enable them to pass the remainder of their days in peace and plenty; and from your hands they shall receive my constant bounty. Tho poor old folks, who were present, fell on their kness and kissed the Countess’ hand, then turning to Adelaide, they conjured her, in tho most pressing terms, to accept the lady’s generous proposal. Wo cannot, at our time of day, be far from tho grave, and as it has been your constant study to make our lives happy, so must our death leave you comfortless in this solitary place. The shepherdess embracing them, and mixing her tears with theirs, returned a thousand thanks to their noble guests, with a sweetness that inereased her charms. I cannot, said she, accept of your favour; heaven has marked my destined lot, and I submit to it: but I shall always with tho most grateful heart acknowledge your goodness; and the name of Fonrose will nevor be absent from my memory. Tho only thing I request of you is to bury this adventuro in eternal silonce, and never to reveal tho fato of an unknown person, who is determined to live and die in oblivion. The Count and Countess redoubled their solicitations, but all in vain—she was immoveable. Tho travellers parted from their charming shepherdess, to retirement.
During their journey, their conversation was taken up with this strange adventure, which appeared to thom like a romance. They arrived at Turin, their imagination full of it; and you may be sure their desired silence could not be observed. The charms and virtues of this unknown shepherdess was an inexhaustible source of reflection and conjectures. Young Fonrose, their only son, was often present at their conversation, and never lot a single circumstance escape his memory. Ho was of that age when imagination is most lively, and the heart most susceptible of receiving tender impressions; but was of the character of those who keep the feelings of their sensibility within themselves, and which aro so much more violently agitated when they burst from their confinement, as they have never been weakened by any dissipation. All the wonders he heard related of the
