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answer； but there was no resource。 He raved； He entreated； He
threatened： No means were left untried to obtain a sight of
Agnes。 His endeavours were as fruitless as those of the day
before； and He returned in despair to the Marquis。 On his side；
the Latter had spared no pains to discover what had occasioned
his plot to fail： Don Christoval； to whom the affair was now
entrusted； endeavoured to worm out the secret from the Old
Porteress of St。 Clare； with whom He had formed an acquaintance；
But She was too much upon her guard； and He gained from her no
intelligence。 The Marquis was almost distracted； and Lorenzo felt
scarcely less inquietude。 Both were convinced that the purposed
elopement must have been discovered： They doubted not but the
malady of Agnes was a pretence； But they knew not by what means
to rescue her from the hands of the Prioress。
Regularly every day did Lorenzo visit the Convent： As regularly
was He informed that his Sister rather grew worse than better。
Certain that her indisposition was feigned； these accounts did
not alarm him： But his ignorance of her fate； and of the motives
which induced the Prioress to keep her from him； excited the most
serious uneasiness。 He was still uncertain what steps He ought
to take； when the Marquis received a letter from the
Cardinal…Duke of Lerma。 It inclosed the Pope's expected Bull；
ordering that Agnes should be released from her vows； and
restored to her Relations。 This essential paper decided at once
the proceedings of her Friends： They resolved that Lorenzo
should carry it to the Domina without delay； and demand that his
Sister should be instantly given up to him。 Against this mandate
illness could not be pleaded： It gave her Brother the power of
removing her instantly to the Palace de Medina； and He determined
to use that power on the following day。
His mind relieved from inquietude respecting his Sister； and his
Spirits raised by the hope of soon restoring her to freedom； He
now had time to give a few moments to love and to Antonia。 At
the same hour as on his former visit He repaired to Donna
Elvira's： She had given orders for his admission。 As soon as He
was announced； her Daughter retired with Leonella； and when He
entered the chamber； He found the Lady of the House alone。 She
received him with less distance than before； and desired him to
place himself near her upon the Sopha。 She then without losing
time opened her business； as had been agreed between herself and
Antonia。
'You must not think me ungrateful； Don Lorenzo； or forgetful how
essential are the services which you have rendered me with the
Marquis。 I feel the weight of my obligations； Nothing under the
Sun should induce my taking the step to which I am now compelled
but the interest of my Child； of my beloved Antonia。 My health
is declining； God only knows how soon I may be summoned before
his Throne。 My Daughter will be left without Parents； and should
She lose the protection of the Cisternas family； without Friends。
She is young and artless； uninstructed in the world's perfidy；
and with charms sufficient to render her an object of seduction。
Judge then； how I must tremble at the prospect before her！
Judge how anxious I must be to keep her from their society who
may excite the yet dormant passions of her bosom。 You are
amiable； Don Lorenzo： Antonia has a susceptible； a loving heart；
and is grateful for the favours conferred upon us by your
interference with the Marquis。 Your presence makes me tremble：
I fear lest it should inspire her with sentiments which may
embitter the remainder of her life； or encourage her to cherish
hopes in her situation unjustifiable and futile。 Pardon me when
I avow my terrors； and let my frankness plead in my excuse。 I
cannot forbid you my House； for gratitude restrains me； I can
only throw myself upon your generosity； and entreat you to spare
the feelings of an anxious； of a doting Mother。 Believe me when
I assure you that I lament the necessity of rejecting your
acquaintance； But there is no remedy； and Antonia's interest
obliges me to beg you to forbear your visits。 By complying with
my request； you will increase the esteem which I already feel for
you； and of which everything convinces me that you are truly
deserving。'
'Your frankness charms me；' replied Lorenzo； 'You shall find that
in your favourable opinion of me you were not deceived。 Yet I
hope that the reasons； now in my power to allege； will persuade
you to withdraw a request which I cannot obey without infinite
reluctance。 I love your Daughter； love her most sincerely： I
wish for no greater happiness than to inspire her with the same
sentiments； and receive her hand at the Altar as her Husband。
'Tis true； I am not rich myself； My Father's death has left me
but little in my own possession； But my expectations justify my
pretending to the Conde de las Cisternas' Daughter。'
He was proceeding； but Elvira interrupted him。
'Ah！ Don Lorenzo； you forget in that pompous title the meanness
of my origin。 You forget that I have now past fourteen years in
Spain； disavowed by my Husband's family； and existing upon a
stipend barely sufficient for the support and education of my
Daughter。 Nay； I have even been neglected by most of my own
Relations； who out of envy affect to doubt the reality of my
marriage。 My allowance being discontinued at my Father…in…law's
death； I was reduced to the very brink of want。 In this
situation I was found by my Sister； who amongst all her foibles
possesses a warm； generous； and affectionate heart。 She aided me
with the little fortune which my Father left her； persuaded me to
visit Madrid； and has supported my Child and myself since our
quitting Murcia。 Then consider not Antonia as descended from the
Conde de la Cisternas： Consider her as a poor and unprotected
Orphan； as the Grand…child of the Tradesman Torribio Dalfa； as
the needy Pensioner of that Tradesman's Daughter。 Reflect upon
the difference between such a situation； and that of the Nephew
and Heir of the potent Duke of Medina。 I believe your intentions
to be honourable； But as there are no hopes that your Uncle will
approve of the union； I foresee that the consequences of your
attachment must be fatal to my Child's repose。'
'Pardon me； Segnora； You are misinformed if you suppose the Duke
of Medina to resemble the generality of Men。 His sentiments are
liberal and disinterested： He loves me well； and I have no
reason to dread his forbidding the marriage when He perceives
that my happiness depends upon Antonia。 But supposing him to
refuse his sanction； what have I still to fear？ My Parents are
no more； My little fortune is in my own possession： It will be
sufficient to support Antonia； and I shall exchange for her hand
Medina's Dukedom without one sigh of regret。'
'You are young and eager； It is natural for you to entertain such
ideas。 But Experience has taught me to my cost that curses
accompany an unequal alliance。 I married the Conde de las
Cisternas in opposition to the will of his Relations； Many an
heart…pang has punished me for the imprudent step。 Whereever we