Forget that I have ever spoken to you of myself, tell me why you are sad, and why you have become more than usually so during these past four days ?" Raoul was deeply and sensibly moved by these sweet and melancholy tones; and as he could not, at the moment, find a word to say, the young girl again came to his assistance.
"Pity me," she said.

"My mother was born in France, and I can truly affirm that I, too, am French in blood, as well as in feeling; but the leaden atmosphere and characteristic gloom of England seem to weigh upon me.

Sometimes my dreams are golden-hued and full of wonderful enjoyments, when suddenly a mist rises and overspreads my fancy, blotting them out forever.

Such, indeed, is the case at the present moment.

Forgive me; I have now said enough on that subject; give me your hand, and relate you griefs to me as a friend." "You say you are French in heart and soul ?" "Yes, not only, I repeat it, that my mother was French, but, further, as my father, a friend of King Charles I., was exiled in France, I, during the trial of that prince, as well as during the Protector's life, was brought up in Paris; at the Restoration of King Charles II., my poor father returned to England, where he died almost immediately afterwards; and then the king created me a duchess, and has dowered me according to my rank.
"Have you any relations in France ?" Raoul inquired, with the deepest interest.
"I have a sister there, my senior by seven or eight years, who was married in France, and was early left a widow; her name is Madame de Belliere.