defended　it；　and　the　Saint　underwent　a　thorough　examination。
  The　Image　at　first　appeared　to　be　of　Stone；　but　proved　on　further
  inspection　to　be　formed　of　no　more　solid　materials　than　coloured
  Wood。　　He　shook　it；　and　attempted　to　move　it；　But　it　appeared　to
  be　of　a　piece　with　the　Base　which　it　stood　upon。　　He　examined　it
  over　and　over：　　Still　no　clue　guided　him　to　the　solution　of　this
  mystery；　for　which　the　Nuns　were　become　equally　solicitous；　when
  they　saw　that　He　touched　the　Statue　with　impunity。　　He　paused；
  and　listened：　　The　groans　were　repeated　at　intervals；　and　He　was
  convinced　of　being　in　the　spot　nearest　to　them。　　He　mused　upon
  this　singular　event；　and　ran　over　the　Statue　with　enquiring　eyes。
  Suddenly　they　rested　upon　the　shrivelled　hand。　　It　struck　him；
  that　so　particular　an　injunction　was　not　given　without　cause；　not
  to　touch　the　arm　of　the　Image。　　He　again　ascended　the　Pedestal；
  He　examined　the　object　of　his　attention；　and　discovered　a　small
  knob　of　iron　concealed　between　the　Saint's　shoulder　and　what　was
  supposed　to　have　been　the　hand　of　the　Robber。　　This　observation
  delighted　him。　　He　applied　his　fingers　to　the　knob；　and　pressed
  it　down　forcibly。　　Immediately　a　rumbling　noise　was　heard　within
  the　Statue；　as　if　a　chain　tightly　stretched　was　flying　back。
  Startled　at　the　sound　the　timid　Nuns　started　away；　prepared　to
  hasten　from　the　Vault　at　the　first　appearance　of　danger。　　All
  remaining　quiet　and　still；　they　again　gathered　round　Lorenzo；　and
  beheld　his　proceedings　with　anxious　curiosity。
  Finding　that　nothing　followed　this　discovery；　He　descended。　　As
  He　took　his　hand　from　the　Saint；　She　trembled　beneath　his　touch。
  This　created　new　terrors　in　the　Spectators；　who　believed　the
  Statue　to　be　animated。　　Lorenzo's　ideas　upon　the　subject　were
  widely　different。　He　easily　comprehended　that　the　noise　which　He
  had　heard；　was　occasioned　by　his　having　loosened　a　chain　which
  attached　the　Image　to　its　Pedestal。　　He　once　more　attempted　to
  move　it；　and　succeeded　without　much　exertion。　　He　placed　it　upon
  the　ground；　and　then　perceived　the　Pedestal　to　be　hollow；　and
  covered　at　the　opening　with　an　heavy　iron　grate。
  This　excited　such　general　curiosity　that　the　Sisters　forgot　both
  their　real　and　imaginary　dangers。　　Lorenzo　proceeded　to　raise　the
  Grate；　in　which　the　Nuns　assisted　him　to　the　utmost　of　their
  strength。　　The　attempt　was　accomplished　with　little　difficulty。
  A　deep　abyss　now　presented　itself　before　them；　whose　thick
  obscurity　the　eye　strove　in　vain　to　pierce。　　The　rays　of　the　Lamp
  were　too　feeble　to　be　of　much　assistance。　　Nothing　was
  discernible；　save　a　flight　of　rough　unshapen　steps　which　sank
  into　the　yawning　Gulph　and　were　soon　lost　in　darkness。　　The
  groans　were　heard　no　more；　But　All　believed　them　to　have　ascended
  from　this　Cavern。　　As　He　bent　over　it；　Lorenzo　fancied　that　He
  distinguished　something　bright　twinkling　through　the　gloom。　　He
  gazed　attentively　upon　the　spot　where　it　showed　itself；　and　was
  convinced　that　He　saw　a　small　spark　of　light；　now　visible；　now
  disappearing。　　He　communicated　this　circumstance　to　the　Nuns：
  They　also　perceived　the　spark；　But　when　He　declared　his　intention
  to　descend　into　the　Cave；　they　united　to　oppose　his　resolution。
  All　their　remonstrances　could　not　prevail　on　him　to　alter　it。
  None　of　them　had　courage　enough　to　accompany　him；　neither　could
  He　think　of　depriving　them　of　the　Lamp。　Alone　therefore；　and　in
  darkness；　He　prepared　to　pursue　his　design；　while　the　Nuns　were
  contented　to　offer　up　prayers　for　his　success　and　safety。
  The　steps　were　so　narrow　and　uneven；　that　to　descend　them　was
  like　walking　down　the　side　of　a　precipice。　　The　obscurity　by
  which　He　was　surrounded　rendered　his　footing　insecure。　　He　was
  obliged　to　proceed　with　great　caution；　lest　He　should　miss　the
  steps　and　fall　into　the　Gulph　below　him。　　This　He　was　several
  times　on　the　point　of　doing。　　However；　He　arrived　sooner　upon
  solid　ground　than　He　had　expected：　　He　now　found　that　the　thick
  darkness　and　impenetrable　mists　which　reigned　through　the　Cavern
  had　deceived　him　into　the　belief　of　its　being　much　more　profound
  than　it　proved　upon　inspection。　　He　reached　the　foot　of　the
  Stairs　unhurt：　　He　now　stopped；　and　looked　round　for　the　spark
  which　had　before　caught　his　attention。　　He　sought　it　in　vain：　All
  was　dark　and　gloomy。　　He　listened　for　the　groans；　But　his　ear
  caught　no　sound；　except　the　distant　murmur　of　the　Nuns　above；　as
  in　low　voices　they　repeated　their　Ave…Marias。　　He　stood
  irresolute　to　which　side　He　should　address　his　steps。　　At　all
  events　He　determined　to　proceed：　　He　did　so；　but　slowly；　fearing
  lest　instead　of　approaching；　He　should　be　retiring　from　the
  object　of　his　search。　　The　groans　seemed　to　announce　one　in　pain；
  or　at　least　in　sorrow；　and　He　hoped　to　have　the　power　of
  relieving　the　Mourner's　calamities。　　A　plaintive　tone；　sounding
  at　no　great　distance；　at　length　reached　his　hearing；　He　bent　his
  course　joyfully　towards　it。　　It　became　more　audible　as　He
  advanced；　and　He　soon　beheld　again　the　spark　of　light；　which　a
  low　projecting　Wall　had　hitherto　concealed　from　him。
  It　proceeded　from　a　small　Lamp　which　was　placed　upon　an　heap　of
  stones；　and　whose　faint　and　melancholy　rays　served　rather　to
  point　out；　than　dispell　the　horrors　of　a　narrow　gloomy　dungeon
  formed　in　one　side　of　the　Cavern；　It　also　showed　several　other
  recesses　of　similar　construction；　but　whose　depth　was　buried　in
  obscurity。　　Coldly　played　the　light　upon　the　damp　walls；　whose
  dew…stained　surface　gave　back　a　feeble　reflection。　　A　thick　and
  pestilential　fog　clouded　the　height　of　the　vaulted　dungeon。　　As
  Lorenzo　advanced；　He　felt　a　piercing　chillness　spread　itself
  through　his　veins。　　The　frequent　groans　still　engaged　him　to　move
  forwards。　　He　turned　towards　them；　and　by　the　Lamp's　glimmering
  beams　beheld　in　a　corner　of　this　loathsome　abode；　a　Creature
  stretched　upon　a　bed　of　straw；　so　wretched；　so　emaciated；　so
  pale；　that　He　doubted　to　think　her　Woman。　　She　was　half…naked：
  Her　long　dishevelled　hair　fell　in　disorder　over　her　face；　and
  almost　entirely　concealed　it。　　One　wasted　Arm　hung　listlessly
  upon　a　tattered　rug　which　covered　her　convulsed　and　shivering
  limbs：　　The　Other　was　wrapped　round　a　small　bundle；　and　held　it
  closely　to　her　bosom。　　A　large　Rosary　lay　near　her：　　Opposite　to
  her　was　a　Crucifix；　on　which　She　bent　her　sunk　eyes　fixedly；　and
  by　her　side　stood　a　Basket　and　a　small　Earthen　Pitcher。
  Lorenzo　stopped：　　He　was　petrified　with　horror。　　He　gazed　upon
  the　miserable　Object　with　disgust　and　pity。　　He　trembled　at　the
  spectacle；　He　grew　sick　at　heart：　His　strength　failed　him；　and
  his　limbs　were　unable　to　support　his　weight。　　He　was　obliged　to
  lean　against　the　low　Wall　which　was　near　him；　unable　to　go
  forward；　or　to　address　the　Sufferer。　　She　cast　her　eyes　towards
  the　Staircase：　　The　Wall　concealed　Lorenzo；　and　She　observed　him
  not。
  'No　one　comes！'　She　at　length　murmured。
  As　She　spoke；　her　voice　was　hollow；　and　rattled　in　her　throat：
  She　sighed　bitterly。
  'No　one　comes！'　She　repeated；　'No！　　They　have　forgotten　me！　　They
  will　come　no　more！'
  She　paused　for　a　moment：　　Then　continued　mournfully。
  'Two　days！　　Two　long；　long　days；　and　yet　no　food！　　And　yet　no
  hope；　no　comfort！　　Foolish　Woman！　　How　can　I　wish　to　lengthen　a
  life　so　wretched！　　Yet　such　a　death！　　O！　God！　　To　perish　by　such
  a　death！　　To　linger　out　such　ages　in　torture！　　Till　now；　I　knew
  not　what　it　was　to　hunger！　　Hark！　　No。　　No　one　comes！　　They　will
  come　no　more！'
  She　was　silent。　　She　shivered；　and　drew　the　rug　over　her　naked
  shoulders。
  'I　am　very　cold！　　I　am　still　unused　to　the　damps　of　this　dungeon！
  'Tis　strange：　　But　no　matter。　　Colder　shall　I　soon　be；　and　yet
  not　feel　itI　shall　be　cold；　cold　as　Thou　art！'
  She　looked　at　the　bundle　which　lay　upon　her　breast。　She　bent
  over　it；　and　kissed　it：　　Then　drew　back　hastily；　and　shuddered
  with　disgust。
  'It　was　once　so　sweet！　　It　would　have　been　so　lovely；　so　like
  him！　　I　have　lost　it　for　ever！　　How　a　few　days　have　changed　it！
  I　should　not　know　it　again　myself！　　Yet　it　is　dear　to　me！　　God！
  how　dear！　　I　will　forget　what　it　is：　I　will　only　remember　what　it
  was；　and　love　it　as　well；　as　when　it　was　so　sweet！　so　lovely！　so
  like　him！　　I　thought　that　I　had　wept　away　all　my　tears；　but　here
  is　one　still　lingering。'
  She　wiped　her　eyes　with　a　tress　of　her　hair。　　She　put　out　her
  hand　for　the　Pitcher；　and　reached　it　with　difficulty。　　She　cast
  into　it　a　look　of　hopeless　enquiry。　　She　sighed；　and　replaced　it
  upon　the　ground。
  'Quite　a　void！　　Not　a　drop！　　Not　one　drop　left　to　cool　my
  scorched…up　burning　palate！　　Now　would　I　give　treasures　for　a
  draught　of　water！　　And　they　are　God's　Servants；　who　make　me
  suffer　thus！　　They　think　themselves　holy；　while　they　torture　me
  like　Fiends！　　They　are　cruel　and　unfeeling；　And　'tis　they　who　bid
  me　repent；　And　'tis　they；　who　threaten　me　with　eternal　perdition！
  Saviour；　Saviour！　You　think　not　so！'
  She　again　fixed　her　eyes　upon　the　Crucifix；　took　her　Rosary；　and
  while　She　told　her　beads；　the　quick　motion　of　her　lips　declared
  her　to　be　praying　with　fervency。
  While　He　listened　to　her　melancholy　accents；　Lorenzo's
  sensibility　became　yet　more　violently　a