Page:Clermont - Roche (1798, volume 1).djvu/132

ther formed such a scene as Madeline had never before seen, or even conceived; a scene, crowned by a prospect of the majestic Alps, whose awful cliffs appeared in many places to overhang the garden, and tinted as they were with the purple rays of evening, united richness and solemnity to gaiety and splendour. The ladies, engaged in receiving their guests, could no longer pay her particular attention; and the Countess, who had a numerous acquaintance, was drawn from her into a chatting party with some of her old friends, but not till she had seen her in a general manner introduced to the company, with, whom she then supposed she would intermix and amuse herself; but poor Madeline was too diffident to join any party unsolicited; and they were all too gay and thoughtless either to solicit her or deem it necessary to do so. Left to herself, she felt awkward at standing alone, and accordingly repaired to a bench placed round the trunk of an old tree near the spot destined for the dancers. Some ladies and gentlemen occu-