 down the steps and rushing into
the forbidden ground; just for the amusement of being chased back again
by the terrified Padre Fiorenzo, and rebuked by Father O'Grady, who
evidently enjoyed the joke, though he tried to look serious upon it,
with: “Childhren dhear, why can't ye remain quiet? Shure, now, it's
excommunicated ye'll be! Ah! more's the pity that ye don't care for
that! Now jist be asy, and don't turn the house out of windows.” But as
the “childhren” would not be “asy,” after one or two more _escapades_,
the door was locked; and they were fain to resort to some new device
to beguile the time. Visible from the iron-barred window were some of
the younger brethren walking up and down the prohibited quadrangle,
trying to get a glimpse of the English heretics, whose visit had thrown
the whole community into such pleasurable excitement. With black silk
scarfs and white handkerchiefs, the delighted mad-caps extemporized
some nuns' costumes, in which they took their stations at the window,
and confronted Father O'Grady as he was crossing the enclosure on his
return from one of his expeditions to the kitchen.

The admiration of Mother Hubbard, in that renowned epic of our infancy,
on finding her faithful canine attendant travestied in a court-suit,
has its parallel in the father's astonishment and laughter at this
apparition, in which he was chorused by Padre Fiorenzo, and the others;
until, hearing the provincial approaching, they wiped their eyes, and
entreated them to remove their impromptu attire; while, to keep them
out of further mischief, and provide some employment for the more
sober members of the party, they asked the superior's permission to
show us the church vestments. This was graciously accorded; and one
after another the presses were opened by the monks; and rich brocades,
tissues of gold and silver, silks embroidered in various colours, were
successively drawn forth, the provincial himself deigning to explain
for what they were designed.

The welcome announcement of dinner still fou