I have but a confused idea of the manner in which I got through some of
the doors; several of them, I am confident, were fastened, and one or
two I fastened behind me. [Footnote: Before leaving the nunnery
grounds, I ran round the end of the building, stood a moment in
hesitation whether I had not better return, then hastening back to the
other side, ran to the gate, opened it, and went out.] But I was now in
the street, and what was to be done next? I had got my liberty; but
where should I go? It was dark, I was in great danger, go which way I
would: and for a moment, I thought I had been unwise to leave the
Convent. If I could return unobserved, would it not be better? But
summoning resolution, I turned to the left, and ran some distance up
the street; then reflecting that I had better take the opposite
direction, I returned under the same Convent walls, and ran as fast
down to St. Paul's street, and turning up towards the north, exerted
all my strength, and fled for my life. It was a cold evening, but I
stopped for nothing, having recollected the house where I had been put
to board for a short time, by the priest Roque, when prepared to enter
the Convent as a novice, and resolved to seek a lodging there for the
night. Thither I went. It seemed as if I flew rather than ran. It was
by that time so dark, that I was able to see distinctly through the low
windows by the light within; and had the pleasure to find that she was
alone with her children. I therefore went boldly to the door, was
received with readiness, and entered to take up my lodging there once
more.
Here I changed my nun's dress for one less likely to excite
observation; and having received a few dollars in addition to make up
the difference, I retired to rest, determined to rise early and take
the morning steamboat for Quebec. I knew that my hostess was a friend
of the Superior, as I have mentioned before, and presumed that it would
not be long before she would give information against me. I knew,
however, that she could not gain admittance to the Convent very early,
and felt safe in remaining in the house through the night.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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