He stopped, as he was passing me, and, wringing my hand with emotion, pointed to your mother, and, in a voice scarcely audible, said, "You love her, Justine; comfort her,--cherish her, as I would have done,--God knows how fervently,--had she permitted me.

Farewell, my sister, forever." Madame de la Tour was too much agitated to proceed, and even Lucie willingly suspended the painful interest to indulge the natural emotions which her parents' history excited.

After a brief interval, Madame de la Tour thus continued: "You must suffer me to pass rapidly over the remainder of this sad tale, my dear Lucie.

It was long before your mother revived to perfect consciousness; and the shock which she had received was only a prelude to still deeper misery.

The conduct of de Courcy was too soon explained.
Yielding to the fatal error, that she had given her affections to the Count de -- --, in the excitement of his passion, he sent a challenge, which was instantly accepted.