Volume I Part 52 (2/2)

But there was one circumstance which annoyedme with distinction, while, ere alone, it was exactly the reverse In the eyes of the world I had all the appearance of a happy lover, but I would rather have had less of the appearance of happiness and more of the reality My love for her was disinterested; vanity had no share inalone with me, she said,

”You have eneht”

”They are envious, madaes of my heart You could easily deliver me from those enemies”

”How can you be an object of pity for them, and how could I deliver you from them?”

”They believe me happy, and I a me in their presence”

”Then you would feel my bad treatment less than the envy of the wicked?”

”Yes, madam, provided your bad treatment in public were compensated by your kindness e are alone, for there is no vanity in the happiness I feel in belonging to you Let others pity me, I will be happy on condition that others are mistaken”

”That's a part that I can never play”

I would often be indiscreet enough to re at her when she thought herself perfectly certain that nobody saw her; but the liberty I was thus guilty of never proved of great advantage to me Whether it was because she doubted my discretion or from habitual reserve, she was so particular that, even when I saw her in bed,but her head

One day, being present in her roo and beautiful hair, I a up all those pretty bits, and put them all, one after the other, on her toilettable, with the exception of one s that she had not taken any notice ofit; but the moment ere alone she told me quietly, but rather too seriously, to take out ofshe was going too far, and such rigour appearing to me as cruel as it was unjust and absurd, I obeyed, but threw the hair on the toilet-table with an air of supreet yourself”

”No, ned not to have observed such an innocent theft”

”Feigning is tiresoreat cris which you have no right to entertain for s which you are at liberty not to return, madam, but which hatred or pride can alone forbid my heart to experience If you had a heart you would not be the victim of either of those two fearful passions, but you have only head, and itby the care it takes to heap humiliation upon me You have surprised my secret, madam, you may use it as you think proper, but in the e will prove more useful than your discovery, for perhaps it will help me to become wiser”

After this violent tirade I left her, and as she did not callcalm, I undressed and went to bed In such moments a lover hates the object of his love, and his heart distils only conteo to sleep, and when I was sent for at supper-tiht passed off withoutweak and low I thought I would wait to see what ailedword that I was still very unwell Towards evening I felt my heart leap for joy when I heard my beautiful lady-love enter ave hted that it should be so I sent her away very soon, by telling her with perfect indifference that it was nothing but a bad headache, to which I was subject, and that repose and diet would effect a speedy cure

But at eleven o'clock she ca to my bed she said, affectionately,

”What ails you, my poor Casanova?”

”A very bad headache, madam, which will be cured to-morrow”

”Why should you wait until to-et better at once I have ordered a basin of broth and t-laid eggs for you”

”Nothing, madaht,” said M D---- R-----, ”I know those attacks”

I shookjust then turned round to exa that she would likewith M D---- R-----