Volume IV Part 5 (2/2)
”Then there's another reason: you are not in love with me”
”I love you as tenderly as if I were your wife Iso”
”I a so happy with you!”
”On the contrary, I ahted to please you”
”Then you will allow me to call on you at an early hour to-morrow, and to take coffee at your bedside”
”Do not drea If I would I could not I sleep with my aunt, and I always rise at the same tiain In God's name, lether But what pleased me extremely was that in spite ofcalm which so became her As for myself I looked as if I deserved that pardon for which I pleaded on my knees, and in her eyes I read that she was sorry that she could not grant what I required of her
I could no longer stay beside her, my senses were too excited by her beauty I left her and went toherself on ave me the relief I wanted, and ere both satisfied made her escape I reflected that I should never obtainMdlle
Roave the lie toher, and I decided that I would not take any further steps in theup to the aunt I begged her to ith ed the worthy woman to accept a hundred louis for her niece's journey from me I swore to her by all I held sacred that no one else should ever know of the circumstance All my eloquence and all my prayers were in vain She told me that if her niece's destiny only depended on that journey all would be well, for she had thought over a plan which would, with her husband's consent, enable Mdlle Roave me her sincerest thanks, and said that her niece was very fortunate to have pleased me so well
”She pleased o away to- the great fortune that awaits her to nought If it were not for that I should have been happy to have asked her hand of you”
”Alas! her happiness would, perhaps, be built on a better foundation
Explain yourself”
”I dare not ith fate”
”But you are not going to-morrow?”
”Excuse me, but I shall call to take leave at two o'clock”
The news ofdeparture saddened the supper-table Madame Morin, who, for all I know, may be alive noas a most kind-hearted woman At table she announced her resolve that as I had decided on going, and as I should only leave my house to take leave of her, she would not force me to put myself out to such an extent, and ordained that our farewells should be said that evening
”At least,” I said, ”Iyou to your door?”
”That will protract our happiness for solard went away on foot, and the fair Mdlle Roman sat on my knee I dared to be bold with her, and contrary to expectation she shewed herself so kind that I was half sorry I was going; but the die was cast
A carriage lying overturned on the road outside an inn made my coachman stop a short while, and this accident which made the poor driver curse overwhelmed me with joy, for in these few ive under the circumstances
Happiness enjoyed alone is never co at my sweetheart's features, that the part she had taken had not been an entirely passive one; and I escorted the ladies to their room There, without any conceit, I was certain that I saw sadness and love upon that fair creature's face I could see that she was neither cold nor insensible, and that the obstacles she had put in ave Madah to tell her niece to give me a similar mark of friendshi+p, which she did in a way that shewed me how completely she had shared my ardour