The Mysteries of Udolpho

And shall no lay of death

With pleasing murmur sooth

Her parted soul?

Shall no tear wet her grave?

SAYERS

On the following morning, Emily went early to the apartment of Madame

Montoni, who had slept well, and was much recovered. Her spirits had

also returned with her health, and her resolution to oppose Montoni's

demands revived, though it yet struggled with her fears, which Emily,

who trembled for the consequence of further opposition, endeavoured to

confirm.

Her aunt, as has been already shewn, had a disposition, which delighted

in contradiction, and which taught her, when unpleasant circumstances

were offered to her understanding, not to enquire into their truth, but

to seek for arguments, by which she might make them appear false. Long

habit had so entirely confirmed this natural propensity, that she

was not conscious of possessing it. Emily's remonstrances and

representations, therefore, roused her pride, instead of alarming, or

convincing her judgment, and she still relied upon the discovery of

some means, by which she might yet avoid submitting to the demand of her

husband.

Considering, that, if she could once escape from his castle,

she might defy his power, and, obtaining a decisive separation, live in

comfort on the estates, that yet remained for her, she mentioned this to

her niece, who accorded with her in the wish, but differed from her, as

to the probability of its completion. She represented the impossibility

of passing the gates, secured and guarded as they were, and the extreme

danger of committing her design to the discretion of a servant, who

might either purposely betray, or accidentally disclose it.--Montoni's

vengeance would also disdain restraint, if her intention was detected:

and, though Emily wished, as fervently as she could do, to regain her

freedom, and return to France, she consulted only Madame Montoni's

safety, and persevered in advising her to relinquish her settlement,

without braving further outrage.

The struggle of contrary emotions, however, continued to rage in her

aunt's bosom, and she still brooded over the chance of effecting an

escape. While she thus sat, Montoni entered the room, and, without

noticing his wife's indisposition, said, that he came to remind her of

the impolicy of trifling with him, and that he gave her only till the

evening to determine, whether she would consent to his demand, or compel

him, by a refusal, to remove her to the east turret. He added, that a

party of cavaliers would dine with him, that day, and that he expected

that she would sit at the head of the table, where Emily, also, must

be present. Madame Montoni was now on the point of uttering an absolute

refusal, but, suddenly considering, that her liberty, during this

entertainment, though circumscribed, might favour her further plans, she

acquiesced, with seeming reluctance, and Montoni, soon after, left the

apartment. His command struck Emily with surprise and apprehension, who

shrank from the thought of being exposed to the gaze of strangers, such

as her fancy represented these to be, and the words of Count Morano, now

again recollected, did not sooth her fears.