登陆注册
15688100000099

第99章 CHAPTER II(2)

St. Clare's Cemetery being the nearest, it was determined that Elvira should be buried there. Dame Jacintha engaged to defray every expence attending the burial. She knew not in what circumstances Antonia was left, but from the sparing manner in which the Family had lived, She concluded them to be indifferent.

Consequently, She entertained very little hope of ever being recompensed; But this consideration prevented her not from taking care that the Interment was performed with decency, and from showing the unfortunate Antonia all possible respect.

Nobody dies of mere grief; Of this Antonia was an instance.

Aided by her youth and healthy constitution, She shook off the malady which her Mother's death had occasioned; But it was not so easy to remove the disease of her mind. Her eyes were constantly filled with tears: Every trifle affected her, and She evidently nourished in her bosom a profound and rooted melancholy. The slightest mention of Elvira, the most trivial circumstance recalling that beloved Parent to her memory, was sufficient to throw her into serious agitation. How much would her grief have been increased, had She known the agonies which terminated her Mother's existence! But of this no one entertained the least suspicion. Elvira was subject to strong convulsions: It was supposed that, aware of their approach, She had dragged herself to her Daughter's chamber in hopes of assistance; that a sudden access of her fits had seized her, too violent to be resisted by her already enfeebled state of health;and that She had expired ere She had time to reach the medicine which generally relieved her, and which stood upon a shelf in Antonia's room. This idea was firmly credited by the few people, who interested themselves about Elvira: Her Death was esteemed a natural event, and soon forgotten by all save by her, who had but too much reason to deplore her loss.

In truth Antonia's situation was sufficiently embarrassing and unpleasant. She was alone in the midst of a dissipated and expensive City; She was ill provided with money, and worse with Friends. Her aunt Leonella was still at Cordova, and She knew not her direction. Of the Marquis de las Cisternas She heard no news: As to Lorenzo, She had long given up the idea of possessing any interest in his bosom. She knew not to whom She could address herself in her present dilemma. She wished to consult Ambrosio; But She remembered her Mother's injunctions to shun him as much as possible, and the last conversation which Elvira had held with her upon the subject had given her sufficient lights respecting his designs to put her upon her guard against him in future. Still all her Mother's warnings could not make her change her good opinion of the Friar. She continued to feel that his friendship and society were requisite to her happiness: She looked upon his failings with a partial eye, and could not persuade herself that He really had intended her ruin. However, Elvira had positively commanded her to drop his acquaintance, and She had too much respect for her orders to disobey them.

At length She resolved to address herself for advice and protection to the Marquis de las Cisternas, as being her nearest Relation. She wrote to him, briefly stating her desolate situation; She besought him to compassionate his Brother's Child, to continue to her Elvira's pension, and to authorise her retiring to his old Castle in Murcia, which till now had been her retreat. Having sealed her letter, She gave it to the trusty Flora, who immediately set out to execute her commission. But Antonia was born under an unlucky Star. Had She made her application to the Marquis but one day sooner, received as his Niece and placed at the head of his Family, She would have escaped all the misfortunes with which She was now threatened.

Raymond had always intended to execute this plan: But first, his hopes of making the proposal to Elvira through the lips of Agnes, and afterwards, his disappointment at losing his intended Bride, as well as the severe illness which for some time had confined him to his Bed, made him defer from day to day the giving an Asylum in his House to his Brother's Widow. He had commissioned Lorenzo to supply her liberally with money: But Elvira, unwilling to receive obligations from that Nobleman, had assured him that She needed no immediate pecuniary assistance.

Consequently, the Marquis did not imagine that a trifling delay on his part could create any embarrassment; and the distress and agitation of his mind might well excuse his negligence.

Had He been informed that Elvira's death had left her Daughter Friendless and unprotected, He would doubtless have taken such measures, as would have ensured her from every danger: But Antonia was not destined to be so fortunate. The day on which She sent her letter to the Palace de las Cisternas was that following Lorenzo's departure from Madrid. The Marquis was in the first paroxysms of despair at the conviction that Agnes was indeed no more: He was delirious, and his life being in danger, no one was suffered to approach him. Flora was informed that He was incapable of attending to Letters, and that probably a few hours would decide his fate. With this unsatisfactory answer She was obliged to return to her Mistress, who now found herself plunged into greater difficulties than ever.

Flora and Dame Jacintha exerted themselves to console her. The Latter begged her to make herself easy, for that as long as She chose to stay with her, She would treat her like her own Child.

同类推荐
  • 中日战辑选录

    中日战辑选录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 复辟录

    复辟录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 贤圣集伽陀一百颂

    贤圣集伽陀一百颂

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 医旨绪余

    医旨绪余

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 内功四经

    内功四经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 来生我要做你的女人

    来生我要做你的女人

    曾有人这样对我说过:往事可以怀念,但不应该再悲伤;我们都生活在轮回中,所有未完成的故事,可以来世再续;午夜的星空很美,星空下是另一个世界,是一个比白天更加喧嚣的世界;也许一切都是前生注定的吧,忘记的,和没有忘记的。静静地回忆着,仿佛在我耳边低语。一些强烈的光线猛地穿越层层夜幕,直奔另一个未知的空间。我静静地回忆着,毫不停息,往事奔腾咆哮,时而却又沉默无声。黑暗真是一个神奇的东西,可以让你回到多年以前。我静静地回忆着,她的笑,她的泪,她的一切,我们的一切。
  • 琴师之惊凰琴

    琴师之惊凰琴

    个人文笔不能再写,此次弃坑,来年再续。终完次坑
  • 风孰与高:于谦传

    风孰与高:于谦传

    本书详细真实地记载明代文学家于谦的生平活动、思想发展、学术成就、社会交往,并注意叙述传主生活的社会环境、文化氛围、学术思潮、师承传习、历史影响等。
  • 至尊鬼医:嗜血妖君

    至尊鬼医:嗜血妖君

    她,苍绝大陆唯一的王者,更是有着嗜血修罗之称的绝世天才妖物,一个神秘的原因,她意外来到了异界,魂穿于一个年仅五岁却身份成谜的冰棺女孩——血月苍寒身上。从此,女扮男装,创建大陆第一神秘势力——千刹宫,职业全修,九系能力具备,更是拥有世上绝无仅有的神秘天赋。她游走于天下,在不经意间俘获了无数少男少女的心,但却从始至终唯孤身一人,从未有对任何人动过心的她,却在不经意间有了在乎的东西,这对她来说,究竟,是好是坏?当一切阴谋的最终真相被揭开,面对血淋淋的现实,她又会何去何从?面对背叛者,她从不留情。当一切繁华落定,那一抹华发红衣,冰冷紫眸,又惊了谁的眼?
  • 机动战士高达宿命

    机动战士高达宿命

    独立于其他高达故事的原创,高新科技、宏伟战斗、贵族世家、爱恨纠葛......都可以在这部作品中看到。欢迎高达爱好者及其他科幻小说爱好者关注捧场!
  • 暗武纵横

    暗武纵横

    带着游戏人物技能穿越异界,一代游戏王在DNF比赛后离奇穿越异界,且看游戏技能对异界神魔的冲击。
  • 神奇宝贝之新智旅行

    神奇宝贝之新智旅行

    新生小智,看我如何争霸联盟,看我如何笑傲世界。
  • 万相灵常心

    万相灵常心

    万相灵常心,讲述一个真实的如你我般平凡的草根在各种压力和折磨,由气运性命带来希望,以围棋进入修真和各个文明展开的爱恨情仇,探索世界的道!思考的问题是,当世界的道主宰之际,未来在哪里?从此,书荒就走了....万相皆灵,心为常。
  • 神域玄皇

    神域玄皇

    那年,日月苍穹共,五雷轰,北江紫竹亡,南川桃妖殇,离州少两妖。同日,北江紫气滔滔涌,南川虹芒遮天穹,日月淡,妖风起,天地异象持续半个时辰方绝。同夜,间壁帝家突起大火,帝家数百人死于非命,唯有一老马踏夜逃生。翌日,往生道,有人在一死马肚子里听见孩童声。
  • 女尊王朝腹黑三小姐

    女尊王朝腹黑三小姐

    她为复仇而活着,当仇人一个个的都死去,她却选择为师傅殉情,不料却穿越到古家废材的身上,为寻找师傅,她继续忍辱负重的活着,直到·········