CHAP. XVI.

Ye cruel maids!

When first ye 'gan to weave my woof of fate
Ye dy'd it with the roseate hues of spring.-
At length the raven croak'd, with joy ye snatch'd
The cords of woe, and dipp'd th'unfinish'd web
Deep in the pitchy waters of despair.

SAYERS.

NOW, Cupid being one of the most mischievous urchins, that ever existed, not contented with making such havoc in the hitherto stoical heart of the philophical Clayton, did likewise most wilfully and maliciously wound, and disturb the peace of the gentle and unfortunate Claudina. This young lady's destiny had been singularly pitiable; with a heart cast in nature's softest mould, a disposition peculiarly amiable, and manners the most interesting

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interesting and affectionate, she had been the victim of unkindness, chilled by neglect, and discouraged by insult. It was her misfortune to be born too soon. The first three years of her life were the only happy ones that she had ever known. She was then the darling of her parents, and undoubted heiress of a large fortune, left by an uncle to her father's eldest child, unless he, or she, embraced a religious life, in which case it was to devolve to the next; or if there were none other, it was to endow an hospital for thirty decayed noble Castilians. In the fourth year of Claudina's age her parents were made happy by the birth of a son, and from that moment, all her wretchedness commenced. This darling son, who was to transmit the family-name to a hundred generations, was unfortunately likely to succeed to more titles than estates, but the parents lamenting the untoward circumstance, luckily recollected, that if they could not enrich him, Claudina

Now

might; and from that instant it was de-
creed that she should. But to effect a
change of prospects, a change of incli-
nation was also necessary, and the little
lively Claudina, was to be metamorphosed
into the devout and pensive nun.
this was far from an impossibility, and
might have been easily effected by kind and
docile means, for even at that early age
the child gave strong proofs of the ten-
derness and sensibility which were after-
wards matured in the woman. But her
parents wisely took her, at six years of
age, from an elegant nursery, where she
had always had a croud of playfellows,
deprived her of her toys and sweatmeats,
and sent her to board in a convent, sel-
dom going to see her, and then only to
reprove her, and repress by sternness the
emotions of her affectionate heart, which
not all their cruelty could teach her to
stifle.

In this convent her acquaintance commenced with Everilda, who was sent to it L 6

for

for education, on account of the Marchese having a sister who resided in its vicinity. Their intimacy soon grew into a lively friendship, and her attachment to Everilda, was one great source of the firmness with which the timid novice resisted the stern mandates of her parents; the severity of the rigid nuns, and the caresses of the artful ones. She looked with horror on vows, which would separate her from the only friend that she had ever known; and that friend possessing, at all times, a a soul impatient of controul, disdained it in the form of tyranny, and fortified with her spirited advice, and independent opinions, the drooping spirits and wavering resolutions of the distressed Claudina. Even her timidity was worked on by Everilda, who drew in lively colours, the offence given to God, and the mockery made of religion by those who professed a sacred call to a life which they loathed, and who claimed merit for offering to heaven a heart, polluted with worldly

worldly desires, and the repinings of discontent.

The death of Claudina's parents made no change in her situation, but that of giving her, if possible, a still harsher guardian, in the person of her brother, whose remonstrances were so unceasing, and accompanied with such cruelties, that the gentle object of them, sunk under their force, and seemed ready to resign a life, made wretched by unkindness. Everilda's warm and generous heart bled to see the ravages made by grief in the lovely frame and delicate constitution of her friend, for whom she earnestly requested an asylum with her parents. Her wishes were no sooner mentioned, than compliance prevented their repetition. In this case there were additional motives for their gratification. The Marchesa was one of the most compassionate and tender of her sex; she sympathized in Claudina's trials, and wished to alleviate her sorrows; Everilda's petition was likewise made a

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