The Mysteries of Udolpho

To the abbess, however, she immediately wrote, mentioning her arrival

in Languedoc and her wish to be received into the convent, as a boarder;

she also sent letters to Monsieur Quesnel and to Valancourt, whom she

merely informed of her arrival in France; and, as she knew not where the

latter might be stationed, she directed her letter to his brother's seat

in Gascony.

In the evening, Lady Blanche and Mons. Du Pont walked with Emily to

the cottage of La Voisin, which she had now a melancholy pleasure in

approaching, for time had softened her grief for the loss of St. Aubert,

though it could not annihilate it, and she felt a soothing sadness in

indulging the recollections, which this scene recalled. La Voisin was

still living, and seemed to enjoy, as much as formerly, the tranquil

evening of a blameless life. He was sitting at the door of his cottage,

watching some of his grandchildren, playing on the grass before him,

and, now and then, with a laugh, or a commendation, encouraging their

sports. He immediately recollected Emily, whom he was much pleased to

see, and she was as rejoiced to hear, that he had not lost one of his

family, since her departure.

'Yes, ma'amselle,' said the old man, 'we all live merrily together

still, thank God! and I believe there is not a happier family to be

found in Languedoc, than ours.'

Emily did not trust herself in the chamber, where St. Aubert died; and,

after half an hour's conversation with La Voisin and his family, she

left the cottage. During these the first days of her stay at Chateau-le-Blanc, she was

often affected, by observing the deep, but silent melancholy, which, at

times, stole over Du Pont; and Emily, pitying the self-delusion, which

disarmed him of the will to depart, determined to withdraw herself as

soon as the respect she owed the Count and Countess De Villefort would

permit.

The dejection of his friend soon alarmed the anxiety of the

Count, to whom Du Pont, at length, confided the secret of his hopeless

affection, which, however, the former could only commiserate, though he

secretly determined to befriend his suit, if an opportunity of doing so

should ever occur. Considering the dangerous situation of Du Pont, he

but feebly opposed his intention of leaving Chateau-le-Blanc, on the

following day, but drew from him a promise of a longer visit, when he

could return with safety to his peace. Emily herself, though she could

not encourage his affection, esteemed him both for the many virtues he

possessed, and for the services she had received from him; and it was

not without tender emotions of gratitude and pity, that she now saw him

depart for his family seat in Gascony; while he took leave of her with

a countenance so expressive of love and grief, as to interest the Count

more warmly in his cause than before.