The Mysteries of Udolpho

What transport to retrace our early plays,

Our easy bliss, when each thing joy supplied

The woods, the mountains and the warbling maze

Of the wild brooks!

THOMSON

Blanche's slumbers continued, till long after the hour, which she had

so impatiently anticipated, for her woman, fatigued with travelling,

did not call her, till breakfast was nearly ready. Her disappointment,

however, was instantly forgotten, when, on opening the casement, she

saw, on one hand, the wide sea sparkling in the morning rays, with its

stealing sails and glancing oars; and, on the other, the fresh woods,

the plains far-stretching and the blue mountains, all glowing with the

splendour of day.

As she inspired the pure breeze, health spread a deeper blush upon her

countenance, and pleasure danced in her eyes.

'Who could first invent convents!' said she, 'and who could first

persuade people to go into them? and to make religion a pretence, too,

where all that should inspire it, is so carefully shut out! God is

best pleased with the homage of a grateful heart, and, when we view his

glories, we feel most grateful. I never felt so much devotion, during

the many dull years I was in the convent, as I have done in the few

hours, that I have been here, where I need only look on all around

me--to adore God in my inmost heart!'

Saying this, she left the window, bounded along the gallery, and, in

the next moment, was in the breakfast room, where the Count was

already seated. The cheerfulness of a bright sunshine had dispersed

the melancholy glooms of his reflections, a pleasant smile was on his

countenance, and he spoke in an enlivening voice to Blanche, whose

heart echoed back the tones

. Henri and, soon after, the Countess with

Mademoiselle Bearn appeared, and the whole party seemed to acknowledge

the influence of the scene; even the Countess was so much re-animated as

to receive the civilities of her husband with complacency, and but once

forgot her good-humour, which was when she asked whether they had any

neighbours, who were likely to make THIS BARBAROUS SPOT more tolerable,

and whether the Count believed it possible for her to exist here,

without some amusement?

Soon after breakfast the party dispersed; the Count, ordering his

steward to attend him in the library, went to survey the condition of

his premises, and to visit some of his tenants; Henri hastened with

alacrity to the shore to examine a boat, that was to bear them on a

little voyage in the evening and to superintend the adjustment of a silk

awning; while the Countess, attended by Mademoiselle Bearn, retired to

an apartment on the modern side of the chateau, which was fitted up with

airy elegance; and, as the windows opened upon balconies, that fronted

the sea, she was there saved from a view of the HORRID Pyrenees. Here,

while she reclined on a sofa, and, casting her languid eyes over the

ocean, which appeared beyond the wood-tops, indulged in the luxuries of

ENNUI, her companion read aloud a sentimental novel, on some fashionable

system of philosophy, for the Countess was herself somewhat of a

PHILOSOPHER, especially as to INFIDELITY, and among a certain circle her

opinions were waited for with impatience, and received as doctrines.