These sad thoughts threw poor Isabelle into a profound melancholy, which she in vain endeavoured to shake off.

As long as she considered that her position as an actress would be an obstacle to de Sigognac, she had resolutely repelled the idea of a marriage with him, but now that an unhoped-for, undreamed-of stroke of destiny had heaped upon her all the good things that heart could desire, she would have loved to reward, with the gift of her hand and fortune, the faithful lover who had addressed her when she was poor and lowly--it seemed an actual meanness, to her generous spirit, not to share her prosperity with the devoted companion of her misery.

But all that she could do was to be faithful to him--for she dared not say a word in his favour, either to the prince or to Vallombreuse.
Very soon the young duke was well enough to join his father and sister at meals, and he manifested such respectful and affectionate deference to the prince, and such an ingenuous and delicate tenderness towards Isabelle, that it was evident he had, in spite of his apparent frivolity, a mind and character very superior to what one would have expected to find in such a licentious, ungovernable youth as he had been, and which gave promise of an honourable and useful manhood.
Isabelle took her part modestly--but with a very sweet dignity, that sat well upon her--in the conversation at the table, and in the salon, and her remarks were so to the point, so witty, and so apropos, that the prince was astonished as well as charmed, and grew daily more proud of and devoted to his new treasure; finding a happiness and satisfaction he had longed for all his life in the affection and devotion of his children.
At last Vallombreuse was pronounced well enough to mount his horse, and go for a ride in the forest--which he had long been sighing for--and Isabelle gladly consented to bear him company.

They looked a wonderfully handsome pair, as they rode leisurely through the leafy arcades.

But there was one very marked difference between them.
The young man's countenance was radiant with happiness and smiles, but the girl's face was clouded over with an abiding melancholy.
Occasionally her brother's lively sallies would bring a faint smile to her sweet lips, but they fell back immediately into the mournful droop that had become habitual with them.