'Oh! I shall have another Corse in my House! Some Witch has certainly
cast a spell upon it, upon me, and upon all about me! Poor Donna
Antonia! There She lies in just such convulsions, as killed her
Mother! The Ghost told her true! I am sure, the Ghost has told her
true!'

Flora ran, or rather flew to her Lady's chamber: Ambrosio followed her,
his bosom trembling with hope and apprehension. They found Antonia as
Jacintha had described, torn by racking convulsions from which they in
vain endeavoured to relieve her. The Monk dispatched Jacintha to the
Abbey in all haste, and commissioned her to bring Father Pablos back
with her, without losing a moment.

'I will go for him,' replied Jacintha, 'and tell him to come hither;
But as to bringing him myself, I shall do no such thing. I am sure that
the House is bewitched, and burn me if ever I set foot in it again.'

With this resolution She set out for the Monastery, and delivered to
Father Pablos the Abbot's orders. She then betook herself to the House
of old Simon Gonzalez, whom She resolved never to quit, till She had
made him her Husband, and his dwelling her own.

Father Pablos had no sooner beheld Antonia, than He pronounced her
incurable. The convulsions continued for an hour: During that time
her agonies were much milder than those which her groans created in the
Abbot's heart. Her every pang seemed a dagger in his bosom, and He
cursed himself a thousand times for having adopted so barbarous a
project. The hour being expired, by degrees the Fits became less
frequent, and Antonia less agitated. She felt that her dissolution was
approaching, and that nothing could save her.

'Worthy Ambrosio,' She said in a feeble voice, while She pressed his
hand to her lips; 'I am now at liberty to express, how grateful is my
heart for your attention and kindness. I am upon the bed of death; Yet
an hour, and I shall be no more. I may therefore acknowledge without
restraint, that to relinquish your society was very painful to me: But
such was the will of a Parent, and I dared not disobey. I die without
repugnance: There are few, who will lament my leaving them; There are
few, whom I lament to leave. Among those few, I lament for none more
than for yourself; But we shall meet again, Ambrosio! We shall one day
meet in heaven: There shall our friendship be renewed, and my Mother
shall view it with pleasure!'

She paused. The Abbot shuddered when She mentioned Elvira