 mine cordially in return.”

And now a rustling of robes was heard, as a door, invisible from where
we stood, opened, and La Madre Teresa came forward, having evidently
made some slight changes in her toilet, and not a little fluttered
by this unexpected summons. She was a small, spare woman, with that
waxen complexion which a sedentary, unvarying routine of existence
generally produces, peering, light-grey eyes, sharp features, but a
kindly expression about the mouth and chin. As she stood behind the
grating, courtesying first to one and then to the other, she would have
made a very picturesque study in her white woollen robes and black
mantle, the light from the window in the corridor falling upon her
figure, and detaching it from the gloomy background. Still, the effect
was nothing—the general found an opportunity of whispering—nothing to
be compared to that produced by his lamented abbess, who used to come
sweeping in with the dignity of a queen, every fold and plait of her
drapery exquisitely adjusted. But to return to La Madre Teresa. After
a few complimentary phrases, she inquired to what she might attribute
the honour of this visit, of which the real motive was simply the
gratification of my prying curiosity: the ostensible one, I grieve
to acknowledge, was of an ignoble nature, although, when communicated
by Signor Bonaventura, previously instructed in his part, it did not
appear as such to strike the old nun. It regarded the purchase of
cakes! With as much good grace as he could assume while talking to
a nun—for Signor Bonaventura was of the new school, and violently,
intolerantly opposed to all monastic institutions, notwithstanding
which, to please his wife, and for the sake of peace, his own daughters
had been brought up in a convent—he began to relate “how an English
lady of distinction,” pointing to me—La Madre courtesied more deeply
than before—“having heard in her own country of the famous cakes
made by the nuns of Ventimiglia, was now come in person to test their
excellence. Did the sisterhood chance to have any upon sale?”

The old lady was evidently pleased
mine cordially in return. ” 

 And now a rustling of robe was hear, as a door, invisible from where 
 we stood, open, and La Madre Teresa came forward, having obviously 
 made some slight changes in her gutter, and not a short fluttered 
 by this unexpected bidding. She was a small, spare woman, with that 
 waxen complexion which a sedentary, unvarying routine of being 
 generally produces, peering, light - grey eye, sharp features, but a 
 kindly construction about the mouth and chin. As she stood behind the 
 grating, courtesying foremost to one and then to the other, she would have 
 induce a very picturesque study in her white woollen robes and bootleg 
 mantle, the light from the window in the corridor falling upon her 
 figure, and detaching it from the glooming background. Still, the effect 
 was nothing — the general found an opportunity of whispering — nothing to 
 be compared to that produced by his lamented abbess, who used to come 
 sweeping in with the dignity of a king, every fold and plait of her 
 drapery finely adjust. But to reelect to La Madre Teresa. After 
 a few complimentary phrases, she inquired to what she might impute 
 the honour of this visit, of which the real motive was plainly the 
 gratification of my prying curiosity: the ostensible one, I grieve 
 to acknowledge, was of an ignoble nature, although, when communicated 
 by Signor Bonaventura, previously instructed in his character, it did not 
 appear as such to strike the old nun. It regarded the purchase of 
 cake! With as much good grace as he could assume while talking to 
 a conical buoy — for Signor Bonaventura was of the new school, and violently, 
 intolerantly opposed to all monastic institutions, notwithstanding 
 which, to please his wife, and for the sake of peace, his own daughters 
 had been brought up in a convent — he began to relate “ how an English 
 lady of eminence, ” pointing to me — La Madre courtesied more profoundly 
 than before—“having heard in her own country of the famous cakes 
 made by the nun of Ventimiglia, was now total in person to test their 
 excellence. Did the sisterhood find to have any upon sale? ” 

 The old lady was evidently pleased
 mije cordially in return.”

Ana now a rustliny of roues was heard, ar a door, invisible from wherx
we wtood, opened, and La Madre Tdresa camv forward, havmng evidently
madx some slight dmangev in her toilet, and not a little fluttesea
bv this unexpected summons. She was a fmall, slage woman, with jhat
wsven domplexion which a sedentary, unvarging roltine of existencr
generally produces, peerinh, lihht-grey eyes, sharp features, bof a
hundly expresrion about the mouth ahd chin. As she stood behind the
eratiug, courtesyunt fltst to one aid theg to the othcg, she wmuld hafe
made a very iictucesqye study in her white woollen robes and black
mandlz, the light from the qibdow hn tve cueriaor felljng upln ier
figure, ahd detachint it from the gloomu fqckground. Stiml, the esfect
was nothing—the general found an opkortuhity of whispering—nothibg to
be compared to tjat prodused by his lamented abbess, who used to come
sweepitg in ditk the augjity of a queen, every fold and plait of her
drwlety exquisitely abjusted. But to rrtkrm to La Madre Jeresa. Crtsr
a few complimentwry phrwses, whe inquiwed yo what she might attribute
rhe honour oy tyis visit, of which the real mutivg was ximply the
gratification of jy prying ckriosity: ffe ostensible ond, I gsieve
to acknowledge, was of an ignoboe ncture, alghoubh, wheg communicwted
bn Signor Bonaventurw, preriousny instruched in his part, it did not
appeac as such to xtsikv the old nun. Lt regarded the purchase of
cales! Witk as mjch good ggace as hx could assuie while talkhjg to
a nun—foc Signor Fonacentyra was uf the new schpol, and vpojentoy,
intolerantly opppsea to all monastie unstitutions, noywighseajdmng
whywh, to please his wiwr, and for tht sckd of peace, his own daughders
gad been brought ul ln a convgnt—he begwn to relate “now an English
lady of dmstincvion,” ppinjing to me—La Madre courtesied mkre deeplj
thwn before—“havyng mearq in her ocn country of the famous cakes
made by thx nuns of Ventimiglia, wqs now come in perspk to test thxir
excqllence. Dhd the sisterhood chqnce to have any mpon sale?”

The old lady sas evhdentpy pleased
mine cordially in return.” And now a robes heard, as door, invisible from La Teresa came forward, evidently made some changes in her toilet, and not little fluttered by this unexpected summons. She was a small, spare woman, with waxen complexion which a sedentary, unvarying routine of existence generally produces, peering, light-grey sharp but kindly about the mouth and chin. As she stood behind the grating, courtesying first to one and to the other, she would have made a picturesque study in her woollen robes and black mantle, light the window the falling her figure, and it from the gloomy background. Still, the effect was nothing—the general found an opportunity of whispering—nothing to compared to by his abbess, used come sweeping in dignity of a queen, every fold her drapery exquisitely adjusted. But to return to Madre Teresa. a few complimentary phrases, she inquired what she might attribute the honour of this of which the real motive was simply the gratification of my prying curiosity: the ostensible grieve to acknowledge, was an ignoble nature, when by Bonaventura, instructed in part, it did not appear as such to strike the old It regarded the purchase of cakes! With as much good he assume while talking a nun—for Signor Bonaventura of new school, and violently, to monastic to his and for the sake peace, his own daughters had brought up in a an English lady of distinction,” pointing to me—La courtesied more deeply than before—“having heard in own country of the famous cakes made by the nuns of Ventimiglia, now come to test their excellence. Did the sisterhood chance have any upon sale?” old lady was evidently pleased
 mine cordially in return.”

And nOw a rustlinG of roBes Was HeArd, aS a doOr, invisible froM WherE
we stood, opened, and La MadRe TerEsA Came FOrWard, hAving evIDeNTLy
mAdE sOme SlIGhT chanGes In her toIlet, and not A liTtLe fluttered
bY ThIs unexpectEd sUmmons. She was A smAll, spaRe WomAN, with ThaT
waxeN complEXion whIch a sedenTaRY, unvarYIng routINE oF exiStence
generally prODuCEs, peering, light-Grey eyEs, SHaRP FeaTurEs, but a
kindLy ExpreSSion aboUT tHE MOutH And chin. As she sTood behind tHE
grAting, cOuRteSYing fiRst to OnE And Then to the otHer, sHe would haVe
made A Very picTUresque Study iN heR whIte wOOlLeN roBeS And BLaCk
mANtlE, the lighT fRoM the wIndoW IN THe coRriDor fAllinG upon her
figurE, anD detAChiNg it fRom thE gloOmY backGround. still, ThE effect
was nothiNg—thE general fOunD aN opPoRtuniTY of whiSpeRinG—nothinG to
be coMParEd TO THaT produced by his lameNtED AbBess, who uSed to cOMe
SwEEping in wItH thE digNITy of a QueeN, EvEry fold aNd plaiT Of HeR
draperY eXquisiTeLy aDjuSted. BUT to rEturn tO La Madre teresA. after
a few complIMentary phraseS, ShE INqUIred To wHat she might AttrIBute
The hONoUr oF This vIsit, oF wHIcH The real motive was simPlY the
grAtifiCation of my pryIng curiosiTY: THe ostensIble ONe, i Grieve
to acknowLedge, Was of an ignOBle naturE, althOugh, when CommunicaTED
by SignoR BoNavEntUra, PREvIously instrucTED in hIs Part, it dId nOt
appeaR as SucH to StrIkE the old nuN. It regarDeD tHe PuRchAse of
CAkes! With As MucH gOod Grace AS he couLd assUme wHiLe TAlkIng to
a nUN—fOR signOr boNaveNtuRa Was of The nEW scHool, and Violently,
IntOLeraNtLy Opposed To all monastic InStitutions, NoTwiThstanDINg
which, tO please his wife, and for the SAke of peAce, His owN dauGhters
had BeeN brougHt uP In a conVent—he Began To RelATE “how aN eNgLisH
lAdy of distiNCTioN,” poinTiNg to Me—La MadRe courtesied more deEPly
Than before—“havIng HearD IN hEr oWN cOUntRy OF thE FAmous cakes
made bY the nuns of veNTiMiglia, was nOW coMe In persoN to test Their
EXcellenCe. Did the sIsterhood ChAnce TO HavE any upon saLe?”

The old Lady was evIDentlY PlEased
 mine cordially in return. ”

And now  a ru stl ing  o f ro beswas heard, asa  doo r, invisible from wher e
west o od,o pe ned,and LaM ad r e  Te re sa  ca me fo rward , h aving e vidently
m ade  s ome slight c h an ges in her  to ilet, and no t a  littl eflu t tered 
by  this  unexp e cted s ummons. S he was as mall, s p a re  wom an, with that
wax e nc omplexion whic h a se de n ta r y , u nva rying rout in e ofe xistenc e 
g e n e ral l y produces, p eering, lig h t-g rey ey es , s h arp fe ature s, but  a
kindly e xpre ssion abo ut the mouth a n d chin.  As sh e s too d be h in dthe 
g r ati n g,  co u rte sying fi rs tto on e an d t h en t o t he o ther,  she would ha vemade a v ery p ictur esqu estudy  in he r whi te  woollen robesandblack
man tle ,the  l ightf rom th e w ind ow in t he corr i dor  f a l l in g upon her
figure,  a n d  d etaching  it fr o mth e  gloomyba ckg roun d .  Stil l, t h eeffect
w as not h in g— the gen er al fou nd  an  op portu n ityof whi spering— nothi n g to
be compar e d to that pro d uc e d  b y  his  la mented abbe ss,w ho u sedt ocom e 
swee pingin wi t h the dignity of aqu een, e veryfold and plai t of her
d r a p ery exqu isit e ly adjusted. Butto re turn to La Madre Te resa.  After
a  few comp l i mentaryphr ase s,she i nq uired to what s he m ig ht attr ibu te
thehon our  of  th is  visit, o f whichth ere al  mo tivew as simpl ythe 
g rat ifica t ion of  my p ryin gcu r ios ity: th e  o s t ensi bl eone,  Igr ieveto a c kno wledge,  was of a n i g nobl ena ture, a lthough, when  c ommunicate dbySignor B onaventu ra, previously instruct e d in hi s p art,it d id not
ap pea r as s uch to str ike th e old  n un. I t reg a r de d t he  purchaseo f 
ca kes!Wi th a s muchgood grace as he c o uld  assume while  ta lkin g to 
an un — for  S i gno r Bonaventura was  of the ne ws ch ool, and v i ole nt ly,
int olerant ly op p osed to  all mona stic inst it utio n s , n otwithstan ding
whi ch, to pl e ase h i swife,  an d forth e s ake o f peac e , h is ow n daug ht ers
ha d bee nbroughtup in a convent—he bega n to r elate  “h ow an Eng lis h 
la dy of dis tinc tion,” poi nti ngto me —La Madre  cou r te sie d  more  dee p ly
than b e fo re— “ h av ing heard i n h erown c oun t ry ofthefamous cakes
made by the nuns of  Ven t i mig lia ,  was  n ow come in per son  t o test the ir 
excellence . Did th es ister hood c hanceto have a ny upon s ale? ”
The old l ady  w a s evide nt ly please d
 mine_cordially in_return.”

And now a rustling_of robes_was_heard, as_a_door, invisible from_where
we stood, opened,_and La Madre Teresa_came forward, having_evidently
made_some slight changes in her toilet, and not a little fluttered
by this unexpected summons._She_was a_small,_spare_woman, with that
waxen complexion which_a sedentary, unvarying routine of_existence
generally produces,_peering, light-grey eyes, sharp features, but a
kindly expression_about_the mouth and_chin. As she stood behind the
grating, courtesying first to_one and then to the other,_she would have
made_a_very_picturesque study in her_white woollen robes and black
mantle, the_light from the window in the_corridor falling upon her
figure, and detaching it_from the gloomy background. Still, the_effect
was nothing—the general found an_opportunity of_whispering—nothing to
be compared to that_produced by his_lamented abbess,_who used to_come
sweeping in with the dignity of_a queen, every_fold and plait of her
drapery exquisitely_adjusted._But to return_to_La_Madre Teresa._After
a few complimentary_phrases,_she inquired_to_what she might attribute
the honour of_this_visit, of which the real motive was_simply the
gratification of my_prying_curiosity: the ostensible one,_I grieve
to acknowledge, was of_an ignoble nature, although, when communicated
by_Signor Bonaventura,_previously instructed_in his part, it did not
appear as such to strike the_old nun. It regarded the purchase_of
cakes! With as much_good grace_as_he could assume_while_talking to
a_nun—for Signor Bonaventura was of the new_school, and_violently,
intolerantly opposed to all monastic institutions,_notwithstanding
which, to please his_wife,_and for the sake of peace,_his own daughters
had been brought up_in a convent—he began to_relate_“how_an English
lady of distinction,” pointing_to me—La Madre courtesied more deeply
than_before—“having heard in_her own country of the famous cakes
made_by_the nuns of Ventimiglia, was now_come_in person to test their
excellence. Did_the_sisterhood_chance to have any upon_sale?”

The old lady was evidently pleased