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