of their convent and remain with them always. The young lady, readily conformed to their wishes; quiet convent life, passive meditation and religious idleness pleased her nature. Besides, the sisters promised her the abbess’s position, which her proud mind greatly desired. The command of the Empress to prepare for marriage aroused her very unpleasantly from her dreams; she tried to revolt, but there was no help; she was compelled to obey. She left her beloved convent with a thousand tears, and in the same regretful spirit was dismissed by her teachers, who pitied her because, for a sinful man, she was forced to give up the heavenly crown. What wonder, then, that full of inward grief and bitterness, she began to hate the man before she knew him. She did not conceal before him the reluctance with which she gave him her hand, which long before had been given to the heavenly Bridegroom, whose wreath already decorated her head.
At first the Count considered the cold, repulsive behavior of his young wife as con-
