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Updated: July 22, 2025
Ethelwulf had married Osburga, the daughter of Oslac his cup-bearer, and had a daughter and five sons, of whom Alfred, the youngest, was born in 849. Part of Alfred's childhood was spent in Rome. At Compiègne and Verberie among his playmates were Charles, the boy king of Aquitaine, and Judith, children of the French king Charles the Bald.
Raget, knew the truth; and, although Mme. de la Verberie hated him from the bottom of her heart, she did him the justice to feel sure that she had nothing to fear from his indiscretion. Her first visit was paid to him. When she entered the room, she abruptly threw on the table the official papers which she had procured especially for him.
One day he entered a hotel at Beaucaire, and, as he sat down to dinner, he saw that Mme. de la Verberie was at the adjoining table. He blushed deeply, and asked permission to sit at her table, which was granted with a most encouraging smile. Did the countess suspect the love of the young engineer? Had she been warned by her friend?
Never had there been one of those long private talks between the Countess de la Verberie and Valentine which enabled a good mother to read her daughter's heart like an open book. Mme. de la Verberie saw nothing but her daughter's beauty.
But what was his surprise to find that his affectionate words only increased her distress; she buried her face in her hands, and wept as if her heart would break. While she was thus summoning her courage, and he was entreating her confidence, Mme. de la Verberie came hurrying into the room for them to sign the contract. The opportunity was lost; Andre Fauvel was left in ignorance.
This fearful current is as capricious as a woman, which accounts for the strange effects of inundations; sometimes it rushes to the right, sometimes to the left, sparing one shore and ravaging the other. Gaston was familiar with every turn of the river; he knew that just below Clameran was an abrupt turning, and relied upon the eddy formed thereby, to sweep him in the direction of La Verberie.
Violently agitated, distracted by a thousand conflicting emotions, daring neither to refuse nor to promise, fearing the consequences of a decision thus forced from her, the unhappy girl begged her mother for a few hours to reflect. Mme. de la Verberie dared not refuse this request, and acquiesced.
I love Valentine, the young girl whose honor I defended this evening." "Oh!" cried the marquis, thunderstruck, "oh, oh!" "And I entreat you, father, to ask Mme. de la Verberie for the hand of her daughter. Valentine will gladly join me abroad, and share my exile." Gaston stopped, frightened at the effect of his words. The old marquis had become crimson, or rather purple, as if struck by apoplexy.
At a distance her white dress and flowing tresses made her seem a mysterious spirit from another world, these honest people said; they thought it a good omen when they caught a glimpse of her as they passed up the river. All along between Arles and Valence she was spoken of as the "lovely fairy" of La Verberie. If M. de Clameran detested the countess, Mme. de la Verberie execrated the marquis.
God is just; we are avenged." The words of St. Jean, "There will be rejoicing at La Verberie," rung in Valentine's ears, as she saw the countess's eyes sparkle with wicked joy. This was too much for the unfortunate girl. For half an hour she had been exerting all of her strength to bear this cruel violence from her mother; but her physical endurance was not equal to the task.
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