FRENCH AUTHORESSES. 278 



" f If they will admit me. But they say I am too delicate, I have 

 had a severe illness, and since then I am frequently unwell/ 



" Here the Conductor summoned the passengers, and the two new 

 friends separated." 



The awful crisis reserved for her by fate, which rose darkly to the 

 imagination of Rose, was nearer than she could have anticipated, 

 for the very evening of her arrival at Tarbes the town was visited 

 by two young men who were taken a tour in search of amusement. 

 The one was a young officer of the guards, who turns out to be 

 Horace de Cazales, and the other Laurence d'Armagnac, a young 

 painter whom he had taken with him for the sake of his society. 

 They visit the theatre. D'Armagnac's susceptible heart is smitten 

 with the graces of Rose. He flies to the green-room, and with the 

 assistance of his friend, concludes a bargain with the infamous mother 

 which makes the daughter his own. It is really edifying to observe 

 the arts and eloquence by which she overcomes the resistance of her 

 daughter. Laurence gets intoxicated at the festivity that precedes 

 his appointment, and his friend, Cazales, takes his place. He is so 

 struck with the energetic firmness and instinctive virtue of Rose, 

 that he recoils abashed and confounded. In his enthusiasm he offers 

 to become the protector of that virtue which appeared to him so mar- 

 vellous ; and to place it beyond the possibility of future danger, pro- 

 poses to send her to his sister, under whose protection she might 

 remain until she could be otherwise disposed of. Rose eagerly em- 

 braced the offer ; a fresh bargain was concluded with Mdlle. Prim- 

 rose, and Rose is transferred, under the care of the Sister of Charity, 

 and in company with the novice Blanche, to the residence of the 

 devout and beneficent Mdlle. Cazales in the town of Auch. 



Mdlle. Cazales was deformed in person, and a devotee of the 

 most confirmed cast. She undertook to forward what she consi- 

 dered a meritorious work, and, after considering matters, proposed 

 to Rose to place her in a convent. This she was able to effect by 



her interest with the Archbishop of V . But none but those 



of gentle blood could obtain admission into the Convent of the 

 Augustines, and Mdlle. Cazales satisfied the inquiries of the bishop 

 upon this point, by declaring that Mdlle. de Beaumont was the 

 natural daughter of a person of high rank, and this charitable lie 

 concluded the affair. 



A thousand commentaries were made throughout the province 

 on the handsome protegee of Mdlle. Cazales and his lordship. 

 They became perfectly alive to her importance in the world. In a 

 very short time she passed for the natural daughter of the late Duke 

 de Berri. On her quitting the convent she would certainly be pre- 

 sented at court with the title of governess of the children of France, 

 or, at least, as maid of honour to the Duchess de Berri. 



Here we must remark, that her theatrical education, joined to 

 great natural parts and energy of character, had eminently fitted Rose 

 for playing her part in this new society, while her beauty made a 

 favourable impression on all beholders. But spite of the attentions 

 of which she was the object spite of her desire to like the life that 

 was opening before her, her active spirit drooped like the wild bird 



