athias took the ring. "I will call upon you to-morrow morning,
and let you know what I have done. I shall acquaint the lady abbess
that you are going to your husband, for it would not be safe to let her
suppose that you have reasons for quitting the convent. I have heard
what you state mentioned before, but have treated it as scandal: but
you, I know, are incapable of falsehood."

The next day Father Mathias returned, and had an interview with the
abbess, who after a time sent for Amine, and told her that it was
necessary that she should leave the convent. She consoled her as well
as she could at leaving such a happy place, sent for some sweetmeats to
make the parting less trying, gave her a blessing, and made her over to
Father Mathias; who, when they were alone, informed Amine "that he had
disposed of the ring for eighteen hundred dollars, and had procured
apartments for her in the house of a widow lady, with whom she was to
board."

Taking leave of the nuns, Amine quitted the convent with Father Mathias,
and was soon installed in her new apartments, in a house which formed
part of a spacious square called the Terra di Sabaio. After the
introduction to her hostess, Father Mathias left her. Amine found her
apartments fronting the square, airy and commodious. The landlady, who
had escorted her to view them, not having left her, she inquired "what
large church that was on the other side of the square?"

"It is the Ascension," replied the lady; "the music is very fine there;
we will go and hear it to-morrow, if you please."

"And that massive building in face of us?"

"That is the Holy Inquisition," said the widow, crossing herself.

Amine again started, she knew not why. "Is that your child?" said
Amine, as a boy of about twelve years old entered the room.

"Yes," replied the widow, "the only one that is left me. May God
preserve him." The boy was handsome and intelligent, and Amine, for her
own reasons, did everything she could to make friends with him, and was
successful.

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

Amine had just returned from an afternoon's walk through the streets of
Goa: she had made some purchases at different shops in the bazaar, and
had brought them home under her mantilla. "Here, at last, thank Heaven,
I am alone and not watched," thought Amine, as she threw herself on the
couch. "Philip, Philip, where are you?" exclaimed she. "I have now the
means, and I soon will know." Little Pedro, th