s,
and had fallen into a state of insensibility, which was mistaken by
those around her for death itself, and from hence originated the account
of her having expired; but to-day hopes are entertained of her ultimate
recovery."

"Merciful heavens! Can this be possible?" exclaimed the prince, filled
with sudden alarm; while Clemence, who understood nothing of all this,
looked on with undisguised astonishment.

"My lord," said David, still occupied with Fleur-de-Marie, "there is no
need of the slightest apprehension respecting this young lady, but it is
absolutely necessary she should be in the open air; this chair might be
easily rolled out on the terrace, by opening the door leading to the
garden; she would then immediately recover consciousness."

Murphy instantly ran to open the glass door, which led to a broad
terrace, then, aided by David, he gently rolled the armchair on to it.

"Alas!" cried Rodolph, as soon as Murphy and David were at a distance,
"you have yet to learn that the Countess Sarah is the mother of
Fleur-de-Marie; and I believed her dead."

A few moments of profound silence followed; Madame d'Harville became
deadly pale, while an icy coldness seemed to chill her heart.

"Let me briefly explain," continued Rodolph, in extreme agitation,
mingled with bitter sarcasm, "that this ambitious and selfish woman,
caring for nothing but my rank and title, contrived, during my extreme
youth, to draw me into a secret marriage, which was afterwards annulled.
Being desirous of contracting a second marriage, the countess occasioned
all the misfortunes of her unhappy child, by abandoning her to the care
of mercenary and unprincipled people."

"Now I can account for the repugnance you manifested towards her."

"And you may likewise understand why she so bitterly pursued you, and
had twice so nearly effected your destruction by her infamous slanders.
Still a prey to her insatiate ambition, she hoped, by separating me from
any other attachment, to draw me a second time within her snares. And
this heartless woman still exists."

"Nay, nay, my lord, that tone of bitter regret is not worthy of you, any
more than the feeling which dictated it."

"You do not know the wretchedness she has already caused me; and even
now that I had dared to dream of happiness, and looked forward to
obtaining in you the comfort and solace of my life, as well as a mother
for my newly recovered child, this woman again crosses my path, and