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THE FRENCH CONVERT.
71

I hope then you will be willing I ſhall enjoy the liberty of my conſcience, the only happineſs I have had in this ſolitary retirement, and that you will never go about to compel me to go to maſs, which I will rather chuſe to die than do.' To this Alanſon replied, 'That he was no ſuch bigot, as to think that thoſe that ſincerely worſhipped God, according to the beſt of their underſtanding, as he was confident Deidamia did, might not be accepted of him: though of an opinion different from himſelf: And as to compel her to go to maſs, if by arguments he could not perſuade her to it, he ſolemnly promiſed, he never would uſe any other means.'

And being now ready to depart, Alanſon offered La Mont ſtore of gold for their kindneſs to his lady, while ſhe had been with them; which he abſolutely refuſed, ſaying, 'Her converſation had been ſo agreeable, that they were the perſons who had been obliged.' So that, leave being taken, and La Mont praying, that God would go along with them, and make their way proſperous, they parted: and coming out of the wood, the ſervant readily found the horſes; and Deidamia getting up behind her Lord, they made the beſt of their way towards Alanſon's houſe; where they were received with the rejoicing of their acquaintance, and much more of her parents, to whom, in a day or two, they made a viſit; Deidamia being received by them as one riſen from the dead. And the ſtory of their daughter's troubles being all related to them, they could not but admire the providence of God in preſerving her, and wonder at the monſtrous wickedneſs of Fronovius and Antonio, who, upon their hearing of the confeſſion of the dying criminal, had withdrawn themſelves

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