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 impassioned tenderness), did your father, or did you ever condescend to bestow one thought upon me after we parted?"

"Yes, sometimes (said Madeline hesitatingly and blushing), my father has talked of the unlucky accident you met with, and expressed his hopes of your having quite recovered it."

"A more unlucky accident indeed (said de Sevignie, laying his hand expressively upon his heart), than he was aware of."

"I am sorry for it," cried Madeline, who, though she understood his meaning, wished to appear ignorant of it.

"His simples, for once, were unsuccessful (resumed de Sevignie); yet, notwithstanding their failure, through his means only I could expect the wound completely cured."

Madeline could no longer disguise her confusion; and averting her eyes to avoid his, to her infinite surprise and embarrassment, beheld the Countess de Merville at a little distance attentively observing her: