[Exeunt severally Pedro and Rodriguez. Don Silvio throws himself into an armchair, and covers his face with his hands. 415 415 Scene II.—Interior of the Convent of St. Ursula. Inez discovered pacing up and down dejectedly. Scene II. Inez. 'Tis passing strange that all these five long years That I have lived within these convent walls, A stranger to the world without, unless To the narrow limits of our garden. I ne'er remember to have passed a night Like last night was. Most strange and fearful dreams Disturbed my slumber, robbing me of rest; Confused they were, and I can scarce recall Aught of their substance, but methought that I Was caught and roughly handled by rude men With dark ferocious faces. By their dress I should have deemed them gipsies; then methought I saw a female—tall, majestic, old, Or middle-aged, in strange and wild attire, Who spoke to me, and questioned me in proud, Yet calm and kindly accents, and that she Rebuked the ruffians, so that they fell back And did no harm to me; yet still I sat Surrounded by the band, which kept close guard. My fear was very great, so that I think I must have fainted, for I knew no more. It was a dream most unaccountable. 416My aunt, the Lady Abbess, says that dreams Are sent us oftimes by the saints to warn, Guide, and admonish us. That holy men, Ay, and women, too, have had many things Revealed to them in dreams and visions. Old nurse Rodriguez, too, I can recall, Oft would relate me hers, and would declare They all came true, or bore some hidden sense That none save gifted sybils could explain. And now, although my memory's much confused, Methinks Rodriguez formed part of my dream. Inez. 416 Enter Lady Abbess. Lady Abbess
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