Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 3).djvu/198

 a promise of being faithful to her, and never marrying, as the difference in their rank precluded him from giving his hand to her."

"Did she never mention his name to you?" asked Ferdinand eagerly.

"She did," resumed Fatima; "it was Count Renaud."

Ferdinand struck his breast, greatly agitated, but requested she would proceed without attending to him.

"My mother informed me, that after my birth, he grew fonder of her every hour; but at length his father compelled him to marry a lady of rank and fortune, under the penalty of being disinherited, if he refused. This caused equal grief to both; and it was long before my mother could be reconciled to see him, or receive his visits; but her dependence on him, and affection for me, at length prevailed, and she had every reason to be convinced that all his real love was confined to her. Under this conviction, she submitted to her situation.