lyo STUDIES OF NATURE, 



back his, and turned his head alide, that he might 

 not fee him. 



As for myfelf, I remained in the dwelling of 

 my unfortunate friends, to adminifter to them, 

 as well as to Paul, all the affiftance I could. At 

 the end of three weeks, the latter was able to 

 walk ; but mental depreffion feemed to increafe, 

 in proportion as his body grew ft ronger. He was 

 infenfible to every thing; his looks were languid, 

 and he did not anfwer a fyllable to all the quef- 

 tions which were put to him. Madame de la 'Tour, 

 who was in a dying condition, frequently faid to 

 him ; " My fon, fo long as I fee you, I think I 

 ** behold my dear Virginia^ At the name of 

 Virginia, he ftarted up, and haftened from her, in 

 fpite of the entreaties of his mother, who called 

 him back to her friend. He wandered alone to 

 the garden, and feated himfclf at the foot of Vir- 

 ginia •=> cocoa-tree, with his eyes ftedfaftly fixed on 

 her fountain. The Governor's furgeon, who had 

 taken the greateft care of him, and of the ladies, 

 told us, that, in order to remove the gloomy me- 

 lancholy which had fettled on his mind, we ought 

 to allow him to do every thing that he pleafed, 

 without contradiding him in any refpeâ: ; for this 

 was the only means of vanquilhing that filence 

 which he fo obftinately preferved. 



I refolved 



