point still remains undecided. The late superior of the Capuchins
found him while yet an infant at the abbey-door. All attempts to discover who
had left him there were vain, and the child himself could give no account of his
parents. He was educated in the monastery, where he has remained ever since. He
early showed a strong inclination for study and retirement; and as soon as he
was or a proper age, he pronounced his vows. No one has ever appeared to claim
him, or clear up the mystery which conceals his birth; and the monks, who find
their account in the favour which is shewn to their establishment from respect
to him, have not hesitated to publish, that he is a present to them from the
Virgin. In truth, the singular austerity of his life gives some countenance to
the report. He is now thirty years old, every hour of which period has been
passed in study, total seclusion from the world, and mortification of the flesh.
Till these last three weeks, when he was chosen superior of the society to which
he belongs, he had never been on the outside of the abbey-walls. Even now he
never quits them except on Thursdays, when he delivers a discourse in this
cathedral, which all Madrid assembles to hear. His knowledge is said to be the
most profound, his eloquence the most persuasive. In the whole course of his
life he has never been known to transgress a single rule of his order; the
smallest stain is not to be discovered upon his character; and he is reported to
be so strict an observer of chastity, that he knows not in what consists the
difference of man and woman. The common people therefore esteem him to be a
saint.«
    »Does that make a saint?« enquired Antonia. »Bless me! then am I one.«
    »Holy St. Barbara!« exclaimed Leonella, »what a question! Fye, child, fye!
these are not fit subjects for young women to handle. You should not seem to
remember that there is such a thing as a man in the world, and you ought to
imagine every body to be of the same sex with yourself. I should like to see you
give people to understand, that you know that a man has no breasts, and no hips,
and no -«
    Luckily for Antonia's ignorance, which her aunt's lecture would soon have
dispelled, an universal murmur through the church announced the preacher's
arrival. Donna Leonella rose from her seat to take a better view of him,