My imprudence has been the cause of this
last stroke; yet I feel that he would gladly have me near him."

"He would indeed, my best Madeleine; but, my grandmother, alas! I have
no hope of moving her."

"If her son were dying," persisted Madeleine, "her heart might be
softened. If he asked for me, she might let me come to him; it would
soothe _him_ perhaps, and how it would comfort _me_! I shall be at the
hotel nearly as soon as you are. I will wait in my carriage until you
come to me and tell me how he is. Perhaps I _may_ be permitted to enter
if he asks for me. Do not forget that I am there."

Did Maurice ever forget her, for a single moment?

As soon as Madeleine's carriage could be brought to the door she
followed her cousin.

It was perhaps surprising that she was moved with so much sympathy for
one whom she not only had good reason to dislike, but toward whom she
had formerly experienced an unconquerable repugnance; but, with spirits
chastened and purified, as hers had been, a tenderness is always kindled
toward those whom they are permitted to _serve_. The very office of
ministration (the office of angels), softens the heart, and substitutes
pity for loathing, the strong inclination to regenerate for the spirit
of condemnation. While Madeleine was daily ministering to the count, she
found herself becoming attached to him, and, with little effort of
volition, she blotted the past from her own memory.

The action of Count Tristan's mind had been peculiar; when the discovery
of his dishonorable manoeuvring caused him a shock which planted the
first seeds of his present malady,--when he had fallen into the depths
of despair,--it was Madeleine's hand that raised him up, that saved him
from disgrace, and saved his son from being the innocent participator of
that shame. For the first time in his life a strong sense of gratitude
was awakened in his breast. Again, it was through Madeleine that the
votes of so much importance to him, and which he had believed
unattainable, were procured; she stood before him for the second time in
the light of a benefactress. He had been seized with apoplexy while
conversing with her; when reason was dimly restored, his mind went back
to his last conscious thought, and _that_ had been of her,--hence his
immediate recognition of her alone. Her patient, gentle, tender care had
impressed him with reverence; he was magnetized by her sphere of
unselfishness, forgiveness and goodness, and