Page:The Monk, A Romance - Lewis (1796, 1st ed., Volume 3).djvu/15

 "But at least," said the old porteress, "take care not to sing any thing profane."

"You may depend upon my discretion," replied Theodore; "you shall hear how dangerous it is for young women to abandon themselves to their passions, illustrated by the adventure of a damsel, who fell suddenly in love with an unknown knight."

"But is the adventure true?" enquired the porteress.

"Every word of it. It happened in Denmark; and the heroine was thought so beautiful, that she was known by no other name but that of "the lovely maid."

"In Denmark, say you?" mumbled an old nun: "Are not the people all blacks in Denmark?"

"By no means, reverend lady; they are of a delicate pea-green, with flame-coloured hair and whiskers."

"Mother of God! Pea-green?" exclaimed sister Helena: "Oh! 'tis impossible!"

"Impossible!" said the porteress, with a