you, madam, (said the Countess) your relation has broke in upon my favourite plan. I hoped to have carried my daughter to Naples, and to have seen her married and settled there for life. Ah! (said she) to what purpose did I find her, if we are to be separated again?" "But where is the necessity for a separation? (said the Countess Marcilini) cannot you alternately visit each other every year?" "No, (replied she;) when she marries there will be many things to prevent it. Indeed, (added she, in tears) good and amiable as the Count is, I wish Matilda had never known him." "Possibly, madam, (answered the Marchioness, very gravely) she might then never have seen the convent, never have been carried off, and you still ignorant you had such a daughter living, whose generous self denial deserves some praise as the Count's disinterested and uncommon passion is entitled to some consideration: but I beg your ladyship's pardon; I have only done my duty in making this
