Virginia, who, in a voice broken by sobs, uttered these words:--"It is
for you that I go,--for you whom I see tired to death every day by the
labour of sustaining two helpless families. If I have accepted this
opportunity of becoming rich, it is only to return a thousand-fold
the good which you have done us. Can any fortune be equal to your
friendship? Why do you talk about your birth? Ah! if it were possible
for me still to have a brother, should I make choice of any other than
you? Oh, Paul, Paul! you are far dearer to me than a brother! How much
has it cost me to repulse you from me! Help me to tear myself from what
I value more than existence, till Heaven shall bless our union. But
I will stay or go,--I will live or die,--dispose of me as you will.
Unhappy that I am! I could have repelled your caresses; but I cannot
support your affliction."

At these words Paul seized her in his arms, and, holding her pressed
close to his bosom, cried, in a piercing tone, "I will go with
her,--nothing shall ever part us." We all ran towards him; and Madame de
la Tour said to him, "My son, if you go, what will become of us?"

He, trembling, repeated after her the words,--"My son!--my son! You my
mother!" cried he; "you, who would separate the brother from the sister!
We have both been nourished at your bosom; we have both been reared upon
your knees; we have learnt of you to love another; we have said so a
thousand times; and now you would separate her from me!--you would send
her to Europe, that inhospitable country which refused you an asylum,
and to relations by whom you yourself were abandoned. You will tell me
that I have no right over her, and that she is not my sister. She is
everything to me;--my riches, my birth, my family,--all that I have! I
know no other. We have had but one roof,--one cradle,--and we will have
but one grave! If she goes, I will follow her. The governor will prevent