FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86  
87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   >>   >|  
od!" said Daniel, "send me some inspiration." But no inspiration came; and in vain did he torture his mind; he was unable to think. When he reached home, he went to bed as usual; but the consciousness of his misfortunes kept him awake. At nine o'clock in the morning, having never closed his eyes, and feeling utterly overcome by sleeplessness and fatigue, he was just about to get up, when some one knocked at his door. He rose hastily, put on his clothes, and went to open the door. It was M. de Brevan, who came to hear all about his new acquaintance of last night, and whose first word was,-- "Well?" "Alas!" replied Daniel, "I think the wisest plan would be to give it up." "Upon my word, you are in great haste to surrender." "And what would you do in my place, eh? That woman has beauty enough to drive any one mad; and the count is a lost man." And, before Maxime had time to reply, Daniel told him simply and frankly all about his love for Miss Ville-Handry, the hopes he had been encouraged to cherish, and the dangers that threatened his happiness in life. "For I can no longer deceive myself, Maxime," he concluded with a tone of utter despair. "I foresee, I know, what is going to happen. Henrietta will obstinately, and at any risk, do every thing in the world to prevent her father's marriage with Miss Brandon; she will struggle to the bitter end. Ought I, or ought I not, to help her? Certainly. Can we succeed? No! But we shall have a mortal enemy in Miss Brandon; and, on the morning after her wedding, her first thought will be how to avenge herself, and how to separate Henrietta and myself forever." Little as Brevan was generally given to show his feelings, he was evidently deeply touched by his friend's despair. "In short, my dear fellow, you have reached the point at which we no longer know what to do. All the more reason, then, that you should listen to the calm advice of a friend. You must have yourself presented at Miss Brandon's house." "She has invited me." "Well, then, do not hesitate, but go there." "What for?" "Not for much. You will pay some compliments to Miss Sarah; you will be all attention to Mrs. Brian; and you will try to win over the Hon. Thomas Elgin. Finally, and above all, you will be all ears and all eyes." "I am sorry to say I do not understand you yet." "What? Don't you see that the position of these daring adventurers, however secure it may appear, may, after all
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86  
87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Daniel

 

Brandon

 

Brevan

 
Maxime
 
friend
 

inspiration

 
reached
 

longer

 

morning

 

Henrietta


despair
 

prevent

 

Little

 

generally

 

bitter

 
evidently
 

struggle

 

feelings

 

succeed

 
deeply

marriage

 
mortal
 

father

 

wedding

 

thought

 

separate

 

forever

 
avenge
 

Certainly

 

listen


Finally

 

Thomas

 

adventurers

 

daring

 

secure

 

position

 

understand

 

attention

 

reason

 

fellow


advice

 

compliments

 

hesitate

 

presented

 

invited

 

touched

 
knocked
 

hastily

 

overcome

 

sleeplessness