Page:The Castle of Wolfenbach - Parsons - 1854.djvu/214

 follow the idea, she supported herself with fortitude and resolution.

She was one day sitting in her apartment, and ruminating on past events, when the superior of the convent came in, and with a look of regret, "Ah! madam, (said she) I am grieved to be the messenger of ill news to you, and sorrow to the whole community." "Bless me! (cried Matilda) what is the matter?" "Alas! my dear child, I have received an order from the king to deliver you to a Mr Weimar, and another gentleman, waiting to receive you."

The unhappy girl repeated faintly the name of Weimar, and fell back, almost senseless, in her chair. The good mother ran to her assistance; she soon recovered. "Oh! madam, (said she) save me, keep me here; I wish to be a nun—I will not go into the world again." "Would it were possible for me to protect you, (answered she, shrugging her shoulders) but we have no power to retain you from the king's order; you must go, we dare not keep you."

At this moment entered St. Magdalene, all in tears.

"Well, madam, (said Matilda, endeavouring to collect fortitude from despair) have the goodness to inform the gentlemen I will presently wait on them. The superior appeared rather unwilling to leave her with her favourite, but however she withdrew.

Her good mother advised her instantly to write a few lines to the Marquis, and likewise to the Countess at Vienna. "Give me the first letter (said she) I will endeavour to have it conveyed; take the chance of leaving the other at some inn on the road; but make haste, for we have no time."

Poor Matilda, more dead than alive, soon executed her task, and the other assisting in packing, she was just ready when a messenger came to hasten her. With a resolution that astonished her friend, she followed the persons who came for her trunks, and