Page:The Castle of Wolfenbach - Parsons - 1854.djvu/226

 children: I proposed it to Agatha, and promised her great rewards; she readily agreed to every thing I proposed; the dresses were changed in a moment, and the children being only six weeks old, had been little seen. I left the room. Soon after, a servant came to the Countess's apartment, (where I then was, to pay my morning respects, a custom I always observed) and requested me to step out on business. "O, Sir! (cried she) we are all undone—the poor nurse is frantic—the sweet child, the young Countess is dead! expired an hour ago, in convulsions, whilst poor Agatha thought it in a sweet sleep." I pretended to be most exceedingly shocked; exclaimed against the nurse, sent for a physician—would have the body examined I did so; I ran to Agatha's apartment, the other end of the house, abused her for carelessness; she, who was really grieved for the loss of her own child, shed torrents of tears. The physician came; he examined the child; he said, it was really sudden convulsions had carried it off and no fault in the nurse, the disorder being common among infants. This satisfied every one; nobody troubled themselves about Agatha's child. I sent off to the Count Morlini's, who had left us the day before, intending to return the following one. He came immediately; I detained the physician. The Count made very minute enquiries and was, or appeared to be contented with the physician's deposition. "Alas! my Lord, (cried I) who shall break this melancholy accident to the Countess? I cannot, I dare not do it. Unhappy lady! (I exclaimed) how great are your sorrows! my own share in them is lost, when I consider your's." The Count shook my hand in a friendly manner, but spoke not." He went from me to his daughter; I retired to my own apartment. I was now my brother's heir to his title and estates; every thing promised to give me an undisputed right; and I enjoyed, by anticipation, the pleasures which fortune and rank would bestow." Here Mr. Weimar stopped. "I cannot proceed now,