delay an hour to satisfy your affectionate sister and friend.—Victoria."
"Good God! I thank thee (cried the Marchioness) this is blessed news indeed." "I rejoice with you, my dearest love, (said the Marquis) but pray communicate the news to your lovely protegée."
She hastened to Matilda; she was reclining on her arms, thrown across the table, and weeping bitterly. "My charming girl do not give way to sorrow, heaven, in its own good time, will send you relief; here is an instance to prove it, giving her the letter. Poor Matilda raised her drooping head, and hastily looking it over, clasped her hand with joy, "O, my dearest madam, this is happiness indeed—let me not be so selfish to mourn on a day of joy like this." "Let this, my dear young friend, be a lesson to yourself, never despair; to misfortunes and contradictions to our best wishes, we are all liable and all must expect; none are exempt from the calamities incident to human nature; to bear those inevitable evils with patience, to acquire resolution and fortitude under them, and to look forward with hope, that you may one day be delivered from them, will blunt the arrows of affliction, and enable you to support them with resignation." "My beloved, my charming monitress, (cried Matilda) I will try to profit by your advice; the Countess and yourself shall be my great examples—dear lady, how kind to think of the poor Matilda; I wish I could see her, but alas!—" "No sighs, (said the Marchioness) you must and shall be cheerful this day; hope, my dear girl, and all may be well yet."
They descended to the parlour, and in the afternoon had the pleasure of hearing Joseph was just arrived with the servant. "Let him come in, (they all cried, as with one breath.) He entered; poor fellow, he fell on his knees and wept, it was difficult to say whether with joy or sorrow—he felt both; the sight of Miss Weimar remembered him of Bertha's
