The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 149: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

108° THE STEAM PACKET. surgeon ; ‘so far as pict skill can piety venture upon the asser- tion, the chances of life are many in his favour.’’ ‘“<’Tis well—’tis well !’’ said the priest, but in a tone which sila to belie his words. ‘“‘ Thou wilt not forget thy promise of inviolable secrecy ; and to-morrow I shall expect thee to visit the patient again.” The surgeon renewed his promise of silence, with regard to. his nocturnal adventure, and retraced his steps towards his humble dwell- ing, pondering not so'much upon the intrigue between the priest and the beautiful Marie, which the event had revealed to him, as on the possession of a sum of money quenaton to form the foundation-stone of his future fortunes. | | In the meantime the priest was bending over the couch which con- tained his new-born child and the now happy mother. Alas! with what weakness and pain is.edch new being purchased! Marie knew that her child inherited a stigma—the stain of illegitimacy—from its very birth ; and yet she was happy—happy, while past pangs were forgotten in the warm gushings of maternal love. Bountiful Nature! how hast thou supplied i in our moral constitution a medicine and a solace for that ' which is beyond the reach of surgical skill, or any human contrivance! Thou calmest the mother’s anguish, by giving her a feeling which swallows up all physical suffering, and spreads through her — a thankful joy ! Jules de Renal visited his fair patient at dusk, ‘every evening, until she was convalescent. The archdeacon then Sted chitath him with a guerdon far beyond: his most sanguine hopes, and intimated at the same time, that prudence required the cessation of his visits from that day forth. The young surgeon seemed astounded by this announcement ; — but he offered no remonstrance, as he tendered his thanks for the gene- rosity of the recompense he had received. He then took his leave. And’ with the money which he had thus procured, and which some kind fortune seemed to have sent him, Jules de Renal established himself in a manner which speedily attracted the notice he had so longed to excite. Weeks passed away—his fame increased—and he saw himself upon the high road to wealth and honour. But, ah! .there was a worm gnawing in his heart—a canker in his very soul—an internal wound, which tortured him without ceasing. He loved Marie —the one who had been passed off as the niece, and who was in reality © the mistress of the archdeacon: he loved her—not with a pure, calm, and holy flame, but with a fiery and glowing passion, which was — rather that of the sense than of the soul. She was ever present in his midnight dreams and his day meditations : she never left his memory ;— turn whichever. way he would, there was her beauteous mage con-. ~ Gomicbooks (E(0)