Though a daughter of the abhorred Ebrimut, Veranilda was of Amal
blood, and, despite what seemed her weakness and her errors, it soon
appeared that she cherished fervidly the glory of the Gothic name.
This contradiction puzzled the wife of Osuin, whose thoughts could
follow only the plainest track. She suspected that her charge must
be the victim of some enchantment, of some evil spell; and in their
talk she questioned her with infinite curiosity concerning her
acquaintance with Basil, her life in the convent at Praeneste, her
release and the journey with Marcian. Veranilda spoke as one who has
nothing to conceal; only, when pressed for the story of that last
day at the island villa, she turned away her face, and entreated the
questioner's forbearance. All else she told with a sad simplicity.
Her religious conversion was the result of teaching she had received
from the abbess, a Roman lady of great learning, who spoke of things
till then unknown to her, and made so manifest the truth of the
Catholic creed that her reason was constrained to accept it. Obeying
the king's command, Athalfrida refrained from argument and
condemnation, and, as Veranilda herself, when once she had told her
story, never again returned to it, the subject was almost forgotten.
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