They doubted not but the malady of Agnes was a pretence； But they knew not by what means to rescue her from the hands of the Prioress。
Regularly every day did Lorenzo visit the Convent： As regularly was He informed that his Sister rather grew worse than better。 Certain that her indisposition was feigned； these accounts did not alarm him： But his ignorance of her fate； and of the motives which induced the Prioress to keep her from him； excited the most serious uneasiness。 He was still uncertain what steps He ought to take； when the Marquis received a letter from the Cardinal…Duke of Lerma。 It inclosed the Pope's expected Bull； ordering that Agnes should be released from her vows； and restored to her Relations。 This essential paper decided at once the proceedings of her Friends： They resolved that Lorenzo should carry it to the Domina without delay； and demand that his Sister should be instantly given up to him。 Against this mandate illness could not be pleaded： It gave her Brother the power of removing her instantly to the Palace de Medina； and He determined to use that power on the following day。
His mind relieved from inquietude respecting his Sister； and his Spirits raised by the hope of soon restoring her to freedom； He now had time to give a few moments to love and to Antonia。 At the same hour as on his former visit He repaired to Donna Elvira's： She had given orders for his admission。 As soon as He was announced； her Daughter retired with Leonella； and when He entered the chamber； He found the Lady of the House alone。 She received him with less distance than before； and desired him to place himself near her upon the Sopha。 She then without losing time opened her business； as had been agreed between herself and Antonia。
'You must not think me ungrateful； Don Lorenzo； or forgetful how essential are the services which you have rendered me with the Marquis。 I feel the weight of my obligations； Nothing under the Sun should induce my taking the step to which I am now compelled but the interest of my Child； of my beloved Antonia。 My health is declining； God only knows how soon I may be summoned before his Throne。 My Daughter will be left without Parents； and should She lose the protection of the Cisternas family； without Friends。
She is young and artless； uninstructed in the world's perfidy； and with charms sufficient to render her an object of seduction。 Judge then； how I must tremble at the prospect before her！ Judge how anxious I must be to keep her from their society who may excite the yet dormant passions of her bosom。 You are amiable； Don Lorenzo： Antonia has a susceptible； a loving heart； and is grateful for the favours conferred upon us by your interference with the Marquis。 Your presence makes me tremble： I fear lest it should inspire her with sentiments which may embitter the remainder of her life； or encourage her to cherish hopes in her situation unjustifiable and futile。 Pardon me when I avow my terrors； and let my frankness plead in my excuse。 I cannot forbid you my House； for gratitude restrains me； I can only throw myself upon your generosity； and entreat you to spare the feelings of an anxious； of a doting Mother。 Believe me when I assure you that I lament the necessity of rejecting your acquaintance； But there is no remedy； and Antonia's interest obliges me to beg you to forbear your visits。 By complying with my request； you will increase the esteem which I already feel for you； and of which everything convinces me that you are truly deserving。'
'Your frankness charms me；' replied Lorenzo； 'You shall find that in your favourable opinion of me you were not deceived。 Yet I hope that the reasons； now in my power to allege； will persuade you to withdraw a request which I cannot obey without infinite reluctance。 I love your Daughter； love her most sincerely： I wish for no greater happiness than to inspire her with the same sentiments； and receive her hand at the Altar as her Husband。 'Tis true； I am not rich myself； My Father's death has left me but little in my own possession； But my expectations justify my pretending to the Conde de las Cisternas' Daughter。'
He was proceeding； but Elvira interrupted him。
'Ah！ Don Lorenzo； you forget in that pompous title the meanness of my origin。 You forget that I have now past fourteen years in Spain； disavowed by my Husband's family； and existing upon a stipend barely sufficient for the support and education of my Daughter。 Nay； I have even been neglected by most of my own Relations； who out of envy affect to doubt the reality of my marriage。 My allowance being discontinued at my Father…in…law's death； I was reduced to the very brink of want。 In this situation I was found by my Sister； who amongst all her foibles possesses a warm； generous； and affectionate heart。 She aided me with the little fortune which my Father left her； persuaded me to visit Madrid； and has supported my Child and myself since our quitting Murcia。 Then consider not Antonia as descended from the Conde de la Cisternas： Consider her as a poor and unprotected Orphan； as the Grand…child of the Tradesman Torribio Dalfa； as the needy Pensioner of that Tradesman's Daughter。 Reflect upon the difference between such a situation； and that of the Nephew and Heir of the potent Duke of Medina。 I believe your intentions to be honourable； But as there are no hopes that your Uncle will approve of the union； I foresee that the consequences of your attachment must be fatal to my Child's repose。'
'Pardon me； Segnora； You are misinformed if you suppose the Duke of Medina to resemble the generality of Men。 His sentiments are liberal and disinterested： He loves me well； and I have no reason to dread his forbidding the marriage when He perceives that my happiness depends upon Antonia。 But supposing him to refuse his sanction； what have I still to fear？ My Parents are no more； My little fortune is in my own possession： It will be sufficient to support Antonia； and I shall exchange for her hand Medina's Dukedom without one sigh of regret。'
'You are young and eager； It is natural for you to entertain such ideas。 But Experience has taught me to my cost that curses accompany an unequal alliance。 I married the Conde de las Cisternas in opposition to the will of his Relations； Many an heart…pang has punished me for the imprudent step。 Whereever we bent our course； a Father's execration pursued Gonzalvo。 Poverty overtook us； and no Friend was near to relieve our wants。 Still our mutual affection existed； but alas！ not without interruption。
Accustomed to wealth and ease； ill could my Husband support the transition to distress and indigence。 He looked back with repining to the comforts which He once enjoyed。 He regretted the situation which for my sake He had quitted； and in moments when Despair possessed his mind； has reproached me with having made him the Companion of want and wretchedness！ He has called me his bane！ The source of his sorrows； the cause of his destruction！ Ah God！ He little knew how much keener were my own heart's reproaches！ He was ignorant that I suffered trebly； for myself； for my Children； and for him！ 'Tis true that his anger seldom lasted long： His sincere affection for me soon revived in his heart； and then his repentance for the tears which He had made me shed tortured me even more than his reproaches。 He would throw himself on the ground； implore my forgiveness in the most frantic terms； and load himself with curses for being the Murderer of my repose。 Taught by experience that an union contracted against the inclinations of families on either side must be unfortunate； I will save my Daughter from those miseries which I have suffered。 Without your Uncle's consent； while I live； She never shall be yours。 Undoubtedly He will disapprove of the union； His power is immense； and Antonia shall not be exposed to his anger and persecution。'
'His persecution？ How easily may that be avoided！ Let the worst happen； it is but quitting Spain。 My wealth may easily be realised； The Indian Islands will offer us a secure retreat； I have an estate； though not of value； in Hispaniola： Thither will we fly； and I shall consider it to be my native Country； if it gives me Antonia's undisturbed possession。'
'Ah！ Youth； this is a fond romantic vision。 Gonzalvo thought the same。 He fancied that He could leave Spain without regret； But the moment of parting undeceived him。 You know not yet what it is to quit your native land； to quit it； never to behold it more！
You know not； what it is to exchange the scenes where you have passed your infancy； for unknown realms and barbarous climates！ To be forgotten； utterly eternally forgotten； by the Companions of your Youth！ To see your dearest Friends； the fondest objects of your affection； perishing with diseases incidental to Indian atmospheres； and find yourself unable to procure for them necessary assistance！ I have felt all this！ My Husband and two sweet Babes found their Graves in Cuba： Nothing would have saved my young Antonia but my sudden return to Spain。 Ah！ Don Lorenzo； could you conceive what I suffered during my absence！ Could you know how sorely I regretted all that I left behind； and how