"Her life has
been but a long trial, my friend," he would say. "Shall not I, who have
caused her to shed so many tears, endeavour to dry some?" Of course the
friends who liked him best encouraged him in an intention so pious.
The reader has already been made acquainted with this lady by the letters
of hers, which came into my possession some time after the events which I
am at present narrating: my wife, through our kind friend, Colonel
Newcome, had also had the honour of an introduction to Madame de Florac
at Paris; and, on coming to Rosebury for the Christmas holidays, I found
Laura and the children greatly in favour with the good Countess. She
treated her son's wife with a perfect though distant courtesy. She was
thankful to Madame de Moncontour for the latter's great goodness to her
son. Familiar with but very few persons, she could scarcely be intimate
with her homely daughter-in-law. Madame de Moncontour stood in the
greatest awe of her; and, to do that good lady justice, admired and
reverenced Paul's mother with all her simple heart.
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