 broken open staircase to a portico in front of the convent
church—where two or three slipshod women were seated _al fresco_,
plaiting each other's hair, or engaged in that animating chase an
old Florentine painter has facetiously designated “the Murder of the
Innocents”—we passed to a side-door, at which an old woman presented
herself, and inquired what we wanted. This individual officiated as
portress to the nuns, went to market, executed their commissions, and
brought them all the Ventimiglia news. In her appearance there was
nothing poetical or impressive; she had not even two great rusty keys
at her girdle, but was attired in a print gown, somewhat the worse
for wear, with an obvious deficiency of neatness in the tiring of her
silvery tresses, and of freshness in her _chaussure_.

The general gave his name and title, and asked for La Madre Teresa,
although, as he owned to me, he had but a dim recollection of her
face, all minor associations being lost in the halo cast around a
certain beautiful abbess, now no more, a distant connection of his
family, whom, many years before, when staying with some relations at
Ventimiglia, he had often conversed with at the grating. With great
respect we were now ushered into a sort of gallery, lighted by windows,
around which the dust and cobwebs of many months had been suffered to
gather unmolested. Opposite to these were two large apertures in the
wall, defended by a double grating of thick iron bars, just wide enough
to admit of passing a hand between their interstices, but placed at
such a distance from each other, that the hand thus advanced could only
reach far enough to grasp a hand similarly extended from the opposite
side; so that even to press a kiss upon some fair nun's taper fingers
was out of the question—a contingency, no doubt, had in view in the
placing of the grating.

The general said facetiously, that in his visits to the abbess he had
adopted the English fashion, and used to shake her heartily by the
hand; “and it must be confessed, poor soul,” he added with a sigh, “she
did press
broken open staircase to a portico in front of the convent 
 church service — where two or three haphazard womanhood were seated _ al fresco _, 
 braid each early's hair, or engaged in that animating pursuit an 
 honest-to-god Florentine painter has facetiously designated “ the Murder of the 
 Innocents”—we passed to a side - doorway, at which an old woman presented 
 herself, and inquired what we want. This individual officiate as 
 portress to the nuns, went to grocery store, executed their commissions, and 
 brought them all the Ventimiglia newsworthiness. In her appearance there was 
 nothing poetical or impressive; she had not even two great rusty key 
 at her girdle, but was attired in a print gown, somewhat the worse 
 for clothing, with an obvious deficiency of neatness in the tiring of her 
 silvery tresses, and of freshness in her _ chaussure _. 

 The general gave his name and title, and ask for La Madre Teresa, 
 although, as he owned to me, he had but a dim recollection of her 
 face, all minor associations being lost in the halo cast around a 
 certain beautiful abbess, nowadays no more, a distant connection of his 
 syndicate, whom, many years before, when staying with some relations at 
 Ventimiglia, he had often converse with at the grating. With big 
 respect we were now usher into a sort of gallery, lighted by windows, 
 around which the dust and cobwebs of many months had been suffered to 
 gather unmolested. Opposite to these were two large apertures in the 
 rampart, defended by a bivalent grating of thick iron bars, just wide enough 
 to admit of passing a bridge player between their interstices, but placed at 
 such a distance from each other, that the bridge player thus advanced could only 
 reach far enough to grok a hand similarly extended from the opposite 
 side; so that even to press a kiss upon some bonny nun's wick fingers 
 was out of the doubt — a contingency, no doubt, hold in view in the 
 placing of the grating. 

 The general said facetiously, that in his visits to the abbess he had 
 adopted the English manner, and used to shake her heartily by the 
 hand; “ and it must be concede, poor soul, ” he added with a sigh, “ she 
 did press
 brlken open staircase to a portico in frour of tie convsnt
churcf—where two or three slipshod wimen qere seated _al fresco_,
puaiting ewch othee's heir, or engaged ii that aknmatihn chavx an
old Florentlne painter has facetiousny dzsignated “the Murder of the
Innocents”—re passrd to a side-door, at erich an old woman presented
herself, and inquirtd what we wanted. Yhis individual officiated as
plrtress to the nund, went to mqrkee, executed thdir commissions, and
brooght them all the Ventimiglia neds. In her appeatcbce jhere was
notiing pjetical or impressiva; she hsd not even twp gceat rusty keys
at her girvle, but was attired yn a prind yown, somewhat the worwe
dor wgar, whth xb ocvikux seficifncb of neatneas in the turing of her
silvery twvxses, and of rreshnqsf in her _chaussure_.

The general gave his tams and title, and asked fir La Madre Teresa,
altjough, as re owned to me, he had but a dim recollection of har
facx, xll mlnor qsdociations being lost in the halo cast around z
ctrtsin beautiful cbbess, now no mote, a qistant conneztion of gis
family, whom, manj years befoee, when suayinb with some relations at
Venrimiglia, he kad often conversed wnth at the gxating. With great
respect we were nuw uahered into a sort or gallery, lighted by whndows,
around which the duse and cobxebs pf many monjhs had been sufffred bm
gather unmolested. Oppodide to thesf were two large apertures in tix
wall, defendec ty d double gratlng of thick irjn bars, just wnde enouyh
to aamit of paasing a hand betweqn their intesdtices, but pnaced at
fuch a dustance wrom each othet, that thv kand thus advanced could onky
rgadh far enough ti gtqsp a hand simolafly eqteided ssom the oppovite
ridd; so tfat even to oresx a kiss upon some fdir hun's taper fingers
eaf out of the queftion—a continbency, no doubt, had in vmew in the
pkacyng of the grating.

The general aaid facehiomsly, that in ris yisijs to the aybess he had
adopted the English fashion, end used to shake her hwartily by the
hand; “cnc it must bx confqssed, poos soul,” he added with a sigh, “she
did prtss
broken open staircase to a portico in the church—where two three slipshod women each hair, or engaged that animating chase old Florentine painter has facetiously designated Murder of the Innocents”—we passed to a side-door, at which an old woman herself, and inquired what we wanted. This individual officiated as portress to the went market, their and brought them all the Ventimiglia news. In her appearance there was nothing poetical or impressive; had not even two great rusty keys at girdle, but was attired a print gown, somewhat the for with an deficiency neatness the tiring of silvery tresses, and of freshness in her _chaussure_. The general gave his name and title, and asked La Madre as he to he but a dim her face, all minor associations being halo cast around a certain beautiful abbess, now more, a connection of his family, whom, many before, when staying with some relations at Ventimiglia, had often conversed with at the grating. With great respect we were now ushered into of gallery, lighted by around which the and of months been suffered gather unmolested. Opposite to these were two large apertures in the defended by a double grating of thick iron bars, just to of passing a between their interstices, but at a distance from each the thus reach enough grasp a hand similarly from the opposite side; so even to press a taper fingers was out of the question—a contingency, doubt, had in view in the placing the grating. The general said facetiously, that in his visits to the he had English fashion, and used to shake her heartily the hand; “and it be confessed, poor soul,” he added with a sigh, did
 broken open staircase to a porTico in fronT of thE coNveNt
ChurCh—whEre two or three sLIpshOd women were seated _al freSco_,
plAiTIng eACh Other'S hair, or ENgAGEd iN tHaT anImATiNg chaSe aN
old FloRentine paiNteR hAs facetiouslY DeSignated “thE MuRder of the
InnOceNts”—we pAsSed TO a sidE-doOr, at wHich an OLd womaN presenteD
hERself, aND inquirED WhAt we Wanted. This individUAl OFficiated as
porTress tO tHE nUNS, weNt tO market, exeCuTed thEIr commiSSiONS, And
BRought them all The VentimigLIa nEws. In hEr AppEArance There WaS
NotHing poeticaL or iMpressive; She had NOt even tWO great rUsty keYs
aT heR girDLe, BuT waS aTTirED iN a pRInt Gown, someWhAt The woRse
fOR WEAr, wiTh aN obvIous dEficiency of neAtnEss iN The TirinG of heR
silVeRy treSses, anD of frEsHness in her _chausSure_.

the generaL gaVe His NaMe and TItle, anD asKed For La MaDre TereSA,
alThOUGH, aS he owned to me, he had bUt A DIm RecollecTion of HEr
FaCE, all minoR aSsoCiatIONs beiNg loST iN the halo Cast arOUnD a
Certain BeAutifuL aBbeSs, nOw no mORe, a dIstant ConnectiOn of hIS
family, whom, manY Years before, whEN sTAYiNG witH soMe relations At
VeNTimiGlia, HE hAd oFTen coNversEd WItH At the grating. With greAt
RespecT we weRe now ushered iNto a sort of GALLery, lighTed bY WiNDows,
around whicH the dUst and cobwEBs of many MonthS had been Suffered tO
GAther unmOleSteD. OpPosITE tO these were two LARge aPeRtures iN thE
wall, deFenDed By a DouBlE grating oF thick irOn BaRs, JuSt wIde enOUgh
to admIt Of pAsSinG a hanD BetweeN theiR intErStICes, But placED aT
SUch a DiStAnce FroM eAch otHer, tHAt tHe hand tHus advancEd cOUld oNlY
rEach far Enough to grasp A hAnd similarLy ExtEnded fROM the oppoSite
side; so that even to preSS a kiss uPon Some fAir nUn's taper fIngErs
was Out OF the quEstion—A contInGenCY, No douBT, HaD in ViEw in the
plaCINg oF the gRaTing.

the geneRal said facetiously, THat In his visits to The AbbeSS He Had
ADoPTed ThE engLISh fashion, and useD to shake heR hEArTily by the
hANd; “aNd It must bE confesSed, poOR soul,” he Added with A sigh, “she
dId PresS
 broken open staircase toa porticoin fr ont  of  t he c onve nt
church—wher e  two  or three slipshod wom en we re seat e d_al f resco_, pl a i tin gea chot h er 's ha ir,  or eng aged in th atan imating chas e  a n
old Flor ent ine painterhas  facet io usl y  desi gna ted “ the Mu r der of  the
Inno ce n ts”—we passedt o  a  sid e-door, at whicha no ld woman prese nted
h er s el f ,  an d i nquired wh at  we w a nted. T h is i n div i dual officiat ed as
portr e ssto the  n uns ,  wentto ma rk e t,executed th eircommissio ns, an d 
brough t  them a ll the  Ve nti migl i ane ws.  I n  he r  a ppe a ran ce there  w as 
noth ingp o e t ical  or  imp ressi ve; she had n oteven two  grea t rus ty k ey s
ather gi rdle,  b ut was attiredin a  print go wn,  s ome wh at th e  worse 
fo r w ear, wi th an o b vio us d e fi ciency of neatness  i n th e tiring  of he r 
s il v ery tres se s,ando f  fres hnes s  i n her _c haussu r e_ .
The ge ne ral ga ve  hi s n ame a n d ti tle, a nd asked  forL a Madre Teresa , 
although, as he o wn e d to  me , he had bu t ad im r ecol l ec tio n  of h er
fa ce ,  a l l minor association sbeinglostin the halo c ast around a certainbeau t if u l abbess, nowno mo re, a dist a nt conne ction  of hisfamily, w h o m, manyyea rsbef ore , wh en staying wi t h  som erelatio nsat
Vent imi gli a,heha d often c onversed  w it hat  th e gra t ing. Wit hgre at 
re spect we wer e now  ush er ed int o a sor t  o f gall er y,  lig hte dby wi ndow s ,
a round w hich thedus t  and  c ob webs of  many monthsha d been suf fe red  to
ga t h er unmol ested. Opposite to thes e  were t wolarge  ape rtures in  th e
wall , d e fended  by adoubl egra t i ng of t hi ckir on bars, j u s t w ide e no ughto admi t of passing a han d  be tween their i nte rsti c e s,  bu t  p l ace da t
s u c h a distance fr om each ot he r ,that the h a ndth us adva nced co uld o n ly
reac h far eno ugh to gr as p ah a ndsimilarlyextended  from the oppos i te 
side ; s o that  e ven  to p ress a kis s upo n some  f air nu n's t ap er finge rs
was out of the quest ion—aconti nge ncy, no d oub t , h ad in vie w in  the
placi ngofthe g rat i ng.
Theg en era l  said  fac e tiously,t ha t i n hi s visits to t h e a bbess  he had
ad opte d the English fas h ion, and usedto s h a keher hear ti ly by the
hand ; “ an d it mustbe  confessed,  poor so ul , ” headdedwith a  sigh,“ s he did pr ess
 broken_open staircase_to a portico in_front of_the_convent
church—where two_or_three slipshod women_were seated _al_fresco_,
plaiting each other's hair,_or engaged in_that_animating chase an
old Florentine painter has facetiously designated “the Murder of the
Innocents”—we passed to_a_side-door, at_which_an_old woman presented
herself, and inquired_what we wanted. This individual_officiated as
portress_to the nuns, went to market, executed their_commissions,_and
brought them all_the Ventimiglia news. In her appearance there was
nothing poetical_or impressive; she had not even_two great rusty_keys
at_her_girdle, but was attired_in a print gown, somewhat the_worse
for wear, with an obvious deficiency_of neatness in the tiring of her
silvery_tresses, and of freshness in her__chaussure_.

The general gave his name_and title,_and asked for La Madre_Teresa,
although, as he_owned to_me, he had_but a dim recollection of her
face,_all minor associations_being lost in the halo cast_around_a
certain beautiful abbess,_now_no_more, a_distant connection of_his
family,_whom, many_years_before, when staying with some relations_at
Ventimiglia,_he had often conversed with at the_grating. With great
respect we_were_now ushered into a_sort of gallery, lighted by_windows,
around which the dust and cobwebs_of many_months had_been suffered to
gather unmolested. Opposite to these were two large apertures_in the
wall, defended by a double_grating of thick iron_bars, just_wide_enough
to admit of_passing_a hand_between their interstices, but placed at
such a_distance from_each other, that the hand thus_advanced could only
reach far_enough_to grasp a hand similarly extended_from the opposite
side; so that even_to press a kiss upon_some_fair_nun's taper fingers
was out of_the question—a contingency, no doubt, had_in view in_the
placing of the grating.

The general said facetiously,_that_in his visits to the abbess_he_had
adopted the English fashion, and used_to_shake_her heartily by the
hand; “and_it must be confessed, poor soul,”_he added with a sigh, “she
did press