Volume VI Part 79 (1/2)

About half-past eleven the Marchioness d'Aout, as delighted with Are's happiness in view, asked me, in a tone that amounted to a command, to sup with her in company with my two companions

”I cannot have the honour,” I replied, ”and my two companions know the reason”

”That is as much as to say,” said theto Armelline as she spoke

I addressed ly that she knew perfectly well that she must be home by half-past twelve at latest

”True,” she replied, ”but you can do as you please”

I replied somewhat sadly that I did not feel myself at liberty to break my word, but that she could make me do even that if she chose

Thereupon the ed her to use her power to an to presu uprather than appear jealous, I said siladly consent if her friend would consent also

”Very well,” said she, with a pleased air that cut h for me I went to Scholastica and told her the circu her to refuse without coht, but Scholastica required no persuasion, telling me that she had quite made up her mind not to sup with anyone

She came withanything to the others

I led Scholastica before themy want of success

Scholastica told Armelline that she wanted to say a feords to her aside, and after a short conversation they ca sorry, and Armelline told the marchioness that she found it would be ier, so ent away

I told Scholastica's intended to keep what had passed to himself, and asked him to dine with ht was dark, and alked to the place where I had ordered the carriage to be in waiting

To me it was as if I had come out of hell, and on the way to the inn I did not speak a word, not even answering the questions which the too-simple Armelline addressed to me in a voice that would have softened a heart of stone Scholastica avenged ed me to appear either rude or jealous, or a breaker of ed e into pity; her eyes sith tears, which Scholastica's home truths had drawn forth

The supper was ready, so they had no tih, but I could not bear to see Armelline sad also I resolved to do h I suspected that it arose from love of the Florentine

The supper was excellent, and Scholastica did honour to it, while Ar Scholastica was char She embraced her friend, and told her to be merry with her, as I had become the friend of her betrothed, and she was sure I would do as much for her as I had done for Eht him there In short, she did her best to shew Armelline that with my love she had no reason to be sad

Armelline dared not disclose the true cause of her sadness The fact was, that she wanted to get

Our supper caloolass of punch, and as she had eaten so little I would not try and make her drink more for fear lest it should do her harm

Scholastica, on the other hand, took such a fancy to this agreeable fluid, which she tasted for the first ti to her head instead of descending to her stomach In this pleasant state, she felt it was her duty to reconcile Arht be as tender as we liked withoutwith some difficulty, she carried her friend to the sofa, and caressed her in such a way that Ar, despite her sadness Then she called me and placed her in h she did not repulse me, did not respond as Scholastica had hoped I was not disappointed; I did not think it likely she would grant nohat she had refused to grant when I had held her in my arms for those hours whilst Ean to reproach h I deserved no blame at all on this score

I told them to take off their men's clothes, and to dress themselves as women