the monk(僧侣)-第33章

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blushes　of　her　cheek；　while　She　committed　an　outrage　upon　her
virgin　modesty。

Lorenzo　had　no　sooner　perused　this　note　than　He　set　out　in
search　of　Don　Christoval。　　Not　being　able　to　find　him　in　the
course　of　the　day；　He　proceeded　to　Donna　Elvira's　alone；　to
Leonella's　infinite　disappointment。　　The　Domestic　by　whom　He
sent　up　his　name；　having　already　declared　his　Lady　to　be　at　home；
She　had　no　excuse　for　refusing　his　visit：　　Yet　She　consented　to
receive　it　with　much　reluctance。　　That　reluctance　was　increased
by　the　changes　which　his　approach　produced　in　Antonia's
countenance；　nor　was　it　by　any　means　abated　when　the　Youth
himself　appeared。　　The　symmetry　of　his　person；　animation　of　his
features；　and　natural　elegance　of　his　manners　and　address；
convinced　Elvira　that　such　a　Guest　must　be　dangerous　for　her
Daughter。　　She　resolved　to　treat　him　with　distant　politeness；　to
decline　his　services　with　gratitude　for　the　tender　of　them；　and
to　make　him　feel；　without　offence；　that　his　future　visits　would
be　far　from　acceptable。

On　his　entrance　He　found　Elvira；　who　was　indisposed；　reclining
upon　a　Sopha：　　Antonia　sat　by　her　embroidery　frame；　and　Leonella；
in　a　pastoral　dress；　held　'Montemayor's　Diana。'　　In　spite　of
her　being　the　Mother　of　Antonia；　Lorenzo　could　not　help　expecting
to　find　in　Elvira　Leonella's　true　Sister；　and　the　Daughter　of　'as
honest　a　painstaking　Shoe…maker；　as　any　in　Cordova。'　　A　single
glance　was　sufficient　to　undeceive　him。　　He　beheld　a　Woman　whose
features；　though　impaired　by　time　and　sorrow；　still　bore　the
marks　of　distinguished　beauty：　　A　serious　dignity　reigned　upon
her　countenance；　but　was　tempered　by　a　grace　and　sweetness　which
rendered　her　truly　enchanting。　　Lorenzo　fancied　that　She　must
have　resembled　her　Daughter　in　her　youth；　and　readily　excused　the
imprudence　of　the　late　Conde　de　las　Cisternas。　　She　desired　him
to　be　seated；　and　immediately　resumed　her　place　upon　the　Sopha。

Antonia　received　him　with　a　simple　reverence；　and　continued　her
work：　　Her　cheeks　were　suffused　with　crimson；　and　She　strove　to
conceal　her　emotion　by　leaning　over　her　embroidery　frame。　　Her
Aunt　also　chose　to　play　off　her　airs　of　modesty；　She　affected　to
blush　and　tremble；　and　waited　with　her　eyes　cast　down　to　receive；
as　She　expected；　the　compliments　of　Don　Christoval。　　Finding
after　some　time　that　no　sign　of　his　approach　was　given；　She
ventured　to　look　round　the　room；　and　perceived　with　vexation　that
Medina　was　unaccompanied。　　Impatience　would　not　permit　her
waiting　for　an　explanation：　Interrupting　Lorenzo；　who　was
delivering　Raymond's　message；　She　desired　to　know　what　was　become
of　his　Friend。

He；　who　thought　it　necessary　to　maintain　himself　in　her　good
graces；　strove　to　console　her　under　her　disappointment　by
committing　a　little　violence　upon　truth。

'Ah！　Segnora；'　He　replied　in　a　melancholy　voice　'How　grieved　will
He　be　at　losing　this　opportunity　of　paying　you　his　respects！　　A
Relation's　illness　has　obliged　him　to　quit　Madrid　in　haste：　　But
on　his　return；　He　will　doubtless　seize　the　first　moment　with
transport　to　throw　himself　at　your　feet！'

As　He　said　this；　his　eyes　met　those　of　Elvira：　　She　punished　his
falsehood　sufficiently　by　darting　at　him　a　look　expressive　of
displeasure　and　reproach。　　Neither　did　the　deceit　answer　his
intention。　　Vexed　and　disappointed　Leonella　rose　from　her　seat；
and　retired　in　dudgeon　to　her　own　apartment。

Lorenzo　hastened　to　repair　the　fault；　which　had　injured　him　in
Elvira's　opinion。　　He　related　his　conversation　with　the　Marquis
respecting　her：　　He　assured　her　that　Raymond　was　prepared　to
acknowledge　her　for　his　Brother's　Widow；　and　that　till　it　was　in
his　power　to　pay　his　compliments　to　her　in　person；　Lorenzo　was
commissioned　to　supply　his　place。　　This　intelligence　relieved
Elvira　from　an　heavy　weight　of　uneasiness：　　She　had　now　found　a
Protector　for　the　fatherless　Antonia；　for　whose　future　fortunes
She　had　suffered　the　greatest　apprehensions。　　She　was　not　sparing
of　her　thanks　to　him　who　had　interfered　so　generously　in　her
behalf；　But　still　She　gave　him　no　invitation　to　repeat　his　visit。

However；　when　upon　rising　to　depart　He　requested　permission　to
enquire　after　her　health　occasionally；　the　polite　earnestness　of
his　manner；　gratitude　for　his　services；　and　respect　for　his
Friend　the　Marquis；　would　not　admit　of　a　refusal。　　She　consented
reluctantly　to　receive　him：　　He　promised　not　to　abuse　her
goodness；　and　quitted　the　House。

Antonia　was　now　left　alone　with　her　Mother：　　A　temporary　silence
ensued。　　Both　wished　to　speak　upon　the　same　subject；　but　Neither
knew　how　to　introduce　it。　　The　one　felt　a　bashfulness　which
sealed　up　her　lips；　and　for　which　She　could　not　account：　　The
other　feared　to　find　her　apprehensions　true；　or　to　inspire　her
Daughter　with　notions　to　which　She　might　be　still　a　Stranger。　　At
length　Elvira　began　the　conversation。

'That　is　a　charming　young　Man；　Antonia；　I　am　much　pleased　with
him。　　Was　He　long　near　you　yesterday　in　the　Cathedral？'

'He　quitted　me　not　for　a　moment　while　I　staid　in　the　Church：　　He
gave　me　his　seat；　and　was　very　obliging　and　attentive。'

'Indeed？　　Why　then　have　you　never　mentioned　his　name　to　me？　　Your
Aunt　lanched　out　in　praise　of　his　Friend；　and　you　vaunted
Ambrosio's　eloquence：　　But　Neither　said　a　word　of　Don　Lorenzo's
person　and　accomplishments。　　Had　not　Leonella　spoken　of　his
readiness　to　undertake　our　cause；　I　should　not　have　known　him　to
be　in　existence。'

She　paused。　　Antonia　coloured；　but　was　silent。

'Perhaps　you　judge　him　less　favourably　than　I　do。　　In　my　opinion
his　figure　is　pleasing；　his　conversation　sensible；　and　manners
engaging。　　Still　He　may　have　struck　you　differently：　　You　may
think　him　disagreeable；　and　。　。　。'。

'Disagreeable？　Oh！　dear　Mother；　how　should　I　possibly　think　him
so？　　I　should　be　very　ungrateful　were　I　not　sensible　of　his
kindness　yesterday；　and　very　blind　if　his　merits　had　escaped　me。　
His　figure　is　so　graceful；　so　noble！　　His　manners　so　gentle；　yet
so　manly！　　I　never　yet　saw　so　many　accomplishments　united　in　one
person；　and　I　doubt　whether　Madrid　can　produce　his　equal。'

'Why　then　were　you　so　silent　in　praise　of　this　Phoenix　of　Madrid？

Why　was　it　concealed　from　me　that　his　society　had　afforded　you
pleasure？'

'In　truth；　I　know　not：　　You　ask　me　a　question　which　I　cannot
resolve　myself。　　I　was　on　the　point　of　mentioning　him　a　thousand
times：　　His　name　was　constantly　upon　my　lips；　but　when　I　would
have　pronounced　it；　I　wanted　courage　to　execute　my　design。　
However；　if　I　did　not　speak　of　him；　it　was　not　that　I　thought　of
him　the　less。'

'That　I　believe；　But　shall　I　tell　you　why　you　wanted　courage？　　It
was　because；　accustomed　to　confide　to　me　your　most　secret
thoughts；　you　knew　not　how　to　conceal；　yet　feared　to　acknowledge；
that　your　heart　nourished　a　sentiment　which　you　were　conscious　I
should　disapprove。　　Come　hither　to　me；　my　Child。'

Antonia　quitted　her　embroidery　frame；　threw　herself　upon　her
knees　by　the　Sopha；　and　hid　her　face　in　her　Mother's　lap。

'Fear　not；　my　sweet　Girl！　　Consider　me　equally　as　your　Friend　and
Parent；　and　apprehend　no　reproof　from　me。　　I　have　read　the
emotions　of　your　bosom；　you　are　yet　ill…skilled　in　concealing
them；　and　they　could　not　escape　my　attentive　eye。　　This　Lorenzo
is　dangerous　to　your　repose；　He　has　already　made　an　impression
upon　your　heart。　　'Tis　true　that　I　perceive　easily　that　your
affection　is　returned；　But　what　can　be　the　consequences　of　this
attachment？　　You　are　poor　and　friendless；　my　Antonia；　Lorenzo　is
the　Heir　of　the　Duke　of　Medina　Celi。　　Even　should　Himself　mean
honourably；　his　Uncle　never　will　consent　to　your　union；　Nor
without　that　Uncle's　consent；　will　I。　　By　sad　experience　I　know
what　sorrows　She　must　endure；　who　marries　into　a　family　unwilling
to　receive　her。　　Then　struggle　with　your　affection：　　Whatever
pains　it　may　cost　you；　strive　to　conquer　it。　　Your　heart　is
tender　and　susceptible：　　It　has　already　received　a　strong
impression；　But　when　once　convinced　that　you　should　not　encourage
such　sentiments；　I　trust；　that　you　have　sufficient　fortitude　to
drive　them　from　your　bosom。'

Antonia　kissed　her　hand；　and　promised　implicit　obedience。　　Elvira
then　continued。

'To　prevent　your　passion　from　growing　stronger；　it　will　be
needful　to　prohibit　Lorenzo's　visits。　　The　service　which　He　has
rendered　me　permits　not　my　forbidding　them　positively；　But　unless
I　judge　too　favourably　of　his　character；　He　will　discontinue　them
without　taking　offence；　if　I　confess　to　him　my　reasons；　and　throw
myself　entirely　on　his　generosity。　　The　next　time　that　I　see　him；
I　will　honestly　avow　to　him　the　embarrassment　which　his　presence
occasions。　　How　say　you；　my　Child？　　Is　not　this　measure
necessary？'

Antonia　subscribed　to　every　thing　without　hesitation；　though　not
without　regret。　　Her　Mother　kissed　her　affectionately；　and
retired　to　bed。　　Antonia　followed　her　example；　and　vowed　so
frequently　never　more　to　think　of　Lorenzo；　that　till　Sleep　closed
her　eyes　She　thought　of　nothing　else。

While　this　was　passing　at　Elvira's；　Lorenzo　hastened　to　rejoin
the　Marquis。　　Every　thing　was　ready　for　the　second　elopement　of
Agnes；　and　at　twelve　the　two　Friends　with　a　Coach　and　four　were
at　the　Garden　wall　of　the　Convent。　　Don　Raymond　drew　out　his　Key；
and　unlocked　the　door。　　They　entered；　and　waited　for　some　time　in
expectation　of　being　joined　by　Agnes。　　At　length　the　Marquis　grew
impatient：　　Beginning　to　fear　that　his　second　attempt　would
succeed　no　better　than　the　first；　He　proposed　to　reconnoitre　the
Convent。　　The　Friends　advanced　towards　it。　　Every　thing　was　still
and　dark。　　The　Prioress　was　anxious　to　keep　the　story　a　secret；
fearing　lest　the　crime　of　one　of　its　members　should　bring
disgrace　upon　the　whole　community；　or　that　the　interposition　of
powerful　Relations　should　deprive　her　vengeance　of　its　intended
victim。　　She　took　care　therefore　to　give　the　Lover　of　Agnes　no
cause　to　suppose　that　his　design　was　discovered；　and　his
Mistress　on　the　point　of　suffering　the　punishment　of　her　fault。　
The　same　reason　made　her　reject　the　idea　of　arresting　the　unknown
Seducer　in　the　Garden；　Such　a　proceeding　would　have　created　much
disturbance；　and　the　disgrace　of　her　Convent　would　have　been
noised　about　Madrid。　　She　contented　herself　with　confining　Agnes
closely；　As　to　the　Lover；　She　left　him　at　liberty　to　pursue　his
designs。　　What　She　had　expected　was　the　result。　　The　Marquis　and
Lorenzo　waited　in　vain　till　the　break　of　day：　　They　then　retired
without　noise；　alarmed　at　the　failure　of　their　plan；　and　ignorant
of　the　cause　of　its　ill…success。

The　next　morning　Lorenzo　went　to　the　Convent；　and　requested　to
see　his　Sister。　　The　Prioress　appeared　at　the　Grate　with　a
melancholy　countenance：　　She　informed　him　that　for　several　days
Agnes　had　appeared　much　agitated；　That　She　had　been　prest　by　the
Nuns　in　vain　to　reveal　the　cause；　and　apply　to　their　tenderness
for　advice　and　consolation；　That　She　had　obstinately　persisted　in
concealing　the　cause　of　her　distress；　But　that　on　Thursday
Evening　it　had　produced　so　violent　an　effect　upon　her
constitution；　that　She　had　fallen　ill；　and　was　actually　confined
to　her　bed。　　Lorenzo　did　not　credit　a　syllable　of　th