 abandoned to the impulse of
despair! Listen, while I excuse my imprudence; while I acknowledge my sister's
story to be my own! I am Matilda; you are her beloved.«
    If Ambrosio's surprise was great at her first avowal, upon hearing her
second it exceeded all bounds. Amazed, embarrassed, and irresolute, he found
himself incapable of pronouncing a syllable, and remained in silence gazing upon
Matilda. This gave her opportunity to continue her explanation as follows:
    »Think not, Ambrosio, that I come to rob your bride of your affections. No,
believe me: Religion alone deserves you; and far is it from Matilda's wish to
draw you from the paths of virtue. What I feel for you is love, not
licentiousness. I sigh to be possessor of your heart, not lust for the enjoyment
of your person. Deign to listen to my vindication: a few moments will convince
you that this holy retreat is not polluted by my presence, and that you may
grant me your compassion without trespassing against your vows.« - She seated
herself. Ambrosio, scarcely conscious of what he did, followed her example, and
she proceeded in her discourse: -
    »I spring from a distinguished family; my father was chief of the noble
house of Villanegas: he died while I was still an infant, and left me sole
heiress of his immense possessions. Young and wealthy, I was sought in marriage
by the noblest youths of Madrid; but no one succeeded in gaining my affections.
I had been brought up under the care of an uncle possessed of the most solid
judgment and extensive erudition: he took pleasure in communicating to me some
portion of his knowledge. Under his instructions my understanding acquired more
strength and justness than generally falls to the lot of my sex: the ability of
my preceptor being aided by natural curiosity, I not only made a considerable
progress in sciences universally studied, but in others revealed but to few, and
lying under censure from the blindness of superstition. But while my guardian
laboured to enlarge the sphere of my knowledge, he carefully inculcated every
moral precept: he relieved me from the shackles of vulgar prejudice: he pointed
out the beauty of religion: he taught me to look with adoration upon the pure
and virtuous; and, wo is me! I have obeyed him but too well.
    With such dispositions, judge whether I could observe with any other
sentiment than disgust, the vice, dissipation, and ignorance which disgrace our
Spanish youth. I rejected every offer with disdain: my heart remained without a
master, till
