communication; the Lady, Matilda, will doubtless conform herself to your wishes."
The Countess struck with her words and manner of speaking them, caught her hand, and kissing it, "Pardon me, dearest madam, (said she) if I have appeared petulant and ungrateful, my heart is not so, but consider how natural it is for a mother, just in possession of a treasure so long and painfully regretted as entirely lost, to be jealous of a superior attachment, and unhappy at the idea of parting from an object so entwined about her heart." "It is natural, my dear madam, (answered the Marchioness) and if I did not hope some method might be found out to obviate the objection, I believe the Count would have little chance of succeeding with———" "Your and my Matilda, (said the Countess, eagerly.) That "Lady Matilda" struck me to the heart." "She is indeed mine, (replied the Marchioness) my adopted child; and had the want of fortune only prevented her union with the Count, we offered largely to remove
