The Countess answered her with her usual gracious sweetness, and they both sat down to supper, which was served immediately after her return.
The revived hopes of Madeline had re-animated her countenance with all its usual vivacity. The glow upon her cheek, the lustre of her eye, the smile that played about her mouth; the ready cheerfulness with which she entered into conversation, and the unusual length of her walk; altogether contributed to convince the penetrating mind of the Countess, that in this walk, something uncommonly interesting had occurred; and what she believed that something to be, may easily be imagined. Considering Madeline as she did,—a sacred deposit, and exclusive of that consideration, deeply interested about her from her innocence and sweetness, she deemed it absolutely necessary, to enquire into what had past in the interview, which she was convinced had taken place between her and de
