vidity; She
seemed to devour my words while I spoke in your praise, and her eyes
thanked me for my affection to her Brother. My constant and unremitted
attention at length gained me her heart, and with difficulty I obliged
her to confess that She loved me. When however, I proposed her
quitting the Castle of Lindenberg, She rejected the idea in positive
terms.

'Be generous, Alphonso,' She said; 'You possess my heart, but use not
the gift ignobly. Employ not your ascendancy over me in persuading me
to take a step, at which I should hereafter have to blush. I am young
and deserted: My Brother, my only Friend, is separated from me, and my
other Relations act with me as my Enemies. Take pity on my unprotected
situation. Instead of seducing me to an action which would cover me
with shame, strive rather to gain the affections of those who govern
me. The Baron esteems you. My Aunt, to others ever harsh proud and
contemptuous, remembers that you rescued her from the hands of
Murderers, and wears with you alone the appearance of kindness and
benignity. Try then your influence over my Guardians. If they consent
to our union my hand is yours: From your account of my Brother, I
cannot doubt your obtaining his approbation: And when they find the
impossibility of executing their design, I trust that my Parents will
excuse my disobedience, and expiate by some other sacrifice my Mother's
fatal vow.'

From the first moment that I beheld Agnes, I had endeavoured to
conciliate the favour of her Relations. Authorised by the confession
of her regard, I redoubled my exertions. My principal Battery was
directed against the Baroness; It was easy to discover that her word
was law in the Castle: Her Husband paid her the most absolute
submission, and considered her as a superior Being. She was about
forty: In her youth She had been a Beauty; But her charms had been
upon that large scale which can but ill sustain the shock of years:
However She still possessed some remains of them. Her understanding
was strong and excellent when not obscured by prejudice, which
unluckily was but seldom the case. Her passions were violent: She
spared no pains to gratify them, and pursued with unremitting vengeance
those who opposed themselves to her wishes. The warmest of Friends,
the most inveterate of Enemies, such was the Baroness Lindenberg.

I laboured incessantly to please her: Unluckily I succeeded but too
well. She seemed gratifi