perceive； and She redoubled her attention to the Invalid。 When
He parted from her at the door of her Father's Palace； the Duke
entreated permission to enquire occasionally after her health。
His request was readily granted： Virginia assured him that the
Marquis de Villa…Franca would be proud of an opportunity to thank
him in person for the protection afforded to her。 They now
separated； He enchanted with her beauty and gentleness； and She
much pleased with him and more with his Nephew。
On entering the Palace； Virginia's first care was to summon the
family Physician； and take care of her unknown charge。 Her
Mother hastened to share with her the charitable office。 Alarmed
by the riots； and trembling for his Daughter's safety； who was
his only child； the Marquis had flown to St。 Clare's Convent； and
was still employed in seeking her。 Messengers were now
dispatched on all sides to inform him that He would find her
safe at his Hotel； and desire him to hasten thither immediately。
His absence gave Virginia liberty to bestow her whole attention
upon her Patient； and though much disordered herself by the
adventures of the night； no persuasion could induce her to quit
the bedside of the Sufferer。 Her constitution being much
enfeebled by want and sorrow； it was some time before the
Stranger was restored to her senses。 She found great difficulty
in swallowing the medicines prescribed to her： But this obstacle
being removed； She easily conquered her disease which proceeded
from nothing but weakness。 The attention which was paid her； the
wholesome food to which She had been long a Stranger； and her joy
at being restored to liberty； to society； and； as She dared to
hope； to Love； all this combined to her speedy re…establishment。
From the first moment of knowing her； her melancholy situation；
her sufferings almost unparalleled had engaged the affections of
her amiable Hostess： Virginia felt for her the most lively
interest； But how was She delighted； when her Guest being
sufficiently recovered to relate her History； She recognized in
the captive Nun the Sister of Lorenzo！
This victim of monastic cruelty was indeed no other than the
unfortunate Agnes。 During her abode in the Convent； She had been
well known to Virginia： But her emaciated form； her features
altered by affliction； her death universally credited； and her
overgrown and matted hair which hung over her face and bosom in
disorder at first had prevented her being recollected。 The
Prioress had put every artifice in practice to induce Virginia to
take the veil； for the Heiress of Villa…Franca would have been no
despicable acquisition。 Her seeming kindness and unremitted
attention so far succeeded that her young Relation began to
think seriously upon compliance。 Better instructed in the
disgust and ennui of a monastic life； Agnes had penetrated the
designs of the Domina： She trembled for the innocent Girl； and
endeavoured to make her sensible of her error。 She painted in
their true colours the numerous inconveniencies attached to a
Convent； the continued restraint； the low jealousies； the petty
intrigues； the servile court and gross flattery expected by the
Superior。 She then bad Virginia reflect on the brilliant
prospect which presented itself before her： The Idol of her
Parents； the admiration of Madrid； endowed by nature and
education with every perfection of person and mind； She might
look forward to an establishment the most fortunate。 Her riches
furnished her with the means of exercising in their fullest
extent； charity and benevolence； those virtues so dear to her；
and her stay in the world would enable her discovering Objects
worthy her protection； which could not be done in the seclusion
of a Convent。
Her persuasions induced Virginia to lay aside all thoughts of the
Veil： But another argument； not used by Agnes； had more weight
with her than all the others put together。 She had seen Lorenzo；
when He visited his Sister at the Grate。 His Person pleased her；
and her conversations with Agnes generally used to terminate in
some question about her Brother。 She； who doted upon Lorenzo；
wished for no better than an opportunity to trumpet out his
praise。 She spoke of him in terms of rapture； and to convince
her Auditor how just were his sentiments； how cultivated his
mind； and elegant his expressions； She showed her at different
times the letters which She received from him。 She soon
perceived that from these communications the heart of her young
Friend had imbibed impressions； which She was far from intending
to give； but was truly happy to discover。 She could not have
wished her Brother a more desirable union： Heiress of
Villa…Franca； virtuous； affectionate； beautiful； and
accomplished； Virginia seemed calculated to make him happy。 She
sounded her Brother upon the subject； though without mentioning
names or circumstances。 He assured her in his answers that his
heart and hand were totally disengaged； and She thought that
upon these grounds She might proceed without danger。 She in
consequence endeavoured to strengthen the dawning passion of her
Friend。 Lorenzo was made the constant topic of her discourse；
and the avidity with which her Auditor listened； the sighs which
frequently escaped from her bosom； and the eagerness with which
upon any digression She brought back the conversation to the
subject whence it had wandered； sufficed to convince Agnes that
her Brother's addresses would be far from disagreeable。 She at
length ventured to mention her wishes to the Duke： Though a
Stranger to the Lady herself； He knew enough of her situation to
think her worthy his Nephew's hand。 It was agreed between him
and his Niece； that She should insinuate the idea to Lorenzo； and
She only waited his return to Madrid to propose her Friend to him
as his Bride。 The unfortunate events which took place in the
interim； prevented her from executing her design。 Virginia wept
her loss sincerely； both as a Companion； and as the only Person
to whom She could speak of Lorenzo。 Her passion continued to
prey upon her heart in secret； and She had almost determined to
confess her sentiments to her Mother； when accident once more
threw their object in her way。 The sight of him so near her； his
politeness； his compassion； his intrepidity； had combined to give
new ardour to her affection。 When She now found her Friend and
Advocate restored to her； She looked upon her as a Gift from
Heaven； She ventured to cherish the hope of being united to
Lorenzo； and resolved to use with him his Sister's influence。
Supposing that before her death Agnes might possibly have made
the proposal； the Duke had placed all his Nephew's hints of
marriage to Virginia's account： Consequently； He gave them the
most favourable reception。 On returning to his Hotel； the
relation given him of Antonia's death； and Lorenzo's behaviour on
the occasion； made evident his mistake。 He lamented the
circumstances； But the unhappy Girl being effectually out of the
way； He trusted that his designs would yet be executed。 'Tis
true that Lorenzo's situation just then ill…suited him for
a Bridegroom。 His hopes disappointed at the moment when He
expected to realize them； and the dreadful and sudden death of
his Mistress had affected him very severely。 The Duke found him
upon the Bed of sickness。 His Attendants expressed serious
apprehensions for his life； But the Uncle entertained not the
same fears。 He was of opinion； and not unwisely； that 'Men have
died； and worms have eat them； but not for Love！' He therefore
flattered himself that however deep might be the impression made
upon his Nephew's heart； Time and Virginia would be able to
efface it。 He now hastened to the afflicted Youth； and
endeavoured to console him： He sympathised in his distress； but
encouraged him to resist the encroachments of despair。 He
allowed that He could not but feel shocked at an event so
terrible； nor could He blame his sensibility； But He besought him
not to torment himself with vain regrets； and rather to struggle
with affliction； and preserve his life； if not for his own sake；
at least for the sake of those who were fondly attached to him。
While He laboured thus to make Lorenzo forget Antonia's loss； the
Duke paid his court assiduously to Virginia； and seized every
opportunity to advance his Nephew's interest in her heart。
It may easily be expected that Agnes was not long without
enquiring after Don Raymond。 She was shocked to hear the
wretched situation to which grief had reduced him； Yet She could
not help exulting secretly； when She reflected； that his illness
proved the sincerity of his love。 The Duke undertook the office
himself； of announcing to the Invalid the happiness which awaited
him。 Though He omitted no precaution to prepare him for such an
event； at this sudden change from despair to happiness Raymond's
transports were so violent； as nearly to have proved fatal to
him。 These once passed； the tranquillity of his mind； the
assurance of felicity； and above all the presence of Agnes； （Who
was no sooner reestablished by the care of Virginia and the
Marchioness； than She hastened t