Signora Rivolta listened calmly, and replied, “But, father, will my prayers be successful for a heretic?” “Daughter,” replied the priest, “there are no heretics in the grave.” There was a pause in the conversation; and Father Martini anxiously watched the countenance of Signora Rivolta to see when there might be an opportunity of speaking concerning the daughter, of the steadiness of whose faith there was some ground of doubt. As there appeared some symptoms of composure, the priest, after a short interval, said, “Daughter, when afflictions come upon us, it is for our own good, or for the good of the church, most frequently for both. You have a child who was brought up in the bosom of the holy church; the faith of that child has been endangered. It is now more than ever in your power to secure and establish it. Whereinsoever you doubt your own influence in this land of heresy, that defect may be supplied and that evil remedied by removal of your child into a country where heresy is unknown.” There followed this address a much longer and more embarrassing interval of silence, which at length was slowly broken by Signora Rivolta in a subdued and almost whispering tone. “Father Martini, I reverence the faith in which I have been reared from my infancy, and I feel it to be a faith of holy and sustaining power; but I fear that it has no influence where it does not rule the will; and I cannot, dare not, use an importunity of persuasion to urge my child to the steps which you suggest. If the church receives her wholly, it shall receive her freely.” At this speech there was a slight frown upon the brow of the holy man; but Signora Rivolta saw it not, nor was she aware of any unpleasant feeling in the mind of Father Martini, when in reply he said, “Lady, you, as a mother, have power to influence; and the influence which you can use is more than authority and weightier than command. A child cannot long resist a parent.” With much quickness and promptitude, Signora Rivolta replied, “My child shall not resist me.” Father Martini was pleased; and with an agreeable feeling he rose to take his leave, saying, “Now, lady, I leave you; and when you have performed your duty to the dead, you will not forget your duty also to the living.” There was a meaning in the Signora’s last expression which the priest did not observe. To his ear it sounded as if it was intended to say that resistance would be hopeless and ineffectual. From the lips of Clara’s mother it was intended to say, that no importunity of persuasion should be used. It was a pleasant misunderstanding on both sides. CHAPTER XIII. “In terms as moving and as strong, As clear as ever fell from angel’s tongue, Besought, reproved, exhorted.” HARTE.