Page:Younger brother, or, The sufferings of Saint Andre.pdf/12

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to feel all the emotions of the most passionate gratitude. Thus, in the midst of painful horrors, and on the borders of the grave, did love unite forever, two unfortunate hearts.

St Andre who soon began to be sensible of his gradual recovery yielded to the dangerous impression of a passion that for the first time he now experienced. He soon obtained the confession on which his happiness depended Blanche had betrayed herself, even before she was beloved: and now, happy and tranquil, confirmed by transport of joy, what her despair had already declared. Bertrand himself, impelled by pity, tenderness, and perhaps ambition, consented after a feint resistance, to the united entreaties of St Andre and his daughter. He approved of the idea of a secret union; and St Andre, six months after his illness being then twenty-five married Blanche and attained the height of his wishes. Neither desiring, nor expecting any assistance from his father, he resolved to conceal his marriage, and to take the first favorable opportunity of returning to the East Indies, accompanied by his wife and her father. He took the