Here Agnes ceased, and the Marquis replied to her address in terms
equally sincere and affectionate. Lorenzo expressed his satisfaction at
the prospect of being so closely connected with a Man for whom He had
ever entertained the highest esteem. The Pope’s Bull had fully and
effectually released Agnes from her religious engagements: The marriage
was therefore celebrated as soon as the needful preparations had been
made, for the Marquis wished to have the ceremony performed with all
possible splendour and publicity. This being over, and the Bride having
received the compliments of Madrid, She departed with Don Raymond for
his Castle in Andalusia: Lorenzo accompanied them, as did also the
Marchioness de Villa-Franca and her lovely Daughter. It is needless to
say that Theodore was of the party, and would be impossible to describe
his joy at his Master’s marriage. Previous to his departure, the
Marquis, to atone in some measure for his past neglect, made some
enquiries relative to Elvira. Finding that She as well as her Daughter
had received many services from Leonella and Jacintha, He showed his
respect to the memory of his Sister-in-law by making the two Women
handsome presents. Lorenzo followed his example—Leonella was highly
flattered by the attentions of Noblemen so distinguished, and Jacintha
blessed the hour on which her House was bewitched.
On her side, Agnes failed not to reward her Convent Friends. The worthy
Mother St. Ursula, to whom She owed her liberty, was named at her
request Superintendent of “The Ladies of Charity:” This was one of the
best and most opulent Societies throughout Spain. Bertha and Cornelia
not choosing to quit their Friend, were appointed to principal charges
in the same establishment. As to the Nuns who had aided the Domina in
persecuting Agnes, Camilla being confined by illness to her bed, had
perished in the flames which consumed St. Clare’s Convent. Mariana,
Alix, and Violante, as well as two more, had fallen victims to the
popular rage. The three Others who in Council had supported the
Domina’s sentence, were severely reprimanded, and banished to religious
Houses in obscure and distant Provinces: Here they languished away a
few years, ashamed of their former weakness, and shunned by their
Companions with aversion and contempt.
Nor was the fidelity of Flora permitted to go unrewarded. Her wishes
being consulted, She declared herself impatient to revisit her native
land. In consequence, a passage was procured for her to Cuba, where She
arrived in safety, loaded with the presents of Raymond and Lorenzo.
The debts of gratitude discharged, Agnes was at liberty to pursue her
favourite plan. Lodged in the same House, Lorenzo and Virginia were
eternally together. The more He saw of her, the more was He convinced
of her merit. On her part, She laid herself out to please, and not to
succeed was for her impossible.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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