She was unable to converse as usual with the Countess; and her friend was too delicate to notice her dejection, any otherwise than by an increased attention; an attention which at last had the desired effect. Madeline no sooner perceived the efforts made to amuse her, than she felt ashamed of the weakness which had rendered such efforts necessary, and rallied her spirits; she tried to cheer, to tranquillize them, by reflecting that, in a few days, in all probability she would again behold de Sevignie; and that, as she had been taught a criterion whereby to judge of him, her suspense relative to him must soon be terminated. So soothing was this idea, that almost as soon as conceived, it dissipated her melancholy; and she was again able to converse and enjoy the conversation of the Countess. She wrote to her father an account of her meeting with de Sevignie; but she could not bring herself to tell him the agitation that meeting occasioned. The Countess also informed him of it, and the observations she had made; but
