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me should seem harsh and ungrateful： To encourage you in an
error； which； however it may flatter myself； must prove to you
the source of disappointment； would make me appear criminal in
every eye。 Honour obliges me to inform you that you have
mistaken for the solicitude of Love what was only the attention
of Friendship。 The latter sentiment is that which I wished to
excite in your bosom： To entertain a warmer； respect for you
forbids me； and gratitude for the Baron's generous treatment。
Perhaps these reasons would not be sufficient to shield me from
your attractions； were it not that my affections are already
bestowed upon another。 You have charms； Segnora； which might
captivate the most insensible； No heart unoccupied could resist
them。 Happy is it for me that mine is no longer in my
possession； or I should have to reproach myself for ever with
having violated the Laws of Hospitality。 Recollect yourself；
noble Lady； Recollect what is owed by you to honour； by me to the
Baron； and replace by esteem and friendship those sentiments
which I never can return。'
The Baroness turned pale at this unexpected and positive
declaration： She doubted whether She slept or woke。 At length
recovering from her surprise； consternation gave place to rage；
and the blood rushed back into her cheeks with violence。
'Villain！' She cried； 'Monster of deceit！ Thus is the avowal of
my love received？ Is it thus that。 。 。 。 But no； no！ It
cannot； it shall not be！ Alphonso； behold me at your feet！ Be
witness of my despair！ Look with pity on a Woman who loves you
with sincere affection！ She who possesses your heart； how has
She merited such a treasure？ What sacrifice has She made to you？
What raises her above Rodolpha？'
I endeavoured to lift her from her Knees。
'For God's sake； Segnora； restrain these transports： They
disgrace yourself and me。 Your exclamations may be heard； and
your secret divulged to your Attendants。 I see that my presence
only irritates you： permit me to retire。'
I prepared to quit the apartment： The Baroness caught me
suddenly by the arm。
'And who is this happy Rival？' said She in a menacing tone； 'I
will know her name； and WHEN I know it。 。 。 。 ！ She is someone
in my power； You entreated my favour； my protection！ Let me but
find her； let me but know who dares to rob me of your heart； and
She shall suffer every torment which jealousy and disappointment
can inflict！ Who is She？ Answer me this moment。 Hope not to
conceal her from my vengeance！ Spies shall be set over you；
every step； every look shall be watched； Your eyes will discover
my Rival； I shall know her； and when She is found； tremble；
Alphonso for her and for yourself！'
As She uttered these last words her fury mounted to such a pitch
as to stop her powers of respiration。 She panted； groaned； and
at length fainted away。 As She was falling I caught her in my
arms； and placed her upon a Sopha。 Then hastening to the door； I
summoned her Women to her assistance； I committed her to their
care； and seized the opportunity of escaping。
Agitated and confused beyond expression I bent my steps towards
the Garden。 The benignity with which the Baroness had listened
to me at first raised my hopes to the highest pitch： I imagined
her to have perceived my attachment for her Niece； and to approve
of it。 Extreme was my disappointment at understanding the true
purport of her discourse。 I knew not what course to take： The
superstition of the Parents of Agnes； aided by her Aunt's
unfortunate passion； seemed to oppose such obstacles to our union
as were almost insurmountable。
As I past by a low parlour； whose windows looked into the Garden；
through the door which stood half open I observed Agnes seated at
a Table。 She was occupied in drawing； and several unfinished
sketches were scattered round her。 I entered； still undetermined
whether I should acquaint her with the declaration of the
Baroness。
'Oh！ is it only you？' said She； raising her head； 'You are no
Stranger； and I shall continue my occupation without ceremony。
Take a Chair； and seat yourself by me。'
I obeyed； and placed myself near the Table。 Unconscious what I
was doing； and totally occupied by the scene which had just
passed； I took up some of the drawings； and cast my eye over
them。 One of the subjects struck me from its singularity。 It
represented the great Hall of the Castle of Lindenberg。 A door
conducting to a narrow staircase stood half open。 In the
foreground appeared a Groupe of figures； placed in the most
grotesque attitudes； Terror was expressed upon every countenance。
Here was One upon his knees with his eyes cast up to heaven； and
praying most devoutly； There Another was creeping away upon all
fours。 Some hid their faces in their cloaks or the laps of their
Companions； Some had concealed themselves beneath a Table； on
which the remnants of a feast were visible； While Others with
gaping mouths and eyes wide…stretched pointed to a Figure；
supposed to have created this disturbance。 It represented a
Female of more than human stature； clothed in the habit of some
religious order。 Her face was veiled； On her arm hung a chaplet
of beads； Her dress was in several places stained with the blood
which trickled from a wound upon her bosom。 In one hand She held
a Lamp； in the other a large Knife； and She seemed advancing
towards the iron gates of the Hall。
'What does this mean； Agnes？' said I； 'Is this some invention of
your own？'
She cast her eye upon the drawing。
'Oh！ no；' She replied； ' 'Tis the invention of much wiser heads
than mine。 But can you possibly have lived at Lindenberg for
three whole Months without hearing of the Bleeding Nun？'
'You are the first； who ever mentioned the name to me。 Pray； who
may the Lady be？'
'That is more than I can pretend to tell you。 All my knowledge
of her History comes from an old tradition in this family； which
has been handed down from Father to Son； and is firmly credited
throughout the Baron's domains。 Nay； the Baron believes it
himself； and as for my Aunt who has a natural turn for the
marvellous； She would sooner doubt the veracity of the Bible；
than of the Bleeding Nun。 Shall I tell you this History？'
I answered that She would oblige me much by relating it： She
resumed her drawing； and then proceeded as follows in a tone of
burlesqued gravity。
'It is surprising that in all the Chronicles of past times； this
remarkable Personage is never once mentioned。 Fain would I
recount to you her life； But unluckily till after her death She
was never known to have existed。 Then first did She think it
necessary to make some noise in the world； and with that
intention She made bold to seize upon the Castle of Lindenberg。
Having a good taste； She took up her abode in the best room of
the House： and once established there； She began to amuse
herself by knocking about the tables and chairs in the middle of
the night。 Perhaps She was a bad Sleeper； but this I have never
been able to ascertain。 According to the tradition； this
entertainment commenced about a Century ago。 It was accompanied
with shrieking； h