volume02-第20章

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ad　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　Mother；　it　produced　the　same　effect　upon　me：　　Yet　certainly　neither　of　us　ever　heard　his　voice　till　we　came　to　Madrid。　　I　suspect　that　what　we　attribute　to　his　voice；　really　proceeds　from　his　pleasant　manners；　which　forbid　our　considering　him　as　a　Stranger。　　I　know　not　why；　but　I　feel　more　at　my　ease　while　conversing　with　him　than　I　usually　do　with　people　who　are　unknown　to　me。　　I　feared　not　to　repeat　to　him　all　my　childish　thoughts；　and　somehow　I　felt　confident　that　He　would　hear　my　folly　with　indulgence。　　Oh！　I　was　not　deceived　in　him！　　He　listened　to　me　with　such　an　air　of　kindness　and　attention！　　He　answered　me　with　such　gentleness；　such　condescension！　He　did　not　call　me　an　Infant；　and　treat　me　with　contempt；　as　our　cross　old　Confessor　at　the　Castle　used　to　do。　　I　verily　believe　that　if　I　had　lived　in　Murcia　a　thousand　years；　I　never　should　have　liked　that　fat　old　Father　Dominic！'

'I　confess　that　Father　Dominic　had　not　the　most　pleasing　manners　in　the　world；　But　He　was　honest；　friendly；　and　well…meaning。'

'Ah！　　my　dear　Mother；　those　qualities　are　so　common！'

'God　grant；　my　Child；　that　Experience　may　not　teach　you　to　think　them　rare　and　precious：　　I　have　found　them　but　too　much　so！　　But　tell　me；　Antonia；　Why　is　it　impossible　for　me　to　have　seen　the　Abbot　before？'

'Because　since　the　moment　when　He　entered　the　Abbey；　He　has　never　been　on　the　outside　of　its　walls。　　He　told　me　just　now；　that　from　his　ignorance　of　the　Streets；　He　had　some　difficulty　to　find　the　Strada　di　San　Iago；　though　so　near　the　Abbey。'

'All　this　is　possible；　and　still　I　may　have　seen　him　BEFORE　He　entered　the　Abbey：　　In　order　to　come　out；　it　was　rather　necessary　that　He　should　first　go　in。'

'Holy　Virgin！　　As　you　say；　that　is　very　true。Oh！　But　might　He　not　have　been　born　in　the　Abbey？'

Elvira　smiled。

'Why；　not　very　easily。'