" “Yet Milton does that.”

“Yes.”

The queen on Roman catholic superstitions.

And then she went on discussing Milton; this led to Wickliffe and Cranmer; and she spoke of the Roman Catholic superstitions.

“O, so odd!  Can it signify to God Almighty if I eat a

321

piece of fish or a piece of meat?  And one of the Queen of France’s sisters wears the heel of her shoe before for a penance; as if God Almighty could care for that!"”

“It is supposing in Him the caprice of a fine lady.”

“Yes, just so.  Yet it is amusing, and pretty too, how sincere the lower people are, of the Catholics.  I was with my mother at —­, a Catholic town, and there was a lady we knew, had a very bad tooth-ache; she suffered night and day, and we were very sorry.  But, over the river there was a Virgin Mary of great fame for miracles, and, one morning, when I wanted to get up, our maid did not come, and nobody knew where she was, and she could not be found.  At last she came back with a large bouquet, which she had carried over the river in the night and got it blessed, and gave it to the lady to cure her tooth-ache.  But we have Protestant nunneries in Germany.  I belonged to one which was under the Imperial protection ; there is one for royal families-one for the noblesse,- the candidates’ coats of arms are put up several weeks to be examined, and if any flaw is found, they are not elected.  These nunneries are intended for young ladies of little fortunes and bigh birth.  There is great licence in them.  They have balls, not at home, but next door; and there is no restriction but to go to prayers at eight, at nine, and at night,-that is very little, you know,- and wear black or white, The dress consists of three caps, one over the forehead, one for the back, one up high, and one lower, for the veil; very pretty; and the gown is a vest, and the skirt has I don’t know how many hundred plaits.  I had the cross and order, but I believe I gave it away when I came to England —­for you may transfer; so I gave it to the Countess of a friend of mine.”

I could not help saying, how glad we all were that she was no nun!

“Once,” she continued, “I wanted to go to a chapel in that Catholic town, and my mother said I should go if I would be sure not to laugh at anything; and I promised I would not; so, I took care to keep my eyes half shut, half open, thus, for fear I should see something to make me laugh, for my mother told me I should not come out all day if I laughed.  But there was nothing ridiculous.”

[The memorandum of the above conversation breaks off abruptly.] 322

Onbeing presented.

(Fanny Burney to Mrs. Burney.)
Windsor, Dec. 17

My dearest Hetty,
I am sorry I could not more immediately write; but I really have
not had a moment since your last.