The total silence prevailing through the chamber, the Bed despoiled of its furniture, the cheerless hearth where stood an extinguished Lamp, and a few dying Plants in the window which, since Elvira's loss, had been neglected, inspired Antonia with a melancholy awe.

The gloom of night gave strength to this sensation.

She placed her light upon the Table, and sank into a large chair, in which She had seen her Mother seated a thousand and a thousand times.

She was never to see her seated there again! Tears unbidden streamed down her cheek, and She abandoned herself to the sadness which grew deeper with every moment.
Ashamed of her weakness, She at length rose from her seat: She proceeded to seek for what had brought her to this melancholy scene.
The small collection of Books was arranged upon several shelves in order.

Antonia examined them without finding any thing likely to interest her, till She put her hand upon a volume of old Spanish Ballads.