It was no sooner mentioned in the convent that she was out of order, than the abbess herself, as well as the whole sisterhood, came to her chamber, and shewed the greatest concern:  the tender care they took of her would have made her think herself infinitely obliged to them, and perhaps gone a great way in engaging her continuance among them, had she not been apprized of their falshood in a point so little to be forgiven.

So great an enemy was she to all deceit herself, that it was difficult for her to return the civilities they treated her with, as they might seem to deserve; but whatever omissions she was guilty of in this particular, were imputed to her disposition; and the whole convent continued to be extremely assiduous to recover her.

During the time of her feigned illness, her thoughts were always employed on the means of getting away.  Whenever Leonora and she were together, a hundred contrivances were formed, which seemed equally alike impracticable; but at length they hit upon one which had a promising aspect and Louisa, after some scruples, resolved to make trial of.  It was this: 

As hypocrisy was made use of to detain her, hypocrisy was the only method by which she could hope to get her liberty:—­pretending, therefore, to be all at once restored to her former health, she sent to entreat the abbess, and some other of the most zealous of the sisterhood to come into her chamber, where, as soon as they entered, they found her on her knees before the picture of the virgin, and seeming in an extacy of devotion:  Yes, holy virgin, cried she, as if too much taken up to see who entered, I will obey your commands;—­I will devote myself entirely to thee;—­I will follow where thou callest me:  thou, who hast restored me, shalt have the first fruits of my strength:—­and oh that Lorretto were at a greater distance,—­to the utmost extent of land and sea would I go to seek thee!—­In uttering these ejaculations she prostrated herself on the floor;—­then rising again, as transported in a manner out of herself,—­I come,—­I come, cried she;—­still do I hear thy heavenly voice!

In this fit of enthusiasm did she remain for above half an hour, and so well acted her part, that the abbess, who would not offer to interrupt her, believed it real, and was in little less agitation of spirit than Louisa pretended to be.

At length seeming; to come to herself, she turned towards the company, as tho’ she but just then discovered they were in the room; Oh, madam, said she to the abbess, how highly favoured have I been this blessed night!—­The virgin has herself appeared to me, whether in a vision, or to my waking eyes, I cannot well determine; but sure I have been in such extacies, have felt such divine raptures, as no words can express!

Oh my dear daughter! cried the abbess, how my soul kindles to behold this change in thee!—­but tell me what said the holy virgin!