rom Paris, they put some clean linen on the Marquis,
and the old man and Henri assisted him to bed. The Marquis continued to
get worse, and before night he was in a violent fever. This fever
continued many days, and brought him very near to death. Whilst this
illness lasted Henri never left him, and the Governor of the castle not
only provided him with everything he wanted, but brought a doctor from
the village to see him.

"For many days the poor Marquis did not seem to know anything that
passed, or to know where he was, or who was with him, but seemed in
great horror of mind, expressing great dread of death; but when his
fever left him, though he was very weak, he recovered his recollection,
and expressed himself very thankful for the kindness he had received,
particularly from the Governor and the doctor. As to Henri, he kissed
him often, called him his darling son, and could not bear him to leave
him for a moment. It was lovely to see how Henri watched by his poor
father, and how he talked to him, sometimes soothing and comforting,
and sometimes giving him descriptions of the happy manner in which he
used to live in Claude's cottage.

"'And all this happiness, dear father,' he would say, 'came from our
being religious; for all the ways of religion are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.'

"'Claude and Maria,' said the Marquis one day to Henri, 'were very good
people; they always led innocent lives; they had no sins to trouble
their consciences, therefore they were happy; but I have many evil
actions to remember, Henri.'

"'Oh, dear father,' said Henri, 'do let me read the Bible to you. I
have got a little Bible, and I will, if you please, read a little to
you every day, as you can bear it.'

"The Marquis did not refuse to hear Henri read; accordingly, every day
his good son used to read certain portions of Scripture to his father.
The Marquis, having nothing else to take his attention--no cards, no
wine, no gay companions--and being still confined by weakness to his
bed, often lay for many hours listening to the Word of God. At first,
as he afterwards owned, he had no pleasure in it, and would rather have
avoided hearing it; but how could he refuse his darling son, when he
begged him to hear a little--only a little more?

"In the meantime, the Marchioness appeared sullen, proud, and
unforgiving: she seldom came near her husband, but sometimes spent the
day in crying and lamenting herself, and s