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for him that her lips were closed by death； since without this
last adventure； her suspicions if made public might have produced
very disagreeable consequences。 He had therefore freed himself
from an Enemy； to whom the errors of his conduct were
sufficiently known to make her dangerous； and who was the
greatest obstacle to his designs upon Antonia。 Those designs She
encouraged him not to abandon。 She assured him that； no longer
protected by her Mother's watchful eye； the Daughter would fall
an easy conquest； and by praising and enumerating Antonia's
charms； She strove to rekindle the desires of the Monk。 In this
endeavour She succeeded but too well。
As if the crimes into which his passion had seduced him had only
increased its violence； He longed more eagerly than ever to enjoy
Antonia。 The same success in concealing his present guilt； He
trusted would attend his future。 He was deaf to the murmurs of
conscience； and resolved to satisfy his desires at any price。 He
waited only for an opportunity of repeating his former
enterprize； But to procure that opportunity by the same means was
now impracticable。 In the first transports of despair He had
dashed the enchanted Myrtle into a thousand pieces： Matilda told
him plainly that He must expect no further assistance from the
infernal Powers unless He was willing to subscribe to their
established conditions。 This Ambrosio was determined not to do：
He persuaded himself that however great might be his iniquity；
so long as he preserved his claim to salvation； He need not
despair of pardon。 He therefore resolutely refused to enter into
any bond or compact with the Fiends； and Matilda finding him
obstinate upon this point； forbore to press him further。 She
exerted her invention to discover some means of putting Antonia
into the Abbot's power： Nor was it long before that means
presented itself。
While her ruin was thus meditating； the unhappy Girl herself
suffered severely from the loss of her Mother。 Every morning on
waking； it was her first care to hasten to Elvira's chamber。 On
that which followed Ambrosio's fatal visit； She woke later than
was her usual custom： Of this She was convinced by the
Abbey Chimes。 She started from her bed； threw on a few loose
garments hastily； and was speeding to enquire how her Mother had
passed the night； when her foot struck against something which
lay in her passage。 She looked down。 What was her horror at
recognizing Elvira's livid Corse！ She uttered a loud shriek； and
threw herself upon the floor。 She clasped the inanimate form to
her bosom； felt that it was dead…cold； and with a movement of
disgust； of which She was not the Mistress； let it fall again
from her arms。 The cry had alarmed Flora； who hastened to her
assistance。 The sight which She beheld penetrated her with
horror； but her alarm was more audible than Antonia's。 She made
the House ring with her lamentations； while her Mistress； almost
suffocated with grief； could only mark her distress by sobs and
groans。 Flora's shrieks soon reached the ears of the Hostess；
whose terror and surprize were excessive on learning the cause of
this disturbance。 A Physician was immediately sent for： But on
the first moment of beholding the Corse； He declared that
Elvira's recovery was beyond the power of art。 He proceeded
therefore to give his assistance to Antonia； who by this time was
truly in need of it。 She was conveyed to bed； while the Landlady
busied herself in giving orders for Elvira's Burial。 Dame
Jacintha was a plain good kind of Woman； charitable； generous；
and devout： But her intellects were weak； and She was a
Miserable Slave to fear and superstition。 She shuddered at the
idea of passing the night in the same House with a dead Body：
She was persuaded that Elvira's Ghost would appear to her； and no
less certain that such a visit would kill her with fright。 From
this persuasion； She resolved to pass the night at a Neighbour's；
and insisted that the Funeral should take place the next day。
St。 Clare's Cemetery being the nearest； it was determined that
Elvira should be buried there。 Dame Jacintha engaged to defray
every expence attending the burial。 She knew not in what
circumstances Antonia was left； but from the sparing manner in
which the Family had lived； She concluded them to be indifferent。
Consequently； She entertained very little hope of ever being
recompensed； But this consideration prevented her not from taking
care that the Interment was performed with decency； and from
showing the unfortunate Antonia all possible respect。
Nobody dies of mere grief； Of this Antonia was an instance。
Aided by her youth and healthy constitution； She shook off the
malady which her Mother's death had occasioned； But it was not
so easy to remove the disease of her mind。 Her eyes were
constantly filled with tears： Every trifle affected her； and She
evidently nourished in her bosom a profound and rooted
melancholy。 The slightest mention of Elvira； the most trivial
circumstance recalling that beloved Parent to her memory； was
sufficient to throw her into serious agitation。 How much would
her grief have been increased； had She known the agonies which
terminated her Mother's existence！ But of this no one
entertained the least suspicion。 Elvira was subject to strong
convulsions： It was supposed that； aware of their approach； She
had dragged herself to her Daughter's chamber in hopes of
assistance； that a sudden access of her fits had seized her； too
violent to be resisted by her already enfeebled state of health；
and that She had expired ere She had time to reach the medicine
which generally relieved her； and which stood upon a shelf in
Antonia's room。 This idea was firmly credited by the few people；
who interested themselves about Elvira： Her Death was esteemed a
natural event； and soon forgotten by all save by her； who had but
too much reason to deplore her loss。
In truth Antonia's situation was sufficiently embarrassing and
unpleasant。 She was alone in the midst of a dissipated and
expensive City； She was ill provided with money； and worse with
Friends。 Her aunt Leonella was still at Cordova； and She knew
not her direction。 Of the Marquis de las Cisternas She heard no
news： As to Lorenzo； She had long given up the idea of
possessing any interest in his bosom。 She knew not to whom She
could address herself in her present dilemma。 She wished to
consult Ambrosio； But She remembered her Mother's injunctions to
shun him as much as possible； and the last conversation which
Elvira had held with her upon the subject had given her
sufficient lights respecting his designs to put her upon her
guard against him in future。 Still all her Mother's warnings
could not make her change her good opinion of the Friar。 She
continued to feel that his friendship and society were requisite
to her happiness： She looked upon his failings with a partial
eye； and could not persuade herself that He really had intended
her ruin。 However； Elvira had positively commanded her to drop
his acquaintance； and She had too much respect for her orders to
disobey them。
At length She resolved to address herself for advice and
protection to the Marquis de las Cisternas； as being her nearest
Relation。 She wrote to him； briefly stating her desolate
situation； She besought him to compassionate his Brother's Child；
to continue to her Elvira's pension； and to authorise her
retiring to his old Castle in Murcia； which till now had been her
retreat。 Having sealed her letter； She gave it to the trusty
Flora； who immediately set out to execute her commission。 But
Antonia was born under an unlucky Star。 Had She made her
application to the Marquis but one day sooner； received as his
Niece and placed at the head of his Family； She would have
escaped all the misfortunes with which She was now threatened。
Raymond had always intended to execute this plan： But first； his
hopes of making the proposal to Elvira through the lips of Agnes；
and afterwards； his disappointment at losing his intended Bride；
as well as the severe illness which for some time had confined
him to his Bed； made hi