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attended by so gallant a Cavalier； My Sister is so scrupulous
that She would read me an hour's lecture； and I should never hear
the last of it。 Besides； I rather wish you not to make your
proposals just at present。'
'My proposals？ I assure you； Segnora。 。 。 。'
'Oh！ Segnor； I believe that your assurances of impatience are all
very true； But really I must desire a little respite。 It would
not be quite so delicate in me to accept your hand at first
sight。'
'Accept my hand？ As I hope to live and breathe。 。 。 。'
'Oh！ dear Segnor； press me no further； if you love me！ I shall
consider your obedience as a proof of your affection； You shall
hear from me tomorrow； and so farewell。 But pray； Cavaliers；
may I not enquire your names？'
'My Friend's；' replied Lorenzo； 'is the Conde d'Ossorio； and mine
Lorenzo de Medina。'
' 'Tis sufficient。 Well； Don Lorenzo； I shall acquaint my Sister
with your obliging offer； and let you know the result with all
expedition。 Where may I send to you？'
'I am always to be found at the Medina Palace。'
'You may depend upon hearing from me。 Farewell； Cavaliers。
Segnor Conde； let me entreat you to moderate the excessive ardour
of your passion： However； to prove to you that I am not
displeased with you； and prevent your abandoning yourself to
despair； receive this mark of my affection； and sometimes bestow
a thought upon the absent Leonella。'
As She said this； She extended a lean and wrinkled hand； which
her supposed Admirer kissed with such sorry grace and constraint
so evident； that Lorenzo with difficulty repressed his
inclination to laugh。 Leonella then hastened to quit the Church；
The lovely Antonia followed her in silence； but when She reached
the Porch； She turned involuntarily； and cast back her eyes
towards Lorenzo。 He bowed to her； as bidding her farewell； She
returned the compliment； and hastily withdrew。
'So； Lorenzo！' said Don Christoval as soon as they were alone；
'You have procured me an agreeable Intrigue！ To favour your
designs upon Antonia； I obligingly make a few civil speeches
which mean nothing to the Aunt； and at the end of an hour I find
myself upon the brink of Matrimony！ How will you reward me for
having suffered so grievously for your sake？ What can repay me
for having kissed the leathern paw of that confounded old Witch？
Diavolo！ She has left such a scent upon my lips that I shall
smell of garlick for this month to come！ As I pass along the
Prado； I shall be taken for a walking Omelet； or some large Onion
running to seed！'
'I confess； my poor Count；' replied Lorenzo； 'that your service
has been attended with danger； Yet am I so far from supposing it
be past all endurance that I shall probably solicit you to carry
on your amours still further。'
'From that petition I conclude that the little Antonia has made
some impression upon you。'
'I cannot express to you how much I am charmed with her。 Since
my Father's death； My Uncle the Duke de Medina； has signified to
me his wishes to see me married； I have till now eluded his
hints； and refused to understand them； But what I have seen this
Evening。 。 。 。'
'Well？ What have you seen this Evening？ Why surely； Don
Lorenzo； You cannot be mad enough to think of making a Wife out
of this Grand…daughter of ''as honest a painstaking Shoe…maker
as any in Cordova''？'
'You forget； that She is also the Grand…daughter of the late
Marquis de las Cisternas； But without disputing about birth and
titles； I must assure you； that I never beheld a Woman so
interesting as Antonia。'
'Very possibly； But you cannot mean to marry her？'
'Why not； my dear Conde？ I shall have wealth enough for both of
us； and you know that my Uncle thinks liberally upon the subject。
From what I have seen of Raymond de las Cisternas； I am certain
that he will readily acknowledge Antonia for his Niece。 Her
birth therefore will be no objection to my offering her my hand。
I should be a Villain could I think of her on any other terms
than marriage； and in truth She seems possessed of every quality
requisite to make me happy in a Wife。 Young； lovely； gentle；
sensible。 。 。 。'
'Sensible？ Why； She said nothing but ''Yes；'' and ''No''。'
'She did not say much more； I must confessBut then She always
said ''Yes；'' or ''No；'' in the right place。'
'Did She so？ Oh！ your most obedient！ That is using a right
Lover's argument； and I dare dispute no longer with so profound a
Casuist。 Suppose we adjourn to the Comedy？'
'It is out of my power。 I only arrived last night at Madrid； and
have not yet had an opportunity of seeing my Sister； You know
that her Convent is in this Street； and I was going thither when
the Crowd which I saw thronging into this Church excited my
curiosity to know what was the matter。 I shall now pursue my
first intention； and probably pass the Evening with my Sister at
the Parlour grate。'
'Your Sister in a Convent； say you？ Oh！ very true； I had
forgotten。 And how does Donna Agnes？ I am amazed； Don Lorenzo；
how you could possibly think of immuring so charming a Girl
within the walls of a Cloister！'
'I think of it； Don Christoval？ How can you suspect me of such
barbarity？ You are conscious that She took the veil by her own
desire； and that particular circumstances made her wish for a
seclusion from the World。 I used every means in my power to
induce her to change her resolution； The endeavour was fruitless；
and I lost a Sister！'
'The luckier fellow you； I think； Lorenzo； you were a
considerable gainer by that loss： If I remember right； Donna
Agnes had a portion of ten thousand pistoles； half of which
reverted to your Lordship。 By St。 Jago！ I wish that I had fifty
Sisters in the same predicament。 I should consent to losing them
every soul without much heart…burning'
'How； Conde？' said Lorenzo in an angry voice； 'Do you suppose me
base enough to have influenced my Sister's retirement？ Do you
suppose that the despicable wish to make myself Master of her
fortune could。 。 。 。'
'Admirable！ Courage； Don Lorenzo！ Now the Man is all in a
blaze。 God grant that Antonia may soften that fiery temper； or
we shall certainly cut each other's throat before the Month is
over！ However； to prevent such a tragical Catastrophe for the
present； I shall make a retreat； and leave you Master of the
field。 Farewell； my Knight of Mount Aetna！ Moderate that
inflammable disposition； and remember that whenever it is
necessary to make love to yonder Harridan； you may reckon upon my
services。'
He said； and darted out of the Cathedral。
'How wild…brained！' said Lorenzo； 'With so excellent an heart；
what pity that He possesses so little solidity of judgment！'
The night was now fast advancing。 The Lamps were not yet
lighted。 The faint beams of the rising Moon scarcely could
pierce through the gothic obscurity of the Church。 Lorenzo found
himself unable to quit the Spot。 The void left in his bosom by
Antonia's absence； and his Sister's sacrifice which Don
Christoval had just recalled to his imagination； created that
melancholy of mind which accorded but too well with the
religious gloom surrounding him。 He was still leaning against
the seventh column from the Pulpit。 A soft and cooling air
breathed along the solitary Aisles： The Moonbeams darting into
the Church through painted windows tinged the fretted roofs and
massy pillars with a thousand various tints of light and colours：
Universal silence prevailed around； only interrupted by the
occasional closing of Doors in the adjoining Abbey。
The calm of the hour and solitude of the place contributed to
nourish Lorenzo's disposition to melancholy。 He threw himself
upon a seat which stood near him； and abandoned himself to the
delusions of his fancy。 He thought of his union with Antonia； He
thought of the obstacles which might oppose his wishes； and a
thousand changing visions floated before his fancy； sad 'tis
true； but not unpleasing。 Sleep insensibly stole over him； and
the tranquil solemnity of his mind when awake for a while
continued to influence his slumbers。
He still fancied himself to be in the Church of the Capuchins；
but it w