(* this poem and that entitled the traveller in vol.ii, have already appeared in a periodical publication.[a.r.])preferring the solitude of her room to the company of the persons below stairs, emily dined above, and maddelina was suffered to attend her, from whose simple conversation she learned, that the peasant and his wife were old inhabitants of this cottage, which had been purchased for them by montoni, in reward of some service, rendered him, many years before, by marco, to whom carlo, the steward at the castle, was nearly related.'so many years ago, signora,' added maddelina, 'that i know nothing about it; but my father did the signor a great good, for my mother has often said to him, this cottage was the least he ought to have had.'
to the mention of this circumstance emily listened with a painful interest, since it appeared to give a frightful colour to the character of marco, whose service, thus rewarded by montoni, she could scarcely doubt have been criminal; and, if so, had too much reason to believe, that she had been committed into his hands for some desperate purpose.'did you ever hear how many years it is,'
said emily, who was considering of signora laurentini's disappearance from udolpho, 'since your father performed the services you spoke of?'
'it was a little before he came to live at the cottage, signora,'
replied maddelina, 'and that is about eighteen years ago.'
this was near the period, when signora laurentini had been said to disappear, and it occurred to emily, that marco had assisted in that mysterious affair, and, perhaps, had been employed in a murder! this horrible suggestion fixed her in such profound reverie, that maddelina quitted the room, unperceived by her, and she remained unconscious of all around her, for a considerable time.tears, at length, came to her relief, after indulging which, her spirits becoming calmer, she ceased to tremble at a view of evils, that might never arrive; and had sufficient resolution to endeavour to withdraw her thoughts from the contemplation of her own interests.