第270页 / 共1118页

There was another law, that, at this examination, a young person

should not be received, without having remained at least a month

at her paternal home. A year had nearly passed since the petition

had been sent, and Gertrude had been warned that she would soon

be removed from the monastery, and conducted to her father's

house, to take the final steps towards the consummation of that

which they held certain. Not so the poor girl; her mind was

busied with plans of escape: in her perplexity, she unbosomed

herself to one of her companions, who counselled her to inform

her father by letter of the change in her views. The letter was

written and sent; Gertrude remained in great anxiety, expecting a

reply, which never came. A few days after, the abbess took her

aside, and, with a mixed expression of contempt and compassion,

hinted to her the anger of the prince, and the error she had

committed; but that, if she conducted herself well for the

future, all would be forgotten.