7* STUDIES OF NATURE. 



" thyfelf, and on our poor domeftics : but when 

 *' I pronounce thy name, my devotion feems to 

 " increafe, I To earneftly intreat the Almighty that 

 *' no evil may befal thee ! Why deft thou go fo far 

 *' off, and climb to fuch heights, to find me fruits 

 " and flowers ? Have we not enough in the gar- 

 " den ? How fatigued, and in what a heat, thou 

 " art jufl: now ?" Then, with her little white hand- 

 kerchief, fhe wiped his forehead and his cheeks, 

 and gave him a thoufand kifles. 



Neverthclefs, for fome time paft, Virginia had 

 felt herfelf difturbed with an unknown malady. 

 Her fine blue eyes were tinged with black, her co- 

 lour faded, and an univerfal languor weakened her 

 body. Serenity no longer fat upon her forehead, nor 

 fmiles upon her lips : all at once might be feen in 

 her, gaiety without joy, and fadnefs without forrow. 

 She v/ithdrew herfelf from her innocent amufe- 

 ments, from her fweet occupations, and the fociety 

 of her much- loved family. She wandered here and 

 there, in the mofl folitary places of the plantation, 

 feeking reft, and finding none. Sometimes, at the 

 fight of Paul^ (lie ran up to him, in a playful man- 

 ner; when all of a fudden, as fhe was on the point 

 of coming in contaâ: with him, an unaccountable 

 embarraflhient feized her ; a lively red coloured 

 her pale cheeks, and her eyes no longer dared to 

 fix themfelves on his. Paul thus addrefl^ed her : 



»' Thefe 



