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over, than the bitterest reflections filled the mind of the signora;,she wept in agony, and for some time her seducer strove in vain to calm the violence of her sorrow; he vowed to make her all the reparation in his power, and besought her to check emotions, which might tend to betray that secret they most wished to hide. Valeria listened to him in silence, and she strove to be calm; but though her tears ceased to flow, her convulsive sighs, and the despair painted in her countenance, spoke what passed within.

"For heaven's sake, my Valeria, (cried Montalva), break this silence; the bitterest reproaches will be more welcome to me than to see you thus."

"I have no right to reproach you, signor, (cried Valeria); I must indeed eternally reproach myself. Oh! good heaven, (exclaimed she, relapsing into an agony of grief), what, what have I done?"

Again did Montalva renew his protes

testations: on his knees he vowed to make her his wife; he conjured her to banish from her mind all regret for the past, since the proof she had given him of her love, had only made her dearer to him; and solemnly did he call upon heaven to renounce him when he aban-. doned her. By these protestations he succeeded at last in restoring some degree of calmness to the mind of Valeria, but when she returned to the castle she felt for the first time afraid to meet the eye of the countess; and pleading indisposition, she retired to her chamber..

When the chaos in the breast of Montalva had a little subbsided, he execrated himself for what had passed.. A marriage with Valeria, solemnly as he had sworn to make her his by every sacred tie, was yet a step that he could not resolve to take. "What surety can I have of the faith and honour of a wanton, (said he, mentally); she will not for her own sake betray the past, and I must find some excuse for speedily

leaving the castle." For a moment his heart smote him as he recollected the agonies of Valeria's mind, but he hastened to banish the impression, and smoothing his brow, joined the count

and countess.

Maria was lamenting the illness of Valeria as he entered, and the crimson of conscious guilt suffused his countenance as he forced himself to enquire the cause of the signora's indisposition.

"It is sudden, (replied the countess), nor can she assign a cause for it; I hope that my fears are without foundation, but the change in her looks, and the quickness of her pulse alarms me."

Montalva did not attempt a reply. "Do not frighten yourself my love, (said the count) Valeria's illness is not I hope dangerous, and we will have the best advice."

The following day Valeria appeared at dinner, to Montalva's great joy; he tenderly enquired after her health, and the glance that accompanied his words,

spoke the concern which her illness had occasioned him; the presence of the count and countess rendered him guarded, but the signora hoped every thing from his honour and his love. Minds of a delicate and susceptible nature, (and such was Valeria's), while under the influence of passion, deck the object of their love with every virtue; and it is only the bitterest experience that can dispel an illusion, of all others the most delightful..

"The signor is the friend of the count, (thought she); Maria too, speaks highly of him; he loves me, and he would not, he could not, be so cruel as to abandon me to misery and disgrace." She ventured to meet the eyes of Montalva; they spoke the tenderest affection, and Valeria endeavoured to calm her spirits, and appear cheerful.

Three days passed, and Montalva did not seek to speak to the signora in private; though Valeria would have given

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the universe to know when he meant to perform his promise, yet she was too timid to throw herself in his way. On the morning of the fourth he had letters from Naples, and he directly announced his departure must be immediate. This news was like the sentence of death to Valeria; he took an opportunity to assure her, "that she might depend on his return the moment that he could escape from business of the most unpleasant nature; he besought her to make her mind easy, and to rely upon his honour."

"I do, signor (cried she); Oh, how miserable should I be if I doubted it!" She wept as she spoke; yet the perfect confidence which her look and manner expressed, gave a momentary pang to the heart of Montalva.

" "Tis barbarous to deceive her, (thought he), and he renewed his protestations; but when he quitted the castle, his dislike to the idea of marry

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