him.
"Remember, too," concluded the Fidalgo, "that although he has not beenconvicted as the murderer of your brother, he has not proved hisinnocence, and he is without either fortune or influence; were it not soalso, you are dedicated to the Church, and can never be his. Pass yourword to me, therefore, that you will not see him; if not, you must, bythe advice of the Lady Abbess and the good Father Alfonzo, be subjectedto such a confinement as will preclude the possibility of seeing him, orreceiving any account of him."
"I trust, my father, that the love and respect I hear you, and my ownhonour, are a sufficient guarantee of my not disobeying your commandswhen they are just and right; but no further promise will I make,"answered Clara, firmly. "Pardon me, my beloved father, that I shouldever have spoken thus to you; but I will not be unjust to myself, or toone whom I know truly as innocent of any crime except that of lovingme."
Clara continued firm in her determination, notwithstanding all the LadyAbbess, her father, or the priest, could say to her; and at last,wearied out, they were obliged to desist from all further attempts tomake her alter it. Their system of tactics then changed. She was fromhenceforth never allowed to leave her chamber, or to walk in the gardenwithout an attendant; and though at first she bore up with spiritagainst this irksome species of petty tyranny, at last her health gaveway, and it was not till she was allowed, as before, to wander alone inthe garden that she at all recovered. It certainly did not increase hertaste for a monastic life. Her father at length departed for Lisbon.Three months of her noviciate only remained to be accomplished, and shehad not heard from Luis. Week after week passed by, yet he came not.With all a woman's trusting love, she felt confident he would come tosee her, and bid her farewell, if not to bring proofs that her brotherfell by another's hand, and to rescue her.
At last the alarming accounts reached her of the apprehension of theconspirators, among whom the name of the Count d'Almeida was mentioned.She believed him innocent; but he was in prison, and escape washopeless. Then arrived the dreadful description of the cruel execution.She trembled as she listened, but his name was not among the sufferers.She thanked Heaven that he was preserved, though for herself she hadceased to hope.
At last came the stunning intelligence that her father also was aprisoner on the charge of high treason. It was the very day before shewas to pronounce the final vows. She longed to fly to him, to comforthim in prison, but she was told such was impossible. With tears andentreaties she petitioned the Lady Abbess to allow her to depart, yet invain. The fidalgo had committed his daughter to her charge, and by hispermission alone could she allow her to quit the convent under anypretext. His confessor, in whom he placed implicit confidence, assuredher such was his wish, and by him was she guided.
Despairing, therefore, of all human aid, Clara yielded to her fate,trusting, as she did so, that Heaven would afford her peace of mind, andreward her for obeying her father's commands and her mother's wish.
It was a bright and lovely morning, although in winter, when she rosefrom her couch, whereon she had spent a sleepless night; severalattendants being in readiness to robe her for the last time in thegarments of the vain world. Bright flowers were braided in her fairhair, glittering jewels decked her neck, and a robe of white satin,richly ornamented with lace, clothed her graceful form. She appeared asa bride about to be led to the altar--a lovely sacrifice to Heaven; sayrather to bigoted superstition and priestcraft, the worst remnant ofheathen idolatry and imposture: and let us bless the era, and the truepatriot, who, with one daring stroke, banished for ever those vileinstitutions from his country. [Note.]
Before Clara left her chamber for the last time, her future abode beinga narrow cell without ornament, and with but scanty furniture, oldGertrudes was permitted to visit her. Tears and sobs almost choked thepoor nurse's utterance, as she embraced and kissed, over and over again,her young charge.
"Oh! and you look so lovely in that beautiful dress!" she exclaimed;"and they are going to cut off all that fair hair, and put you on adull, ugly habit, which you must wear all the rest of your days--Ohdear! oh dear!" and she burst into a fresh shower of tears.
"Do not thus mourn for me, my good nurse; I care not for my change ofhabit," answered Clara, smiling mournfully; "and I trust I shall behappy in the consciousness of performing my duty."
A sister now entered to inform Clara that the procession was nearlyready to enter the church, so Senhora Gertrudes was obliged to tearherself away to witness the sad ceremony, while Clara accompanied thesister to the hall, where the whole community were assembled previous toentering the church by their private door.
Two other novices were that day to be professed, and a large assemblageof their friends, kindred, and acquaintances, besides many strangers,had collected in the church to witness the ceremony.
Preceded by the cross-bearer, with slow and measured steps, and singingthe hymn, "O Gloriosa Virginum," the procession of nuns entered thesacred edifice, and took their allotted places. The holy FatherAlfonzo, also the professor extraordinary to the convent, first preacheda sermon from the altar, with the postulants seated before him, givingthe most glowing picture of the religious life they were about to enter,so that not one of the audience could doubt they were peculiarly blestin their choice.
The Bishop of Oporto, in his full canonicals, standing before the altar,with his chaplains on either side, the postulants were next led up thesteps to him, when he severally interrogated them, first addressingClara.
"My child, what do you demand?" he said.
"The mercy of God, and the holy habit of religion," answered Clara.
"Is it with your own free-will that you demand the holy habit ofreligion?"
"Yes, my lord," faltered forth Clara.
"Reverend Mother," said the Bishop, turning to the Lady Abbess, "haveyou made the necessary inquiries, and are you satisfied?"
The Lady Abbess signified her assent.
Several other questions were asked, to which the young postulantsresponded satisfactorily, and they were then led forth to put off thegarments of the world, and assume that of religion.
During their absence, the assembled monks and nuns broke forth in asolemn harmonious chant: "Who is she who cometh up from the desert,flowing with delights, leaning on her beloved?"
They soon returned, clothed in the habit of the order, yet wearing theirlong hair covered by their white veils, and again knelt before thealtar, holding lighted tapers in their hands.
On one side was a bier, as if prepared for the dead, on the other atable, with the act of profession and implements for writing placed onit, while the black veil, which, once assumed, would separate them forever from the world, lay upon the altar.
Clara trembled violently--a faintness came over her--she saw not theassembled crowd;--she heard not the rich melody, and scarcely the voiceof the officiating minister. A dull, stunning feeling oppressed her--she was scarcely aware of the answers she made; but the Bishop appearedsatisfied. He then, with a solemn prayer, blessed the black veils, andsprinkled them with holy water. A rich melody pealed through thechurch, while sweet scented incense ascended to heaven.
The eldest postulant then, led forward by the Lady Abbess, after furtherquestions from the Bishop, pronounced her vows, while he held upraisedthe holy sacrament, and the organ sent forth its most solemn tones.With a trembling hand the young girl signed her renunciation of theworld, and a tear-drop blotted out the mark of the cross she made.
The Bishop then severing a lock from her hair, the professed sistersadvanced, and placed her on the bier, and while the black veil wasthrown over her, the organ now sent forth a mournful dirge for the dead.For three minutes did she thus remain, all standing round as ifmourning her dead, and when the veil was again raised, the sisters,lifting her hand to aid her to rise, it fell powerless by her side. Athrill of horror crept over them--for they thought her dead indeed; yetit was not so; the solemn mummery had overcome her--she had fainted; butthe organ ceasing, and then changing to
a triumphant air, she gave signsof returning animation. She was lifted from the bier, and borne fromthe church.
It was now Clara's turn. The Lady Abbess, taking the lighted taper fromher hand, led her forward, giving her the act of confession. Almostfainting, she then knelt, the richest tones of human voices floatinground the building, while the Bishop bore towards her the adorablesacrament. A dimness came over her sight--her voice faltered as themoment to pronounce her final vow had arrived. Scarce had she utteredthe first word, when a voice--it sounded like that of human agony--rungthrough the church. "Stay, in mercy stay!" it cried; and at those tonesClara sunk senseless to the ground.
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Note. Dom Pedro, the father of her present Majesty of Portugal.
Volume 3, Chapter XX.
We left the Count