I was alone with her, and never shall I forget the impression his appearance made on me.

His dress was disordered, his countenance pale and haggard, and every feature marked with the deepest anguish.

Your mother rose with a faint exclamation, but instantly sunk again upon her seat.

He approached her, and took her hands, even with gentleness, between his own, though every limb trembled with agitation.
"Lucie," he said, with unnatural calmness, and fixing his troubled eye on her face; "I come to bid you a long,--long farewell!" "What mean you, de Courcy ?" she asked, with extreme alarm; "speak, I conjure you, and relieve this torturing suspense!" "My honor has been avenged!" he replied, with a hoarse and rapid utterance; "and from this moment we part--forever!" "Part! de Courcy, my husband!" she exclaimed, in a voice of agony; "tell me, what"-- "The concluding words died on her quivering lips; the sudden conflict of strong emotions could not be endured, and she sunk insensible on my bosom.

Frantic with alarm, I folded my arms around her, and, unwilling to summon any witnesses, attempted to recall her senses, by administering such restoratives as were fortunately within my reach.