Page:Francesca Carrara 1.pdf/190

186 of devotion died away, as it were, with the dying notes of the anthem, the whole face wore the impress of fixed melancholy, to which there could be no hope but beyond the grave.

"That is Mademoiselle d'Epernon," replied Madame de Mercœur, in answer to her friend's inquiry: "I can scarcely recognise her. When I first arrived in Paris, she was among the most celebrated of our youthful beauties—one whose destiny promised to be brilliant as herself. The crown of Poland was offered for her acceptance; when she announced her intention of retiring from the world. Prayer and remonstrance were alike in vain; and she took the veil before she was nineteen."

The attraction between Louise (for so she was always called) and Francesca was mutual, and they soon became constant companions during the few leisure moments that the constant succession of religious offices permitted. Worked up to a high pitch of devotional enthusiasm, Louise was energetic in the performance of penance, and fervid in psalm and prayer; but from all other duties she shrunk with disgust, and never voluntarily participated in the ordinary employments of her associates. A convent to her had evidently been the refuge of the bruised spirit and of the