Page:Clermont - Roche (1798, volume 2).djvu/209

 (continued he, glancing at Madeline who sat beside the bed) I shall not rank the friend who now sighs to be presented to you."

"You would be wrong, I am sure, if you did," said Madame D'Alembert, raising herself a little upon her pillow, and extending her white hand, as if to receive Madeline's. Father Bertrand took it, and instantly put it into her's.—"You have both (said he, in a softened voice) lost a mother; be ye therefore as sisters to each other, a mutual comfort and support."

"I have long (cried Madame D'Alembert, turning her soft blue eyes on Madeline, and pressing her hand between her's) been prepared to love and to admire you; and she who prepared me to do so, I hoped would have introduced us to each other; but that hope, like many others, was indulged but to be disappointed." Madeline knelt down, and pressed her hand to her lips; Madame D'Alembert gently disengaged it, and throw-