prayers, and, if need be, tears, and I am sure we shall obtain your pardon.
"Accept the best wishes of
Your sincere friend,
"Marie de Soissons."
Evelyn leant his head on his arm, confused and dizzy with happiness. Francesca, his only and long-loved, unchanged, and with a heart but the more dearly his own for its many trials!—methinks all the suffering of a miserable life were overpaid by that moment of exquisite enjoyment. Again and again he read Madame de Soissons’ letter—he required repeated assurance of his happiness—he paced the room now in that fever of the spirits so delicious in its unrest; and this was the cavalier who, half an hour since, had seen nothing but evil upon earth—who was hopeless and discontented, and looked upon the future as a desert, and life as a burden.
