{"product_id":"2940013693180","title":"The Orphan of the Rhine","description":"Thou art indeed ill-fated;\u003cbr\u003eSnatch'd, when an infant, from thy nurse's arms.\u003cbr\u003eAnd borne we known not whither.\u003cbr\u003e--LANGHORNE\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNear that long tract of hills, known by the name of Mount Jura, was\u003cbr\u003esituated, in the year 1605, the cottage of Julie de Rubine; commanding\u003cbr\u003eon one side a view of Geneva and its Lake, lying north of the town,\u003cbr\u003eand on the other an extensive plain, covered with pine-woods and\u003cbr\u003epasturage: beyond which arose, in various forms and directions, that\u003cbr\u003evast range of Alps which divide Italy from Savoy, forming a natural\u003cbr\u003ebarrier to Geneva and its little territory.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe owner of this secluded retreat, having met with some peculiar\u003cbr\u003emisfortunes, originating from the depravity of those with whom she was\u003cbr\u003eunhappily connected, had disengaged herself from the world at that\u003cbr\u003eperiod of existence when it usually presents the most alluring\u003cbr\u003eprospects; and accompanied by her infant son and one faithful\u003cbr\u003edomestic, had taken refuge in retirement.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter having passed some years in uninterrupted solitude, she was one\u003cbr\u003eevening returning from a monastery, near Ripaille, which formerly\u003cbr\u003ebelonged to the hermits of St Maurice, whither she had been at\u003cbr\u003econfession, and was pursuing her way through a large forest, whose\u003cbr\u003evistas terminated upon the Lake, when she observed a cabriolet move\u003cbr\u003ealong at some distance before her, which afterwards stopped at her\u003cbr\u003edoor.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBefore Julie de Rubine arrived at her cottage, the traveller, who was\u003cbr\u003ea female, had alighted, and on hearing her name, advanced some paces\u003cbr\u003eto receive her. She was a tall thin woman, of a pale, healthy\u003cbr\u003eappearance. Her dress bespoke her of the middle rank of life, and an\u003cbr\u003einfant that she held in her arms, which was entirely obscured in a\u003cbr\u003emantle, intimated that she acted in the capacity of nurse.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter having unfolded the occasion of her visit, the stranger\u003cbr\u003epresented the recluse with a letter, which she informed her was from\u003cbr\u003ethe Marchese de Montferrat. Julie de Rubine started, and appeared much\u003cbr\u003eaffected. The messenger observed these emotions with concern, and\u003cbr\u003eendeavoured to remove the cause by introducing a new subject of\u003cbr\u003econversation. She discoursed upon the temperature of the climate, the\u003cbr\u003efineness of the weather, and related many little adventures they had\u003cbr\u003emet with upon the road, not forgetting to recite the difficulties they\u003cbr\u003ehad encountered as they journeyed over the rocky steeps of Mount\u003cbr\u003eCennis, on their way from Turin thither, which she assured her had\u003cbr\u003ecost them much labour and fatigue. Julie, who perceived the kindness\u003cbr\u003eof the intention, attempted to subdue the acuteness of those feelings,\u003cbr\u003ewhich had prevented her from welcoming the stranger with her\u003cbr\u003eaccustomed courtesy, and, having in some measure succeeded, ventured\u003cbr\u003eto turn aside the mantle with which the infant was covered, and beheld\u003cbr\u003ea very beautiful female child, apparently about four months old.\u003cbr\u003eHaving expressed her astonishment that the stranger should travel so\u003cbr\u003efar with so young a companion, she ordered Dorothée, her servant, to\u003cbr\u003eprepare some refreshment; and taking the Marchesse's letter, with\u003cbr\u003etrembling hand she opened it, and read as follows:","brand":"WDS Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47083239506160,"sku":"2940013693180","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013693180_p0.jpg?v=1763584454","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013693180","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}