“Tomorrow, Ambrosio? Tomorrow? Oh! surely you cannot mean it! You cannot resolve on driving me to despair! You cannot have the cruelty.⁠ ⁠…”

“You have heard my decision, and it must be obeyed. The laws of our order forbid your stay: it would be perjury to conceal that a woman is within these walls, and my vows will oblige me to declare your story to the community. You must from hence!⁠—I pity you, but can do no more!”

He pronounced these words in a faint and trembling voice: then rising from his seat, he would have hastened towards the monastery. Uttering a loud shriek, Matilda followed, and detained him.

“Stay yet one moment, Ambrosio! Hear me yet speak one word!”

“I dare not listen! Release me! You know my resolution!”

“But one word! But one last word, and I have done!”