opinions of those who might have prescribed proper limits to her inquiries, surrounded by the implicit votaries of superstition, and almost wholly ignorant of the true grounds of Christian faith, in renouncing the errors of Popery she found herself bewildered in a yet-wider field of doubt; and, forming her conclusions on its other tenets by analogy with those which her reason had abjured, the whole system of revealed religion became involved in her mistrust.

In a young and already-sophisticated mind, these doubts and inquiries prove too often what Shakespeare beautifully says of glory:

"like a circle in the water;

"Which never ceaseth to enlarge itself,

"Till by broad spreading it disperse to nought."

Maria, with all that strength of intellect which sustains the mind in independence, but with the diffidence of a heart

heart which, when rightly moulded, hesitates to decide on so sacred a subject as religion, felt, to her astonishment, the possibility of being unsatisfied, though fully emancipated from those mental fetters which superstition had imposed on prejudice.

There was a something within,-she knew not what, which sought for demonstration to confirm hope; a consciousness of still-remaining error, which, though she could not analyse it to herself, withheld her from imparting to her sister the revolution in her sentiments. Resolutely confirmed in her rejection of the delusive tenets of Popery, she knew not where to mark the intermediate boundaries of revealed faith; and, though the wanderings of her mind tended strongly towards Deism, she had not courage to own herself a Deist.

Thus

Thus situated, detesting the cruel sacrifices, and despising the credulity and imposition which she saw around her, she determined to appeal from her involuntary confinement, and to make an open avowal to the superior of the convent of her renunciation of the Romish creed. While she deliberated on the manner of effecting this important step with the least opposition, she was surprised by the appearance of Henry Fitzwilliam at St. Etienne, the object of whose journey confirmed her resolution.

He had lingered about the scenes which contained the object of his affection, in the vain hope of being able at some future time, when Lady Anne's suspicions should be lulled to sleep, to obtain a private interview with Maria, în order to declare his passion, and urge her consent to a clandestine union.

But their departure for France, in dissolving this hope, had left him a prey to

the

the deepest regret. He returned to his father's house, and strove in vain to drown the remembrance of his disappointment in the new and attractive bustle of gaities and pursuits which had hitherto been unknown to him.

From an early period of childhood Maria Conway was mingled with all his recollections; and he could not look back on the days that were passed without thinking of her. In this state of mind, the news had reached him of her having entered her noviciate.

"Till then a secret hope had, almost unknown to himself, cherished his love, and supported him under her absence, even while he believed himself striving to forget her: but, when he heard that the gloomy portals of superstition were about to close for ever on one so eminently fitted to adorn society; when he found himself on the point of being for ever severed from her,

he

he could no longer deceive himself: he felt that she was necessary to his happiness, to his existence; and he formed the rash design of following her to the convent, and endeavouring to snatch her from impending destiny.

But a kind and indulgent father had marked the workings of his heart. Too liberal in his own opinions to disapprove of his son's attachment to Miss Conway on the score of her religion, and likewise sensible of her worth from the unanimous testimony of the few who knew her, he now stepped forward to espouse his cause, and aid him by his counsel. Knowing that nothing could be gained from Lady Anne's unconquerable bigotry, and foreseeing that her death must soon remove that obstacle which a premature disclosure of his son's wishes might render for ever insurmountable, he persuaded him to suspend his design while there was yet time to deliberate, and wait the issue of Lady Anne's