第113章

hairedconfederatehadtaughtthemandshownthematRome，thepooryoungladieshadbecomequitehandmaidsofsuperstition，sothatthey，especiallytheyoungest，werepreparedtobowdowntoanything，andkissanything，howevervileandugly，providedapriestcommandedthem；andasfortheoldgovernor，whatwiththeinfluencewhichhisdaughtersexerted，andwhatwiththeascendencywhichthered-hairedmanhadobtainedoverhim，hedarednotsayhispurse，farlesshissoul，washisown。OnlythinkofanEnglishmannotbeingmasterofhisownpurse!Myacquaintance，thelady’smaid，assuredmethat，tohercertainknowledge，hehaddisbursedtothered-hairedman，forpurposesofcharity，asitwassaid，atleastonethousandpoundsduringthefiveweekswehadbeenatRome。Shealsotoldmethatthingswouldshortlybebroughttoaconclusion-andsoindeedtheywere，thoughinadifferentmannerfromwhatsheandIandsomeotherpeopleimagined；thattherewastobeagrandfestival，andamass，atwhichweweretobepresent，afterwhichthefamilyweretobepresentedtotheHolyFather，forsothosetwopriestlysharkshadmanagedit；andthen……shesaidshewascertainthatthetwoladies，andperhapstheoldgovernor，wouldforsakethereligionoftheirnativeland，takingupwiththatoftheseforeignregions，forsomyfellow-servantexpressedit，andthatperhapsattemptsmightbemadetoinduceuspoorEnglishservantstotakeupwiththeforeignreligion，thatisherselfandme，forasforourfellow-servant，theothermaid，shewantednoinducing，beingdisposedbodyandsoultogoovertoit。WhereuponIsworewithanoaththatnothingshouldinducemetotakeupwiththeforeignreligion；andthepoormaid，myfellow-servant，burstingintotears，saidthatforherpartshewoulddiesoonerthanhaveanythingtodowithit；thereuponweshookhandsandagreedtostandbyandcountenanceoneanother：andmoreover，providedourgovernorswerefoolsenoughtogoovertothereligionofthesehereforeigners，wewouldnotwaittobeaskedtodothelike，butleavethematonce，andmakethebestofourwayhome，evenifwewereforcedtobegontheroad。

’Atlastthedayofthegrandfestivalcame，andwewerealltogotothebigchurchtohearthemass。NowithappenedthatforsometimepastIhadbeenmuchafflictedwithmelancholy，especiallywhenIgotupofamorning，producedbythestrangemannerinwhichIsawthingsgoingoninourfamily；andtodispelitinsomedegree，Ihadbeeninthehabitoftakingadrambeforebreakfast。

Onthemorninginquestion，feelingparticularlylowspiritedwhenIthoughtofthefoolishstepourgovernorwouldprobablytakebeforeevening，Itooktwodramsbeforebreakfast；andafterbreakfast，feelingmymelancholystillcontinuing，Itookanother，whichproducedaslighteffectuponmyhead，thoughIamconvincednobodyobservedit。

’Awaywedrovetothebigchurch；itwasadarkmistyday，I

remember，andverycold，sothatifanybodyhadnoticedmybeingslightlyinliquor，IcouldhaveexcusedmyselfbysayingthatI

hadmerelytakenaglasstofortifymyconstitutionagainsttheweather；andofonethingIamcertain，whichis，thatsuchanexcusewouldhavestoodmeinsteadwithourgovernor，wholooked，Ithought，asifhehadtakenonetoo；butImaybemistaken，andwhyshouldInoticehim，seeingthathetooknonoticeofme？soawaywedrovetothebigchurch，towhichallthepopulationoftheplaceappearedtobemoving。

’Onarrivingtherewedismounted，andthetwopriests，whowerewithus，ledthefamilyin，whilstIfollowedatalittledistance，butquicklylostthemamidstthethrongofpeople。Imademyway，however，thoughinwhatdirectionIknewnot，exceptitwasoneinwhicheverybodyseemedstriving，andbydintofelbowingandpushingIatlastgottoaplacewhichlookedliketheaisleofacathedral，wherethepeoplestoodintworows，aspacebetweenbeingkeptopenbycertainstrangely-dressedmenwhomovedupanddownwithrodsintheirhands；allwerelookingtotheupperendofthisplaceoraisle；andattheupperend，separatedfromthepeoplebypalingslikethoseofanaltar，satinmagnificent-

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