MADEIRA.
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immortaes,' said she; they were some common everlastings. ' Que idade tem vm. senhora? said I. ' Vinte e hum annos ! E se chama— I added. Maria. E Clementina tambem ? Sim, nos tempos passados*.' I leaned as close as I could, and spoke a few words in a low tone, which she did not seem to understand. ' Nao entende,' said I +. ' Sim, sim,' interrupted Maria, entendo bem; diga.' ' Està vm. feliz, senhora ++ The abbess, who was engaged with my companion, turned her head, and Maria answered, with an air of gaiety, O sim, muito feliz §.' I shook my head as in doubt. A minute elapsed, and the abbess was occupied again. Maria put her hands through the grating, took one of mine, and made me feel a thin gold ring on her Little finger, and then, pressing my hand closely, said, in an accent which I still hear, 'Nao, nao, n a o ; tenho dor do coracao * ' How old are you ? ' Twenty-one.' ' And your name i s — ' Maria.' ' A n d Clementina as well?' 'Yes, in bygone days.' +'You do not understand.' + ' Y e s , yes, I understand well; speak.' ' Are you happy, lady ?' § ' O yes, very happy.' | ' N o , no, n o ; I have the heart-ache.'