A thousand
impossible schemes and notions flitted through the foolish
young fellow's brain as he walked along, chafed and irritated
with his interview--all ending, as we have seen, in his coming
into the hotel and telling Madelon she was to go to the
convent that very afternoon. One thing indeed he determined
upon, that against her own will she should never become a nun,
if it were in his power to prevent it. He had promised her
father not to lose sight of her, and, as far as he was able,
he would keep his engagement.
He did not witness the meeting between his little charge and
her aunt. He bade farewell to a tearful, half-frightened
little Madelon at the door of the parlour, he saw it close
upon her, and it was with quite a heavy heart that he turned
away, leaving behind him the little girl who had occupied so
large a share of his thoughts and anxieties during the last
ten days. He had nothing to detain him in Liege now, and he
left it the next morning, with the intention of carrying out
as much of his proposed tour as he should find practicable.
His original intention had been to proceed from Paris to
Strasbourg, and so into Switzerland, and over the Alps to the
Italian lakes.
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