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'Nothing else？'
'Nothing。'
'The Morning is on the point of breaking。 Let us retire to the
Abbey； lest daylight should betray us。'
With a light step She hastened from the burying…ground。 She
regained her Cell； and the curious Abbot still accompanied her。
She closed the door； and disembarrassed herself of her Lamp and
Basket。
'I have succeeded！' She cried； throwing herself upon his bosom：
'Succeeded beyond my fondest hopes！ I shall live； Ambrosio；
shall live for you！ The step which I shuddered at taking
proves to me a source of joys inexpressible！ Oh！ that I dared
communicate those joys to you！ Oh！ that I were permitted to
share with you my power； and raise you as high above the level of
your sex； as one bold deed has exalted me above mine！'
'And what prevents you； Matilda？' interrupted the Friar； 'Why is
your business in the Cavern made a secret？ Do you think me
undeserving of your confidence？ Matilda； I must doubt the truth
of your affection； while you have joys in which I am forbidden to
share。'
'You reproach me with injustice。 I grieve sincerely that I am
obliged to conceal from you my happiness。 But I am not to blame：
The fault lies not in me； but in yourself； my Ambrosio！ You are
still too much the Monk。 Your mind is enslaved by the prejudices
of Education； And Superstition might make you shudder at the idea
of that which experience has taught me to prize and value。 At
present you are unfit to be trusted with a secret of such
importance： But the strength of your judgment； and the curiosity
which I rejoice to see sparkling in your eyes； makes me hope
that you will one day deserve my confidence。 Till that period
arrives； restrain your impatience。 Remember that you have given
me your solemn oath never to enquire into this night's
adventures。 I insist upon your keeping this oath： For though'
She added smiling； while She sealed his lips with a wanton kiss；
'Though I forgive your breaking your vows to heaven； I expect you
to keep your vows to me。'
The Friar returned the embrace which had set his blood on fire。
The luxurious and unbounded excesses of the former night were
renewed； and they separated not till the Bell rang for Matins。
The same pleasures were frequently repeated。 The Monks rejoiced
in the feigned Rosario's unexpected recovery； and none of them
suspected his real sex。 The Abbot possessed his Mistress in
tranquillity； and perceiving his frailty unsuspected； abandoned
himself to his passions in full security。 Shame and remorse no
longer tormented him。 Frequent repetitions made him familiar
with sin； and his bosom became proof against the stings of
Conscience。 In these sentiments He was encouraged by Matilda；
But She soon was aware that She had satiated her Lover by the
unbounded freedom of her caresses。 Her charms becoming
accustomed to him； they ceased to excite the same desires which
at first they had inspired。 The delirium of passion being past；
He had leisure to observe every trifling defect： Where none were
to be found； Satiety made him fancy them。 The Monk was glutted
with the fullness of pleasure： A Week had scarcely elapsed
before He was wearied of his Paramour： His warm constitution
still made him seek in her arms the gratification of his lust：
But when the moment of passion was over； He quitted her with
disgust； and his humour； naturally inconstant； made him sigh
impatiently for variety。
Possession； which cloys Man； only increases the affection of
Woman。 Matilda with every succeeding day grew more attached to
the Friar。 Since He had obtained her favours； He was become
dearer to her than ever； and She felt grateful to him for the
pleasures in which they had equally been Sharers。 Unfortunately
as her passion grew ardent； Ambrosio's grew cold； The very marks
of her fondness excited his disgust； and its excess served to
extinguish the flame which already burned but feebly in his
bosom。 Matilda could not but remark that her society seemed to
him daily less agreeable： He was inattentive while She spoke：
her musical talents； which She possessed in perfection； had lost
the power of amusing him； Or if He deigned to praise them； his
compliments were evidently forced and cold。 He no longer gazed
upon her with affection； or applauded her sentiments with a
Lover's partiality。 This Matilda well perceived； and redoubled
her efforts to revive those sentiments which He once had felt。
She could not but fail； since He considered as importunities the
pains which She took to please him； and was disgusted by the very
means which She used to recall the Wanderer。 Still； however；
their illicit Commerce continued： But it was clear that He was
led to her arms； not by love； but the cravings of brutal
appetite。 His constitution made a Woman necessary to him； and
Matilda was the only one with whom He could indulge his passions
safely： In spite of her beauty； He gazed upon every other Female
with more desire； But fearing that his Hypocrisy should be made
public； He confined his inclinations to his own breast。
It was by no means his nature to be timid： But his education had
impressed his mind with fear so strongly； that apprehension was
now become part of his character。 Had his Youth been passed in
the world； He would have shown himself possessed of many
brilliant and manly qualities。 He was naturally enterprizing；
firm； and fearless： He had a Warrior's heart； and He might have
shone with splendour at the head of an Army。 There was no want
of generosity in his nature： The Wretched never failed to find
in him a compassionate Auditor： His abilities were quick and
shining； and his judgment； vast； solid； and decisive。 With such
qualifications He would have been an ornament to his Country：
That He possessed them； He had given proofs in his earliest
infancy； and his Parents had beheld his dawning virtues with the
fondest delight and admiration。 Unfortunately； while yet a Child
He was deprived of those Parents。 He fell into the power of a
Relation whose only wish about him was never to hear of him
more； For that purpose He gave him in charge to his Friend； the
former Superior of the Capuchins。 The Abbot； a very Monk； used
all his endeavours to persuade the Boy that happiness existed
not without the walls of a Convent。 He succeeded fully。 To
deserve admittance into the order of St。 Francis was Ambrosio's
highest ambition。 His Instructors carefully repressed those
virtues whose grandeur and disinterestedness were ill…suited to
the Cloister。 Instead of universal benevolence； He adopted a
selfish partiality for his own particular establishment： He was
taught to consider compassion for the errors of Others as a crime
of the blackest dye： The noble frankness of his temper was
exchanged for servile humility； and in order to break his natural
spirit； the Monks terrified his young mind by placing before him
all the horrors with which Superstition could furnish them： They
painted to him the torments of the Damned in colours the most
dark； terrible； and fantastic； and threatened him at the
slightest fault with eternal perdition。 No wonder that his
imagination constantly dwelling upon these fearful objects should
have rendered his character timid and apprehensive。 Add to this；
that his long absence from the great world； and total
unacquaintance with the common dangers of life； made him form of
them an idea far more dismal than the reality。 While the Monks
were busied in rooting out his virtues and narrowing his
sentiments； they allowed every vice which had fallen to his
share to arrive at full perfection。 He was suffered to be
proud； vain； ambitious； and disdainful： He was jealous of his
Equals； and despised all merit but his own： He was implacable
when offended； and cruel in his revenge。 Still in spite of the
pains taken to pervert them； his natural good qualities would
occasionally break through the gloom cast over them so carefully：
At such times the contest for superiority between his real and
acquired character was striking and unaccountable to those
unacquainted with his original disposition。 He pronounced the
most severe sentences upon Of