84 THE MONK. 



within the influence of its reviving warmth, the monk commenced 

 as follows : — 



" Nearly four years have now elapsed," he began, " since the cir- 

 cumstances I am about to relate took place ; yet the occurrences of 

 yesterday are not more distinctly impressed on my memory than 

 are the most minute incidents which then happened. 



" The season had been unusually open, and many persons had 

 crossed the mountain with ease, at a considerably later period than 

 the present. It was at the close of an evening, when some travel- 

 lers arrived at the Hospice, and sought shelter for the night. They 

 had ascended from Martigny, and seemed much fatigued with 

 the journey ; the party consisted of an English gentleman, his 

 daughter, and their domestics. Every accommodation that our roof 

 could afford was speedily furnished them, and they were soon able 

 to partake of some refreshment in the saloon. During the repast, 

 more visitors arrived who had come up from the side of Piedmont ; 

 these comprised an Italian nobleman, with his lady and their retain- 

 ers. On being brought into the saloon, the count glanced round 

 the apartment ; and, perceiving the strangers, he turned haughtily 

 away and enquired whether he could not have private accommoda- 

 tion ; but the countess drew towards the fire, (near which the pre- 

 vious guests were seated), and made some general remarks. She 

 was about to place herself at the board, when she was arrested by 

 the intense gaze of the younger English traveller, which was fixed 

 full upon her. They were both silent, when a sudden exclamation 

 — Pauline ! Mary ! now burst simultaneously from either of them, 

 and the next moment they were folded in each other's embrace. 

 This extraordinary scene was quickly explained. When girls, they 

 had been at the same school together at Geneva, and had there 

 formed a romantic, but sincere friendship. Events hereafter to be 

 mentioned had divided them for some years. They had never even 

 communicated by letter, and knew not of the changes that each had 

 experienced. It may be, therefore, imagined what inexpressible 

 delight this unexpected meeting had afforded them. When the 

 first emotions of surprise were past, the young countess presented 

 her husband to her English friends. He made the acknowledge- 

 ments of courtsey with cold civility, which could not pass un- 

 observed j it caused the indignant blood of wounded pride to man- 

 tle on the cheek of the countess, whilst it only called a smile of 

 conscious superiority and good natured pity, to curl the lip of the 

 Englishman, who returned the greeting of the Italian in a manner 

 more polite, but not the less distant. 



