Page 226 (1/2)

Convulsive sobs followed, and then the piercing accents of an

agonizing spirit burst forth Eloom, that surrounded her, in fearful expectation The laan to subdue terror; it was possible she ht

ad sympathy,

and she laid her hand on the door While she hesitated she thought

she knew this voice, disguised as it was by tones of grief Having,

therefore, set down the laently opened the door,

within which all was dark, except that froht appeared; and she stepped softly on Before she reached it, the

appearance of Mada,

and with a handkerchief held to her eyes, struck her, and she paused

Some person was seated in a chair by the fire, but who it was she could

not distinguish He spoke, now and then, in a low voice, that did not

allow Eht, that Madame

Montoni, at those times, wept the more, as too much occupied by her

own distress, to observe Eh anxious to knohat occasioned this, and as the person ad-roo her, or to take advantage of her situation, by listening to a

private discourse She, therefore, stepped softly back, and, after

some further difficulty, found the way to her own chath, excluded the surprise and concern she had felt,

respecting Madame Montoni

Annette, however, returned without satisfactory intelligence, for the