Volume VI Part 46 (1/2)
”Pray do not let me disturb you This is a pleasant room, and they can lay the table in the next Lie down, and sleep if you can, and I will order dinner to be ready by two I hope you will be feeling better by then”
I left her without giving her time to answer, and went to order dinner
I had ceased to believe the Frenchan to think I should have to fight him
The case, I felt certain, was one of elopement and seduction; and, superstitious as usual, I was sure that enius had sent me in the nick of time to save her and care for her, and in short to snatch her from the hands of her infa passion
I laughed at the absurd title the rascal had given hiht struck ether, INevertheless, I resolved never to leave her
I lay down on the bed, and as I built a thousand castles in the air I fell asleep
The landlady awokethat three o'clock had struck
”Wait a o and see if the lady is awake”
I opened the door gently, and saw she was still asleep, but as I closed the door after me the noise awoke her, and she asked if I had dined
”I shall not take any dinner, madam, unless you do me the honour to dine with me You have had a five hours' rest, and I hope you are better”
”I will sit doith you to dinner, as you wish it”
”That makes me happy, and I will order dinner to be served forthwith”
She ate little, but what little she did eat was taken with a good appetite She was agreeably surprised to see the beefsteaks and plu, which I had ordered for her
When the landlady calishiven directions for the preparation of her national dishes, she seeratulated ed her to drink some excellent Montepulciano and Montefiascone By dessert she was in good spirits, while I felt rather excited She told ht I should have died with joy, in reply to my question whether she knew Madahter as they had been at school together
”Has Sophie grown tall?”
”No, she is quite small, but she is very pretty, and so clever”
”She e”
As she said this she blushed and lowered her eyes
”Are you ill?”
”Not at all I scarcely like to say it, but Sophie is the very ie of you”
”Why should you hesitate to say so? It has been remarked toago is it since you have seen her?”
”Eighteen months; she went back to her mother's, to be married as it was said, but I don't knohom”
”Your news interests ht me the bill, and I saw a note of three pains which her husband had spent on himself and his horse