Volume I Part 10 (2/2)
”I have--”
”I understand Nanette, shew the way”
”Dear aunt, excuse me”
”Well, then, Marton”
”Oh! dear aunt, why do you not insist uponyour orders?”
”Alas! ht Allow me to retire”
”No, my dear abbe, my nieces are very foolish; M Rosa, I aood procurator takes me affectionately by the hand, and leads me to the third story, where he leaves me The :
”My aunt will invite you to supper; do not accept Go away as soon as we sit down to table, and Marton will escort you as far as the street door, but do not leave the house When the street door is closed again, everyone thinking you are gone, go upstairs in the dark as far as the third floor, where you must wait for us We will come up the one to bed Angela will be at liberty to grant you throughout the night a tete-a-tete which, I trust, will prove a happy one”
Oh! what joy-what gratitude for the lucky chance which allowed me to read this letter on the very spot where I was to expect the dear abject of htest difficulty, I returned to Mada-room, overwhelht I Fall in Love with the Two Sisters, and Forget Angela--A Ball at My House--Juliette's Humiliation-- My Return to Pasian--Lucie's Misfortune--A Propitious Storm
On my reappearance, Madame Orio told me, with many heart-felt thanks, that I ed and welco passed off very pleasantly As the hour for supper drew near, I excused myself so well that Mada her invitation to stay Marton rose to lightNanette to be ave her such an imperative order to accompany me that she was compelled to obey She went down the stairs rapidly, opened and closed the street door very noisily, and putting her light out, she reentered the sitting roo me in darkness I went upstairs softly: when I reached the third landing I found the chaof the star of my happiness An hour passed aination; at last I hear the noise of the street door opening and closing, and, a few ela I draw her towardsfor nobody else, I keep up for two full hours ht; I aone so late supperless, but I am shocked at such an idea; I answer that, with such happiness as I a, I can suffer from no human want I am told that I am a prisoner, that the key of the house door is under the aunt's pillow, and that it is opened only by herself as she goes in the ining that such news can be anything but delightful tothe next five hours with the beloved mistress of ins to laugh, Angela wants to know the reason, and Marton whispering a feords to her, they both laugh likewise This puzzles hter, and at last Nanette, putting on an air of anxiety, tells me that they have no more candle, and that in a few minutes we shall be in the dark This is a piece of news particularly agreeable to me, but I do not lethow truly I ao to bed and sleep quietly under uardianshi+p My proposal increases their merriment
”What can we do in the dark?”
”We can talk”
We were four; for the last three hours we had been talking, and I was the hero of the roreat poet, its resources are inexhaustible, but if the end it has in view is not obtained, it feels weary and rely, but little disposed to talk herself, she seldoood sense rather than wit To weaken the force ofat me a proverb, so the catapult Every time that my poor hands came to the assistance of love, she drew herself back or repulsedave uing astounded her without bringing conviction to her heart, which was only disquieted, never softened On the other hand, I could see with astonishment upon their countenances the impression made upon the two sisters by the ardent speeches I poured out to Angela This ht to have been an angle; I was then, unhappily for eo the cold, I was perspiring profusely
At last the light was nearly out, and Nanette took it away
The moment ere in the dark, I very naturally extended my arms to seize her whom I loved; but I onlyat the rapidity hich Angela had availed herself of the opportunity of escaping me For one full hour I poured out all the tender, cheerful words that love inspired me with, to persuade her to come back to me; I could only suppose that it was a joke to tease me
But I becah; it is foolish, as I could not run after you, and I ae conduct leadsfun of me Come and take your seat nearyou letame would be an insult to me, and my love does not deserve such a return”
”Well, be calm I will listen to every word you may say, but you must feel that it would not be decent for me to place myself near you in this dark roo?”
”Lie down on the bed, and go to sleep”
”In wonder, indeed, at your thinkingso in the state I am in Well, I suppose we an to feel right and left, everywhere, but in vain