“And you, dear brother—­you think so much of Charles’s faith?”

“As Heaven is my judge, I do.”

“Then I will bear up with what strength God may give me against all things that seek to depress me; I will not be conquered.”

“You are right, Flora; I rejoice to find in you such a disposition.  Here is some manuscript which Charles thinks will amuse you, and he bade me ask you if you would be introduced to his uncle.”

“Yes, yes—­willingly.”

“I will tell him so; I know he wishes it, and I will tell him so.  Be patient, dear Flora, and all may yet be well.”

“But, brother, on your sacred word, tell me do you not think this Sir Francis Varney is the vampyre?”

“I know not what to think, and do not press me for a judgment now.  He shall be watched.”

Henry left his sister, and she sat for some moments in silence with the papers before her that Charles had sent her.

“Yes,” she then said, gently, “he loves me—­Charles loves me; I ought to be very, very happy.  He loves me.  In those words are concentrated a whole world of joy—­Charles loves me—­he will not forsake me.  Oh, was there ever such dear love—­such fond devotion?—­never, never.  Dear Charles.  He loves me—­he loves me!”

The very repetition of these words had a charm for Flora—­a charm which was sufficient to banish much sorrow; even the much-dreaded vampyre was forgotten while the light of love was beaming upon her, and she told herself,—­

“He is mine!—­he is mine!  He loves me truly.”

After a time, she turned to the manuscript which her brother had brought her, and, with a far greater concentration of mind than she had thought it possible she could bring to it, considering the many painful subjects of contemplation that she might have occupied herself with, she read the pages with very great pleasure and interest.

The tale was one which chained her attention both by its incidents and the manner of its recital.  It commenced as follows, and was entitled, “Hugo de Verole; or, the Double Plot.”

In a very mountainous part of Hungary lived a nobleman whose paternal estates covered many a mile of rock and mountain land, as well as some fertile valleys, in which reposed a hardy and contented peasantry.  The old Count de Hugo de Verole had quitted life early, and had left his only son, the then Count Hugo de Verole, a boy of scarcely ten years, under the guardianship of his mother, an arbitrary and unscrupulous woman.

The count, her husband, had been one of those quiet, even-tempered men, who have no desire to step beyond the sphere in which they are placed; he had no cares, save those included in the management of his estate, the prosperity of his serfs, and the happiness of those, around him.

His death caused much lamentation throughout his domains, it was so sudden and unexpected, being in the enjoyment of his health and strength until a few hours previous, and then his energies became prostrated by pain and disease.  There was a splendid funeral ceremony, which, according to the usages of his house, took place by torch-light.