Volume IV Part 14 (2/2)
”You are a wise old man,” said I, ”everyone should sympathise with the tenderest of all our mortal follies”
”If the old man is wise,” said Rosalie, when he had left the room, ”my mother must be very foolish”
”Would you like me to take you to the play to-morrow?”
”Pray do not I will come if you like, but it will vex o to the theatre with you here
Good heavens! What would people say No, neither at Marseilles; but elsewhere, anything you please and with all ood, arret for you; and in three days ill start”
”So soon?”
”Yes; tell me to-morrohat you require for the journey, for I don't want you to lack for anything, and if you leave it all towhich would vex me”
”Well, I should like another cloak, a cloak with a lining, soht-cap, and a prayer-book”
”You kno to read, do you?”
”Certainly; and I can write fairly well”
”I a me so freely for what you want is a true proof of your love; where confidence dwells not there is no love
I will not forget anything, but your feet are so set your boots yourself”
Our talk was so pleasant, and I experienced such delight in studying her disposition, that we did not go to bed till five o'clock In the arms of love and sleep we spent seven delicious hours, and e rose at noon ere fast lovers She called rown hed at her troubles She kissedboy, her joy, and as the presentin this life, I enjoyed her love, I was pleased with her caresses, and put away all ideas of the dreadful future, which has only one certainty--death, 'ultiht was far sweeter than the first; she had h moderately; thus she was disposed to refine on her pleasure, and to deliver herself with greater ardour to all the voluptuous enjoyave her a pretty watch and a gold shuttle for her to amuse herself with
”I wanted it,” said she, ”but I should never have dared to ask for it”
I told her that this fear of my displeasure made me doubt once more whether she really loved me She threw herself into my arms, and promised that henceforth she would shew me the utirl, and I felt that when her mind had been developed she would be perfect
On the fourth day I warned her to hold herself in readiness to start at aabout my plans to Costa or Le Duc, but Rosalie knew that I had two servants, and I told her that I should often hter their folly would afford me
”You, my dear,” I had said to her, ”must be very reserved with thehtest liberty Give them your orders as a mistress, but without pride, and you will be obeyed and respected If they forget thehtest particular, tell me at once”
I started from the hotel of the ”Treize Cantons” with four post-horses, Le Duc and Costa sitting on the coachuide, whom I had paid well for his services, took us to Rosalie's door I got out of the carriage, and after thanking the kindly old landlord, as sorry to lose so good a boarder, I et in, sat down beside her, and ordered the postillions to go to Toulon, as I wished to see that fine port before returning to Italy We got to Toulon at five o'clock
My Rosalie behaved herself at supper like the mistress of a house accustomed to the best society I noticed that Le Duc as headher hair, as he could do it as well as the best barber in Paris He sed the golden pill, and gave in with a good grace, and said, with a profound bow, that he hoped to giveto see the port, and were shewn over the place by the commandant, whose acquaintance we made by a lucky chance He offered his arm to Rosalie, and treated her with the consideration she deserved for her appearance and the good sense of her questions The commandant accepted my invitation to dinner, at which Rosalie spoke to the point though not to excess, and received the polite corace In the afternoon he took us over the arsenal, and after having him to dinner could not refuse his invitation to supper There was no difficulty about Rosalie; the cohter, and his son I was delighted to see that her entlemen She was one of Nature's own ladies The coain, and she received their attentions with that ood education
They asked me to dinner the next day, but I was satisfied hat I had seen, so I took leave, intending to start on the ot back to the inn I told her how pleased I ith her, and she threw her arms round my neck for joy