Page:Clermont - Roche (1798, volume 1).djvu/204

 not find any great difficulty in acquiring such a resolution."

"You doubt my sincerity then (still detaining her); oh! would to heaven I could, I durst convince you of it: yet, alas, why do I utter such a wish, when I know not whether that conviction would be of any consequence to you; know not, do I say?—your altered manner too plainly assures me that it would not."

"Pray let me go (cried Madeline, inexpressibly agitated); I am impatient to return to Madame Chatteneuf, for I know she will wonder at my long absence."

"Go then, madam (said de Sevignie, instantly dropping her hand);—go, madam to the happy beings you regard, and excuse my having detained you so long from them: I see you are displeased at my having done so; I see my society is hateful to you. There was a period when---(he paused, then again proceeded)—when I imagined Madeline Clermont would rather have sought to mitigate than fly from the sorrows of a friend; would