and my own." (He might have
said the support of his grandmother also, but was too delicate.) "There
is no opening for me in France, no occupation that I am fitted at
present to pursue."

"I do not undertake to comprehend what you mean by your
_prospects_--your _engagements_--your _exerting_ yourself--or any of the
other low phrases that drop so readily from your tongue. These are not
matters with which I can have any concern. I have nothing to do with
your _prospects_, your _exertions_, your _engagements_, or your
_intentions_. _My intentions_ are plain and unalterable. As soon as the
physician says my son is in a state to travel, I shall engage our
passage upon the first steamer that starts for Havre, and turn my back
upon this miserable land, to which you, Bertha, by your capricious
folly, lured us. It does not matter who accompanies me, or who does not;
my son and I will depart,--_that is settled_."

Bertha and Maurice were silent through dismay. The countess finding that
neither replied, said to her niece,--

"Upon what have you resolved, Bertha? Will you allow me to return alone?
Do you intend to refuse to go with me, because my grandson has coldly
disregarded all the ties of kindred and severed himself from his father
and me?"

Bertha answered quickly, "I wish, oh! I wish you could be persuaded to
remain here; but if not,--if you _will_ go,--if you _must_ go--I will go
with you."

It was long since the countess had looked so gratified, and she drew
Bertha toward her and kissed her brow, exclaiming,--

"There is, at least, _one_ of my own kindred left to me! Thank God!"

"Do not suppose," said Maurice, "if this voyage is inevitable, if you
cannot be persuaded to think the step hazardous, that I shall allow you
to take it without a proper escort. If you return to France, let the
consequence be what it may, I will go with you. Circumstances render it
impossible that I should take up my residence there, but I will make the
voyage with you,--I will see you and my father in your own home, and
then"--

The countess contemplated him approvingly. "That was spoken like
yourself, Maurice! I have still a grandson upon whom I can lean. Now,
let us hasten our departure; let us start the instant it is possible; we
cannot set out too soon to please _me_."

The countess _never_ thought of the _necessity_, _propriety_, or
_charity_, of pleasing any one else. Could any one's pleasure be of
importance weighed against hers