the tops of the rocks give me less joy than the sight of
you. I love my mother,--I love yours; but when they call you their son,
I love them a thousand times more. When they caress you, I feel it more
sensibly than when I am caressed myself. You ask me what makes you love
me. Why, all creatures that are brought up together love one another.
Look at our birds; reared up in the same nests, they love each other as
we do; they are always together like us. Hark! how they call and answer
from one tree to another. So when the echoes bring to my ears the air
which you play on your flute on the top of the mountain, I repeat the
words at the bottom of the valley. You are dear to me more especially
since the day when you wanted to fight the master of the slave for me.
Since that time how often have I said to myself, 'Ah, my brother has a
good heart; but for him, I should have died of terror.' I pray to
God every day for my mother and for yours; for you, and for our
poor servants; but when I pronounce your name, my devotion seems to
increase;--I ask so earnestly of God that no harm may befall you! Why
do you go so far, and climb so high, to seek fruits and flowers for
me? Have we not enough in our garden already? How much you are
fatigued,--you look so warm!"--and with her little white handkerchief
she would wipe the damps from his face, and then imprint a tender kiss
on his forehead.

For some time past, however, Virginia had felt her heart agitated by
new sensations. Her beautiful blue eyes lost their lustre, her cheek
its freshness, and her frame was overpowered with a universal langour.
Serenity no longer sat upon her brow, nor smiles played upon her lips.
She would become all at once gay without cause for joy, and melancholy
without any subject for grief. She fled her innocent amusements, her
gentle toils, and even the society of her beloved family; wandering
about the most unfrequented parts of the plantations, and seeking every
where the rest which she could no where find. Sometimes, at the sight
of Paul, she advanced sportively to meet him; but, when about to accost
him, was overcome by a sudden confusion; her pale cheeks were covered
with blushes, and her eyes no longer dared to meet those of her brother.
Paul said to her,--"The rocks are covered with verdure, our birds begin
to sing when you approach, everything around you is gay, and you only
are unhappy." He then endeavoured to soothe her by his embraces, but
she turned