I possess at last the love of a soul." "Yes, my dear brother, it is yours," Isabelle replied; "and it is a great source of happiness to me that I am able to assure you of it.

You have in me a devoted sister and friend, who will love you doubly to make up for the years we have lost--above all, now that you have promised me to correct the faults that have so grieved and alarmed our dear father, and to exhibit only the good qualities of which YOU have plenty." "Oh! you little preacher," cried Vallombreuse, with a bright, admiring smile; "how you take advantage of my weakness.

However, it is perfectly true that I have been a dreadful monster, but I really do mean to do better in future--if not for love of virtue itself, at least to avoid seeing my charming sister put on a severe, disapproving air, at some atrocious escapade of mine.

Still, I fear that I shall always be Folly, as you will be Reason." "If you will persist in paying me such high-flown compliments," said Isabelle, with a little shrug of her pretty shoulders, "I shall certainly resume the reading, and you will have to listen to a long story that the corsair is just about to relate to the beautiful princess, his captive, in the cabin of his galley." "Oh, no! surely I do not deserve such a severe punishment as that.

Even at the risk of appearing garrulous, I do so want to talk a little.