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saying； Segnor； a young Nobleman fell in love with her； and
married her unknown to his Father。 Their union remained a secret
near three years； But at last it came to the ears of the old
Marquis； who； as you may well suppose； was not much pleased with
the intelligence。 Away He posted in all haste to Cordova；
determined to seize Elvira； and send her away to some place or
other； where She would never be heard of more。 Holy St。 Paul！
How He stormed on finding that She had escaped him； had joined
her Husband； and that they had embarked together for the Indies。
He swore at us all； as if the Evil Spirit had possessed him； He
threw my Father into prison； as honest a painstaking Shoe…maker
as any in Cordova； and when He went away； He had the cruelty to
take from us my Sister's little Boy； then scarcely two years old；
and whom in the abruptness of her flight； She had been obliged to
leave behind her。 I suppose； that the poor little Wretch met
with bitter bad treatment from him； for in a few months after； we
received intelligence of his death。'
'Why； this was a most terrible old Fellow； Segnora！'
'Oh！ shocking！ and a Man so totally devoid of taste！ Why； would
you believe it； Segnor？ When I attempted to pacify him； He
cursed me for a Witch； and wished that to punish the Count； my
Sister might become as ugly as myself！ Ugly indeed！ I like him
for that。'
'Ridiculous'； cried Don Christoval； 'Doubtless the Count would
have thought himself fortunate； had he been permitted to exchange
the one Sister for the other。'
'Oh！ Christ！ Segnor； you are really too polite。 However； I am
heartily glad that the Conde was of a different way of thinking。
A mighty pretty piece of business； to be sure； Elvira has made of
it！ After broiling and stewing in the Indies for thirteen long
years； her Husband dies； and She returns to Spain； without an
House to hide her head； or money to procure her one！ This
Antonia was then but an Infant； and her only remaining Child。
She found that her Father…in…Law had married again； that he was
irreconcileable to the Conde； and that his second Wife had
produced him a Son； who is reported to be a very fine young Man。
The old Marquis refused to see my Sister or her Child； But sent
her word that on condition of never hearing any more of her； He
would assign her a small pension； and She might live in an old
Castle which He possessed in Murcia； This had been the favourite
habitation of his eldest Son； But since his flight from Spain；
the old Marquis could not bear the place； but let it fall to ruin
and confusionMy Sister accepted the proposal； She retired to
Murcia； and has remained there till within the last Month。'
'And what brings her now to Madrid？' enquired Don Lorenzo； whom
admiration of the young Antonia compelled to take a lively
interest in the talkative old Woman's narration。
'Alas！ Segnor； her Father…in…Law being lately dead； the Steward
of his Murcian Estates has refused to pay her pension any longer。
With the design of supplicating his Son to renew it； She is now
come to Madrid； But I doubt； that She might have saved herself
the trouble！ You young Noblemen have always enough to do with
your money； and are not very often disposed to throw it away upon
old Women。 I advised my Sister to send Antonia with her
petition； But She would not hear of such a thing。 She is so
obstinate！ Well！ She will find herself the worse for not
following my counsels： the Girl has a good pretty face； and
possibly might have done much。'
'Ah！ Segnora；' interrupted Don Christoval； counterfeiting a
passionate air； 'If a pretty face will do the business； why has
not your Sister recourse to you？'
'Oh！ Jesus！ my Lord； I swear you quite overpower me with your
gallantry！ But I promise you that I am too well aware of the
danger of such Expeditions to trust myself in a young Nobleman's
power！ No； no； I have as yet preserved my reputation without
blemish or reproach； and I always knew how to keep the Men at a
proper distance。'
'Of that； Segnora； I have not the least doubt。 But permit me to
ask you； Have you then any aversion to Matrimony？'
'That is an home question。 I cannot but confess； that if an
amiable Cavalier was to present himself。 。 。 。'
Here She intended to throw a tender and significant look upon Don
Christoval； But； as She unluckily happened to squint most
abominably； the glance fell directly upon his Companion： Lorenzo
took the compliment to himself； and answered it by a profound
bow。
'May I enquire；' said He； 'the name of the Marquis？'
'The Marquis de las Cisternas。'
'I know him intimately well。 He is not at present in Madrid； but
is expected here daily。 He is one of the best of Men； and if the
lovely Antonia will permit me to be her Advocate with him； I
doubt not my being able to make a favourable report of her
cause。'
Antonia raised her blue eyes； and silently thanked him for the
offer by a smile of inexpressible sweetness。 Leonella's
satisfaction was much more loud and audible： Indeed； as her Niece
was generally silent in her company； She thought it incumbent
upon her to talk enough for both： This She managed without
difficulty； for She very seldom found herself deficient in words。
'Oh！ Segnor！' She cried； 'You will lay our whole family under the
most signal obligations！ I accept your offer with all possible
gratitude； and return you a thousand thanks for the generosity of
your proposal。 Antonia； why do not you speak； Child？ While the
Cavalier says all sorts of civil things to you； you sit like a
Statue； and never utter a syllable of thanks； either bad； good；
or indifferent！'
'My dear Aunt； I am very sensible that。 。 。 。'
'Fye； Niece！ How often have I told you； that you never should
interrupt a Person who is speaking！？ When did you ever know me
do such a thing？ Are these your Murcian manners？ Mercy on me！
I shall never be able to make this Girl any thing like a Person
of good breeding。 But pray； Segnor；' She continued； addressing
herself to Don Christoval； 'inform me； why such a Crowd is
assembled today in this Cathedral？'
'Can you possibly be ignorant； that Ambrosio； Abbot of this
Monastery； pronounces a Sermon in this Church every Thursday？
All Madrid rings with his praises。 As yet He has preached but
thrice； But all who have heard him are so delighted with his
eloquence； that it is as difficult to obtain a place at Church；
as at the first representation of a new Comedy。 His fame
certainly must have reached your ears'
'Alas！ Segnor； till yesterday I never had the good fortune to see
Madrid； and at Cordova we are so little informed of what is
passing in the rest of the world； that the name of Ambrosio has
never been mentioned in its precincts。'
'You will find it in every one's mouth at Madrid。 He seems to
have fascinated the Inhabitants； and not having attended his
Sermons myself； I am astonished at the Enthusiasm which He has
excited。 The adoration paid him both by Young and Old； by Man
and Woman is unexampled。 The Grandees load him with presents；
Their Wives refuse to have any other Confessor； and he is known
through all the city by the name