Soon after the nuptials, my husband and Orlando were

remanded to their regiments. My brother's affections were now

unalterably fixed upon Louisa, but a sentiment of delicacy and

generosity still kept him silent. He thought, poor as he was, to

solicit the hand of Louisa, would be to repay the kindness of the

count with ingratitude. I have seen the inward struggles of his heart,

and mine has bled for him. The count and Louisa so earnestly solicited

me to remain at the villa during the campaign, that at length my

husband consented. We parted--O! let me forget that period!--Had I

accompanied him, all might have been well; and the long, long years of

affliction which followed had been spared me.'

The horn now sounded the signal for dinner, and interrupted the

narrative of Madame. Her beauteous auditors wiped the tears from their

eyes, and with extreme reluctance descended to the hall. The day was

occupied with company and diversions, and it was not till late in the

evening that they were suffered to retire. They hastened to madame

immediately upon their being released; and too much interested for

sleep, and too importunate to be repulsed, solicited the sequel of her

story. She objected the lateness of the hour, but at length yielded to

their entreaties. They drew their chairs close to hers; and every

sense being absorbed in the single one of hearing, followed her

through the course of her narrative.

'My brother again departed without disclosing his sentiments; the

effort it cost him was evident, but his sense of honor surmounted

every opposing consideration. Louisa again drooped, and pined in

silent sorrow. I lamented equally for my friend and my brother; and

have a thousand times accused that delicacy as false, which withheld

them from the happiness they might so easily and so innocently have

obtained. The behaviour of the count, at least to my eye, seemed to

indicate the satisfaction which this union would have given him. It

was about this period that the marquis Mazzini first saw and became

enamoured of Louisa. His proposals were very flattering, but the

count forbore to exert the undue authority of a father; and he ceased

to press the connection, when he perceived that Louisa was really

averse to it. Louisa was sensible of the generosity of his conduct,

and she could scarcely reject the alliance without a sigh, which her

gratitude paid to the kindness of her father.

'But an event now happened which dissolved at once our happiness, and

all our air-drawn schemes for futurity. A dispute, which it seems

originated in a trifle, but soon increased to a serious degree, arose

between the Chevalier de Menon and my brother. It was decided by the

sword, and my dear brother fell by the hand of my husband. I shall

pass over this period of my life. It is too painful for recollection.

The effect of this event upon Louisa was such as may be imagined. The

world was now become indifferent to her, and as she had no prospect of

happiness for herself, she was unwilling to withhold it from the

father who had deserved so much of her. After some time, when the

marquis renewed his addresses, she gave him her hand. The characters

of the marquis and his lady were in their nature too opposite to form

a happy union. Of this Louisa was very soon sensible; and though the

mildness of her disposition made her tamely submit to the unfeeling

authority of her husband, his behaviour sunk deep in her heart, and

she pined in secret. It was impossible for her to avoid opposing the

character of the marquis to that of him upon whom her affections had

been so fondly and so justly fixed. The comparison increased her

sufferings, which soon preyed upon her constitution, and very visibly

affected her health. Her situation deeply afflicted the count, and

united with the infirmities of age to shorten his life.




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