There he heard of the
poor little orphan of the guillotine, who had no friend in the world
but her father's old servant. He pitied me, and after many
consultations with Father and Mother Cliquot, he assumed the
position of guardian to me, and placed me at one of the best schools
in Paris. He lingered in the city and came to see me very often; but
always saw me in the presence of Madame, the directress. I clung to
him with affection as to a father or an elder brother, and I knew he
loved me with the tender, protecting affection that he would have
given a younger sister, had he possessed one. Ah! Doctor Rocke, tell
me, besides yourself, are there many other men in your State like
him?"
"I knew but one such; but go on, dear Madam."
"When I had been to school some months he came to me one day
scarcely able to conceal his woe. He told me that his father was ill
and that he should have to sail in the first packet from Havre, and
that, in fact, he had then come to take leave of me. I was wild with
grief, not only upon his account but upon my own, at the prospect of
losing him, my only friend. I was but a child, and a French child to
boot. I knew nothing of the world; I regarded this noble gentleman,
who was so much my superior in years as in everything else, as a
father, guardian or elder brother; so in an agony of grief I threw
myself into his arms, sobbing and weeping bitterly and imploring him
not to break my heart by leaving me.
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