CHAP. XII. Ten thousand fears Invented wild, ten thousand frantic views THOMSON. In the story of Dorinda, Elvina saw much to condemn; but her condemnation did not exceed her pity; she tried to persuade herself, that differently situated, she never would have known such a lapse from integrity, and under this persuasion, lost not a minute in assuring her that she might rely on her services to their utmost extent, promising to address a letter immediately to Don Rodolph, appointing an interview with him the ensuing evening, when, should her representations of the cruelty of his conduct to her fail of success, she informed her she still should not have to deplore the want of either a peaceful home, or sincere friend, since, while she existed, she might rely on both. The grateful Dorinda at this assurance would have thrown herself at her feet, but was prevented; and after some further conversation with her, or rather efforts to try and compose her, the morning being by this time far advanced, she was left to endeavour to take that repose she so much stood in need of. Faithful to her promise, the moment the sympathizing Elvina had withdrawn from her chamber, she sat down to address Don Rodolph, though almost without a hope of his complying with her request, aware, as she was sensible he must be, of the motive which dictated it. Contrary to her expectations, however, her messenger returned, with a most respectful answer from him, in which he informed her, that at the hour appointed, he should have the honour of waiting on her. This answer inspired the most sanguine hopes of a happy termination to the affair, since if still resolved on persevering in his cruel conduct, it did not seem at all probable that he would have subjected himself to the remonstrances he might have expected on the occasion: either repentant of this conduct, or fearful, from the discovery that had taken place, of the consequences that might result from adhering to it, it now seemed evident, both to the fair Dorinda herself and her new friends, that it was at length his intention to do her justice; and with the tears which the pleasing idea drew from her, were mingled the congratulations of those friends at it. In the mean while, Don Ferdinand was in that state of agitating felicity, which the unexpected restoration of happiness inspires: relieved from despair, elevated again to hope, in the enjoyment of his present feelings, he deemed himself amply compensated for his recent sufferings. But, alas! short was the interval of joy, and light those sufferings, grievous as they had appeared at the moment, when compared with those which almost immediately succeeded them! In the midst of his exultation, his intoxicating dreams of future bliss, an anonymous letter was put into his hand, brought to the palace by an unknown messenger, who disappeared the instant he had delivered it, and containing the following lines : "TO DON FERDINAND DE HARA. "An enemy to dissimulation, an admirer of the noble character of the gallant Ferdinand, takes this method of opening his eyes to the cruel deception which has been practised on him. Elvina, the long worshipped object of his affections-yes, even she, that mistress for whose sake he has suffered so much, all lovely, all amiable as she appears, is unworthy of the passion she has kindled in his heart. "Long before she became acquainted with his merits, the accomplishments of Don Rodolph de Bearn had subjugated her affections; and either to a jealous whim, or a spirit of coquetry, was alone owing the encouragement she gave his addresses, aware that, even in her apparently most secret interviews with him, the watchful, the adoring Rodolph would be at hand to observe her. "But this was not all-vain, proud, and ambitious, almost beyond belief, of an exalted reputation, she no sooner discovered who he really was, than the fame she saw she might acquire at his expense, by still counterfeiting a passion for him, induced her doing so, for the purpose of creating a belief, that to a sense of filial duty, to considerations which could not but exalt her above the rest of her sex, and obtain her the universal homage of mankind, she sacrificed the tenderest affections of the heart. "So real seemed her struggles between love and duty, the transports of her pretended grief and distraction, that every heart sympathized in her apparent sufferings, and gave her credit for the virtue she aspired to be thought possessed of. "But though her vanity was gratified by the attainment of this name, she was sensibly mortified by the failure of her champion, having flattered herself his winning her in the field would have afforded her that pretext for granting him her hand, which pride made her solicitous for, love not having rendered her unmindful of the obscurity of his birth, or the consequent strictures to which an alliance with him would subject her. "Spite, however, of the thoughts of these strictures, she is resolved on following the impulse of inclination; this night Don Rodolph has a private interview with her, for the purpose of consulting whether some expedient cannot be devised, for preventing the humiliating consequences she apprehends from the mea sure. "Should Don Ferdinand therefore entertain any doubts of the correctness of this information, he has nothing more to do to convince himself of the truth of it, than to avail himself of the power he possesses, of admitting himself into the garden of the Castle, the pavillion at the lake being the place appointed for the secret meeting of the two lovers, at the hour of nine. "If, however, still inclined to dote on, and be deceived, the writer of this has nothing to add further on the subject; in what he has said, he has been actuated neither by malice or private pique, but solely by that wish, which the heart of honour must ever feel, to prevent the triumph of perfidy; and, consequently, can feel no other regret at the result of his communication proving contrary to what he expects, than what originates in concern at so noble a nature as Don Ferdinand's being imposed on." So deep rooted was the confidence of the noble youth in the integrity of his mistress, that rage and indignation at the accusation it contained against her, was the impulse of his soul at the first perusal of this letter. A second and more attentive one, however, began to shake his faith, by making him dwell still more particularly on that part which pointed out to him the means of ascertaining whether or no its information was correct. To paint the agony inflicted by the apprehension of finding her deceitful, would be impossible, an agony rendered still more intolerable by his efforts to conceal it, since, both from the unwillingness which we feel to acknowledge ourselves imposed on, and the adoration in which he held her, he could not bear the idea of ever breathing a hint of the doubts he was now forced to entertain of her. Never had he so ardently longed for the approach of night, any certainty almost being preferable to the torturing anxiety he endured. Within a short distance of the castle, he alighted, and committing his horse to his attendant, admitted himself, unobserved, into the garden. He had a considerable part of it to traverse, ere he reached the pavilion; at length he came in view of it, and, to his utter consternation, beheld it illuminated. The presageful fears occasioned by this circumstance, for a moment deprived him of the power of proceeding; then reflecting that a moment's delay might defeat the purpose for which he had come, he eagerly approached it, and darting his eyes through a lattice at the side, beheld Elvina seated on a couch, e |