PAUL AND VIRGINIA. 15I 



of about feven hundred tons burthen, commanded 

 by a captain named M. Aubin; diat (he was four 

 leagues diftant at moft, and that (he could not 

 come to her moorings, off Port-Louis, till the 

 next day, in the afternoon, if the wind was fair! 

 It was then a dead calm. The pilot then delivered 

 to the Governor the letters which the veffel had 

 brought from France. Among others, there was 

 one in Virginian h and- writing for Madame de la 

 Tour. Paul k'lzed it immediately, and, having 

 kilTed it with tranfport, he put it in his bofom^ 

 and flew to the plantation. As foon as he could 

 perceive the family, from afar, who were waiting 

 his return on Rock-Farewel, he raifed the letter 

 into the air, without the power of uttering a fyl- 

 lable : immediately, the whole family alTembled 

 round Madame de la Tour to hear it read. 



Virginia informed her mother that flie had ex- 

 perienced very harlh treatment from her grand- 

 aunt, who had attempted to force her into mar- 

 riage, had afterwards difmherited her, and then 

 turned her away, at a time which would not per- 

 mit her to arrive at the Ifle of France, till the hur- 

 ricane feafon : that (he had, to no purpofe, endea- 

 voured to foften her, by reprefenting what flie 

 owed to her mother, and to the connexions of her 

 early life j that (he had been treated by her, as a 

 girl whofe head was turned with reading ro- 



L 4 mances; 



