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Article MADELAINE. ← Page 11 of 12 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Madelaine.
and wood-carving ? He did not long await the answer ; the youthful spirit , Avhence arose the inquiry , quickly responded . There are some gentle and poetical natures shrouded at their dawning , as it were , by a mist ; others , on the contrary , aAvake into life full of vigour and vivacity . Maurice combined both these natures . He was by turns reflectivesadpre-occupied :
, , or lively , joyous , filled with energy , which seemed to pine for some purpose , some object on Avhich to expend its superabundance ; remaining always affectionate to his father and amiable to all around him , he seemed to Aveary of the monotonous life , of the everlasting sameness , the old family tales , the chipping bits of Avoodand to long for a change—for the
strug-, , gles , the adventures , the pleasures , ay , even for the pains of a life in the busy , thronging world . In awaiting these , he took to violent sporting , exhausted the preserves , and killed his horses out hunting . It Avas precisely at this time that Madelaine had arrived . One can easily imagine of AA'hat trifling importance a girl of fourteen
or fifteen years of age AA'as to such a young man . In a few days he occupied himself as little Avith her as if she Avere still at Munich . He usually left home early in the morning , and rarely returned until nightfall , and frequently he passed a week at the
neighbouring toAvn , or with some friends . If he caught sight of her at a Avindow , he would nod and wish her good morning . At table he Avould sometimes address her Avith careless good-nature , and once , chancing to sit near her iu the evening , he remarked aloud upon the extreme beauty and length of her golden hair , which unusual attention quite confused and overcame the
timid little German . Another time he presented her with a pretty pheasant , Avhich he had saved from the jaws of his dog . Before she had time to thank him he had turned away Avhistling . We must add that in noway did he regret the addition of Madelaine to their home circle , or the share which he kneAV she would have ofthe Chevalier ' s property . Such mean regrets rarely enter
a brain of twenty years , for one of the glories of youth is true generosity . He was quite ready to share AAith Madelaine as Avith a sister , and no doubt he Avould have shown himself more assiduous and polite had she been a couple of years older . The Chevalier and the Marchioness could not fail to notice the change that Avas Avorking in Mauriceand it caused them
, much regret . Brought up in a quiet age , Avhen youth expended its overfloAving poAvers in numerous small distractions , they could not understand the vehement longing and , indeed , the necessity for positive action Avhich filled the minds of the rising generation , and AA'hich had reached Maurice , n otwithstandin g th e remote VOL . IT . 2 o
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Madelaine.
and wood-carving ? He did not long await the answer ; the youthful spirit , Avhence arose the inquiry , quickly responded . There are some gentle and poetical natures shrouded at their dawning , as it were , by a mist ; others , on the contrary , aAvake into life full of vigour and vivacity . Maurice combined both these natures . He was by turns reflectivesadpre-occupied :
, , or lively , joyous , filled with energy , which seemed to pine for some purpose , some object on Avhich to expend its superabundance ; remaining always affectionate to his father and amiable to all around him , he seemed to Aveary of the monotonous life , of the everlasting sameness , the old family tales , the chipping bits of Avoodand to long for a change—for the
strug-, , gles , the adventures , the pleasures , ay , even for the pains of a life in the busy , thronging world . In awaiting these , he took to violent sporting , exhausted the preserves , and killed his horses out hunting . It Avas precisely at this time that Madelaine had arrived . One can easily imagine of AA'hat trifling importance a girl of fourteen
or fifteen years of age AA'as to such a young man . In a few days he occupied himself as little Avith her as if she Avere still at Munich . He usually left home early in the morning , and rarely returned until nightfall , and frequently he passed a week at the
neighbouring toAvn , or with some friends . If he caught sight of her at a Avindow , he would nod and wish her good morning . At table he Avould sometimes address her Avith careless good-nature , and once , chancing to sit near her iu the evening , he remarked aloud upon the extreme beauty and length of her golden hair , which unusual attention quite confused and overcame the
timid little German . Another time he presented her with a pretty pheasant , Avhich he had saved from the jaws of his dog . Before she had time to thank him he had turned away Avhistling . We must add that in noway did he regret the addition of Madelaine to their home circle , or the share which he kneAV she would have ofthe Chevalier ' s property . Such mean regrets rarely enter
a brain of twenty years , for one of the glories of youth is true generosity . He was quite ready to share AAith Madelaine as Avith a sister , and no doubt he Avould have shown himself more assiduous and polite had she been a couple of years older . The Chevalier and the Marchioness could not fail to notice the change that Avas Avorking in Mauriceand it caused them
, much regret . Brought up in a quiet age , Avhen youth expended its overfloAving poAvers in numerous small distractions , they could not understand the vehement longing and , indeed , the necessity for positive action Avhich filled the minds of the rising generation , and AA'hich had reached Maurice , n otwithstandin g th e remote VOL . IT . 2 o