ether to the Parlour, where Jacintha was already
waiting for the Abbot. She had conceived a great opinion of his piety
and virtue; and supposing him to have much influence over the Devil,
thought that it must be an easy matter for him to lay Elvira's Ghost in
the Red Sea. Filled with this persuasion She had hastened to the
Abbey. As soon as She saw the Monk enter the Parlour, She dropped upon
her knees, and began her story as follows.

'Oh! Reverend Father! Such an accident! Such an adventure! I know
not what course to take, and unless you can help me, I shall certainly
go distracted. Well, to be sure, never was Woman so unfortunate, as
myself! All in my power to keep clear of such abomination have I done,
and yet that all is too little. What signifies my telling my beads
four times a day, and observing every fast prescribed by the Calendar?
What signifies my having made three Pilgrimages to St. James of
Compostella, and purchased as many pardons from the Pope as would buy
off Cain's punishment? Nothing prospers with me! All goes wrong, and
God only knows, whether any thing will ever go right again! Why now,
be your Holiness the Judge. My Lodger dies in convulsions; Out of pure
kindness I bury her at my own expence; (Not that She is any Relation of
mine, or that I shall be benefited a single pistole by her death: I
got nothing by it, and therefore you know, reverend Father, that her
living or dying was just the same to me. But that is nothing to the
purpose; To return to what I was saying,) I took care of her funeral,
had every thing performed decently and properly, and put myself to
expence enough, God knows! And how do you think the Lady repays me for
my kindness? Why truly by refusing to sleep quietly in her comfortable
deal Coffin, as a peaceable well-disposed Spirit ought to do, and
coming to plague me, who never wish to set eyes on her again.
Forsooth, it well becomes her to go racketing about my House at
midnight, popping into her Daughter's room through the Keyhole, and
frightening the poor Child out of her wits! Though She be a Ghost, She
might be more civil than to bolt into a Person's House, who likes her
company so little. But as for me, reverend Father, the plain state of
the case is this: If She walks into my House, I must walk out of it,
for I cannot abide such Visitors, not I! Thus you see, your Sanctity,
that without your assistance I am ruined and undone for ever. I shall
be oblige