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unaccountable behaviour。 He was inclined to suspect the
derangement of his senses： yet the general tenor of his conduct；
the connexion of his ideas； and calmness of his demeanour till
the moment of his quitting the Grotto； seemed to discountenance
this conjecture。 After a few minutes Rosario returned。 He again
seated himself upon the Bank： He reclined his cheek upon one
hand； and with the other wiped away the tears which trickled from
his eyes at intervals。
The Monk looked upon him with compassion； and forbore to
interrupt his meditations。 Both observed for some time a
profound silence。 The Nightingale had now taken her station upon
an Orange Tree fronting the Hermitage； and poured forth a strain
the most melancholy and melodious。 Rosario raised his head； and
listened to her with attention。
'It was thus；' said He； with a deep…drawn sigh； 'It was thus；
that during the last month of her unhappy life； my Sister used to
sit listening to the Nightingale。 Poor Matilda！ She sleeps in
the Grave； and her broken heart throbs no more with passion。'
'You had a Sister？'
'You say right； that I HAD； Alas！ I have one no longer。 She
sunk beneath the weight of her sorrows in the very spring of
life。'
'What were those sorrows？'
'They will not excite YOUR pity： YOU know not the power of those
irresistible； those fatal sentiments； to which her Heart was a
prey。 Father； She loved unfortunately。 A passion for One
endowed with every virtue； for a Man； Oh！ rather let me say； for
a divinity； proved the bane of her existence。 His noble form；
his spotless character； his various talents； his wisdom solid；
wonderful； and glorious； might have warmed the bosom of the most
insensible。 My Sister saw him； and dared to love though She
never dared to hope。'
'If her love was so well bestowed； what forbad her to hope the
obtaining of its object？'
'Father； before He knew her； Julian had already plighted his vows
to a Bride most fair； most heavenly！ Yet still my Sister loved；
and for the Husband's sake She doted upon the Wife。 One morning
She found means to escape from our Father's House： Arrayed in
humble weeds She offered herself as a Domestic to the Consort of
her Beloved； and was accepted。 She was now continually in his
presence： She strove to ingratiate herself into his favour： She
succeeded。 Her attentions attracted Julian's notice； The
virtuous are ever grateful； and He distinguished Matilda above
the rest of her Companions。'
'And did not your Parents seek for her？ Did they submit tamely
to their loss； nor attempt to recover their wandering Daughter？'
'Ere they could find her； She discovered herself。 Her love grew
too violent for concealment； Yet She wished not for Julian's
person； She ambitioned but a share of his heart。 In an unguarded
moment She confessed her affection。 What was the return？
Doating upon his Wife； and believing that a look of pity bestowed
upon another was a theft from what He owed to her； He drove
Matilda from his presence。 He forbad her ever again appearing
before him。 His severity broke her heart： She returned to her
Father's； and in a few Months after was carried to her Grave。'
'Unhappy Girl！ Surely her fate was too severe； and Julian was
too cruel。'
'Do you think so； Father？' cried the Novice with vivacity； 'Do
you think that He was cruel？'
'Doubtless I do； and pity her most sincerely。'
'You pity her？ You pity her？ Oh！ Father！ Father！ Then pity
me！'
The Friar started； when after a moment's pause Rosario added with
a faltering voice；'for my sufferings are still greater。 My
Sister had a Friend； a real Friend； who pitied the acuteness of
her feelings； nor reproached her with her inability to repress
them。 I 。 。 。！ I have no Friend！ The whole wide world cannot
furnish an heart that is willing to participate in the sorrows
of mine！'
As He uttered these words； He sobbed audibly。 The Friar was
affected。 He took Rosario's hand； and pressed it with
tenderness。
'You have no Friend； say you？ What then am I？ Why will you not
confide in me； and what can you fear？ My severity？ Have I ever
used it with you？ The dignity of my habit？ Rosario； I lay aside
the Monk； and bid you consider me as no other than your Friend；
your Father。 Well may I assume that title； for never did Parent
watch over a Child more fondly than I have watched over you。
From the moment in which I first beheld you； I perceived
sensations in my bosom till then unknown to me； I found a
delight in your society which no one's else could afford； and
when I witnessed the extent of your genius and information； I
rejoiced as does a Father in the perfections of his Son。 Then
lay aside your fears； Speak to me with openness： Speak to me；
Rosario； and say that you will confide in me。 If my aid or my
pity can alleviate your distress。 。 。 。'
'Yours can！ Yours only can！ Ah！ Father； how willingly would I
unveil to you my heart！ How willingly would I declare the
secret which bows me down with its weight！ But Oh！ I fear！ I
fear！'
'What； my Son？'
'That you should abhor me for my weakness； That the reward of my
confidence should be the loss of your esteem。'
'How shall I reassure you？ Reflect upon the whole of my past
conduct； upon the paternal tenderness which I have ever shown
you。 Abhor you； Rosario？ It is no longer in my power。 To give
up your society would be to deprive myself of the greatest
pleasure of my life。 Then reveal to me what afflicts you； and
believe me while I solemnly swear。 。 。 。'
'Hold！' interrupted the Novice； 'Swear； that whatever be my
secret； you will not oblige me to quit the Monastery till my
Noviciate shall expire。'
'I promise it faithfully； and as I keep my vows to you； may
Christ keep his to Mankind。 Now then explain this mystery； and
rely upon my indulgence。'
'I obey you。 Know then。 。 。 。 Oh！ how I tremble to name the
word！ Listen to me with pity； revered Ambrosio！ Call up every
latent spark of human weakness that may teach you compassion for
mine！ Father！' continued He throwing himself at the Friar's
feet； and pressing his hand to his lips with eagerness； while
agitation for a moment choaked his voice； 'Father！' continued He
in faltering accents； 'I am a Woman！'
The Abbot started at this unexpected avowal。 Prostrate on the
ground lay the feigned Rosario； as if waiting in silence the
decision of his Judge。 Astonishment on the one part；
apprehension on the other； for some minutes chained them in the
same attitudes； as had they been touched by the Rod of some
Magician。 At length recovering from his confusion； the Monk
quitted the Grotto； and sped with precipitation towards the
Abbey。 His action did not escape the Suppliant。 She sprang from
the ground； She hastened to follow him； overtook him； threw
herself in his passage； and embraced his knees。 Ambrosio strove
in vain to disengage himself from her grasp。
'Do not fly me！' She cried； 'Leave me not abandoned to the
impulse of despair！ Listen； while I excuse my imprudence； while
I acknowledge my Sister's story to be my own！ I am Matilda； You
are her Beloved。'
If Ambrosio's surprise was great at her first avowal； upon
hearing her second it exceeded all bounds。 Amazed； embarrassed；
and irresolute He found himself incapable of pronouncing a
syllable； and remained in silence gazing upon Matilda： This gave
her opportunity to continue her explanation as follows。
'Think not； Ambrosio； that I come to rob your Bride of your
affections。 No； believe me： Religion alone deserves you； and
far is it from Matilda's wish to draw you from the paths of
virtue。 What I feel for you is love； not licentiousness； I sigh
to be possessor of your heart； not lust for the enjoyment of your
person。 Deign to listen to my vindication： A few moments will
convince you that this holy retreat is not polluted by my
presence； and that you may grant me your compassion without
trespassing against your vows。'She seated herself： Ambrosio；
scarcely conscious of what He did； followed her example； and She
proceeded in her discourse。
'I spring from a distinguished family： My Father was Chief of
the n