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Rh and abstracted. The picturesque—for there was much in this early renunciation of the world, in the avowed sentiment, in the costume, in the situation, which that word only can express—once grown familiar, Francesca saw not a little to deprecate and regret in those vain fervours, and round of useless penances. One useful lesson then sowed its first seeds within her mind—that, even more than pleasure, or sentiment, or reflection, life requires to be filled with active duties. Time hung heavily on her hands; at last she began to wish that even Madame de Soissons would redeem her promise of coming to see her; but she never came.

It is a mortifying conviction to arrive at, that of being utterly forgotten even by those to whom we are indifferent. Francesca had of late been much nattered and caressed, and was somewhat unprepared for this complete oblivion. Once or twice she thought, would the Cardinal renew his offer? Could she have looked over the records of Mazarin's memory, she would have found herself almost completely obliterated from them. Under the impulse of strong and unusual feeling, he had been anxious to serve her: he marvelled at the extreme folly of a refusal—perhaps regretted afterwards that he had given himself any trouble; and there the matter and his recollection of it ended.