Then she lost all further power of thought; and though not absolutely fainting, she was stunned and stupefied with the tremendous weight of overwhelming despair. How long she remained in this condition she knew not; but she was suddenly aroused by the opening of a low door in the wall in front of her. Starting as from a dreadful dream, she stretched forth her arms, and became aware that the descent had stopped; and at the same moment she beheld a nun, bearing a lamp, standing on the threshold of the door which had just opened. "Sister, welcome to the chamber of penitence!" said the recluse, approaching the terrified Flora. Then, placing the lamp in a niche near the door, the nun proceeded to remove the cords which fastened the young maiden to the chair. Flora rose, but fell back again on the seat--for her limbs were stiff in consequence of the length of time they had been retained in one position. The nun disappeared by the little door for a few minutes; and, on her return, presented the wretched girl a cup of cold water. Flora swallowed the icy beverage, and felt refreshed. Then, by the light of the lamp in the niche, she hastily examined the countenance of the nun; but its expression was cold--repulsive--stern: and Flora knew that it was useless to seek to make a friend of her. A frightful sense of loneliness, as it were, struck her like an ice-shaft penetrating to her very soul; and clasping her hands together, she exclaimed: "Holy Virgin! protect me!" "No harm will befall you, daughter," said the nun, "if you manifest contrition for past errors and a resolution to devote your future years to the service of Heaven." "My past errors!" repeated Flora, with mingled indignation and astonishment. "I am not aware that I ever injured a living soul by a word or deed--nor entertained a thought for which I need to blush! Neither have I neglected those duties which manifest the gratitude of mortals for the bounties bestowed upon them by Providence." "Ah! daughter," exclaimed the nun, "you interpret not your own heart rightly. Have you never abandoned yourself to those carnal notions--those hopes--those fears--those dreams of happiness--which constitute the passion which the world calls love?" Flora started, and a blush mantled on her cheeks, before so pale! "You see that I have touched a chord which vibrates to your heart's core, daughter," continued the nun, on whom that sudden evidence of emotion was not lost. "You have suffered yourself to be deluded by the whisperings of that feeling whose tendency was to wean your soul from Heaven." "And is it possible that a pure and virtuous love can be construed into a crime?" demanded the young maiden, her indignation overpowering her fears.