After her departure, the friendship of Elizabeth and Ida acquired strength daily; though their intercourse was much restricted by Count Frederick’s evident dissatisfaction at it, which the unsuspecting Ida attributed to some unaccountable antipathy conceived by her uncle against her lovely friend. The fact was, that with all his excellent qualities the Count was not without his weaknesses; among the chief of which maybe reckoned suspicion, bigotry, and a fondness for mystery even in the most innocent things. The last induced him carefully to conceal the proposals which (under the seal of secrecy) he had laid before Elizabeth’s father: the first, made him fancy, that Ida had fathomed his purpose, and from interested motives had endeavoured to set her friend against him; and his superstitious enthusiasm led him to believe that the best means of obtaining Elizabeth’s heart and hand was to tell his rosary more frequently than ever, and bestow enormous donations on the Church. He gave much; he promised more; and those promises were not breathed in inattentive ears. The Count’s domestic Priest and the chaplain of the March family found, that their own advantage was concerned in the accomplishment of Count Frederick’s wishes; and they held many a secret and serious conference on the means of bringing about this union. Besides the grand inducement of avarice, Father Hilarius (so was the priest of Torrenburg named) had additional motives for action. He looked on the Damsels of Werdenberg with all that aversion, which old family-servants ever bear to new-comers; whom they generally consider as intruders, and whom they fear, lest by _their_ influence their own should be diminished. But with most invincible antipathy did the Monk regard the gay and thoughtless Ida, who had sometimes indulged her mirth at his expence, and whom he was determined to expel from her uncle’s heart, whatever trouble it might cost him. Elizabeth by this time had no secrets for Ida. She informed her, that her parents had promised her hand to a powerful nobleman, and had ordered her in the most peremptory manner to prepare for the reception of her future husband, without even condescending to inform her of his name or situation. However, she was in truth little curious respecting him, for her heart was already bestowed upon another. —“Yes!” said she to Ida, “I love Count Henry of Montfort, and have every reason to believe, that I am beloved in return most sincerely. Be this unknown bridegroom whom he may, he will find himself only an object of aversion in the eyes of Elizabeth of March.”—