Page:Clermont - Roche (1798, volume 2).djvu/160

 "My dear young lady (said the good old man, with his usual mildness), what is the matter;—is our beloved benefactress worse?"

"No, I trust and believe not (replied Madeline); her sleep has been long and tranquil."

"If she is not worse then—if you did not come to call me to her, what could have brought you to the hall?"

Madeline, as briefly as possible, informed him; and in doing so, notwithstanding she wished to conceal it, in order to avoid the imputation of folly, betrayed the fright he had given her.

The good father was too well acquainted with human nature not to know, that the present hour was an improper one for reasoning with her against the weakness which exposed her to it. He determined, however, from a wish of promoting the happiness of a young creature, which he knew nothing