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vices to disguise their sensations with address. After some unmeaning questions and replies, Matilda demanded of Isabella the cause of her flight? the latter, who had almost forgotten Manfred's passion, so entirely was she occupied by her own, concluding that Matilda referred to her last escape from the convent, which had occasioned the events of the preceding evening, replied, Martelli brought word to the convent that your mother was dead—oh! said Matilda interrupting her, Bianca has explained that mistake to me: on seeing me faint, she cried out, the Princess is dead! and Martelli who had come for the usual dole to the castle—and what made you faint? said Isabella, indifferent to the rest. Matilda blushed, and stammered—my father—he was sitting in judgment on a criminal—what criminal? said Isabella eagerly—a young man: said Matilda—I believe—I think it was that young man that—what, Theodore? said Isabella. Yes; answered she; I never saw him before; I do not know how he had offended my fa-ther
