Volume III Part 18 (1/2)
”I should be delighted, and if you were to ask my father I am sure he would not refuse his permission”
”Are you sure of that?”
”Quite sure, for otherwise he would be guilty of i But I see you don't know the manners of the country”
”I confess I do not:”
”Young ladies enjoy great liberty here--liberty which they lose only byGo and ask, and you will see:”
I went to M d'O---- andlest I should e?”
”Yes, sir”
”Then I need not give orders to get mine ready Esther!”
”Yes, father”
”Go and dress, h to offer to take you to the concert”
”How good of hio”
She threw her arms around his neck, ran to dress, and reappeared an hour after, as fair as the joy which was expressed on her every feature I could have wished she had used a little powder, but Esther was jealous of her ebon tresses, which displayed the whiteness of her skin to ad their toilette is to pleaseinstinct of the generality of wolories made my heart beat faster
We went down the stair, I helped her into the carriage, and stopped, thinking she would be accoot in myself The door was shut, and ere off I was overwhel I could hardly think I asked myself whether I was to remember that I was a free-lance of love, or whether honour bade hest spirits, told er whose voice was exquisite, and noticing my confusion she asked as the an to sta that she was a treasure of whom I was not worthy to be the keeper
”I know that in other countries a young girl would not be trusted alone with a gentleman, but here they teach us discretion and how to look after ourselves”
”Happy the ed with your welfare, and happier still he on whom your choice has fallen!”
”That choice is not foryour father's choice is not pleasing to you, or supposing you love another?”
”We are not allowed to love a man until we know he is to be our husband”
”Then you are not in love with anyone?”
”No, and I have never felt the desire to love”
”Then I may kiss your hand?”
”Why should you kiss my hand?”