the monk(僧侣)-第40章

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wakeful　jealousy。　　Accordingly；　at　the　hours　when　the　Spaniards
are　generally　taking　their　Siesta；　He　ventured　to　quit　the　Abbey
by　a　private　door；　the　Key　of　which　was　in　his　possession。　　The
Cowl　of　his　habit　was　thrown　over　his　face：　　From　the　heat　of　the
weather　the　Streets　were　almost　totally　deserted：　The　Monk　met
with　few　people；　found　the　Strada　di　San　Iago；　and　arrived
without　accident　at　Donna　Elvira's　door。　　He　rang；　was　admitted；
and　immediately　ushered　into　an　upper　apartment。

It　was　here　that　He　ran　the　greatest　risque　of　a　discovery。　　Had
Leonella　been　at　home；　She　would　have　recognized　him　directly：　
Her　communicative　disposition　would　never　have　permitted　her　to
rest　till　all　Madrid　was　informed　that　Ambrosio　had　ventured　out
of　the　Abbey；　and　visited　her　Sister。　　Fortune　here　stood　the
Monk's　Friend。　　On　Leonella's　return　home；　She　found　a　letter
instructing　her　that　a　Cousin　was　just　dead；　who　had　left　what
little　He　possessed　between　Herself　and　Elvira。　　To　secure　this
bequest　She　was　obliged　to　set　out　for　Cordova　without　losing　a
moment。　　Amidst　all　her　foibles　her　heart　was　truly　warm　and
affectionate；　and　She　was　unwilling　to　quit　her　Sister　in　so
dangerous　a　state。　　But　Elvira　insisted　upon　her　taking　the
journey；　conscious　that　in　her　Daughter's　forlorn　situation　no
increase　of　fortune；　however　trifling；　ought　to　be　neglected。　
Accordingly；　Leonella　left　Madrid；　sincerely　grieved　at　her
Sister's　illness；　and　giving　some　few　sighs　to　the　memory　of　the
amiable　but　inconstant　Don　Christoval。　　She　was　fully　persuaded
that　at　first　She　had　made　a　terrible　breach　in　his　heart：　　But
hearing　nothing　more　of　him；　She　supposed　that　He　had　quitted　the
pursuit；　disgusted　by　the　lowness　of　her　origin；　and　knowing　upon
other　terms　than　marriage　He　had　nothing　to　hope　from　such　a
Dragon　of　Virtue　as　She　professed　herself；　Or　else；　that　being
naturally　capricious　and　changeable；　the　remembrance　of　her
charms　had　been　effaced　from　the　Conde's　heart　by　those　of　some
newer　Beauty。　　Whatever　was　the　cause　of　her　losing　him；　She
lamented　it　sorely。　　She　strove　in　vain；　as　She　assured　every
body　who　was　kind　enough　to　listen　to　her；　to　tear　his　image　from
her　too　susceptible　heart。　　She　affected　the　airs　of　a　lovesick
Virgin；　and　carried　them　all　to　the　most　ridiculous　excess。　　She
heaved　lamentable　sighs；　walked　with　her　arms　folded；　uttered
long　soliloquies；　and　her　discourse　generally　turned　upon　some
forsaken　Maid　who　expired　of　a　broken　heart！　　Her　fiery　locks
were　always　ornamented　with　a　garland　of　willow；　Every　evening
She　was　seen　straying　upon　the　Banks　of　a　rivulet　by　Moonlight；
and　She　declared　herself　a　violent　Admirer　of　murmuring　Streams
and　Nightingales；

　　　　　　'Of　lonely　haunts；　and　twilight　Groves；　　　　　　　
　　　　　　'Places　which　pale　Passion　loves！'　

Such　was　the　state　of　Leonella's　mind；　when　obliged　to　quit
Madrid。　　Elvira　was　out　of　patience　at　all　these　follies；　and
endeavoured　at　persuading　her　to　act　like　a　reasonable　Woman。　
Her　advice　was　thrown　away：　Leonella　assured　her　at　parting　that
nothing　could　make　her　forget　the　perfidious　Don　Christoval。　　In
this　point　She　was　fortunately　mistaken。　　An　honest　Youth　of
Cordova；　Journeyman　to　an　Apothecary；　found　that　her　fortune
would　be　sufficient　to　set　him　up　in　a　genteel　Shop　of　his　own：　
In　consequence　of　this　reflection　He　avowed　himself　her　Admirer。　
Leonella　was　not　inflexible。　The　ardour　of　his　sighs　melted　her
heart；　and　She　soon　consented　to　make　him　the　happiest　of
Mankind。　　She　wrote　to　inform　her　Sister　of　her　marriage；　But；
for　reasons　which　will　be　explained　hereafter；　Elvira　never
answered　her　letter。

Ambrosio　was　conducted　into　the　Antichamber　to　that　where
Elvira　was　reposing。　　The　Female　Domestic　who　had　admitted　him
left　him　alone　while　She　announced　his　arrival　to　her　Mistress。　
Antonia；　who　had　been　by　her　Mother's　Bedside；　immediately　came
to　him。

'Pardon　me；　Father；'　said　She；　advancing　towards　him；　when
recognizing　his　features；　She　stopped　suddenly；　and　uttered　a　cry
of　joy。　　'Is　it　possible！'　She　continued；

'Do　not　my　eyes　deceive　me？　　Has　the　worthy　Ambrosio　broken
through　his　resolution；　that　He　may　soften　the　agonies　of　the
best　of　Women？　　What　pleasure　will　this　visit　give　my　Mother！　
Let　me　not　delay　for　a　moment　the　comfort　which　your　piety　and
wisdom　will　afford　her。'

Thus　saying；　She　opened　the　chamber　door；　presented　to　her　Mother
her　distinguished　Visitor；　and　having　placed　an　armed…chair　by
the　side　of　the　Bed；　withdrew　into　another　department。

Elvira　was　highly　gratified　by　this　visit：　　Her　expectations　had
been　raised　high　by　general　report；　but　She　found　them　far
exceeded。　　Ambrosio；　endowed　by　nature　with　powers　of　pleasing；
exerted　them　to　the　utmost　while　conversing　with　Antonia's
Mother。　　With　persuasive　eloquence　He　calmed　every　fear；　and
dissipated　every　scruple：　　He　bad　her　reflect　on　the　infinite
mercy　of　her　Judge；　despoiled　Death　of　his　darts　and　terrors；　and
taught　her　to　view　without　shrinking　the　abyss　of　eternity；　on
whose　brink　She　then　stood。　　Elvira　was　absorbed　in　attention　and
delight：　　While　She　listened　to　his　exhortations；　confidence　and
comfort　stole　insensibly　into　her　mind。　　She　unbosomed　to　him
without　hesitation　her　cares　and　apprehensions。　　The　latter
respecting　a　future　life　He　had　already　quieted：　　And　He　now
removed　the　former；　which　She　felt　for　the　concerns　of　this。　　She
trembled　for　Antonia。　　She　had　none　to　whose　care　She　could
recommend　her；　save　to　the　Marquis　de　las　Cisternas　and　her
Sister　Leonella。　　The　protection　of　the　One　was　very　uncertain；
and　as　to　the　Other；　though　fond　of　her　Niece；　Leonella　was　so
thoughtless　and　vain　as　to　make　her　an　improper　person　to　have
the　sole　direction　of　a　Girl　so　young　and　ignorant　of　the　World。　
The　Friar　no　sooner　learnt　the　cause　of　her　alarms　than　He
begged　her　to　make　herself　easy　upon　that　head。　　He　doubted　not
being　able　to　secure　for　Antonia　a　safe　refuge　in　the　House　of
one　of　his　Penitents；　the　Marchioness　of　Villa…Franca：　　This　was
a　Lady　of　acknowledged　virtue；　remarkable　for　strict　principles
and　extensive　charity。　　Should　accident　deprive　her　of　this
resource；　He　engaged　to　procure　Antonia　a　reception　in　some
respectable　Convent：　　That　is　to　say；　in　quality　of　boarder；　for
Elvira　had　declared　herself　no　Friend　to　a　monastic　life；　and　the
Monk　was　either　candid　or　complaisant　enough　to　allow　that　her
disapprobation　was　not　unfounded。

These　proofs　of　the　interest　which　He　felt　for　her　completely
won　Elvira's　heart。　　In　thanking　him　She　exhausted　every
expression　which　Gratitude　could　furnish；　and　protested　that　now
She　should　resign　herself　with　tranquillity　to　the　Grave。　
Ambrosio　rose　to　take　leave：　　He　promised　to　return　the　next　day
at　the　same　hour；　but　requested　that　his　visits　might　be　kept
secret。

'I　am　unwilling'　said　He；　'that　my　breaking　through　a　rule
imposed　by　necessity　should　be　generally　known。　　Had　I　not
resolved　never　to　quit　my　Convent；　except　upon　circumstances　as
urgent　as　that　which　has　conducted　me　to　your　door；　I　should　be
frequently　summoned　upon　insignificant　occasions：　　That　time
would　be　engrossed　by　the　Curious；　the　Unoccupied；　and　the
fanciful；　which　I　now　pass　at　the　Bedside　of　the　Sick；　in
comforting　the　expiring　Penitent；　and　clearing　the　passage　to
Eternity　from　Thorns。'

Elvira　commended　equally　his　prudence　and　compassion；　promising
to　conceal　carefully　the　honour　of　his　visits。　　The　Monk　then
gave　her　his　benediction；　and　retired　from　the　chamber。

In　the　Antiroom　He　found　Antonia：　　He　could　not　refuse　himself
the　pleasure　of　passing　a　few　moments　in　her　society。　　He　bad　her
take　comfort；　for　that　her　Mother　seemed　composed　and　tranquil；
and　He　hoped　that　She　might　yet　do　well。　　He　enquired　who
attended　her；　and　engaged　to　send　the　Physician　of　his　Convent　to
see　her；　one　of　the　most　skilful　in　Madrid。　　He　then　launched　out
in　Elvira's　commendation；　praised　her　purity　and　fortitude　of
mind；　and　declared　that　She　had　inspired　him　with　the　highest
esteem　and　reverence。　　Antonia's　innocent　heart　swelled　with
gratitude：　　Joy　danced　in　her　eyes；　where　a　tear　still　sparkled。　
The　hopes　which　He　gave　her　of　her　Mother's　recovery；　the　lively
interest　which　He　seemed　to　feel　for　her；　and　the　flattering　way
in　which　She　was　mentioned　by　him；　added　to　the　report　of　his
judgment　and　virtue；　and　to　the　impression　made　upon　her　by　his
eloquence；　confirmed　the　favourable　opinion　with　which　his　first；
appearance　had　inspired　Antonia。　　She　replied　with　diffidence；
but　without　restraint：　　She　feared　not　to　relate　to　him　all　her
little　sorrows；　all　her　little　fears　and　anxieties；　and　She
thanked　him　for　his　goodness　with　all　the　genuine　warmth　which
favours　kindle　in　a　young　and　innocent　heart。　　Such　alone　know
how　to　estimate　benefits　at　their　full　value。　　They　who　are
conscious　of　Mankind's　perfidy　and　selfishness；　ever　receive　an
obligation　with　apprehension　and　distrust：　　They　suspect　that
some　secret　motive　must　lurk　behind　it：　　They　express　their
thanks　with　restraint　and　caution；　and　fear　to　praise　a　kind
action　to　its　full　extent；　aware　that　some　future　day　a　return
may　be　required。　　Not　so　Antonia；　She　thought　the　world　was
composed　only　of　those　who　resembled　her；　and　that　vice　existed；
was　to　her　still　a　secret。　　The　Monk　had　been　of　service　to　her；
He　said　that　He　wished　her　well；　She　was　grateful　for　his
kindness；　and　thought　that　no　terms　were　strong　enough　to　be　the
vehicle　of　her　thanks。　　With　what　delight　did　Ambrosio　listen　to
the　declaration　of　her　artless　gratitude！　　The　natural　grace　of
her　manners；　the　unequalled　sweetness　of　her　voice；　her　modest
vivacity；　her　unstudied　elegance；　her　expressive　countenance；　and
intelligent　eyes　united　to　inspire　him　with　pleasure　and
admiration；　While　the　solidity　and　correctness　of　her　remarks
received　additional　beauty　from　the　unaffected　simplicity　of　the
language　in　which　they　were　conveyed。

Ambrosio　was　at　length　obliged　to　tear　himself　from　this
conversation　which　possessed　for　him　but　too　many　charms。　　He
repeated　to　Antonia　his　wishes　that　his　visits　should　not　be
made　known；　which　desire　She　promised　to　observe。　　He　then
quitted　the　House；　while　his　Enchantress　hastened　to　her　Mother；
ignorant　of　the　mischief　which　her　Beauty　had　caused。　　She　was
eager　to　know　Elvira's　opinion　of　the　Man　whom　She　had　praised　in
such　enthusiastic　terms；　and　was　delighted　to　find　it　equally
favourable；　if　not　even　more　so；　than　her　own。

'Even　before　He　spoke；'　said　Elvira；　'I　was　prejudiced　in　his
favour：　　The　fervour　of　his　exhortations；　dignity　of　his　manner；
and　closeness　of　his　reasoning；　were　very　far　from　inducing　me　to
alter　my　opinion。　　His　fine　and　full…toned　voice　struck　me
particularly；　But　surely；　Antonia；　I　have　heard　it　before。　　It
seemed　perfectly　familiar　to　my　ear。　　Either　I　must　have　known
the　Abbot　in　former　times；　or　his　voice　bears　a　wonderful
resemblance　to　that　of　some　other；　to　whom　I　have　often　listened。

There　were　certain　tones　which　touched　my　very　heart；　and　made　me
feel　sensations　so　singular；　that　I　strive　in　vain　to　account　for
them。'

'My　dearest