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heard in her turn； while the Others waited with the Domina in the
adjoining Vestry。 Ambrosio listened to the confessions with
attention； made many exhortations； enjoined penance proportioned
to each offence； and for some time every thing went on as usual：
till at last one of the Nuns； conspicuous from the nobleness of
her air and elegance of her figure； carelessly permitted a letter
to fall from her bosom。 She was retiring； unconscious of her
loss。 Ambrosio supposed it to have been written by some one of
her Relations； and picked it up intending to restore it to her。
'Stay； Daughter；' said He； 'You have let fall。 。 。 。'
At this moment； the paper being already open； his eye
involuntarily read the first words。 He started back with
surprise！ The Nun had turned round on hearing his voice： She
perceived her letter in his hand； and uttering a shriek of
terror； flew hastily to regain it。
'Hold！' said the Friar in a tone of severity； 'Daughter； I must
read this letter。'
'Then I am lost！' She exclaimed clasping her hands together
wildly。
All colour instantly faded from her face； she trembled with
agitation； and was obliged to fold her arms round a Pillar of the
Chapel to save herself from sinking upon the floor。 In the
meanwhile the Abbot read the following lines。
'All is ready for your escape； my dearest Agnes。 At twelve
tomorrow night I shall expect to find you at the Garden door： I
have obtained the Key； and a few hours will suffice to place you
in a secure asylum。 Let no mistaken scruples induce you to
reject the certain means of preserving yourself and the innocent
Creature whom you nourish in your bosom。 Remember that you had
promised to be mine； long ere you engaged yourself to the church；
that your situation will soon be evident to the prying eyes of
your Companions； and that flight is the only means of avoiding
the effects of their malevolent resentment。 Farewell； my Agnes！
my dear and destined Wife！ Fail not to be at the Garden door at
twelve！'
As soon as He had finished； Ambrosio bent an eye stern and angry
upon the imprudent Nun。
'This letter must to the Prioress！' said He； and passed her。
His words sounded like thunder to her ears： She awoke from her
torpidity only to be sensible of the dangers of her situation。
She followed him hastily； and detained him by his garment。
'Stay！ Oh！ stay！' She cried in the accents of despair； while She
threw herself at the Friar's feet； and bathed them with her
tears。 'Father； compassionate my youth！ Look with indulgence on
a Woman's weakness； and deign to conceal my frailty！ The
remainder of my life shall be employed in expiating this single
fault； and your lenity will bring back a soul to heaven！'
'Amazing confidence！ What！ Shall St。 Clare's Convent become the
retreat of Prostitutes？ Shall I suffer the Church of Christ to
cherish in its bosom debauchery and shame？ Unworthy Wretch！ such
lenity would make me your accomplice。 Mercy would here be
criminal。 You have abandoned yourself to a Seducer's lust； You
have defiled the sacred habit by your impurity； and still dare
you think yourself deserving my compassion？ Hence； nor detain me
longer！ Where is the Lady Prioress？' He added； raising his
voice。
'Hold！ Father； Hold！ Hear me but for one moment！ Tax me not with
impurity； nor think that I have erred from the warmth of
temperament。 Long before I took the veil； Raymond was Master of
my heart： He inspired me with the purest； the most
irreproachable passion； and was on the point of becoming my
lawful husband。 An horrible adventure； and the treachery of a
Relation； separated us from each other： I believed him for ever
lost to me； and threw myself into a Convent from motives of
despair。 Accident again united us； I could not refuse myself the
melancholy pleasure of mingling my tears with his： We met
nightly in the Gardens of St。 Clare； and in an unguarded moment I
violated my vows of Chastity。 I shall soon become a Mother：
Reverend Ambrosio； take compassion on me； take compassion on the
innocent Being whose existence is attached to mine。 If you
discover my imprudence to the Domina； both of us are lost： The
punishment which the laws of St。 Clare assign to Unfortunates
like myself is most severe and cruel。 Worthy； worthy Father！
Let not your own untainted conscience render you unfeeling
towards those less able to withstand temptation！ Let not mercy
be the only virtue of which your heart is unsusceptible！ Pity
me； most reverend！ Restore my letter； nor doom me to inevitable
destruction！'
'Your boldness confounds me！ Shall I conceal your crime； I whom
you have deceived by your feigned confession？ No； Daughter； no！
I will render you a more essential service。 I will rescue you
from perdition in spite of yourself； Penance and mortification
shall expiate your offence； and Severity force you back to the
paths of holiness。 What； Ho！ Mother St。 Agatha！'
'Father！ By all that is sacred； by all that is most dear to you；
I supplicate； I entreat。 。 。 。'
'Release me！ I will not hear you。 Where is the Domina？ Mother
St。 Agatha； where are you？'
The door of the Vestry opened； and the Prioress entered the
Chapel； followed by her Nuns。
'Cruel！ Cruel！' exclaimed Agnes； relinquishing her hold。
Wild and desperate； She threw herself upon the ground； beating
her bosom and rending her veil in all the delirium of despair。
The Nuns gazed with astonishment upon the scene before them。 The
Friar now presented the fatal paper to the Prioress； informed her
of the manner in which he had found it； and added； that it was
her business to decide； what penance the delinquent merited。
While She perused the letter； the Domina's countenance grew
inflamed with passion。 What！ Such a crime committed in her
Convent； and made known to Ambrosio； to the Idol of Madrid； to
the Man whom She was most anxious to impress with the opinion of
the strictness and regularity of her House！ Words were
inadequate to express her fury。 She was silent； and darted upon
the prostrate Nun looks of menace and malignity。
'Away with her to the Convent！' said She at length to some of her
Attendants。
Two of the oldest Nuns now approaching Agnes； raised her forcibly
from the ground； and prepared to conduct her from the Chapel。
'What！' She exclaimed suddenly shaking off their hold with
distracted gestures； 'Is all hope then lost？ Already do you drag
me to punishment？ Where are you； Raymond？ Oh！ save me！ save
me！'
Then casting upon the Abbot a frantic look； 'Hear me！' She
continued； 'Man of an hard heart！ Hear me； Proud； Stern； and
Cruel！ You could have saved me； you could have restored me to
happiness and virtue； but would not！ You are the destroyer of my
Soul； You are my Murderer； and on you fall the curse of my death
and my unborn Infant's！ Insolent in your yet…unshaken virtue；
you disdained the prayers of a Penitent； But God will show mercy；
though you show none。 And where is the merit of your boasted
virtue？ What temptations have you vanquished？ Coward！ you have
fled from it； not opposed seduction。 But the day of Trial will
arrive！ Oh！ then