atly discomposed her; She threw down her needle, and quitted the
frame. It was decreed that for that night nothing should have the
power of amusing her. She was the prey of Ennui, and employed herself
in making fruitless wishes for the arrival of her Aunt.

As She walked with a listless air up and down the chamber, the Door
caught her eye conducting to that which had been her Mother's. She
remembered that Elvira's little Library was arranged there, and thought
that She might possibly find in it some Book to amuse her till Leonella
should arrive. Accordingly She took her Taper from the table, passed
through the little Closet, and entered the adjoining apartment. As She
looked around her, the sight of this room brought to her recollection a
thousand painful ideas. It was the first time of her entering it since
her Mother's death. The total silence prevailing through the chamber,
the Bed despoiled of its furniture, the cheerless hearth where stood an
extinguished Lamp, and a few dying Plants in the window which, since
Elvira's loss, had been neglected, inspired Antonia with a melancholy
awe. The gloom of night gave strength to this sensation. She placed
her light upon the Table, and sank into a large chair, in which She had
seen her Mother seated a thousand and a thousand times. She was never
to see her seated there again! Tears unbidden streamed down her cheek,
and She abandoned herself to the sadness which grew deeper with every
moment.

Ashamed of her weakness, She at length rose from her seat: She
proceeded to seek for what had brought her to this melancholy scene.
The small collection of Books was arranged upon several shelves in
order. Antonia examined them without finding any thing likely to
interest her, till She put her hand upon a volume of old Spanish
Ballads. She read a few Stanzas of one of them: They excited her
curiosity. She took down the Book, and seated herself to peruse it
with more ease. She trimmed the Taper, which now drew towards its end,
and then read the following Ballad.

ALONZO THE BRAVE, AND FAIR IMOGINE

A Warrior so bold, and a Virgin so bright
Conversed, as They sat on the green:
They gazed on each other with tender delight;
Alonzo the Brave was the name of the Knight,
The Maid's was the Fair Imogine.

'And Oh!' said the Youth, 'since to-morrow I go
To fight in a far distant land,
Your tears for my absence soon leaving to flow,
Some Other will court