Think of it, there may be some other way which will be less painful.

Suggest one more practicable, and depend upon Lucie's obedience." These words, so true, so artless, so innocent, made me realize the immense superiority of nature's eloquence over that of philosophical intellect.

For the first time I folded this angelic being in my arms, exclaiming, "Yes, dearest Lucie, yes, thou hast it in thy power to afford the sweetest relief to my devouring pain; abandon to my ardent kisses thy divine lips which have just assured me of thy love." An hour passed in the most delightful silence, which nothing interrupted except these words murmured now and then by Lucie, "Oh, God! is it true?
is it not a dream ?" Yet I respected her innocence, and the more readily that she abandoned herself entirely and without the slightest resistance.
At last, extricating herself gently from my arms, she said, with some uneasiness, "My heart begins to speak, I must go;" and she instantly rose.

Having somewhat rearranged her dress she sat down, and her mother, coming in at that moment, complimented me upon my good looks and my bright countenance, and told Lucie to dress herself to attend mass.

Lucie came back an hour later, and expressed her joy and her pride at the wonderful cure she thought she had performed upon me, for the healthy appearance I was then shewing convinced her of my love much better than the pitiful state in which she had found me in the morning.