During this contest of amity, Hippolita entered her daughter's
chamber.

"Madam," said she to Isabella, "you have so much tenderness for
Matilda, and interest yourself so kindly in whatever affects our
wretched house, that I can have no secrets with my child which are
not proper for you to hear."

The princesses were all attention and anxiety.

"Know then, Madam," continued Hippolita, "and you my dearest
Matilda, that being convinced by all the events of these two last
ominous days, that heaven purposes the sceptre of Otranto should
pass from Manfred's hands into those of the Marquis Frederic, I
have been perhaps inspired with the thought of averting our total
destruction by the union of our rival houses. With this view I
have been proposing to Manfred, my lord, to tender this dear, dear
child to Frederic, your father."

"Me to Lord Frederic!" cried Matilda; "good heavens! my gracious
mother--and have you named it to my father?"

"I have," said Hippolita; "he listened benignly to my proposal, and
is gone to break it to the Marquis."

"Ah! wretched princess!" cried Isabella; "what hast thou done! what
ruin has thy inadvertent goodness been preparing for thyself, for
me, and for Matilda!"

"Ruin from me to you and to my child!" said Hippolita "what can