In a gay town house in Paris, resided the family of Benjamin de Valiont and his family. This man lived a life entirely unlike that of most of the men he associated with. He had married very early in a match of affection, and by the time he was twenty, was the father of two children. It was a great affliction to him that his beloved Elenore had died on bringing the last of these two children into the world, and those two little innocents had been for many years his only consolation. He loved to trace in their infant features any resemblance to their mother, and in his daughter especially; he delighted to see her take up her mother’s favourite pursuit of drawing, and fancied he saw in her productions many remnants of her mother’s taste. etc etcSo had things continued for a considerable period, until chance introduced him to Albertine de Molyneux, then a young lady of great fashion and accomplishments. He fell completely under her spell, and in a short time they were married. At thirty-four, with two children and a not unencumbered estate, he felt all the good luck of catching a lady who was rich, handsome, and twelve years younger than himself.

They had been married for five years, and though now past youth herself, Madame de Valiont was even attractively lovely. She had rich auburn hair, an extremely majestic figure, and large dark eyes that sparkled with vivacity and fire. Although she was twenty-seven, she had no children of her own, but she had not the maternal feelings of most women. The care of Annette, who had only been thirteen at the time of her father’s marriage, she had divulged to an old governess, instead of, as M. de Valiont had rather wished and expected, taking it upon herself. His wife was very quick to set him right in this particular. Supervise the education of a young and ignorant chit? Oh no, she had something else to do! There were fashions to be studied, entertainments to be hosted, and parties to attend; and indeed, M. de Valiont was so proud of his wife’s famous ‘events’, and so loved to see her beautifully dressed, that he rather regarded her addiction to such matters as a charm than a nuisance. He quietly engaged a respectable governess by the means of a former connection, and in that worthy old lady’s excellent conduct and loyalty, quickly forgot his disappointment at his own wife not considering the charge as suitable for herself. He did allow that she had not exaggerated when she claimed she was constantly engaged in other matters of importance (although he might have disputed the last point), for it seemed that there was always someone to be visited, or some luxuriant diversion to enjoy. Himself, he much preferred a quiet and retired life; but for the sake of the happiness of his wife, and for the ‘setting-up’ of his daughter, he had submitted to a residence in Paris.

On both counts his move was happily judged. Albertine was very happy in Paris. She had many friends of both sexes, and in her popularity, and the excessive admiration she excited, he found a gratification almost as pleasing to himself as to his wife. She was excessively courted by the young, the gay, and the wealthy. Whatever she wore, was fashionable, and however she arranged her hair, was the newest style. She was extremely sensible of her influence in the rich and fashionable world, and delighted in it.

The result of residing in Paris for Annette was somewhat more material. She had been very fortunate in obtaining the love and admiration of Julian St. Lauren, an extremely handsome youth of one or two-and-twenty, with a not contemptible fortune. Annette was very much in love with him; his passion for her was scarcely less ardent, and his offer of marriage surprised nobody; nor did its grateful acceptance. They were shortly to celebrate their nuptial festivities. She was only eighteen, and Albertine’s resentment that any other female than herself should be able to attach a handsome man, was overridden by her pleasure at getting Annette off her hands so soon.

M. de Valiont was a man of strong filial feelings, and when he saw the happiness of his wife and daughter - the radiant beams of Albertine, and the softer smiles of Annette - he felt an excess of pleasure that was almost painful. ‘Truly I have been blessed,’ he said within himself, as his heart swelled with joy, and rose in involuntary praise to Heaven; ‘if only Ludovico were here, I should have nothing else to wish for.’ Ludovico was M. de Valiont’s only son and eldest child; a fine youth of nineteen who was currently serving in the French army. M. de Valiont comforted himself with the thought that Ludovico would, indeed, be returning home for his sister’s wedding; and then he should be really and completely happy. And while he thought that, a strange presentiment came over him that such happiness as he was contemplating could not possibly be possible; that something must happen in the interim to spoil the charm. This conviction came over him so forcibly that he was disturbed, and took some effort to banish the thought from his mind; for he was not superstitious, and when he reflected on the circumstance the next morning, he laughingly regarded himself as a foolish old man, giving reflection to such visionary thoughts. Poor man! He did certainly deserve such happiness.