
and proceeded without delay to fetch her home by main force if
necessary. However, they smothered their rage at first, as best they
could, and said quietly to Agnes--

"Why have you come here? Get ready and come home."

Then, when she refused to leave Clara, one of them fell on her with
kicks and blows, and taking her by the hair tried to drag her away.

"Ah, my sister," she cried to Clara, "come and help me; let me not be
torn away from my Lord."

Poor Clara could do nothing but follow her weeping. At last, worn out
with her struggles--or, as the legend says, she became so abnormally
heavy--they were obliged to drop her. Clara, reproaching them for
their cruel treatment, begged of them to give the child back to her.
Not knowing what else to do they returned, much disappointed at their
failure.

[Sidenote: _The "Poor Ladies."_]

This action of Clara and Agnes opened the way for many who were
hovering o