know that he
was all in all to her,--had he been her guest for more than two weeks?
And had she been permitted the joy of promoting his comfort in a
thousand little, unnoted, womanly ways? Had he sat at her table? Had
they watched together, night and day, by his father's bed?--talking
through the night hours, unwearied when the morning broke, unwilling to
welcome the first rays of the sun, because their sweet, inexhaustible
converse came to an end? Had they shared the happiness of ameliorating
Count Tristan's melancholy state, and seeing him daily improve? And now
it was all over: she must resume her old course of life, her temporarily
laid aside labors! To muse too long upon departed happiness would unfit
her for those. Even the sad joy of recollection was denied her.

She sent for Mrs. Lawkins and directed everything to be restored to its
usual order. The draperies in the entry were to be taken down;--no, let
them remain; Madeleine had been accustomed to see that portion of the
house divided from the rest; let them stay. In passing through the
drawing-room she noticed Maurice's trunk, which he had not thought of
packing. Though it gave her many a pang, because she was forced to
realize more keenly that he was surely gone, it was also with a sense of
pleasure that she collected together the articles belonging to him and
packed them carefully. Hers was a nature peculiarly susceptible to the
pure delight of serving, aiding, sparing trouble to those whom she
loved. The meanest household drudgery, the severest labor, the most
prosaic making and mending, would have gained a charm and been idealized
into pleasures, if they contributed to the well-being of those dear to
her; but, when performed for the one more precious than all others, they
became positive joys.

She left Mrs. Lawkins busied in the arrangement of the apartments, and
went upstairs to the workroom, which she had not entered for nearly
three weeks. She had not seen any of her _employees_, except Ruth, and
Mademoiselle Victorine, since they all had learned her rank. Her
unexpected appearance created a great commotion. No one but Ruth had
expected to behold her in that apartment again. The women all rose
respectfully; but an unwonted restraint checked the expression of
gratification which her presence ever imparted. Madeleine smilingly bade
them to be seated; then passed around the table and spoke to every
needle-woman in turn, inquiring after the personal heal