The Countess, convinced that to delay would rather increase than diminish the emotions of both, hastened to the carriage, led by Clermont, and followed by Madeline, her attendants, and the weeping Jaqueline.
"I shall certainly break my heart (cried the latter as she walked by Madeline), and this great lady will have my death to answer for: Lord send she mayn't have any more sins upon her conscience; they say those Paris folks are sometimes very wicked."
Madeline cast her pensive eyes alternately on her father, his cottage, and the lovely prospect surrounding it: "oh, dear preceptor of my youth! oh, solitary scenes of early infancy! (she cried to herself) how gladly would I resign all the pleasure which, perhaps, awaits my entrance into another situation, to continue the companion of one,—the peaceful inmate of the other!"
More dejected than words can express, she entered the coach, whose swiftness
