Nay； She even declared that if her Lady added a slice of bacon；
She would not be an inch nearer Damnation； God protect us！ A
poor ignorant sinful soul！ I protest to your Holiness； I
trembled to hear her utter such blasphemies； and expected every
moment to see the ground open and swallow her up； Chicken and
all！ For you must know； worshipful Father； that while She talked
thus； She held the plate in her hand； on which lay the identical
roast Fowl。 And a fine Bird it was； that I must say for it！ Done
to a turn； for I superintended the cooking of it myself： It was
a little Gallician of my own raising； may it please your
Holiness； and the flesh was as white as an egg…shell； as indeed
Donna Elvira told me herself。 ''Dame Jacintha；'' said She； very
good…humouredly； though to say the truth； She was always very
polite to me 。 。 。 。 。'
Here Ambrosio's patience failed him。 Eager to know Jacintha's
business in which Antonia seemed to be concerned； He was almost
distracted while listening to the rambling of this prosing old
Woman。 He interrupted her； and protested that if She did not
immediately tell her story and have done with it； He should quit
the Parlour； and leave her to get out of her difficulties by
herself。 This threat had the desired effect。 Jacintha related
her business in as few words as She could manage； But her account
was still so prolix that Ambrosio had need of his patience to
bear him to the conclusion。
'And so； your Reverence；' said She； after relating Elvira's death
and burial； with all their circumstances； 'And so； your
Reverence； upon hearing the shriek； I put away my work； and away
posted I to Donna Antonia's chamber。 Finding nobody there； I
past on to the next； But I must own； I was a little timorous at
going in； for this was the very room where Donna Elvira used to
sleep。 However； in I went； and sure enough； there lay the young
Lady at full length upon the floor； as cold as a stone； and as
white as a sheet。 I was surprized at this； as your Holiness may
well suppose； But Oh me！ how I shook when I saw a great tall
figure at my elbow whose head touched the ceiling！ The face was
Donna Elvira's； I must confess； But out of its mouth came clouds
of fire； its arms were loaded with heavy chains which it rattled
piteously； and every hair on its head was a Serpent as big as my
arm！ At this I was frightened enough； and began to say my
Ave…Maria： But the Ghost interrupting me uttered three loud
groans； and roared out in a terrible voice； ''Oh！ That Chicken's
wing！ My poor soul suffers for it！'' As soon as She had said
this； the Ground opened； the Spectre sank down； I heard a clap of
thunder； and the room was filled with a smell of brimstone。 When
I recovered from my fright； and had brought Donna Antonia to
herself； who told me that She had cried out upon seeing her
Mother's Ghost； （And well might She cry； poor Soul！ Had I been
in her place； I should have cried ten times louder） it directly
came into my head； that if any one had power to quiet this
Spectre； it must be your Reverence。 So hither I came in all
diligence； to beg that you will sprinkle my House with holy
water； and lay the Apparition in the Red Sea。'
Ambrosio stared at this strange story； which He could not credit。
'Did Donna Antonia also see the Ghost？' said He。
'As plain as I see you； Reverend Father！'
Ambrosio paused for a moment。 Here was an opportunity offered
him of gaining access to Antonia； but He hesitated to employ it。
The reputation which He enjoyed in Madrid was still dear to him；
and since He had lost the reality of virtue； it appeared as if
its semblance was become more valuable。 He was conscious that
publicly to break through the rule never to quit the
Abbey precincts； would derogate much from his supposed austerity。
In visiting Elvira； He had always taken care to keep his features
concealed from the Domestics。 Except by the Lady； her Daughter；
and the faithful Flora； He was known in the Family by no other
name than that of Father Jerome。 Should He comply with
Jacintha's request； and accompany her to her House； He knew that
the violation of his rule could not be kept a secret。 However；
his eagerness to see Antonia obtained the victory： He even hoped；
that the singularity of this adventure would justify him in the
eyes of Madrid： But whatever might be the consequences； He
resolved to profit by the opportunity which chance had presented
to him。 An expressive look from Matilda confirmed him in this
resolution。
'Good Woman；' said He to Jacintha； 'what you tell me is so
extraordinary that I can scarcely credit your assertions。
However； I will comply with your request。 Tomorrow after Matins
you may expect me at your House： I will then examine into what I
can do for you； and if it is in my power； will free you from this
unwelcome Visitor。 Now then go home； and peace be with you！'
'Home？' exclaimed Jacintha； 'I go home？ Not I by my troth！
except under your protection； I set no foot of mine within the
threshold。 God help me； the Ghost may meet me upon the Stairs；
and whisk me away with her to the devil！ Oh！ That I had
accepted young Melchior Basco's offer！ Then I should have had
somebody to protect me； But now I am a lone Woman； and meet with
nothing but crosses and misfortunes！ Thank Heaven； it is not yet
too late to repent！ There is Simon Gonzalez will have me any day
of the week； and if I live till daybreak； I will marry him out
of hand： An Husband I will have； that is determined； for now
this Ghost is once in my House； I shall be frightened out of my
wits to sleep alone。 But for God's sake； reverend Father； come
with me now。 I shall have no rest till the House is purified； or
the poor young Lady either。 The dear Girl！ She is in a piteous
taking： I left her in strong convulsions； and I doubt； She will
not easily recover her fright。'
The Friar started； and interrupted her hastily。
'In convulsions； say you？ Antonia in convulsions？ Lead on； good
Woman！ I follow you this moment！'
Jacintha insisted upon his stopping to furnish himself with the
vessel of holy water： With this request He complied。 Thinking
herself safe under his protection should a Legion of Ghosts
attack her； the old Woman returned the Monk a profusion of
thanks； and they departed together for the Strada di San Iago。
So strong an impression had the Spectre made upon Antonia； that
for the first two or three hours the Physician declared her life
to be in danger。 The fits at length becoming less frequent
induced him to alter his opinion。 He said that to keep her quiet
was all that was necessary； and He ordered a medicine to be
prepared which would tranquillize her nerves； and procure her
that repose which at present She much wanted。 The sight of
Ambrosio； who now appeared with Jacintha at her Bedside；
contributed essentially to compose her ruffled spirits。 Elvira
had not sufficiently explained herself upon the nature of his
designs； to make a Girl so ignorant of the world as her Daughter
aware how dangerous was his acquaintance。 At this moment； when
penetrated with horror at the scene which had just past； and
dreading to contemplate the Ghost's prediction； her mind had need
of all the succours of friendship and religion； Antonia regarded
the Abbot with an eye doubly partial。 That strong prepossession
in his favour still existed which She had felt for him at first
sight： She fancied； yet knew not wherefore； that his presence
was a safeguard to her from every danger； insult； or misfortune。
She thanked him gratefully for his visit； and related to him the
adventure； which had alarmed her so seriously。
The Abbot strove to reassure her； and convince her that the
whole had been a deception of her overheated fancy。 The
solitude in which She had passed the Evening； the gloom of night；
the Book which She had been reading； and the Room in which She
sat； were all calculated to place before her such a vision。 He
treated the idea of Ghosts with ridicule； and produced strong
arguments to prove the fallacy of such a system。 His
conversation tranquillized and comforted her； but did not
convince her。 She could not believe that the Spectre had been a
mere creature of her imagination； Every circumstance was
impressed upon her mind too forcibly； to permit her flattering
herself with such an idea。 She persisted in asserting that She
had really seen her Mother's Ghost； had heard the period of her
dissolution announced and declared that She never should quit
her bed alive。 Ambrosio advised her against encouraging these
sentiments； and then quitted her chamber； having promised to
repeat his visit on the morrow。 Antonia received this assurance
with every mark of joy： But the Monk easily perceived that He
was not equally acceptable to her Attendant。 Flora obeyed
Elvira's injunctions with the most scrupulous observance。 She
examined every circumstance with an anxious eye likely in the
least to prejudice her young Mistress； to whom She had been
attached for many years。 She was a Native of Cuba； had followed
Elvira to Spain； and loved the young Antonia with a Mother's
affection。 Flora quitted not the