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drive them from your bosom。'
Antonia kissed her hand； and promised implicit obedience。 Elvira
then continued。
'To prevent your passion from growing stronger； it will be
needful to prohibit Lorenzo's visits。 The service which He has
rendered me permits not my forbidding them positively； But unless
I judge too favourably of his character； He will discontinue them
without taking offence； if I confess to him my reasons； and throw
myself entirely on his generosity。 The next time that I see him；
I will honestly avow to him the embarrassment which his presence
occasions。 How say you； my Child？ Is not this measure
necessary？'
Antonia subscribed to every thing without hesitation； though not
without regret。 Her Mother kissed her affectionately； and
retired to bed。 Antonia followed her example； and vowed so
frequently never more to think of Lorenzo； that till Sleep closed
her eyes She thought of nothing else。
While this was passing at Elvira's； Lorenzo hastened to rejoin
the Marquis。 Every thing was ready for the second elopement of
Agnes； and at twelve the two Friends with a Coach and four were
at the Garden wall of the Convent。 Don Raymond drew out his Key；
and unlocked the door。 They entered； and waited for some time in
expectation of being joined by Agnes。 At length the Marquis grew
impatient： Beginning to fear that his second attempt would
succeed no better than the first； He proposed to reconnoitre the
Convent。 The Friends advanced towards it。 Every thing was still
and dark。 The Prioress was anxious to keep the story a secret；
fearing lest the crime of one of its members should bring
disgrace upon the whole community； or that the interposition of
powerful Relations should deprive her vengeance of its intended
victim。 She took care therefore to give the Lover of Agnes no
cause to suppose that his design was discovered； and his
Mistress on the point of suffering the punishment of her fault。
The same reason made her reject the idea of arresting the unknown
Seducer in the Garden； Such a proceeding would have created much
disturbance； and the disgrace of her Convent would have been
noised about Madrid。 She contented herself with confining Agnes
closely； As to the Lover； She left him at liberty to pursue his
designs。 What She had expected was the result。 The Marquis and
Lorenzo waited in vain till the break of day： They then retired
without noise； alarmed at the failure of their plan； and ignorant
of the cause of its ill…success。
The next morning Lorenzo went to the Convent； and requested to
see his Sister。 The Prioress appeared at the Grate with a
melancholy countenance： She informed him that for several days
Agnes had appeared much agitated； That She had been prest by the
Nuns in vain to reveal the cause； and apply to their tenderness
for advice and consolation； That She had obstinately persisted in
concealing the cause of her distress； But that on Thursday
Evening it had produced so violent an effect upon her
constitution； that She had fallen ill； and was actually confined
to her bed。 Lorenzo did not credit a syllable of this account：
He insisted upon seeing his Sister； If She was unable to come to
the Grate； He desired to be admitted to her Cell。 The Prioress
crossed herself！ She was shocked at the very idea of a Man's
profane eye pervading the interior of her holy Mansion； and
professed herself astonished that Lorenzo could think of such a
thing。 She told him that his request could not be granted； But
that if He returned the next day； She hoped that her beloved
Daughter would then be sufficiently recovered to join him at the
Parlour grate。
With this answer Lorenzo was obliged to retire； unsatisfied and
trembling for his Sister's safety。
He returned the next morning at an early hour。 'Agnes was worse；
The Physician had pronounced her to be in imminent danger； She
was ordered to remain quiet； and it was utterly impossible for
her to receive her Brother's visit。' Lorenzo stormed at this
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；