PAUL AND VIRGINIA. 83 



" caufe : my heart has been pierced by the harfli- 

 " nefs of my relations, and by the lofs of my beloved 

 " hufband : but, fince that period, I have enjoyed 

 " more confolation and felicity with you, in thefe 

 ** poor cottages, than ever the riches of my family 

 *^ gave me reafon to expedl, even in my native 

 " country." At thefe words, tears of joy bedewed 

 the cheeks of the whole family : Paul^ folding 

 Madame de la Tour in his arms, exclaimed : " And 

 *' I will never, never quit you, nor go from hence 

 " to the Indies ; you fhall experience no want, 

 *' my dear mother, as long as we are able to work 

 " for you." Of all the fociety, howevsr^ the per- 

 fon who teftified the leaft joy, and who, never- 

 thelefs, felt it the mofl, was Firginia. A gentle 

 cheerfulnefs appeared in her the remainder of the 

 day, and the return of her tranquillity redoubled 

 the general fatisfadion. 



Next morning, at fun-rife, as they were ofTering 

 up their accuftomed matin prayer, which pre- 

 ceded their breakfaft, Domingo informed them, that 

 a gentleman, on horfeback, was approaching the 

 plantation, followed by two Haves. It was M. de 

 la Boiirdonaye. He entered the cottage, where the 

 whole family were at table : Ftrginia was ferving 

 up, according to the cuftom of the country, coffee 

 and boiled rice; there were, likewite, hot potatoes 

 and freOi bananas : the only diflies which they bad 



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