ituation no
increase of fortune, however trifling, ought to be neglected.
Accordingly, Leonella left Madrid, sincerely grieved at her Sister's
illness, and giving some few sighs to the memory of the amiable but
inconstant Don Christoval. She was fully persuaded that at first She
had made a terrible breach in his heart: But hearing nothing more of
him, She supposed that He had quitted the pursuit, disgusted by the
lowness of her origin, and knowing upon other terms than marriage He
had nothing to hope from such a Dragon of Virtue as She professed
herself; Or else, that being naturally capricious and changeable, the
remembrance of her charms had been effaced from the Conde's heart by
those of some newer Beauty. Whatever was the cause of her losing him,
She lamented it sorely. She strove in vain, as She assured every body
who was kind enough to listen to her, to tear his image from her too
susceptible heart. She affected the airs of a lovesick Virgin, and
carried them all to the most ridiculous excess. She heaved lamentable
sighs, walked with her arms folded, uttered long soliloquies, and her
discourse generally turned upon some forsaken Maid who expired of a
broken heart! Her fiery locks were always ornamented with a garland of
willow; Every evening She was seen straying upon the Banks of a rivulet
by Moonlight; and She declared herself a violent Admirer of murmuring
Streams and Nightingales;

'Of lonely haunts, and twilight Groves,
'Places which pale Passion loves!'

Such was the state of Leonella's mind, when obliged to quit Madrid.
Elvira was out of patience at all these follies, and endeavoured at
persuading her to act like a reasonable Woman. Her advice was thrown
away: Leonella assured her at parting that nothing could make her
forget the perfidious Don Christoval. In this point She was
fortunately mistaken. An honest Youth of Cordova, Journeyman to an
Apothecary, found that her fortune would be sufficient to set him up in
a genteel Shop of his own: In consequence of this reflection He avowed
himself her Admirer. Leonella was not inflexible. The ardour of his
sighs melted her heart, and She soon consented to make him the happiest
of Mankind. She wrote to inform her Sister of her marriage; But, for
reasons which will be explained hereafter, Elvira never answered her
letter.

Ambrosio was conducted into the Antichamber to that where Elvira was
reposing. The Female Domestic who had admitted h