Volume VI Part 22 (1/2)
”Yes; and she is unhappy in her love, for it is not returned That rief”
”I pity her, and yet, with such a face, I do not know any irl would do well to leave love alone
But as to you ”
”Say nothing about reater than hers I aive in, and God knows there are some men whom it is impossible to ward off! God is irl with the s it, and so losing my beauty; but God would not have it so, andme to do a penance I had never expected”
”Tell me what it is?”
”He told me that a handsoift of God, for which a wo to destroy this beauty I had sinned, for I had endeavoured to destroy God's handiwork After a good deal of rebuke in this style, he ordered e onpale I had to sube, but hitherto I have not felt obliged to use it Indeed, ht notice it, and I should not like to tell him that it is done by way of penance”
”Is your confessor a young man?”
”He is an old man of seventy”
”Do you tell him all your sins without reserve?”
”Certainly, for the sreat sin”
”Does he ask you questions?”
”No, for he sees that I areat trial, but I have to sub?”
”For two years Before him I had a confessor as quite unbearable
He asked nant”
”What questions were these?”
”You o to confession so often?”
”Why? Would to God I had not good cause! but after all I only go once a week”
”That's too often”
”Not so, for when I a in my sleep”
”I pity you, dearest; I have a consolation which is denied you I have an infinite trust in the infinite mercy of God”
The cousin arrived and we set out We found a good es in front of the church-door, and the church itself was full of devotees, both st others I saw the duchess of Villadorias, notorious for her andro could keep her back She would rush at the man who had excited her, and he had no choice but to satisfy her passion This had happened several tiiven rise to some extraordinary scenes I had seen her at a ball; she was still both young and pretty As I entered the church I saw her kneeling on the stones of the church floor She lifted her eyes, and gazed at me, as if doubtful whether she knew me or not, as she had only seen me in domino After o, and the duchess rose also; and as soon as ere out of the church she asked me if I knew her I replied in the affirmative, and she asked why I had not been to see her, and if I visited the duchess of Benevento I told her that I did not visit her grace, and that I should have the honour of paying her a call before long