In truth Antonia's situation was sufficiently embarrassing and
unpleasant. She was alone in the midst of a dissipated and
expensive City; She was ill provided with money, and worse with
Friends. Her aunt Leonella was still at Cordova, and She knew
not her direction. Of the Marquis de las Cisternas She heard no
news: As to Lorenzo, She had long given up the idea of
possessing any interest in his bosom. She knew not to whom She
could address herself in her present dilemma. She wished to
consult Ambrosio; But She remembered her Mother's injunctions to
shun him as much as possible, and the last conversation which
Elvira had held with her upon the subject had given her
sufficient lights respecting his designs to put her upon her
guard against him in future. Still all her Mother's warnings
could not make her change her good opinion of the Friar. She
continued to feel that his friendship and society were requisite
to her happiness: She looked upon his failings with a partial
eye, and could not persuade herself that He really had intended
her ruin. However, Elvira had positively commanded her to drop
his acquaintance, and She had too much respect for her orders to
disobey them.
At length She resolved to address herself for advice and
protection to the Marquis de las Cisternas, as being her nearest
Relation. She wrote to him, briefly stating her desolate
situation; She besought him to compassionate his Brother's Child,
to continue to her Elvira's pension, and to authorise her
retiring to his old Castle in Murcia, which till now had been her
retreat.
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