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feel sensations so singular； that I strive in vain to account for
them。'
'My dearest Mother； it produced the same effect upon me： Yet
certainly neither of us ever heard his voice till we came to
Madrid。 I suspect that what we attribute to his voice； really
proceeds from his pleasant manners； which forbid our considering
him as a Stranger。 I know not why； but I feel more at my ease
while conversing with him than I usually do with people who are
unknown to me。 I feared not to repeat to him all my childish
thoughts； and somehow I felt confident that He would hear my
folly with indulgence。 Oh！ I was not deceived in him！ He
listened to me with such an air of kindness and attention！ He
answered me with such gentleness； such condescension！ He did not
call me an Infant； and treat me with contempt； as our cross old
Confessor at the Castle used to do。 I verily believe that if I
had lived in Murcia a thousand years； I never should have liked
that fat old Father Dominic！'
'I confess that Father Dominic had not the most pleasing manners
in the world； But He was honest； friendly； and well…meaning。'
'Ah！ my dear Mother； those qualities are so common！'
'God grant； my Child； that Experience may not teach you to think
them rare and precious： I have found them but too much so！ But
tell me； Antonia； Why is it impossible for me to have seen the
Abbot before？'
'Because since the moment when He entered the Abbey； He has never
been on the outside of its walls。 He told me just now； that from
his ignorance of the Streets； He had some difficulty to find the
Strada di San Iago； though so near the Abbey。'
'All this is possible； and still I may have seen him BEFORE He
entered the Abbey： In order to come out； it was rather necessary
that He should first go in。'
'Holy Virgin！ As you say； that is very true。Oh！ But might He
not have been born in the Abbey？'
Elvira smiled。
'Why； not very easily。'
'Stay； Stay！ Now I recollect how it was。 He was put into the
Abbey quite a Child； The common People say that He fell from
heaven； and was sent as a present to the Capuchins by the
Virgin。'
'That was very kind of her。 And so He fell from heaven； Antonia？
He must have had a terrible tumble。'
'Many do not credit this； and I fancy； my dear Mother； that I
must number you among the Unbelievers。 Indeed； as our Landlady
told my Aunt； the general idea is that his Parents； being poor
and unable to maintain him； left him just born at the Abbey door。
The late Superior from pure charity had him educated in the
Convent； and He proved to be a model of virtue； and piety； and
learning； and I know not what else besides： In consequence； He
was first received as a Brother of the order； and not long ago
was chosen Abbot。 However； whether this account or the other is
the true one； at least all agree that when the Monks took him
under their care； He could not speak： Therefore； you could not
have heard his voice before He entered the Monastery； because at
that time He had no voice at all。'
'Upon my word； Antonia； you argue very closely！ Your conclusions
are infallible！ I did not suspect you of being so able a
Logician。'
'Ah！ You are mocking me！ But so much the better。 It delights me
to see you in spirits： Besides you seem tranquil and easy； and I
hope that you will have no more convulsions。 Oh！ I was sure the
Abbot's visit would do you good！'
'It has indeed done me good； my Child。 He has quieted my mind
upon some points which agitated me； and I already feel the
effects of his attention。 My eyes grow heavy； and I think I can
sleep a little。 Draw the curtains； my Antonia： But if I should
not wake before midnight； do not sit up with me； I charge you。'
Antonia promised to obey her； and having received her blessing
drew the curtains of the Bed。 She then seated herself in silence
at her embroidery frame； and beguiled the hours with building
Castles in the air。 Her spirits were enlivened by the evident
change for the better in Elvira； and her fancy presented her with
visions bright and pleasing。 In these dreams Ambrosio made no
despicable figure。 She thought of him with joy and gratitude；
But for every idea which fell to the Friar's share； at least two
were unconsciously bestowed upon Lorenzo。 Thus passed the time；
till the Bell in the neighbouring Steeple of the Capuchin
Cathedral announced the hour of midnight： Antonia remembered her
Mother's injunctions； and obeyed them； though with reluctance。
She undrew the curtains with caution。 Elvira was enjoying a
profound and quiet slumber； Her cheek glowed with health's
returning colours： A smile declared that her dreams were
pleasant； and as Antonia bent over her； She fancied that She
heard her name pronounced。 She kissed her Mother's forehead
softly； and retired to her chamber。 There She knelt before a
Statue of St。 Rosolia； her Patroness； She recommended herself to
the protection of heaven； and as had been her custom from
infancy； concluded her devotions by chaunting the following
Stanzas。
MIDNIGHT HYMN
Now all is hushed； The solemn chime
No longer swells the nightly gale：
Thy awful presence； Hour sublime；
With spotless heart once more I hail。
'Tis now the moment still and dread；
When Sorcerers use their baleful power；
When Graves give up their buried dead
To profit by the sanctioned hour：
From guilt and guilty thoughts secure；
To duty and devotion true；
With bosom light and conscience pure；
Repose； thy gentle aid I woo。
Good Angels； take my thanks； that still
The snares of vice I view with scorn；
Thanks； that to…night as free from ill
I sleep； as when I woke at morn。
Yet may not my unconscious breast
Harbour some guilt to me unknown？
Some wish impure； which unreprest
You blush to see； and I to own？
If such there be； in gentle dream
Instruct my feet to shun the snare；
Bid truth upon my errors beam；
And deign to make me still your care。
Chase from my peaceful bed away
The witching Spell； a foe to rest；
The nightly Goblin； wanton Fay；
The Ghost in pain； and Fiend unblest：
Let not the Tempter in mine ear
Pour lessons of unhallowed joy；
Let not the Night…mare； wandering near
My Couch； the calm of sleep destroy；
Let not some horrid dream affright
With strange fantastic forms mine eyes；
But rather bid some vision bright
Display the blissof yonder skies。
Show me the crystal Domes of Heaven；
The worlds of light where Angels lie；
Shew me the lot to Mortals given；
Who guiltless live； who guiltless die。
Then show me how a seat to gain
Amidst those blissful realms of
Air； Teach me to shun each guilty stain；
And guide me to the good and fair。
So every morn and night； my Voice
To heaven the grateful strain shall raise；
In You as Guardian Powers rejoice；
Good Angels； and exalt your praise：
So will I strive with zealous fire
Each vice to shun； each fault correct；
Will love the lessons you inspire；
And Prize the virtues you protect。
Then when at length by high command
My body seeks the Grave's repose；
When Death draws nigh with friendly hand
My failing Pilgrim eyes to close；
Pleased that my soul has 'scaped the wreck；
Sighless will I my life resign；
And yield to God my Spirit back；
As pure as when it first was mine。
Having finished her usual devotions； Antonia retired to bed。
Sleep soon stole over her senses； and for several hours She
enjoyed that calm repose which innocence alone can know； and for
which many a Monarch with pleasure would exchange his Crown。
CHAPTER IV
Ah！ how dark
These long…extended realms and rueful wastes；
Where nought but silence reigns； and night； dark night；
Dark as was Chaos ere the Infant Sun
Was rolled together； or had tried its beams
Athwart the gloom profound！
The sickly Taper
By glimmering through thy low…browed misty vaults；
Furred round with mouldy damps； and ropy slime；
Lets fall a supernumerary horror；
And only serves to make
Thy night more irksome！
Blair。
Returned undiscovered to the Abbey； Ambrosio's