190 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



1 conducted Madame de la 'Tour to my ha- 

 bitation ; flie fupported herfelf, in the midft of 

 lofles fo terrible, with a greatnefs of foul altoge- 

 ther incredible. She adminiflered confolation to 

 Paul and Margaret to the very laft moment, as if 

 fhe had no diftrefs but theirs to fupport. When 

 they were no more, (lie fpoke to me of them every 

 day, as if they had been beloved friends, ftill in 

 the neighbourhood. She furvived them, however, 

 only a month. As to her aunt, far from reproach- 

 ing her with thefc misfortunes, fhe prayed God 

 to forgive her, and to appeafe the dreadful horrors 

 of mind with which, we heard, (he had been feized, 

 immediately after Ihe had difmiffed Virginia^ with 

 fo much barbarity. 



This unnatural relation foon met with the pn- 

 nilhment due to her cruelty. 1 heard, by the fuc- 

 ceffive arrival of feveral vefTels, that fhe was tor- 

 mented by the vapours, which rendered life and 

 death equally infupportable. Sometimes, (he re- 

 proached herfelf with the premature death of her 

 charming grand-niece, and with ihat of her mo- 

 ther, which foon followed it. Sometimes, (lie ap- 

 plauded herfelf for having difcarded two unhappy 

 wretches, who had difgraced her fimily by the 

 meannefs of their inclinations. Frequently flying 

 into a paflTion at fight of the great number of mi- 

 ferable people, with which Paris is filled, (lie ex- 

 claimed : 



