port. Being exhausted by the violence of my passions, and the resistance I had made to the nuns, the turbulence of my emotions subsided, and I fell into a paroxysm of tears, that in all probability preserved me from a state of insanity, so much apprehended by the nuns. After this relief to the oppression of my heart, I dropped asleep, and having some hours rest, waked to a more composed state both of body and mind. I remained alone the remainder of the day, and all night. I was terrified at my situation; the melancholy place where I lay was indeed sufficiently gloomy to inspire terror. Convinced that I should gain nothing by menaces or force, I resolved to adopt a different line of conduct, to subdue my resentment and impatience, if possible, and try the effects of a more conciliatory manner, as if I grew reconciled to what I could not overcome.
Never was the approach of day more welcome than it appeared to me. I had passed such a night of weak, and indeed foolish apprehension, that I am confident the
