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"Do you promise me?" said Renzo, softening immediately.

"I promise."

"Well, I am satisfied."

"God be praised!" said Agnes, much relieved.

"I have promised you," said Lucy, with an accent of timid

reproach, "but you have also promised me to refer it to Father

Christopher."

"Ha! will you now draw back?" said Renzo.

"No, no," said Lucy, again alarmed, "no, no, I have promised, and

will perform. But you have compelled me to it by your own

impetuosity. God forbid that--"

"Why will you prognosticate evil, Lucy? God knows we wrong no

person."

"Well, well," said Lucy, "I will hope for the best."

Renzo would have wished to prolong the conversation, in order to

allot to each their several parts for the morrow, but the night

drew on, and he reluctantly felt himself compelled to depart.