The conscience of the woman was troubled she began to think that the deaths of her favourites was a judgement from heaven to chastise her partiality. "One by one, her brothers and sister died and her mother, with the exception of her neglected daughter, was left childless. Poor Justine was very ill but other trials were reserved for her. "When my dearest aunt died every one was too much occupied in their own grief to notice poor Justine, who had attended her during her illness with the most anxious affection. She thought her the model of all excellence and endeavoured to imitate her phraseology and manners, so that even now she often reminds me of her. Although her disposition was gay and in many respects inconsiderate, yet she paid the greatest attention to every gesture of my aunt. This benefit was fully repaid Justine was the most grateful little creature in the world: I do not mean that she made any professions I never heard one pass her lips, but you could see by her eyes that she almost adored her protectress. My aunt conceived a great attachment for her, by which she was induced to give her an education superior to that which she had at first intended. "Justine, you may remember, was a great favourite of yours and I recollect you once remarked that if you were in an ill humour, one glance from Justine could dissipate it, for the same reason that Ariosto gives concerning the beauty of Angelica-she looked so frank-hearted and happy. Justine, thus received in our family, learned the duties of a servant, a condition which, in our fortunate country, does not include the idea of ignorance and a sacrifice of the dignity of a human being. A servant in Geneva does not mean the same thing as a servant in France and England. ![]() Hence there is less distinction between the several classes of its inhabitants and the lower orders, being neither so poor nor so despised, their manners are more refined and moral. The republican institutions of our country have produced simpler and happier manners than those which prevail in the great monarchies that surround it. My aunt observed this, and when Justine was twelve years of age, prevailed on her mother to allow her to live at our house. This girl had always been the favourite of her father, but through a strange perversity, her mother could not endure her, and after the death of M. Madame Moritz, her mother, was a widow with four children, of whom Justine was the third. Do you remember on what occasion Justine Moritz entered our family? Probably you do not I will relate her history, therefore in a few words. Since you left us, but one change has taken place in our little household. My trifling occupations take up my time and amuse me, and I am rewarded for any exertions by seeing none but happy, kind faces around me. The blue lake and snow-clad mountains-they never change and I think our placid home and our contented hearts are regulated by the same immutable laws. "Little alteration, except the growth of our dear children, has taken place since you left us. I fear that he will become an idler unless we yield the point and permit him to enter on the profession which he has selected. He looks upon study as an odious fetter his time is spent in the open air, climbing the hills or rowing on the lake. My uncle is not pleased with the idea of a military career in a distant country, but Ernest never had your powers of application. ![]() He is desirous to be a true Swiss and to enter into foreign service, but we cannot part with him, at least until his elder brother returns to us. How pleased you would be to remark the improvement of our Ernest! He is now sixteen and full of activity and spirit. Your father's health is vigorous, and he asks but to see you, but to be assured that you are well and not a care will ever cloud his benevolent countenance. You will find a happy, cheerful home and friends who love you dearly. I eagerly hope that you will confirm this intelligence soon in your own handwriting. Yet that is over now: Clerval writes that indeed you are getting better. I have prevented his encountering the inconveniences and perhaps dangers of so long a journey, yet how often have I regretted not being able to perform it myself! I figure to myself that the task of attending on your sickbed has devolved on some mercenary old nurse, who could never guess your wishes nor minister to them with the care and affection of your poor cousin. For a long time I have thought that each post would bring this line, and my persuasions have restrained my uncle from undertaking a journey to Ingolstadt. You are forbidden to write-to hold a pen yet one word from you, dear Victor, is necessary to calm our apprehensions. "You have been ill, very ill, and even the constant letters of dear kind Henry are not sufficient to reassure me on your account. Clerval then put the following letter into my hands.
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