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HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
comply with it; and as she did not unfold the reason of such a desire on her part, he 
felt his pride mortified at her conduct, though he kept his chagrin to his own bosom, 
of which it was a painful inmate. 
The first sentiments of Forval, respecting his princess, had been instigated by 
honour and gratitude : but her demeanour towards him, her conduct towards others, 
and her personal charms, in which her colour was forgotten, had awakened in his 
heart the most faithful and tender affection. 
The Queen Betsy, however, departed for her kingdom as soon as she had received 
the permission of her own sovereign; while Forval was totally unable to reconcile 
the step she had taken to her former sentiments and past conduct. He accordingly 
waited with the utmost impatience for the return of the vessel which had taken her 
away; when, to his great astonishment, his faithful wife returned in it, with an hundred 
and fifty slaves which she had brought him. 44 You had the generosity,” she cried, 
on throwing herself into his arms, 44 to marry me, in opposition to the wishes of your 
friends, and the prejudices of your country, when I had nothing to offer you but 
my person, whose charms, whatever they might have been considered in my own 
country, were calculated rather to disgust, than to please you. You will therefore add 
another proof of your kindness, by assuring me of your pardon, for having raised a 
single doubt in your mind respecting the affection and duty you so entirely deserve 
from me: but it was my wish to avoid informing you of the project I had conceived 
on my father’s death, till it was executed. It was not the little kingdom which that 
event transferred to me, nor even the largest empire, that would separate me from 
you; my sole design, in the step I have just taken, was to make you an offer of a 
small number of my subjects, which is the only part of my inheritance that I can 
bestow. I have, at the same time, complied with the wishes of my people, in resigning 
my little sovereignty to the most worthy of my relations.’ 
Such a scene may be more easily conceived than described. Thus Forval found 
his wife worthy of all his affection; and the present she made him, is a sort of 
fortune in this country. 
Grant. 
