ability of the governor, said to him,--"I wish to be your friend: for
you are a good man." Monsieur de la Bourdonnais received with pleasure
this insular compliment, and, taking Paul by the hand, assured him he
might rely upon his friendship.

After breakfast, he took Madame de la Tour aside and informed her
that an opportunity would soon offer itself of sending her daughter to
France, in a ship which was going to sail in a short time; that he would
put her under the charge of a lady, one of the passengers, who was
a relation of his own; and that she must not think of renouncing an
immense fortune, on account of the pain of being separated from her
daughter for a brief interval. "Your aunt," he added, "cannot live
more than two years; of this I am assured by her friends. Think of it
seriously. Fortune does not visit us every day. Consult your friends.
I am sure that every person of good sense will be of my opinion." She
answered, "that, as she desired no other happiness henceforth in the
world than in promoting that of her daughter, she hoped to be allowed to
leave her departure for France to her own inclination."

Madame de la Tour was not sorry to find an opportunity of separating
Paul and Virginia for a short time, and provide by this means, for their
mutual felicity at a future period. She took her daughter aside, and
said to her,--"My dear child, our servants are now old. Paul is still
very young, Margaret is advanced in years, and I am already infirm. If
I should die what would become of you, without fortune, in the midst
of these deserts? You would then be left alone, without any person who
could afford you much assistance, and would be obliged to labour
without ceasing, as a hired servant, in order to support your wretched
existence. This idea overcomes me with sorrow." Virginia answered,--"God
has appointed us to labour, and to bless him every day. Up to this time
he has never forsaken us, and he never will forsake us in time to come.
His providence watches most especially over the unfortunate. You have
told me this very often, my dear mother! I cannot resolve to leave you."
Madame de la Tour replied, with much emotion,--"I have no other aim than
to render you happy, and to marry you one day to Paul, who is not really
your brother. Remember then that his fortune depends upon you."

A young girl who is in love believes that every one else is ignorant of
her passion; she throws over her eyes the veil with which