 mystery, had latterly entirely
given me over to Camilla's care. In consequence, they busied themselves no more
about me; and, occupied by preparing for the approaching festival, it is more
than probable that I never once entered into their thoughts. Of the reason of
Camilla's negligence I have been informed since my release by the Mother St.
Ursula. At that time I was very far from suspecting its cause. On the contrary,
I waited for my gaoler's appearance at first with impatience, and afterwards
with despair. One day passed away: another followed it: the third arrived. Still
no Camilla! still no food! I knew the lapse of time by the wasting of my lamp,
to supply which, fortunately a week's supply of oil had been left me. I
supposed, either that the nuns had forgotten me, or that the domina had ordered
them to let me perish. The latter idea seemed the most probable: yet so natural
is the love of life, that I trembled to find it true. Though embittered by every
species of misery, my existence was still dear to me, and I dreaded to lose it.
Every succeeding minute proved to me that I must abandon all hopes of relief. I
was become an absolute skeleton: my eyes already failed me, and my limbs were
beginning to stiffen. I could only express my anguish, and the pangs of that
hunger which gnawed my heartstrings, by frequent groans, whose melancholy sound
the vaulted roof of the dungeon re-echoed. I resigned myself to my fate: I
already expected the moment of dissolution, when my guardian angel - when my
beloved brother arrived in time to save me. My sight, grown dim and feeble, at
first refused to recognize him: and when I did distinguish his features, the
sudden burst of rapture was too much for me to bear. I was overpowered by the
swell of joy at once more beholding a friend, and that a friend so dear to me.
Nature could not support my emotions, and took her refuge in insensibility.
    You already know what are my obligations to the family of Villa-Franca. But
what you cannot know, is the extent of my gratitude, boundless as the excellence
of my benefactors. Lorenzo! Raymond! names so dear to me! teach me to bear with
fortitude this sudden transition from misery to bliss. So lately a captive,
oppressed with chains, perishing with hunger, suffering every inconvenience of
cold and want, hidden from the light, excluded from society, hopeless,
neglected, and, as
