In　the　meantime；　the　care　and　zeal　of　the　young　Ladies　had　brought　the　　Princess　Hippolita　to　herself；　who　amidst　the　transports　of　her　own　　sorrow　frequently　demanded　news　of　her　lord；　would　have　dismissed　her　　attendants　to　watch　over　him；　and　at　last　enjoined　Matilda　to　leave　　her；　and　visit　and　comfort　her　father。　　Matilda；　who　wanted　no　　affectionate　duty　to　Manfred；　though　she　trembled　at　his　austerity；　　obeyed　the　orders　of　Hippolita；　whom　she　tenderly　recommended　to　　Isabella；　and　inquiring　of　the　domestics　for　her　father；　was　informed　　that　he　was　retired　to　his　chamber；　and　had　commanded　that　nobody　　should　have　admittance　to　him。　　Concluding　that　he　was　immersed　in　　sorrow　for　the　death　of　her　brother；　and　fearing　to　renew　his　tears　by　　the　sight　of　his　sole　remaining　child；　she　hesitated　whether　she　　should　break　in　upon　his　affliction；　yet　solicitude　for　him；　backed　by　　the　commands　of　her　mother；　encouraged　her　to　venture　disobeying　the　　orders　he　had　given；　a　fault　she　had　never　been　guilty　of　before。
  The　gentle　timidity　of　her　nature　made　her　pause　for　some　minutes　at　　his　door。　　She　heard　him　traverse　his　chamber　backwards；　and　forwards　　with　disordered　steps；　a　mood　which　increased　her　apprehensions。　　She　　was；　however；　just　going　to　beg　admittance；　when　Manfred　suddenly　　opened　the　door；　and　as　it　was　now　twilight；　concurring　with　the　　disorder　of　his　mind；　he　did　not　distinguish　the　person；　but　asked　　angrily；　who　it　was？　　Matilda　replied；　trembling　…
  〃My　dearest　father；　it　is　I；　your　daughter。〃
  Manfred；　stepping　back　hastily；　cried；　〃Begone！　　I　do　not　want　a　　daughter；〃　and　flinging　back　abruptly；　clapped　the　door　against　the　　terrified　Matilda。
  She　was　too　well　acquainted　with　her　father's　impetuosity　to　venture　a　　second　intrusion。　　When　she　had　a　little　recovered　the　shock　of　so　　bitter　a　reception；　she　wiped　away　her　tears　to　prevent　the　additional　　stab　that　the　knowledge　of　it　would　give　to　Hippolita；　who　questioned　　her　in　the　most　anxious　terms　on　the　health　of　Manfred；　and　how　he　　bore　his　loss。　　Matilda　assured　her　he　was　well；　and　supported　his　　misfortune　with　manly　fortitude。
  〃But　will　he　not　let　me　see　him？〃　said　Hippolita　mournfully；　〃will　he　　not　permit　me　to　blend　my　tears　with　his；　and　shed　a　mother's　sorrows　　in　the　bosom　of　her　Lord？　　Or　do　you　deceive　me；　Matilda？　　I　know　how　　Manfred　doted　on　his　son：　　is　not　the　stroke　too　heavy　for　him？　has　he　　not　sunk　under　it？　　You　do　not　answer　me　…　alas！　I　dread　the　worst！　…　　Raise　me；　my　maidens；　I　will；　I　will　see　my　Lord。　　Bear　me　to　him　　instantly：　　he　is　dearer　to　me　even　than　my　children。〃
  Matilda　made　signs　to　Isabella　to　prevent　Hippolita's　rising；　and　both　　those　lovely　young　women　were　using　their　gentle　violence　to　stop　and　　calm　the　Princess；　when　a　servant；　on　the　part　of　Manfred；　arrived　and　　told　Isabella　that　his　Lord　demanded　to　speak　with　her。
  〃With　me！〃　cried　Isabella。
  〃Go；〃　said　Hippolita；　relieved　by　a　message　from　her　Lord：　　〃Manfred　　cannot　support　the　sight　of　his　own　family。　　He　thinks　you　less　　disordered　than　we　are；　and　dreads　the　shock　of　my　grief。　　Console　　him；　dear　Isabella；　and　tell　him　I　will　smother　my　own　anguish　rather　　than　add　to　his。〃
  As　it　was　now　evening　the　servant　who　conducted　Isabella　bore　a　torch　　before　her。　　When　they　came　to　Manfred；　who　was　walking　impatiently　　about　the　gallery；　he　started；　and　said　hastily　…
  〃Take　away　that　light；　and　begone。〃
  Then　shutting　the　door　impetuously；　he　flung　himself　upon　a　bench　　against　the　wall；　and　bade　Isabella　sit　by　him。　　She　obeyed　trembling。
  〃I　sent　for　you；　Lady；〃　said　he　…　and　then　stopped　under　great　　appearance　of　confusion。
  〃My　Lord！〃
  〃Yes；　I　sent　for　you　on　a　matter　of　great　moment；〃　resumed　he。　　〃Dry　　your　tears；　young　Lady　…　you　have　lost　your　bridegroom。　　Yes；　cruel　　fate！　and　I　have　lost　the　hopes　of　my　race！　　But　Conrad　was　not　worthy　　of　your　beauty。〃
  〃How；　my　Lord！〃　said　Isabella；　〃sure　you　do　not　suspect　me　of　not　　feeling　the　concern　I　ought：　　my　duty　and　affection　would　have　always　　…　〃
  〃Think　no　more　of　him；〃　interrupted　Manfred；　〃he　was　a　sickly；　puny　　child；　and　Heaven　has　perhaps　taken　him　away；　that　I　might　not　trust　　the　honours　of　my　house　on　so　frail　a　foundation。　　The　line　of　Manfred　　calls　for　numerous　supports。　　My　foolish　fondness　for　that　boy　blinded　　the　eyes　of　my　prudence　…　but　it　is　better　as　it　is。　　I　hope；　in　a　few　　years；　to　have　reason　to　rejoice　at　the　death　of　Conrad。〃
  Words　cannot　paint　the　astonishment　of　Isabella。　　At　first　she　　apprehended　that　grief　had　disordered　Manfred's　understanding。　　Her　　next　thought　suggested　that　this　strange　discourse　was　designed　to　　ensnare　her：　　she　feared　that　Manfred　had　perceived　her　indifference　　for　his　son：　　and　in　consequence　of　that　idea　she　replied　…
  〃Good　my　Lord；　do　not　doubt　my　tenderness：　　my　heart　would　have　　accompanied　my　hand。　　Conrad　would　have　engrossed　all　my　care；　and　　wherever　fate　shall　dispose　of　me；　I　shall　always　cherish　his　memory；　　and　regard　your　Highness　and　the　virtuous　Hippolita　as　my　parents。〃
  〃Curse　on　Hippolita！〃　cried　Manfred。　　〃Forget　her　from　this　moment；　as　　I　do。　　In　short；　Lady；　you　have　missed　a　husband　undeserving　of　your　　charms：　　they　shall　now　be　better　disposed　of。　　Instead　of　a　sickly　　boy；　you　shall　have　a　husband　in　the　prime　of　his　age；　who　will　know　　how　to　value　your　beauties；　and　who　may　expect　a　numerous　offspring。〃
  〃Alas；　my　Lord！〃　said　Isabella；　〃my　mind　is　too　sadly　engrossed　by　the　　recent　catastrophe　in　your　family　to　think　of　another　marriage。　　If　　ever　my　father　returns；　and　it　shall　be　his　pleasure；　I　shall　obey；　as　　I　did　when　I　consented　to　give　my　hand　to　your　son：　　but　until　his　　return；　permit　me　to　remain　under　your　hospitable　roof；　and　employ　the　　melancholy　hours　in　assuaging　yours；　Hippolita's；　and　the　fair　　Matilda's　affliction。〃
  〃I　desired　you　once　before；〃　said　Manfred　angrily；　〃not　to　name　that　　woman：　　from　this　hour　she　must　be　a　stranger　to　you；　as　she　must　be　　to　me。　　In　short；　Isabella；　since　I　cannot　give　you　my　son；　I　offer　　you　myself。〃
  〃Heavens！〃　cried　Isabella；　waking　from　her　delusion；　〃what　do　I　hear？　　　You！　my　Lord！　　You！　　My　father…in…law！　the　father　of　Conrad！　the　　husband　of　the　virtuous　and　tender　Hippolita！〃
  〃I　tell　you；〃　said　Manfred　imperiously；　〃Hippolita　is　no　longer　my　　wife；　I　divorce　her　from　this　hour。　　Too　long　has　she　cursed　me　by　her　　unfruitfulness。　　My　fate　depends　on　having　sons；　and　this　night　I　　trust　will　give　a　new　date　to　my　hopes。〃
  At　those　words　he　seized　the　cold　hand　of　Isabella；　who　was　half　dead　　with　fright　and　horror。　　She　shrieked；　and　started　from　him；　Manfred　　rose　to　pursue　her；　when　the　moon；　which　was　now　up；　and　gleamed　in　at　　the　opposite　casement；　presented　to　his　sight　the　plumes　of　the　fatal　　helmet；　which　rose　to　the　height　of　the　windows；　waving　backwards　and　　forwards　in　a　tempestuous　manner；　and　accompanied　with　a　hollow　and　　rustling　sound。　　Isabella；　who　gathered　courage　from　her　situation；　　and　who　dreaded　nothing　so　much　as　Manfred's　pursuit　of　his　　declaration；　cried　…
  〃Look；　my　Lord！　see；　Heaven　itself　declares　against　your　impious　　intentions！〃
  〃Heaven　nor　Hell　shall　impede　my　designs；〃　said　Manfred；　advancing　　again　to　seize　the　Princess。
  At　that　instant　the　portrait　of　his　grandfather；　which　hung　over　the　　bench　where　they　had　been　sitting；　uttered　a　deep　sigh；　and　heaved　its　　breast。
  Isabella；　whose　back　was　turned　to　the　picture；　saw　not　the　motion；　　nor　knew　whence　the　sound　came；　but　started；　and　said　…
  〃Hark；　my　Lord！　　What　sound　was　that？〃　and　at　the　same　time　made　　towards　the　door。
  Manfred；　distracted　between　the　flight　of　Isabella；　who　had　now　　reached　the　stairs；　and　yet　unable　to　keep　his　eyes　from　the　picture；　　which　began　to　move；　had；　however；　advanced　some　steps　after　her；　　still　looking　backwards　on　the　portrait；　when　he　saw　it　quit　its　　panel；　and　descend　on　the　floor　with　a　grave　and　melancholy　air。
  〃Do　I　dream？〃　cried　Manfred；　returning；　〃or　are　the　devils　themselves　　in　league　against　me？　　Speak；　internal　spectre！　　Or；　if　thou　art　my　　grandsire；　why　dost　thou　too　conspire　against　thy　wretched　descendant；　　who　too　dearly　pays　for　…　〃　　Ere　he　could　finish　the　sentence；　the　　vision　sighed　again；　and　made　a　sign　to　Manfred　to　follow　him。
  〃Lead　on！〃　cried　Manfred；　〃I　will　follow　thee　to　the　gulf　of　　perdition。〃
  The　spectre　marched　sedately；　but　dejected；　to　the　end　of　the　gallery；　　and　turned　into　a　chamber　on　the　right　hand。　　Manfred　accompanied　him　　at　a　little　distance；　full　of　anxiety　and　horror；　but　resolved。　　As　he　　would　have　entered　the　chamber；　the　door　was　clapped　to　with　violence　　by　an　invisible　hand。　　The　Prince；　collecting　courage　from　this　delay；　　would　have　forcibly　burst　open　the　door　with　his　foot；　but　found　that　　it　resisted　his　utmost　efforts。
  〃Since　Hell　will　not　satisfy　my　curiosity；〃　said　Manfred；　〃I　will　use　　the　human　means　in　my　power　for　preserving　my　race；　Isabella　shall　not　　escape　me。〃
  The　lady；　whose　resolution　had　given　way　to　terror　the　moment　she　had　　quitted　Manfred；　continued　her　flight　to　the　bottom　of　the　principal　　staircase。　　There　she　stopped；　not　knowing　whither　to　direct　her　　steps；　nor　how