erness　to　me？　　No；　　Bianca；　his　heart　was　ever　a　stranger　to　me　…　but　he　is　my　father；　and　　I　must　not　complain。　　Nay；　if　Heaven　shuts　my　father's　heart　against　　me；　it　overpays　my　little　merit　in　the　tenderness　of　my　mother　…　O　　that　dear　mother！　yes；　Bianca；　'tis　there　I　feel　the　rugged　temper　of　　Manfred。　　I　can　support　his　harshness　to　me　with　patience；　but　it　　wounds　my　soul　when　I　am　witness　to　his　causeless　severity　towards　　her。〃
  〃Oh！　Madam；〃　said　Bianca；　〃all　men　use　their　wives　so；　when　they　are　　weary　of　them。〃
  〃And　yet　you　congratulated　me　but　now；〃　said　Matilda；　〃when　you　　fancied　my　father　intended　to　dispose　of　me！〃
  〃I　would　have　you　a　great　Lady；〃　replied　Bianca；　〃come　what　will。　　I　　do　not　wish　to　see　you　moped　in　a　convent；　as　you　would　be　if　you　had　　your　will；　and　if　my　Lady；　your　mother；　who　knows　that　a　bad　husband　　is　better　than　no　husband　at　all；　did　not　hinder　you。　…　Bless　me！　what　　noise　is　that！　　St。　Nicholas　forgive　me！　　I　was　but　in　jest。〃
  〃It　is　the　wind；〃　said　Matilda；　〃whistling　through　the　battlements　in　　the　tower　above：　　you　have　heard　it　a　thousand　times。〃
  〃Nay；〃　said　Bianca；　〃there　was　no　harm　neither　in　what　I　said：　　it　is　　no　sin　to　talk　of　matrimony　…　and　so；　Madam；　as　I　was　saying；　if　my　　Lord　Manfred　should　offer　you　a　handsome　young　Prince　for　a　　bridegroom；　you　would　drop　him　a　curtsey；　and　tell　him　you　would　　rather　take　the　veil？〃
  〃Thank　Heaven！　　I　am　in　no　such　danger；〃　said　Matilda：　　〃you　know　how　　many　proposals　for　me　he　has　rejected　…　〃
  〃And　you　thank　him；　like　a　dutiful　daughter；　do　you；　Madam？　　But　come；　　Madam；　suppose；　to…morrow　morning；　he　was　to　send　for　you　to　the　great　　council　chamber；　and　there　you　should　find　at　his　elbow　a　lovely　young　　Prince；　with　large　black　eyes；　a　smooth　white　forehead；　and　manly　　curling　locks　like　jet；　in　short；　Madam；　a　young　hero　resembling　the　　picture　of　the　good　Alfonso　in　the　gallery；　which　you　sit　and　gaze　at　　for　hours　together　…　〃
  〃Do　not　speak　lightly　of　that　picture；〃　interrupted　Matilda　sighing；　　〃I　know　the　adoration　with　which　I　look　at　that　picture　is　uncommon　…　　but　I　am　not　in　love　with　a　coloured　panel。　　The　character　of　that　　virtuous　Prince；　the　veneration　with　which　my　mother　has　inspired　me　　for　his　memory；　the　orisons　which；　I　know　not　why；　she　has　enjoined　me　　to　pour　forth　at　his　tomb；　all　have　concurred　to　persuade　me　that　　somehow　or　other　my　destiny　is　linked　with　something　relating　to　him。〃
  〃Lord；　Madam！　how　should　that　be？〃　said　Bianca；　〃I　have　always　heard　　that　your　family　was　in　no　way　related　to　his：　　and　I　am　sure　I　cannot　　conceive　why　my　Lady；　the　Princess；　sends　you　in　a　cold　morning　or　a　　damp　evening　to　pray　at　his　tomb：　　he　is　no　saint　by　the　almanack。　　If　　you　must　pray；　why　does　she　not　bid　you　address　yourself　to　our　great　　St。　Nicholas？　　I　am　sure　he　is　the　saint　I　pray　to　for　a　husband。〃
  〃Perhaps　my　mind　would　be　less　affected；〃　said　Matilda；　〃if　my　mother　　would　explain　her　reasons　to　me：　　but　it　is　the　mystery　she　observes；　　that　inspires　me　with　this　…　I　know　not　what　to　call　it。　　As　she　never　　acts　from　caprice；　I　am　sure　there　is　some　fatal　secret　at　bottom　…　　nay；　I　know　there　is：　　in　her　agony　of　grief　for　my　brother's　death　　she　dropped　some　words　that　intimated　as　much。〃
  〃Oh！　dear　Madam；〃　cried　Bianca；　〃what　were　they？〃
  〃No；〃　said　Matilda；　〃if　a　parent　lets　fall　a　word；　and　wishes　it　　recalled；　it　is　not　for　a　child　to　utter　it。〃
  〃What！　was　she　sorry　for　what　she　had　said？〃　asked　Bianca；　〃I　am　sure；　　Madam；　you　may　trust　me　…　〃
  〃With　my　own　little　secrets　when　I　have　any；　I　may；〃　said　Matilda；　　〃but　never　with　my　mother's：　　a　child　ought　to　have　no　ears　or　eyes　　but　as　a　parent　directs。〃
  〃Well！　to　be　sure；　Madam；　you　were　born　to　be　a　saint；〃　said　Bianca；　　〃and　there　is　no　resisting　one's　vocation：　　you　will　end　in　a　convent　　at　last。　　But　there　is　my　Lady　Isabella　would　not　be　so　reserved　to　　me：　　she　will　let　me　talk　to　her　of　young　men：　　and　when　a　handsome　　cavalier　has　come　to　the　castle；　she　has　owned　to　me　that　she　wished　　your　brother　Conrad　resembled　him。〃
  〃Bianca；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃I　do　not　allow　you　to　mention　my　friend　　disrespectfully。　　Isabella　is　of　a　cheerful　disposition；　but　her　soul　　is　pure　as　virtue　itself。　　She　knows　your　idle　babbling　humour；　and　　perhaps　has　now　and　then　encouraged　it；　to　divert　melancholy；　and　　enliven　the　solitude　in　which　my　father　keeps　us　…　〃
  〃Blessed　Mary！〃　said　Bianca；　starting；　〃there　it　is　again！　　Dear　　Madam；　do　you　hear　nothing？　this　castle　is　certainly　haunted！〃
  〃Peace！〃　said　Matilda；　〃and　listen！　　I　did　think　I　heard　a　voice　…　but　　it　must　be　fancy：　　your　terrors；　I　suppose；　have　infected　me。〃
  〃Indeed！　indeed！　　Madam；〃　said　Bianca；　half…weeping　with　agony；　〃I　am　　sure　I　heard　a　voice。〃
  〃Does　anybody　lie　in　the　chamber　beneath？〃　said　the　Princess。
  〃Nobody　has　dared　to　lie　there；〃　answered　Bianca；　〃since　the　great　　astrologer；　that　was　your　brother's　tutor；　drowned　himself。　　For　　certain；　Madam；　his　ghost　and　the　young　Prince's　are　now　met　in　the　　chamber　below　…　for　Heaven's　sake　let　us　fly　to　your　mother's　　apartment！〃
  〃I　charge　you　not　to　stir；〃　said　Matilda。　　〃If　they　are　spirits　in　　pain；　we　may　ease　their　sufferings　by　questioning　them。　　They　can　mean　　no　hurt　to　us；　for　we　have　not　injured　them　…　and　if　they　should；　　shall　we　be　more　safe　in　one　chamber　than　in　another？　　Reach　me　my　　beads；　we　will　say　a　prayer；　and　then　speak　to　them。〃
  〃Oh！　dear　Lady；　I　would　not　speak　to　a　ghost　for　the　world！〃　cried　　Bianca。　　As　she　said　those　words　they　heard　the　casement　of　the　little　　chamber　below　Matilda's　open。　　They　listened　attentively；　and　in　a　few　　minutes　thought　they　heard　a　person　sing；　but　could　not　distinguish　　the　words。
  〃This　can　be　no　evil　spirit；〃　said　the　Princess；　in　a　low　voice；　〃it　　is　undoubtedly　one　of　the　family　…　open　the　window；　and　we　shall　know　　the　voice。〃
  〃I　dare　not；　indeed；　Madam；〃　said　Bianca。
  〃Thou　art　a　very　fool；〃　said　Matilda；　opening　the　window　gently　　herself。　　The　noise　the　Princess　made　was；　however；　heard　by　the　　person　beneath；　who　stopped；　and　they　concluded　had　heard　the　casement　　open。
  〃Is　anybody　below？〃　said　the　Princess；　〃if　there　is；　speak。〃
  〃Yes；〃　said　an　unknown　voice。
  〃Who　is　it？〃　said　Matilda。
  〃A　stranger；〃　replied　the　voice。
  〃What　stranger？〃　said　she；　〃and　how　didst　thou　come　there　at　this　　unusual　hour；　when　all　the　gates　of　the　castle　are　locked？〃
  〃I　am　not　here　willingly；〃　answered　the　voice。　　〃But　pardon　me；　Lady；　　if　I　have　disturbed　your　rest；　I　knew　not　that　I　was　overheard。　　Sleep　　had　forsaken　me；　I　left　a　restless　couch；　and　came　to　waste　the　　irksome　hours　with　gazing　on　the　fair　approach　of　morning；　impatient　　to　be　dismissed　from　this　castle。〃
  〃Thy　words　and　accents；〃　said　Matilda；　〃are　of　melancholy　cast；　if　　thou　art　unhappy；　I　pity　thee。　　If　poverty　afflicts　thee；　let　me　know　　it；　I　will　mention　thee　to　the　Princess；　whose　beneficent　soul　ever　　melts　for　the　distressed；　and　she　will　relieve　thee。〃
  〃I　am　indeed　unhappy；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃and　I　know　not　what　wealth　　is。　　But　I　do　not　complain　of　the　lot　which　Heaven　has　cast　for　me；　I　　am　young　and　healthy；　and　am　not　ashamed　of　owing　my　support　to　myself　　…　yet　think　me　not　proud；　or　that　I　disdain　your　generous　offers。　　I　　will　remember　you　in　my　orisons；　and　will　pray　for　blessings　on　your　　gracious　self　and　your　noble　mistress　…　if　I　sigh；　Lady；　it　is　for　　others；　not　for　myself。〃
  〃Now　I　have　it；　Madam；〃　said　Bianca；　whispering　the　Princess；　〃this　is　　certainly　the　young　peasant；　and；　by　my　conscience；　he　is　in　love　…　　Well！　this　is　a　charming　adventure！　…　do；　Madam；　let　us　sift　him。　　He　　does　not　know　you；　but　takes　you　for　one　of　my　Lady　Hippolita's　　women。〃
  〃Art　thou　not　ashamed；　Bianca！〃　said　the　Princess。　　　〃What　right　have　　we　to　pry　into　the　secrets　of　this　young　man's　heart？　　He　seems　　virtuous　and　frank；　and　tells　us　he　is　unhappy。　　Are　those　　circumstances　that　authorise　us　to　make　a　property　of　him？　　How　are　we　　entitled　to　his　confidence？〃
  〃Lord；　Madam！　how　little　you　know　of　love！〃　replied　Bianca；　〃why；　　lovers　have　no　pleasure　equal　to　talking　of　their　mistress。〃
  〃And　would　you　have　ME　become　a　peasant's　confidante？〃　said　the　　Princess。
  〃Well；　then；　let　me　talk　to　him；〃　said　Bianca；　〃though　I　have　the　　honour　of　being　your　Highness's　maid　of　honour；　I　was　not　always　so　　great。　　Besides；　if　love　levels　ranks；　it　raises　them　too；　I　have　a　　respect　for　any　young　man　in　love。〃
  〃Peace；　simpleton！〃　said　the　Princess。　　〃Though　he　said　he　was　　unhappy；　it　does　not　follow　that　he　must　be　in　love。　　Think　of　all　　that　has　happened　to…day；　and　tell　me　if　there　are　no　misfortunes　but　　what　love　causes。　…　Stranger；〃　resumed　the　Princess；　〃if　thy　　misfortunes　have　not　been　occasioned　by　thy　own　fault；　and　are　within　　the　compass　of　the　Princess　Hippolita's　power　to　redress；　I　will　take　　upon　me　to　answer　that　she　will　be　thy　protectress。　　When　thou　art　　dismissed　from　this　castle；　repair　to　holy　father　Jerome；　at　the　　convent　adjoining　to　the　church　of　St。　Nicholas；　and　make　thy　story　　known　to　him；　as　far　as　thou　thinkest　meet。　　He　will　not　fail　to　　inform　the　Princess；　who　is　the　mother　of　all　that　want　her