Page:Clermont - Roche (1798, volume 4).djvu/169

 (said he), and amongst them I mean to seek a shelter."

"The holy man, who was so kind to my mother and her unfortunate family, may then again befriend you," cried she.

"Alas! (exclaimed St. Julian) he is gone long since to receive the blessed reward his virtues merited: about eight years ago I was assured of his death by the termination of our correspondence."

"Oh! my father (cried Madeline, grasping his arm), may I not accompany you?"

"Lord! my Lady (exclaimed Lafroy), surely you could not think of such a thing; surely you could not think of abandoning all prospect of rank and independence?"

"Yes, (replied Madeline); to have the power of mitigating a father's distresses, I would abandon every prospect this world could present."

"But by accompanying him you would rather increase than mitigate his distresses. Situations which, on his own account, he would not mind, he would then tremble