I could hardly repress a smile when I saw how earnest she was, and I thought it a great pity that a plan so nicely laid out should be so suddenly deranged, but I could not listen to her flatteries.  I suspected that she was herself in the employ of the priests, and merely wished to get me back that she might betray me.  She had the appearance of being very wealthy, was richly clad, wore a gold watch, chain, bracelets, breastpin, ear rings, and many finger rings, all of the finest gold.  But with all her wealth and kind offers, I dare not trust her.  I thought she looked annoyed when I refused to go with her, but when I rose to go to the cars, a look of angry impatience stole over, her fine features, which convinced me that I had escaped a snare.

The cars came at length, and I was soon on my way to St. Albans.  I was very sick, and asked a gentleman near me to raise the windows.  He did so, and inquired how far I was going.  I informed him, when he remarked that he was somewhat acquainted in St. Albans, and asked with whom I designed to stop.  I told him I had no friends or acquaintance in the place, but I hoped to get employment in some protestant family.  He said he could direct me to some gentlemen who would, he thought, assist me.  One in particular, he mentioned as being a very wealthy man, and kept a number of servants; perhaps he would employ me.

This gentleman’s name was Branard, and my informant spoke so highly of the family, I immediately sought them out on leaving the cars, and was at once employed by Mrs. Branard, as a seamstress.  Here I found a quiet, happy home.  Mrs. Branard was a kind sympathizing woman, and to her, I confided the history of my convent life.  She would not allow me to work hard, for she saw that my nerves were easily excited.  She made me sit with her in her own room a great part of the time, and did not wish me to go out alone.  They had several boarders in the family, and one of them was a brother-in-law [Footnote:  This gentleman was Mr. Z. K. Pangborn, late editor of the Worcester Daily Transcript.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Pangborn give their testimony of the truth of this statement.] to Mrs. Branard.  His name I have forgotten; it was not a common name, but he married Mrs. Branard’s sister, and with his wife resided there all the time that I was with them.  Mr. Branard was away from home most of the time, so that I saw but little of him.  They had an Irish girl in the kitchen, named Betsy.  She was a kind, pleasant girl, and she thought me a strict Romanist because I said my prayers so often, and wore the Holy Scapulary round my neck.  This Scapulary is a band with a cross on one side, and on the other, the letters “J.  H. S.” which signify, “Jesus The Savior of Man.”

At this place I professed great regard for the Church of Rome, and no one but Mrs. Branard was acquainted with my real character and history.  When they asked my name, I told them they could call me Margaret, but it was an assumed name.  My own, for reasons known only by myself, I did not choose to reveal.  I supposed, of course, they would regard me with suspicion for a while, but I saw nothing of the kind.  They treated me with great respect, and no questions were ever asked.  Perhaps I did wrong in changing my name, but I felt that I was justified in using any means to preserve my liberty.