The Mysteries of Udolpho

During her state of insensibility, La Voisin had given directions for

the coffin to be closed, and he succeeded in persuading Emily to forbear

revisiting the chamber. She, indeed, felt herself unequal to this, and

also perceived the necessity of sparing her spirits, and recollecting

fortitude sufficient to bear her through the approaching scene. St.

Aubert had given a particular injunction, that his remains should be

interred in the church of the convent of St. Clair, and, in mentioning

the north chancel, near the ancient tomb of the Villerois, had pointed

out the exact spot, where he wished to be laid. The superior had granted

this place for the interment, and thither, therefore, the sad procession

now moved, which was met, at the gates, by the venerable priest,

followed by a train of friars. Every person, who heard the solemn chant

of the anthem, and the peal of the organ, that struck up, when the

body entered the church, and saw also the feeble steps, and the assumed

tranquillity of Emily, gave her involuntary tears. She shed none,

but walked, her face partly shaded by a thin black veil, between two

persons, who supported her, preceded by the abbess, and followed by

nuns, whose plaintive voices mellowed the swelling harmony of the dirge.

When the procession came to the grave the music ceased. Emily drew the

veil entirely over her face, and, in a momentary pause, between the

anthem and the rest of the service, her sobs were distinctly audible.

The holy father began the service, and Emily again commanded her

feelings, till the coffin was let down, and she heard the earth rattle

on its lid. Then, as she shuddered, a groan burst from her heart, and

she leaned for support on the person who stood next to her. In a few

moments she recovered; and, when she heard those affecting and sublime

words: 'His body is buried in peace, and his soul returns to Him that

gave it,' her anguish softened into tears.

The abbess led her from the church into her own parlour, and there

administered all the consolations, that religion and gentle sympathy

can give. Emily struggled against the pressure of grief; but the abbess,

observing her attentively, ordered a bed to be prepared, and recommended

her to retire to repose. She also kindly claimed her promise to remain

a few days at the convent; and Emily, who had no wish to return to

the cottage, the scene of all her sufferings, had leisure, now that no

immediate care pressed upon her attention, to feel the indisposition,

which disabled her from immediately travelling.

Meanwhile, the maternal kindness of the abbess, and the gentle

attentions of the nuns did all, that was possible, towards soothing her

spirits and restoring her health. But the latter was too deeply wounded,

through the medium of her mind, to be quickly revived. She lingered for

some weeks at the convent, under the influence of a slow fever, wishing

to return home, yet unable to go thither; often even reluctant to

leave the spot where her father's relics were deposited, and sometimes

soothing herself with the consideration, that, if she died here, her

remains would repose beside those of St. Aubert. In the meanwhile, she

sent letters to Madame Cheron and to the old housekeeper, informing them

of the sad event, that had taken place, and of her own situation.

From her aunt she received an answer, abounding more in common-place

condolement, than in traits of real sorrow, which assured her, that a

servant should be sent to conduct her to La Vallee, for that her

own time was so much occupied by company, that she had no leisure to

undertake so long a journey. However Emily might prefer La Vallee to

Tholouse, she could not be insensible to the indecorous and unkind

conduct of her aunt, in suffering her to return thither, where she had

no longer a relation to console and protect her; a conduct, which was

the more culpable, since St. Aubert had appointed Madame Cheron the

guardian of his orphan daughter.