have held the first place. As
soon as we left the house he insisted upon going to Madeleine's; he
would take no refusal; his affection for her is so strong that"--

"How dare you talk to me of his affection for that artful, designing
girl, who is a disgrace to us all,--whose low machinations have placed
her beneath my contempt? Henceforth, thank Heaven! we shall be out of
the reach of her vile manoeuvres."

This was beyond endurance. Maurice forgot everything but the insulting
epithets applied to Madeleine, and said, with a dignity as imposing as
Madame de Gramont's own had ever been,--

"My grandmother, never shall such language be applied to Madeleine again
in my presence, by you or any one! Madeleine is not merely my cousin,
she is the woman I love best and honor most in the world;--the woman
who, if I ever marry, will become my wife."

"Never! never!" cried the countess, fiercely. "That shall never be, come
what may!"

Maurice, recovering himself somewhat, went on,--

"It is upon a far sadder subject that I wish to speak to you,--I meant
to break the news gently,--I hoped to spare you a severe shock, but you
force me to come to the point at once. My dear father has had another
seizure of the same nature as the two former."

"Parricide!" shrieked the countess, "you have done this! You have killed
your father! The agitation occasioned by your taking him to that house
and letting him see that unhappy girl has caused this attack; if he
should die you will be his murderer!"

What reply could Maurice make which would not enrage her more? The
countess went on, furiously,--

"Go,--bring him back to me quickly! He shall not remain there! By all
that is holy, he shall not."

"I come to ask you to go to him since he cannot come to you," said
Maurice, with as much mildness as he could throw into his tone.

"Yes, I will go, I will go!" replied his grandmother. "I cannot trust
you; I will go myself, and see him brought here."

She retired to her own chamber to make ready, and Bertha quickly
followed her example.

Meantime Madeleine with Mrs. Lawkins, watched beside the count. His
attack was briefer than the former ones. When it was over, he fell into
a deep and placid slumber. During that sleep his face changed! Those who
have watched the dying and recognized the indescribable expression which
marks the countenance when it is "death-struck" will understand what
alteration is meant. He waked slowly and gently,--fi