Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/258

268 will forget both it and the Catholic church. And in the Protestant church there is next to nothing which is good for any thing.”

“But Edith,” I replied, “where was it that you were first instructed about Christ and his doctrine? Was not that in the Protestant church?”

“Oh yes, certainly about him,” she answered, “but—”

And the poor girl had not an idea that that was a principal thing.

The weather is beautiful, and after four-and-twenty hours of violent showers the sky is again brilliant, the trees put forth their leaves, and the birds sing. This Convent, which stands high, has a large garden with shadowy paths, between hedges of laurel and box. Here I like to walk, to watch the monthly roses coming out, the double anemones in flower; the peas in pod, and in the evening the sun set behind the hilly horizon beyond the fossil-like Rome. The air is pleasant, and every thing would be good, according to my feelings, if I could only be at peace from the perpetual work of conversion, most especially as carried on by my tall, zealous nun. I am tired of it, and shall soon take my leave of this retraite, to which I am, however, glad and thankful that I came; for have here become better acquainted with that which is best in the Catholic doctrines, and—with that which is the worst—and better also with the future of my own church. But I confess that I am glad to leave this Convent, where I cannot obtain any thing more for my spirit, and where I cannot breathe freely, neither fulfill my especial vocation.