where we had been bidden to seek her, I entered the door, my companions
standing behind me, as the place was so small as hardly to hold five
persons at a time. The young nun was standing alone near the middle of
the room; she was probably about twenty, with light hair, blue eyes, and
a very fair complexion. I spoke to her in a compassionate voice, but at
the same time with such a decided manner, that she comprehended my full
meaning--

"Saint Francis, we are sent for you."

Several others spoke kindly to her, but two addressed her very harshly.
The poor creature turned round with a look of meekness, and without
expressing any unwillingness or fear, without even speaking a word,
resigned herself to our hands. The tears came into my eyes. I had not a
moment's doubt that she considered her fate as sealed, and was already
beyond the fear of death. She was conducted, or rather hurried to the
staircase, which was near by, and then seized by her limbs and clothes,
and in fact almost dragged up-stairs, in the sense the Superior had
intended. I laid my own hands upon her--I took hold of her too,--more
gentle indeed than some of the rest; yet I encouraged and assisted them
in carrying her. I could not avoid it. My refusal would not have saved
her, nor prevented her being carried up; it would only have exposed me
to some severe punishment, as I believed some of my companions, would
have seized the first opportunity to complain of me.

All the way up the staircase, Saint Francis spoke not a word, nor made
the slightest resistance. When we entered with her the room to which she
was ordered, my heart sank within me. The Bishop, the Lady Superior, and
five priests, viz. Bonin, Richards, Savage, and two others, I now
ascertained, were assembled for her trial, on some charge of great