Pagina 5 van 483

Several months passed in this manner. Her father grew worse; her

time was more entirely occupied in attending him; her means of

subsistence decreased; and in the tenth month her father died in

her arms, leaving her an orphan and a beggar. This last blow

overcame her, and she knelt by Beaufort's coffin weeping

bitterly, when my father entered the chamber. He came like a

protecting spirit to the poor girl, who committed herself to his

care; and after the interment of his friend he conducted her to

Geneva and placed her under the protection of a relation. Two

years after this event Caroline became his wife.