Pagina 692 di 1118

The good dame hastened to draw the curtains around the litter;

pressing the hands of Lucy affectionately, she endeavoured to

encourage her by words of piety, congratulation, and tenderness.

Seeing, however, that besides the exhaustion from so much

suffering, the confusion and obscurity of all that had happened

prevented the poor girl from being alive to the satisfaction of

her deliverance; she said what she thought would be most likely

to restore her thoughts to their ordinary course. She mentioned

the village to which she belonged, and towards which they were

hastening.

"Yes, indeed!" said Lucy, remembering that this village was but a

short distance from her own. "Oh! holy Virgin! I render thee

thanks. My mother! my mother!"

"We will send for her immediately," said her friend, not knowing

that it had already been done.

"Yes, yes; God will reward you. And you,-who are you? How is it

that you have come here?"