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 himself. His confidence was not, I trust, misplaced."

Madeline would have spoken in the fullness of her heart, but the Countess motioned her to silence.

"To contribute (she resumed) to the happiness of his child, will, as I have already said, impart the truest satisfaction to me; should we therefore, receive from de Sevignie the satisfactory explanation we desire, I shall immediately give to the adopted daughter of my care, that portion, which from the first moment I took her under my protection, I designed for her; a portion, which though not sufficient to purchase her all the luxuries, is amply so to procure her all the comforts of life; and, to a soul gentle and unassuming as is my Madeline's, those comforts will, I think, yield more real felicity than all its luxuries or dissipations could do. Should the little portion I can give her, be a means of procuring for her