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 Her relation ended, the Countess sat many minutes without speaking, as if absorbed in profound meditation. She then broke the silence, by thanking Madeline with the most gracious benignancy for the confidence she had reposed in her.

"Your narrative, my dear Madeline, (she cried) confirms the opinion I entertained, since the evening I saw you together, of the strength of your attachment for de Sevignie;—nay, do not be confused, my dear; love, excited by merit, we have no reason to be ashamed of.

"It will please you, no doubt, to hear, that I think his attachment as tender as your own; but it is one, with which his reason is evidently at variance. Why it is so, the latter part of his conversation this evening seems to me to explain. A distressed situation has hitherto pointed out the necessity of his trying to conquer his passion; but I own it appears to me strange and mysterious that a man of his elegant appear-