Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/166

176 time, make public their change of faith, although, at the earnest prayer of their parents, who were at a distance, they now received the instruction of the English Protestant preacher in Rome, who did every thing in his power to nullify the Catholic influence. Sister —— laughed about it. She was certain how it would terminate. We saw, in one of the parlors, a tall, dark man, dressed in black, and a pretty young girl, sitting together, engaged in earnest conversation. This was the Protestant teacher, and the young lady with the Catholic tendencies.

Mme. —— (the tall nun) frequently reverted to the question of ecclesiastical contention, for she evidently belonged to the church militant. I was thus compelled again to hear that I could not be regarded as belonging to the Christian church.

I said again, “I will ask the Pope! I am certain that he is more tolerant than you.”

Mme. ——'s last words to me were, “Come to us. Go into retraite here, and you will see that you will come to think differently on many subjects!” “It will give me a real pleasure to talk with you on some subjects, if you will allow it,” I replied, “and as for my going into retraite, as you propose—I will think about it. But, as to my being converted;—you will not succeed.” “So also, thought the young English girls!” said she, laughing.

We parted on the best terms. Mme. M. told me that Mme. —— was celebrated for her talent in converting Protestants. She had converted to the Catholic church more than sixty persons, partly in France, partly in Rome.