cottage; and when morning
dawned, Victorine was aware that her sister was much worse than she had
even feared. A medical man was sent for, who pronounced it a fever; and
in a short time the poor girl was completely unconscious of all passing
round her. In the excitement that ensued, no one thought of Lisette, and
the evening had nearly set in before Mimi suddenly declared that she had
not made her appearance that day. It was in vain Valmont and D'Elsac
inquired of the neighbours if they had seen her--they received the same
answer from all; and Mimi soon discovered that she had taken some clothes
away with her. And now, indeed, were the family of Durocher to be
pitied;--the eldest daughter in a state of delirium, and the third having
disappeared in such a manner that no traces of her could be found. It is
true they knew Lisette could not be in distress; for, amongst the gifts
made to her the day before, she had received the yearly income of the
Rosiere, which is one hundred and twenty livres; a sum of no little
importance to people living in the humble mode her parents did.

It was impossible, however, long to keep the affair a secret from
Margoton and Victorine: and the heart-broken father--for he really loved
his children--was forced to leave, what he imagined to be, the dying bed
of his unhappy Caliste, to seek after that unnatural sister who had
helped to bring her to that state.

What a household of sorrow was the kind D'Elsac left to superintend! and,
had it not been for Victorine, the poor man would have added another to
the causes of grief in that cottage. Now it was that Victorine's
character shone forth; she was the nurse of her sister, the consoler of
her mother and her uncle, and the gentle guide and director to the young
Mimi.

Tenderly did she watch over all, bringing peace to their minds from that
source from which peace alone can spring. Even in that time of trial was
the sweet conviction brought to the mind of this young girl, that it was
Divine Love that chastened them; and even then was she enabled to
perceive that our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work for
us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

Perhaps Margoton suffered more from the bad conduct of Lisette than from
the really dangerous state of Caliste; for Lisette had been a source of
greater pride to her, and now bitter was the change of pride to shame in
her bosom. To Lisette she had made her sisters giv