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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； howling； groaning； swearing； and many other
agreeable noises of the same kind。 But though one particular
room was more especially honoured with her visits； She did not
entirely confine herself to it。 She occasionally ventured into
the old Galleries； paced up and down the spacious Halls； or
sometimes stopping at the doors of the Chambers； She wept and
wailed there to the universal terror of the Inhabitants。 In
these nocturnal excursions She was seen by different People； who
all describe her appearance as you behold it here； traced by the
hand of her unworthy Historian。'
The singularity of this account insensibly engaged my attention。
'Did She never speak to those who met her？' said I。
'Not She。 The specimens indeed； which She gave nightly of her
talents for conversation； were by no means inviting。 Sometimes
the Castle rung with oaths and execrations： A Moment after She
repeated her Paternoster： Now She howled out the most horrible
blasphemies； and then chaunted De Profundis； as orderly as if
still in the Choir。 In short She seemed a mighty capricious
Being： But whether She prayed or cursed； whether She was impious
or devout； She always contrived to terrify her Auditors out of
their senses。 The Castle became scarcely habitable； and its Lord
was so frightened by these midnight Revels； that one fine morning
He was found dead in his bed。 This success seemed to please the
Nun mightily； for now She made more noise than ever。 But the
next Baron proved too cunning for her。 He made his appearance
with a celebrated Exorciser in his hand； who feared not to shut
himself up for a night in the haunted Chamber。 There it seems
that He had an hard battle with the Ghost； before She would
promise to be quiet。 She was obstinate； but He was more so； and
at length She consented to let the Inhabitants of the Castle take
a good night's rest。 For some time after no news was heard of
her。 But at the end of five years the Exorciser died； and then
the Nun ventured to peep abroad again。 However； She was now
grown much more tractable a