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I endeavoured to lift her from her Knees。
'For God's sake； Segnora； restrain these transports： They disgrace yourself and me。 Your exclamations may be heard； and your secret divulged to your Attendants。 I see that my presence only irritates you： permit me to retire。'
I prepared to quit the apartment： The Baroness caught me suddenly by the arm。
'And who is this happy Rival？' said She in a menacing tone； 'I will know her name； and WHEN I know it。 。 。 。 ！ She is someone in my power； You entreated my favour； my protection！ Let me but find her； let me but know who dares to rob me of your heart； and She shall suffer every torment which jealousy and disappointment can inflict！ Who is She？ Answer me this moment。 Hope not to conceal her from my vengeance！ Spies shall be set over you； every step； every look shall be watched； Your eyes will discover my Rival； I shall know her； and when She is found； tremble； Alphonso for her and for yourself！'
As She uttered these last words her fury mounted to such a pitch as to stop her powers of respiration。 She panted； groaned； and at length fainted away。 As She was falling I caught her in my arms； and placed her upon a Sopha。 Then hastening to the door； I summoned her Women to her assistance； I committed her to their care； and seized the opportunity of escaping。
Agitated and confused beyond expression I bent my steps towards the Garden。 The benignity with which the Baroness had listened to me at first raised my hopes to the highest pitch： I imagined her to have perceived my attachment for her Niece； and to approve of it。 Extreme was my disappointment at understanding the true purport of her discourse。 I knew not what course to take： The superstition of the Parents of Agnes； aided by her Aunt's unfortunate passion； seemed to oppose such obstacles to our union as were almost insurmountable。
As I past by a low parlour； whose windows looked into the Garden； through the door which stood half open I observed Agnes seated at a Table。 She was occupied in drawing； and several unfinished sketches were scattered round her。 I entered； still undetermined whether I should acquaint her with the declaration of the Baroness。
'Oh！ is it only you？' said She； raising her head； 'You are no Stranger； and I shall continue my occupation without ceremony。 Take a Chair； and seat yourself by me。'
I obeyed； and placed myself near the Table。 Unconscious what I was doing； and totally occupied by the scene which had just passed； I took up some of the drawings； and cast my eye over them。 One of the subjects struck me from its singularity。 It represented the great Hall of the Castle of Lindenberg。 A door conducting to a narrow staircase stood half open。 In the foreground appeared a Groupe of figures； placed in the most grotesque attitudes； Terror was expressed upon every countenance。
Here was One upon his knees with his eyes cast up to heaven； and praying most devoutly； There Another was creeping away upon all fours。 Some hid their faces in their cloaks or the laps of their Companions； Some had concealed themselves beneath a Table； on which the remnants of a feast were visible； While Others with gaping mouths and eyes wide…stretched pointed to a Figure； supposed to have created this disturbance。 It represented a Female of more than human stature； clothed in the habit of some religious order。 Her face was veiled； On her arm hung a chaplet of beads； Her dress was in several places stained with the blood which trickled from a wound upon her bosom。 In one hand She held a Lamp； in the other a large Knife； and She seemed advancing towards the iron gates of the Hall。
'What does this mean； Agnes？' said I； 'Is this some invention of your own？'
She cast her eye upon the drawing。
'Oh！ no；' She replied； ' 'Tis the invention of much wiser heads than mine。 But can you possibly have lived at Lindenberg for three whole Months without hearing of the Bleeding Nun？'
'You are the first； who ever mentioned the name to me。 Pray； who may the Lady be？'
'That is more than I can pretend to tell you。 All my knowledge of her History comes from an old tradition in this family； which has been handed down from Father to Son； and is firmly credited throughout the Baron's domains。 Nay； the Baron believes it himself； and as for my Aunt who has a natural turn for the marvellous； She would sooner doubt the veracity of the Bible； than of the Bleeding Nun。 Shall I tell you this History？'
I answered that She would oblige me much by relating it： She resumed her drawing； and then proceeded as follows in a tone of burlesqued gravity。
'It is surprising that in all the Chronicles of past times； this remarkable Personage is never once mentioned。 Fain would I recount to you her life； But unluckily till after her death She was never known to have existed。 Then first did She think it necessary to make some noise in the world； and with that intention She made bold to seize upon the Castle of Lindenberg。 Having a good taste； She took up her abode in the best room of the House： and once established there； She began to amuse herself by knocking about the tables and chairs in the middle of the night。 Perhaps She was a bad Sleeper； but this I have never been able to ascertain。 According to the tradition； this entertainment commenced about a Century ago。 It was accompanied with shrieking； howling； groaning； swearing； and many other agreeable noises of the same kind。 But though one particular room was more especially honoured with her visits； She did not entirely confine herself to it。 She occasionally ventured into the old Galleries； paced up and down the spacious Halls； or sometimes stopping at the doors of the Chambers； She wept and wailed there to the universal terror of the Inhabitants。 In these nocturnal excursions She was seen by different People； who all describe her appearance as you behold it here； traced by the hand of her unworthy Historian。'
The singularity of this account insensibly engaged my attention。
'Did She never speak to those who met her？' said I。
'Not She。 The specimens indeed； which She gave nightly of her talents for conversation； were by no means inviting。 Sometimes the Castle rung with oaths and execrations： A Moment after She repeated her Paternoster： Now She howled out the most horrible blasphemies； and then chaunted De Profundis； as orderly as if still in the Choir。 In short She seemed a mighty capricious Being： But whether She prayed or cursed； whether She was impious or devout； She always contrived to terrify her Auditors out of their senses。 The Castle became scarcely habitable； and its Lord was so frightened by these midnight Revels； that one fine morning He was found dead in his bed。 This success seemed to please the Nun mightily； for now She made more noise than ever。 But the next Baron proved too cunning for her。 He made his appearance with a celebrated Exorciser in his hand； who feared not to shut himself up for a night in the haunted Chamber。 There it seems that He had an hard battle with the Ghost； before She would promise to be quiet。 She was obstinate； but He was more so； and at length She consented to let the Inhabitants of the Castle tak