forgetful of everything, including her obedience to her parents and her religion, in her interest in the prowess and amours of the Spanish cavaliers.
“My mother,” she tells us in her narrative of these years, “was particularly fond of reading books of romance, though she did not imbibe so much evil by this entertainment as I did, because it did not hinder her usual work; but it made her omit many duties, that so she might read these books. And perhaps my mother read them that thus her thoughts might not dwell on the great troubles she endured, and her children might so occupy themselves as not to fall into other more dangerous things. My father, however, was so particular on this point, that great care was taken lest he should know anything on this subject. But I continued in the habit of reading these books; and this slight fault of mine, which I perceived in myself, began to cool my good desires, and was the cause of my failing in other things. I fancied, however, there was no harm, though I spent many hours both of the night and day in so vain an exer-
