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Lucy returned to the window; but another idea, the one accustomed

to predominate, had resumed its sway over the mind of the unhappy

Gertrude. She affected dissatisfaction at the directions she had

given; described the road again to Lucy, and dismissed her: "Do

exactly as I have told you, and return quickly."

Lucy passed the door of the cloister unobserved, and proceeding

on her way with downcast eyes, found, with the aid of the

directions given, and her own recollections, the gate of the

suburb; timid and trembling, she continued on the high road,

until she arrived at that which led to the convent. This road was

buried, like the bed of a river, between two high banks, bordered

with trees, whose branches united to form an arch above it. On

finding it entirely deserted, she felt her fears revive; she

hurried on, but gained courage from the sight of a travelling

carriage which had stopped a short distance before her; before

the door of it, which was open, there stood two travellers

looking about, as if uncertain of their way. As she approached,

she heard one of them say, "Here is a good girl, who will tell us

the way." As she came on a line with the carriage, this same man

addressed her: "My good girl, can you tell us the way to Monza?"