im left him alone
while She announced his arrival to her Mistress. Antonia, who had been
by her Mother's Bedside, immediately came to him.

'Pardon me, Father,' said She, advancing towards him; when recognizing
his features, She stopped suddenly, and uttered a cry of joy. 'Is it
possible!' She continued;

'Do not my eyes deceive me? Has the worthy Ambrosio broken through his
resolution, that He may soften the agonies of the best of Women? What
pleasure will this visit give my Mother! Let me not delay for a moment
the comfort which your piety and wisdom will afford her.'

Thus saying, She opened the chamber door, presented to her Mother her
distinguished Visitor, and having placed an armed-chair by the side of
the Bed, withdrew into another department.

Elvira was highly gratified by this visit: Her expectations had been
raised high by general report, but She found them far exceeded.
Ambrosio, endowed by nature with powers of pleasing, exerted them to
the utmost while conversing with Antonia's Mother. With persuasive
eloquence He calmed every fear, and dissipated every scruple: He bad
her reflect on the infinite mercy of her Judge, despoiled Death of his
darts and terrors, and taught her to view without shrinking the abyss
of eternity, on whose brink She then stood. Elvira was absorbed in
attention and delight: While She listened to his exhortations,
confidence and comfort stole insensibly into her mind. She unbosomed
to him without hesitation her cares and apprehensions. The latter
respecting a future life He had already quieted: And He now removed
the former, which She felt for the concerns of this. She trembled for
Antonia. She had none to whose care She could recommend her, save to
the Marquis de las Cisternas and her Sister Leonella. The protection
of the One was very uncertain; and as to the Other, though fond of her
Niece, Leonella was so thoughtless and vain as to make her an improper
person to have the sole direction of a Girl so young and ignorant of
the World. The Friar no sooner learnt the cause of her alarms than He
begged her to make herself easy upon that head. He doubted not being
able to secure for Antonia a safe refuge in the House of one of his
Penitents, the Marchioness of Villa-Franca: This was a Lady of
acknowledged virtue, remarkable for strict principles and extensive
charity. Should accident deprive her of this resource, He engaged to
procure Antonia a reception in some respe