ed
gloom of a reverse!"

"You will find nothing permanent in this changeful world, Lucie; and,
from your exuberant gaiety, wisely reserve a portion of cheerfulness,
at least, to support you, in the darker moments of misfortune, which the
most favored cannot always escape. I have had my share of them; and it
is not a trifling evil, that my husband is now a prisoner, in the hands
of his most deadly enemy; but it is weakness to indulge in useless
regrets and apprehensions, and I have only to perform my duty
faithfully, and cherish the hope, that his own courage, or the
assistance of his friends, will soon effect his rescue."

"We have but too much reason to believe, that they are all sharers of
his captivity," returned Lucie; "had De Valette, or any of them escaped,
they would surely have returned hither, before this time."

"They would scarcely be welcome here," said Mad. de la Tour, "if they
returned, before they had done all that brave men could do, to recover
the liberty of him, whom they have pledged themselves to serve!"

"Their own feelings, I doubt not," replied Lucie, "would prompt them to
use every exertion to effect that object, and Eustace's courage, we
know, is unquestioned. We have heard, too," she added, with slight
hesitation, "that Mr. Stanhope procured another vessel, after his
disaster, to go on and assist my uncle; and if, as is possible, he and
De Valette are still at liberty, it would be strange indeed, if their
united efforts proved unavailing."

"I have no reason to doubt the courage or sincerity of Mr. Stanhope,"
said Mad. de la Tour; "but it is most natural to place our chief
reliance on those whom we have long known and regarded; and Eustace is
certainly more deeply concerned in the honor and safety of his uncle,
than a stranger possibly can be."

"His personal feelings may be more strongly interested," replied Lucie;
"but where honor or duty is involved, I believe Stanhope would peril his
life against that of the bravest man in Christendom."

"Your good opinion of this English stranger," her aunt coolly replied,
"seems rather to increase; but absence is a deceitful medium,
particularly when the object viewed through it is invested with the
attractions of a foolish partiality."

"Absence has never influenced my feelings on this subject," said Lucie,
deeply coloring; "my opinion of Mr. Stanhope has been the same, from the
earliest period of our acquaintance."

"It is strange," said Mada