 sooner communicated to our hero, than he
flew in the utmost impatience to the nunnery, and, without allowing himself to
believe that this boarder could be any other than the object of his pursuit,
desired the portress to tell the young lady who was lately admitted, that one of
her relations begg'd to speak with her at the grate. He had not waited five
minutes, when this nymph appeared; and though he found his expectation
disappointed, he was so struck with the charms of this new figure, that his
heart throbbed when she approached; and after he had asked pardon for the
liberty he had taken, and explained the nature of his mistake, he could not help
telling her, that he thought himself fortunate in the misinformation he had
received, since it was attended with the pleasure of seeing such an amiable
young lady. To this compliment she replied with great spirit and good humour,
that encouraged the youth to continue the conversation, during which he
professed himself her admirer; and when, for the sake of decorum, he was obliged
to take his leave, earnestly begg'd he might be allow'd to repeat his visit: and
having obtained this permission, and the knowledge of her name, returned to his
lodgings in full confidence of bringing this intrigue to a prosperous issue.
    Nor had the young gentleman in this case overrated his own success: the lady
happened to be of a very amorous complexion, and her passions being inflamed
rather than mortified, by the restraint in which she lived, she was captivated
by the person of Peregrine, and his insinuating address had confirmed his
conquest. He did not fail to be at the grate next day, where he urged his suit
with such irresistible recommendations, that she confessed a mutual flame, after
having observed, that the circumstances of her situation would not permit her to
protract that acknowledgment in the usual form. He received this confession with
transport, as the effusion of an ingenuous mind, that soars above all the little
arts and disguises of the sex; and intreated her to tell him when or where he
should have the happiness of conversing with her, without the interposition of
these invidious bars.
    She gave him to understand, that as her friends had put her under the
direction of a severe abbess, it would be impossible for her to go abroad
without the connivance of the portress, and equally impracticable for him to
gain admittance into the convent, without running a manifest risk of being
discovered, and consequently punished with the utmost severity.
    When a fair lady was in the case, our adventurer despised all danger, and
