to. My heart slapped her, if my hand forbore.
Alas!"

"Had she hurt you?"

"That she did,--but only my head. I hurt her heart: for the poor wench
loves me dear,--the Lord knows for what."

"Humph!--proceed to Pride."

"Yes, Father. I do confess that I was greatly puffed up with the praises
of men. I was proud of the sorriest things: of jumping a brook, when't
was my horse jumped it, and had jumped it better with a fly on his back
than the poor worm Me; of my good looks, forgetting that God gave them
me; and besides, I am no beauty, when all is done; it is all their
flattery. And at my Lady Munster's dinner I pridefully walked out before
Mistress Davies, the rich cheesemonger's wife, that is as proud of her
money as I of my old blood, (God forgive two fools!) which I had no
right to do,--a maid to walk before a wife; and oh, Father, I whispered
the gentleman who led me out,--it was Mr. Neville"----

Here the penitent put one hand before her face, and hesitated.

"Well, daughter, half-confession is no confession. You said to Mr.
Neville?"----

"I said, 'Nothing comes after cheese.'"

This revelation was made most dolefully.

"It was pert and unbecoming," said Father Francis, gravely, though a
twinkle in his eye showed that he was not so profoundly shocked as his
penitent appeared to be. "But go to graver matters. Immodesty, said you?
I shall be very sorry, if this is so. You did not use to be immodest."

"Well, Father, I hope I have not altogether laid aside modesty;
otherwise it would be time for me to die, let alone to confess; but sure
it cannot be modest of me to ride after a gentleman and take him a
letter. And then that was not enough: I heard of a duel,--and what did I
do but ride to Scutchemsee Nob, and interfere? What gentlewoman ever was
so bold? I was not their wife, you know,--neither of them's."

"Humph!" said the priest, "I have already heard a whisper of this,--but
told to your credit. _Beati pacifici_: Blessed are the peacemakers. You
had better lay that matter before me by-and-by, as your director. As
your confessor, tell me why you accuse yourself of concupiscence."

"Alas!" said the young lady, "scarce a day passes that I do not offend
in _that_ respect. Example: last Friday, dining abroad, the cooks sent
up a dish of collops. Oh, Father, they smelt so nice! and I had been
a-hunting. First I smelt them, and that I couldn't help. But then I
forgot _custodia oculorum_, and I eyed them. And t