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the Grotto； and seated themselves。 Both seemed unwilling to
begin the conversation； and to labour under the influence of
mutual embarrassment。 At length the Abbot spoke： He conversed
only on indifferent topics； and Matilda answered him in the same
tone。 She seemed anxious to make him forget that the Person who
sat by him was any other than Rosario。 Neither of them dared； or
indeed wished to make an allusion； to the subject which was most
at the hearts of both。
Matilda's efforts to appear gay were evidently forced： Her
spirits were oppressed by the weight of anxiety； and when She
spoke her voice was low and feeble。 She seemed desirous of
finishing a conversation which embarrassed her； and complaining
that She was unwell； She requested Ambrosio's permission to
return to the Abbey。 He accompanied her to the door of her cell；
and when arrived there； He stopped her to declare his consent to
her continuing the Partner of his solitude so long as should be
agreeable to herself。
She discovered no marks of pleasure at receiving this
intelligence； though on the preceding day She had been so anxious
to obtain the permission。
'Alas！ Father；' She said； waving her head mournfully； 'Your
kindness comes too late！ My doom is fixed。 We must separate for
ever。 Yet believe； that I am grateful for your generosity； for
your compassion of an Unfortunate who is but too little deserving
of it！'
She put her handkerchief to her eyes。 Her Cowl was only half
drawn over her face。 Ambrosio observed that She was pale； and
her eyes sunk and heavy。
'Good God！' He cried； 'You are very ill； Matilda！ I shall send
Father Pablos to you instantly。'
'No； Do not。 I am ill； 'tis true； But He cannot cure my malady。
Farewell； Father！ Remember me in your prayers tomorrow； while I
shall remember you in heaven！'
She entered her cell； and closed the door。
The Abbot dispatched to her the Physician without losing a
moment； and waited his report impatiently。 But Father Pablos
soon returned； and declared that his errand had been fruitless。
Rosario refused to admit him； and had positively rejected his
offers of assistance。 The uneasiness which this account gave
Ambrosio was not trifling： Yet He determined that Matilda should
have her own way for that night： But that if her situation did
not mend by the morning； he would insist upon her taking the
advice of Father Pablos。
He did not find himself inclined to sleep。 He opened his
casement； and gazed upon the moonbeams as they played upon the
small stream whose waters bathed the walls of the Monastery。 The
coolness of the night breeze and tranquillity of the hour
inspired the Friar's mind with sadness。 He thought upon
Matilda's beauty and affection； Upon the pleasures which He might
have shared with her； had He not been restrained by monastic
fetters。 He reflected； that unsustained by hope her love for him
could not long exist； That doubtless She would succeed in
extinguishing her passion； and seek for happiness in the arms of
One more fortunate。 He shuddered at the void which her absence
would leave in his bosom。 He looked with disgust on the monotony
of a Convent； and breathed a sigh towards that world from which
He was for ever separated。 Such were the reflections which a
loud knocking at his door interrupted。 The Bell of the Church
had already struck Two。 The Abbot hastened to enquire the cause
of this disturbance。 He opened the door of his Cell； and a
Lay…Brother entered； whose looks declared his hurry and
confusion。
'Hasten； reverend Father！' said He； 'Hasten to the young Rosario。
He earnestly requests to see you； He lies at the point of death。'
'Gracious God！ Where is Father Pablos？ Why is He not with him？
Oh！ I fear！ I fear！'
'Father Pablos has seen him； but his art can do nothing。 He
says that He suspects the Youth to be poisoned。'
'Poisoned？ Oh！ The Unfortunate！ It is then as I suspected！
But let me not lose a moment； Perhaps it may yet be time to save
her！'
He said； and flew towards the Cell of the Novice。 Several Monks
were already in the chamber。 Father Pablos was one of them； and
held a medicine in his hand which He was endeavouring to
persuade Rosario to swallow。 The Others were employed in
admiring the Patient's divine countenance； which They now saw for
the first time。 She looked lovelier than ever。 She was no
longer pale or languid； A bright glow had spread itself over her
cheeks； her eyes sparkled with a serene delight； and her
countenance was expressive of confidence and resignation。
'Oh！ torment me no more！' was She saying to Pablos； when the
terrified Abbot rushed hastily into the Cell； 'My disease is far
beyond the reach of your skill； and I wish not to be cured of
it'Then perceiving Ambrosio； 'Ah！ 'tis He！' She cried； 'I see
him once again； before we part for ever！ Leave me； my Brethren；
Much have I to tell this holy Man in private。'
The Monks retired immediately； and Matilda and the Abbot remained
together。
'What have you done； imprudent Woman！' exclaimed the Latter； as
soon as they were left alone； 'Tell me； Are my suspicions just？
Am I indeed to lose you？ Has your own hand been the instrument
of your destruction？'
She smiled； and grasped his hand。
'In what have I been imprudent； Father？ I have sacrificed a
pebble； and saved a diamond： My death preserves a life valuable
to the world； and more dear to me than my own。 Yes； Father； I am
poisoned； But know that the poison once circulated in your
veins。'
'Matilda！'
'What I tell you I resolved never to discover to you but on the
bed of death： That moment is now arrived。 You cannot have
forgotten the day already； when your life was endangered by the
bite of a Cientipedoro。 The Physician gave you over； declaring
himself ignorant how to extract the venom： I knew but of one
means； and hesitated not a moment to employ it。 I was left alone
with you： You slept； I loosened the bandage from your hand； I
kissed the wound； and drew out the poison with my lips。 The
effect has been more sudden than I expected。 I feel death at my
heart； Yet an hour； and I shall be in a better world。'
'Almighty God！' exclaimed the Abbot； and sank almost lifeless
upon the Bed。
After a few minutes He again raised himself up suddenly； and
gazed upon Matilda with all the wildness of despair。
'And you have sacrificed yourself for me！ You die； and die to
preserve Ambrosio！ And is there indeed no remedy； Matilda？ And
is there indeed no hope？ Speak to me； Oh！ speak to me！ Tell
me； that you have still the means of life！'
'Be comforted； my only Friend！ Yes； I have still the means of
life in my power： But 'tis a means which I dare not employ。 It
is dangerous！ It is dreadful！ Life would be purchased at too
dear a rate； 。 。 。 unless it were permitted me to live for you。'
'Then live for me； Matilda； for me and gratitude！' （He caught
her hand； and pressed it rapturously to his lips。）'Remember our
late conversations； I now consent to every thing： Remember in
what lively colours you described the union of souls； Be it ours
to realize those ideas。 Let us forget the distinct