120 THE SHIPWRECK,

CHAPTER XVII.

Reciprocal Apologies — Services — Attendance on the Sick — Friend-
ship.

A vioLEnT return of fever, followed by extreme prostra-
tion, was the consequence of Charles’s over exertion. In
painful silence Philip expected the sad result. His eyes
were fastened on the count with the most affectionate so-
licitude. Indeed the repentance which young D’Estaing
had testified for bis faults had been so noble and so perfect,
that the vindictive Merville himself could not conceive
how he had been able to hate him so bitterly. That re-
Jentless hate was now changed into a friendship so ardent,
that he imputed to himself all the blame of their quarrels.
“Oh,” said he to himself, whilst resting on the edge of the
bed on which the count was lying, “who could be-
lieve that I, who am now watching with so much anxiety
every change of his countenance, not long ago took plea-
sure in provoking and insulting him, and in disfiguring