"Not so," I replied, "only an excellent memory, come, now, own the truth, didn't you promise me so?" "But, Frank, I was a little girl then, and my contracts were not valid you know; however, if--" "If what?" demanded I, perceiving that she blushed and hesitated. "Why, if _you_ wish to kiss _me_, I don't know that I should object a great deal." Of course I did no such thing. "Why, Ellen," I said in a few moments, "you've grown very prudish; where did you learn to be?" "Oh! I don't know," she replied, "unless it was among the nuns." "The nuns!" I repeated, my thought taking a new turn." "Ay, the nuns, my lad, the nuns," cried Ellen, laughing immoderately at my abstracted look. "At what convent?" I asked. "The Ursuline. I went to school there immediately after our arrival, and, Frank, only think! my particular preceptress, Sister Agatha, father says is your own cousin. She understood English so much better than any of the rest that I was put under her immediate care." I was peculiarly interested in this piece of information, as the reader may suppose. I questioned Ellen closely, and finally told her the story of the loves and misfortunes of Mr. Stewart and Clara. The tears stood in the beautiful eyes of my auditor as I finished. "Langley and I have a plan for her escape," I added. "Oh! Frank, she would not escape; she has taken the veil; she will not break her vow." "Yes she will, when she hears that her brother is free and Stewart is alive." "Well," said Ellen, "I know what I would do in her place, but what is your plan? In case she is willing to escape how do you propose to manage?" "That's the difficulty; don't the nuns ever come out of the convent?" "Never alone; always by twos. Sister Agatha is a great saint, and has a deal of liberty, but she is always in company." "Well, well," said I, "we shall have to scale the walls then." "Pooh! you are as romantic as William." "Well, Miss Wisdom, wont you suggest something?" "Certainly. Frank," replied Ellen. "Sister Agatha always took quite a liking for me, because I was her scholar I suppose, and an American, and she and the Superior, who is a very good-natured person, came immediately to see me, when I was sick last summer, and afterward called very often. Now, if papa is willing, when your ship is ready to sail I'll fall sick again and send for Sister Agatha, who will be sure to come with some one else, but she can slip out through the court after awhile, and down the garden-walk here to the river, and go into your boat, which shall be waiting, and then you can take her off to the ship." "That is a capital plan, dear Ellen," said I, "but there is one grand objection to it." "What is that, Frank?" "You would get into trouble by it." "Oh, no! I think not; but yonder comes papa with mother, and William is saying fine things to Mary, behind them."