The six sisters of the valleys : an historical romance - University Library

THE TWINS. 93
" Oh, my dearest sister, if ever you
have seen anything in me that was wrong,
if ever I have hurt your feelings, or said
an unkind word to any of our dear ones, I
ask your forgiveness."
" My sweet Madeleine, speak not thus
your gentle spirit need not reproach itself,
and to me you have ever been ' a sister,' in
the deepest, truest sense."
""Well, we can embrace each other with
death in sight; your kind sympathy and
wise advice have ever been a support to a
weak heart like mine."
"And your clinging love has ever been
sweet to me, and a gentle reproof to my
spirit, which is naturally too self-con-
fident."
"Oh, sister," exclaimed Marguerite,
weeping, " my heart bleeds when I think
that I am the cause of your being here.
Your love led you to accompany me, and
it may cost you your life. Oh, forgive me
I wish, for your sake, I could live the rest
; ;