Volume VI Part 13 (1/2)
”I have not found anyone worthy to be preferred before you,” I replied, ”and if you would like to go to the ball again I should be most happy to take you”
The father and ive to their beloved daughter As the ball was to take place the saet a o also went out on soirl I took the opportunity of telling her that if she willed I would be hers, as I adored her, but that I could not sigh for long
”What can you ask, and what can I offer, since I must keep myself pure for my husband?”
”You should abandon yourself to me without reserve, and you may be sure that I should respect your innocence”
I then proceeded to deliver a gentle attack, which she repulsed, with a serious face I stopped directly, telling her that she would find me polite and respectful, but not in the least affectionate, for the rest of the evening
Her face had blushed a vivid scarlet, and she replied that her sense of duty obliged her to repulse me in spite of herself
I liked this ument I saw that I had only to destroy the idea of duty in her and all the rest would follow What I had to do was to enter into an argument, and to bear away the prize directly I saw her at a loss for an answer
”If your duty,” I began, ”forces you to repulse me in spite of yourself, your duty is a burden on you If it is a burden on you, it is your enehtly to gain the victory? If you were your own friend, you would at once expel this insolent enemy from your coasts”
”That may not be”
”Yes, it may Only shut your eyes”
”Like that?”
”Yes”
I immediately laid hands on a tender place; she repulsed ently and not so seriously as before
”You may, of course, seduce me,” she said, ”but if you really love nazia, there is no sha herself up to the s If you do not loveof you”
”But how shall I convince you that I am actuated by love and not by complaisance?”
”Leave me to do what I like, and my self-esteem will help me to believe you”
”But as I cannot be certain that you will believe ood, but you will make me sad and cold”
”Then I shall be sad, too”
At these encouraging words I embraced her, and obtained some solid favours with one hardy hand She ot; and for a first attempt I could not well expect more
At this juncture the loves I refused to accept the change, and went away to return in e, as before
Thus the first step had been taken, and Donna Ignazia felt it would be ridiculous not to join in withthe pleasure of spending our nights together She found , and at supper I didshe liked I made her see that the part she had at last taken orthy of praise, and not blame I filled her pockets with sweets, and put into my own pockets two bottles of ratafia, which I handed over to the ratefully refused the quadruple I wished to give her, saying that if it were in ive the money to her lover whenever he called on me
”Certainly,” I answered, ”but what shall I say to prevent his taking offence?”