the lower hall, where he found 'Laurina sitting with a lamp near her, and employed in knitting. The sudden and unexpected appearance of Eugenio, his excessive paleness, and his disordered dress, terrified her. She uttered a loud shriek, "Holy Virgin !" said she elasping her hands, "protect me! It is the spirit of Eugenio I see before me?" The cries of Laurina called the gardener and his wife to her assistance. They conveyed "Oh Laurina! Laurina Eugenio to bed, where, notexclaimed Eugenio, in mour- withstanding every means of ful accents, "where is she-relief they afforded, he remainwhere is my Virginia? Telled in a state of insensibility me-do not suffer me to languish-do not augment that dreadful inquietude which dis "Virginia!" answered Laurina, weeping. "Dare you pronounce that name without your heart being rent by remorse? After so long a silence on your part-after so cruel a desertion of her who merited your adoration, do you still seek the lovely victim you have sacrificed, in order to feast upon her inisfortunes?" The noise of Eugenio's fall, who dropped insensible at the feet of Laurina, put a stop to the reproaches she was addressing to him. That unfortun. till one o'clock in the morning. The moment he recovered his senses, he articulated a few words, but in a voice so feeble, that Laurina could only distinguish the name of Virginia. "Take courage, Sir," said that worthy, kind woman, whose resentment against Eugenio had yielded to a sentiment of the most tender compassion; 'take courage-there is doubtless still sufficient time to prevent Virginia from completing the sacrifice of herself. A repentance, so sincere as your's appears to be, cannot fail to move her heart. I know the celestial soul of that dear, child. She will pardon you, Sir, I am sure of it--she will he entered the outer court of pardon you?" thy Abbey. 66 Laurina," said Eugenio The number of carriages making an effort to rise-which obstructed the gate, and the innumerable crowd of persons, of both sexes, who were endeavouring to enter the “Laurina, order my horse to be brought to me; I will depart this very instant. I am resolved to have this dreadful mys-church, which echoed with the tery explained; they have de- || awful and sublime sounds of ceived me-infamously de- the organ, convinced Eugenio ceived me!"" Laurina had infinite diffienlty to persuade him that he was not in a state to undertake a journey of five-and-forty miles, and positively refused to acquaint him, with the Convent to which his Virginia had retired, until he had given her his word to wait till the next day. She afterwards made him partake of some refreshment, and then left him to enjoy that sleep into which the excess of his fatigue soon plunged bim. At seven in the morning he awoke; and without attending to Laurina, who entreated him to wait breakfast, he mounted his horse, and set off at full gallop. Arrived at San Cipriano, he alighted at the door of a neat cottage, in which the gardener of the convent dwelt. After having drank a jug of milk to calm his ardent thirst, that it would be in vain for him to attempt to see Virginia. "I have business of the last importance to communicate to ber, "said he to the portress, 66 and I must instantly see her." "It is impossible, Sir," answered the other, "Signora Spanozzi is this day to sing a motet: she is at this moment in the Church, which she cannot leave without the express permission of the Abbess, I do not believe she will be able to obtain it; for the immense company, you must have observed assembled, have come from a variety of neighbouring villages, in order to hear her voice, the excellence of which is justly extended far and near." Eugenio sighed, and entered he Church with the rest of the throng; he placed himself near the grate, and waited, with in her absent image, while his The gardener of the Abbey, at whose cottage he had a lighted, was at that moment proceeding to the Church. He immediately recognized Eugenio, and, touched with compassion at the sorrow with which he appeared overwhelm expressible anguish, the arriv- proffered a few words of eon- Distracted, and unconscious of what he was doing, Eugenio wandered about the Abbey; he fixed his mournful looks on the lofty walls which inclosed Eugenio felt at first extremethe object of his ardent lovely agitated, and betrayed maaks clasped his hands, and for some minutes seemed buried in deep contemplation; then suddenly advancing with hasty step, he appeared to avoid the heartrending sensations to which the aspect of the monastery gave birth. Afterwards an irresistable attraction recalled him near the spot where his Virginia was confined. His despair was succeeded by a sentiment of the most tender affection. He called on her same addressed himself to of impatience at that compassion evinced by the old man, which he was persuaded could afford no alleviation of the misery that oppressed him; but a sudden idea penetrated his heart, and produced on his countenance an effect sonwhat similar to that of the first rays of the sun dissipating the vapours of night. His pallid features were animated with an expression of hope; joy sparkled in his eyes; he seized the hands of the old man, A and grasped them with all the fervency of affection." My friend," he exclaimed, "my dear friend, procure me the means of seeing Virginia, and of enjoying an uninterrupted interview with her. Remove far from her, as well as myself, the importunate and perhaps dangerous curiosity of the Argus-eyed Nuns who watch her motions. You will by your obedience restore me to life: be assured that my gratitude shall be boundless; and the rewards I will bestow upon you for so eminent a service, shall leave you nothing to hope or desire." (To be Continued) to amuse himself with some books which were lying on 2 table, for a few moments ; "my daughter," said ske, "is gone to gather flowers to adora the hearth, her stay will not be long, and as the conversation of an old lady can at any time be dispensed with by a young gentleman, I will make apology for attendidg to my ne family affairs for a little while.' -Albudor, however, could not read, the neatness and simplicity with which the apartment ci was furnished, and the cheerfulness and engaging address of his venerable hostess, perplexed him. What means this," said he, "have I found another recluse? no, that cannot be, St. Herbert is wrapt up in woe, and every thing around him bespeaks the anguish of his soul; but chearfulness seems to have taken up her residence here, and all I see, answers to her voice; why then, should she, evidently born in a higher sphere, thus immure herselfin a desert.' With these words he seated himself by a window, and looking outperceived a girl bearing flowers, lightly stepping across the meadow in rear of the house. She was dressed in a loose blue silk robe, which was gathered about the waist in a white sash me to him, for it must be my brother." her hair fell careless upon her shoulders, and a small straw bonnet shaded her faee from the sun, which just then shone above the east horizon. At this new sight, the perplexed conjectures of Albudor redoubled appearance might opperate However, at the instance of Albador, who apprehended that her sudden and unexpect too powerfully upon the sorrow worn hermit, she dispatched a note to him by one of her servants, and before the man had well delivered it, her impatience had led her to the ed, and he was falling into a profound muse, when he heard her voice in the entry; it struck upon his heart like lightning --he trembled, his breath stopp. ad, an idea flashed through his mind, and he sprang up to assure himself of its reality; when she entered-he looked-her-and with many drops of but stayed not to gaze-for renewed affection did they bewild with extacy, he clasped dew each other's faded cheek. her in his arms, and feebly articulated" it is "it is my own Caroline." doer of St. Herbert's cot :-its owner stood ready to receive When they had obtained a degree of composure, Albudor, who with his Caroline had fol Having received her con-lowed St. Herbert,s sister, engratulations upon their happy quired how long she had dwelt. rencontre, he arose to take in the vicinity of her brother : leave," And why will you leave us so soon," demanded the elder lady-"My host will expect me," answered he, "the good old St. Herbert.""St. Herbert !" reiterated she, in a tone of surprise, "St. Herbert, where does he live? -who is he;""He is your neighbour, madam," An old man, did you say?" "I did ;" 华 How long has he resided here?" "For very many years." "Oh!" exclaimed ahe, bursting into tears, "lead For three years,” replied she, "and yet until this morning have never had an idea of his being here; however that is not to be wondered at, for as it was my intention to with. draw from the world entirely, I made no enquiries concernit; and my two aged domes. tics, possessing even more taciturnity than myself, it cannot be expected that they were either inquisitive or communicative."-St. Herbert being willing to know by what means |