e of
Borodaile.

"Thank God," he said faintly, "that you were not the victim," and with
those words he fell back insensible. They carried him to his lodgings.
His wound was accurately examined. Though not mortal, it was of a
dangerous nature; and the surgeons ended a very painful operation by
promising a very lingering recovery.

What a charming satisfaction for being insulted!

CHAPTER XLVI.

Je me contente de ce qui peut s'ecrire, et je reve tout ce
qui peut se rever.--DE SEVIGNE.

["I content myself with writing what I am able, and I dream all I
possibly can dream."]

About a week after his wound, and the second morning of his return to
sense and consciousness, when Clarence opened his eyes, they fell upon
a female form seated watchfully and anxiously by his bedside. He raised
himself in mute surprise, and the figure, startled by the motion, rose,
drew the curtain, and vanished. With great difficulty he rang his bell.
His valet, Harrison, on whose mind, though it was of no very exalted
order, the kindness and suavity of his master had made a great
impression, instantly appeared.

"Who was that lady?" asked Linden. "How came she here?"

Harrison smiled: "Oh, sir, pray please to lie down, and make yourself
easy: the lady knows you very well and would come here; she insists upon
staying in the house, so we made up a bed in the drawing-room and she
has watched by you night and day. She speaks very little English to
be sure, but your honour knows, begging your pardon, how well I speak
French."

"French?" said Clarence, faintly,--"French? In Heaven's name, who is
she?"

"A Madame--Madame--La Melonveal, or some such name, sir," said the
valet.

Clarence fell back. At that moment his hand was pressed. He turned, and
saw Talbot by his side. The kind old man had not suffered La Meronville
to be Linden's only nurse: notwithstanding his age and peculiarity of
habits, he had fixed his abode all the day in Clarence's house, and at
night, instead of returning to his own home, had taken up his lodgings
at the nearest hotel.

With a jealous and anxious eye to the real interest and respectability
of his adopted son, Talbot had exerted all his address, and even all his
power, to induce La Meronville, who had made her settlement previous to
Talbot's, to quit the house, but in vain. With that obstinacy which a
Frenchwoman when she is sentimental mistakes for nobility of heart, the
ci-devant amante of Lor