272 THE STORY OF MY LIFE [1852
they met, the lady laid upon my sister's lap a splendid nosegay of azaleas and camellias, &c., quite different from the common bouquets which are usually thrown about in the Carnival.
When my sister went home, she told her little adventure to her aunt and mother while they were at dinner, but it did not make any great impression, as at Rome such little adventures are not uncommon, and do not create the surprise they would in England.
The next morning at breakfast the family were again speaking of what had happened, when the door opened, and Felix came in. He said that there wras a lady in the passage, a lady in deep mourning, who gave her name as the Comtesse de Bolvilliers^ who wished to speak to Italima at once on important business. At that time there were a great many lady queteuses going about for the different charities, and most of them especially anxious to take advantage of the new convert to their Church. Therefore Italima answered that she was unable to receive Madame de Bolvilliers, and that she knew no such person. In a minute F£lix returned saying that Madame de Bolvilliers could not leave the house without seeing Mrs. Hare, for that her errand involved a question of life and death. She was then admitted.
The lady who came into the room at Palazzo Parisani was not the lady my sister had seen in the Corso. She said she was come to tell a very sad story, and besought Italima to have patience with her while she told it, as she was the one person who had the power of assisting her. She saidrely helpless. One day they had been praying earnestly beside her, and one of the brothers, rising from prayers, walked to the bed, held out his hand, and, naming his sister, bade her arise. She straightway did so, and continued ever after entirely healed, and with full use of her limbs." —J. C, SHAIRP, " Thomas Erskine."!iS UU^pHfn^T p!,»Jj1 ,,)!(} HI A\0.1,I(>U1-OJ^ 'I { \\ 1!j » ,iji i j , H j fs'.U |J«H|S 1! .loj MM *Y <J P? ^'U.I «>t|l Un H \\iip ,)j| A*plM fc[p: 11? p«wj <>J «»,o ;|(>U Op A.UjJ n:i(J NU.np •}{{«»{$! p,)J|.i\,j n< .ui! *vA\M|J.»f ,M|i j«>