I could not
sleep; but, tossing from one side to the other during the whole night,
rose the next morning feverish and unrefreshed.
Following, as usual, the impulse of my feelings, I repaired to her
relative, who had taken me to witness the ceremony, and persuaded him to
introduce me at the wicket of the convent.
As she had yet one year of probation previous to her taking the final
vows, which were for ever to seclude her from the world, in seeing her
there was no difficulty. Her duteous resignation to the will of her
parents, her serene and beautiful countenance, her angelic smile,--all
contributed to the increase of my passion; and, after an hour's
conversation, I left her with my heart in a state of tumult, of which it
is not easy to express the idea. My visits were repeated again and
again. In a short time I declared my sentiments, and found that I was
listened to without offending. Before I quitted Cadiz, which my
engagements rendered imperative, I obtained from her a reciprocal
acknowledgment. And as there were still nine months to pass away
previous to her decision upon a monastic life, before that period had
elapsed, I faithfully promised to return, and claim her as my own. As we
professed the same faith, and she had only been sacrificed that the
possessions of her brother might not be diminished by the fortune which
her marriage would require, I did not anticipate any objections from her
parents. I required no dower, having more than sufficient to supply her
with every luxury.
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