tances. He assured her in his answers that
his heart and hand were totally disengaged, and She thought that upon
these grounds She might proceed without danger. She in consequence
endeavoured to strengthen the dawning passion of her Friend. Lorenzo
was made the constant topic of her discourse; and the avidity with
which her Auditor listened, the sighs which frequently escaped from her
bosom, and the eagerness with which upon any digression She brought
back the conversation to the subject whence it had wandered, sufficed
to convince Agnes that her Brother's addresses would be far from
disagreeable. She at length ventured to mention her wishes to the
Duke: Though a Stranger to the Lady herself, He knew enough of her
situation to think her worthy his Nephew's hand. It was agreed between
him and his Niece, that She should insinuate the idea to Lorenzo, and
She only waited his return to Madrid to propose her Friend to him as
his Bride. The unfortunate events which took place in the interim,
prevented her from executing her design. Virginia wept her loss
sincerely, both as a Companion, and as the only Person to whom She
could speak of Lorenzo. Her passion continued to prey upon her heart
in secret, and She had almost determined to confess her sentiments to
her Mother, when accident once more threw their object in her way. The
sight of him so near her, his politeness, his compassion, his
intrepidity, had combined to give new ardour to her affection. When
She now found her Friend and Advocate restored to her, She looked upon
her as a Gift from Heaven; She ventured to cherish the hope of being
united to Lorenzo, and resolved to use with him his Sister's influence.

Supposing that before her death Agnes might possibly have made the
proposal, the Duke had placed all his Nephew's hints of marriage to
Virginia's account: Consequently, He gave them the most favourable
reception. On returning to his Hotel, the relation given him of
Antonia's death, and Lorenzo's behaviour on the occasion, made evident
his mistake. He lamented the circumstances; But the unhappy Girl being
effectually out of the way, He trusted that his designs would yet be
executed. 'Tis true that Lorenzo's situation just then ill-suited him
for a Bridegroom. His hopes disappointed at the moment when He
expected to realize them, and the dreadful and sudden death of his
Mistress had affected him very severely. The Duke found him upon the
Bed of sickness. H