It would not have taken her long, as she had said to herself, to get
her things together and make them ready for being fetched away. But
in the chapel she found the Lady Violante on her knees on the fald-
stool before the altar. It was the first day in Lent, and,
accordingly, a period of extra devotion. The sins, the excesses, the
frivolities, of the Carnival had to be atoned for by extra prayers
and religious exercises; and if Violante had herself been guilty of
no sins, excesses, or frivolities, during the festive season, yet
there was abundant need of her prayers for those who had.
On hearing a light footfall behind her she looked round; and, on
seeing Paolina, rose from her knees, and advanced a step to meet
her.
"You are come to take away your things, cara mia. The scaffolding
has already been removed. I suppose you are very glad that your task
here is done; and it would be selfish, therefore, to say that I am
sorry. How often it happens, Paolina, that we are tempted to wish
what we ought not to wish."
"I don't think, Signorina, that I often wish what my conscience
tells me I ought not to desire; and I should have thought that such
a thing had never occurred to you. I wished very much to do
something this morning, and I began to do it; but then I thought
that I ought not to do it, and I did not.
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