Part 9 (1/2)

With the figure I have just described, and which is by nothe ladies with soft tales, and carrying the decoration of his person even to foppery

Willing to ave audience in bed, for when a handsoined what belonged to it This circuave birth to scenes, which I a, when he expected to give audience in bed, or rather on the bed, having on a handsoht-cap orna knocked at the door; thethe knock repeated, cried ”Come in,” and, as he spoke rather loud, it was in his shrill tone Theto discover whence the fe a handsome head-dress set off with ribbons, was about to leave the rooies

M Sie, screamed the more; and the country hi that, ”Apparently, she was nothing better than a coesuch ill exa no other weapon than the jordan under his bed, was just going to throw it at the poor fellow's head as his servant returned

This dwarf, ill-used by nature as to his person, was recoreeable, and which he had been careful to cultivate Though he was estee more in the finer parts of literature, which he studied with success: above all, he possessed that superficial brilliancy, the art of pleasing in conversation, even with the ladies

He knew by heart a number of little stories, which he perfectly well kne towith an air of secrecy, and as an anecdote of yesterday, what happened sixty years before He understood istrate, he hadthe ladies of Annecy, he beca continually in their train He even pretended to favors, at which they were reatest favor he could aspire to, was to kiss a lady on her knees”

As he ell read, and spoke fluently, his conversation was both a and instructive When I afterwards took a taste for study, I cultivated his acquaintance, and found my account in it: when at Chambery, I frequently went from thence to see him His praises increasedthe prosecution of my studies, which I found useful Unhappily, this weakly body contained a very feeling soul Sorined by I know not what unlucky affair, but it cost hiood little hed at, but afterwards loved Though our situations in life were very little connected with each other, as I received soratitude demanded that I should dedicate a few sentences to his memory

As soon as I found myself at liberty, I ran into the street where Made o in or out, or at least open a , but I wasas close all the time as if it had been uninhabited The street was s about was, consequently, more likely to be noticed; frohborhood; I was ht be known, and the cause that brought me there conjectured; this idea tortured me, for I have ever preferred the honor and happiness of those I love tothe Spanish lover, and having no guitar, I determined to write to Made to her friend, but did not dare take that liberty, as it appeared in with her to whom I owed the acquaintance, and ho writtenladies had agreed at parting, they having furnished me with this expedient Mademoiselle Giraud was a quilter, and sometimes worked at Madam Galley's, which procured her free adhly satisfied with thisthat if I objected to her no other ht be named, and it was impossible to intimate that she had an inclination to me herself I even felt huine her of the saency rather than none, and availed myself of it at all events

At the very first word, Giraud discovereda letter to young girls had not spoken sufficiently plain, my foolish embarrassed air would have betrayed ave her little satisfaction, she undertook it, however, and perfor I ran to her house and found an answer ready for ht have an opportunity to read and kiss it alone! though this need not been told, but the plan adopted by Mademoiselle Giraud (and in which I found more delicacy and h to conclude that her thirty--seven years, hare's eyes, daubed nose, shrill voice, and black skin, stood no chance against two elegant young girls, in all the height and bloom of beauty; she resolved, therefore, nether to betray nor assist the rather to lose me entirely than entertain me for them

As Merceret had not heard fro to Fribourg, and the persuasions of Giraud determined her; nay more, she intimated it was proper someone should conduct her to her father's and proposed reeable to little Merceret, she approved the idea, and the sa nothing displeasing in theit could not be above a week's journey at ht otherwise It was necessary to avow the state of my finances, and the conclusion was, that Merceret should defray my expenses; but to retrench on one hand as expended on the other, I advised that her little baggage should be sent on before, and that we should proceed by easy journeys on foot

I airls in love withto be very vain of in the success of these amours, I think I er and less artful than Giraud, never made me so many advances, but she imitated my manners, my actions, repeated ht to have had for her Being very tireat care that we should both sleep in the same chamber; a circumstance that usually produces soirl of twenty --five

For once, however, it went no further; h Merceret was by no allantry never entered reat a novice to have profited by it I could not i the that such fae of preparation If poor Merceret paid my expenses in hopes of any return, she was terribly cheated, for we arrived at Fribourg exactly as we had quitted Annecy

I passed through Geneva without visiting any one While going over the bridges, I found myself so affected that I could scarcely proceed Never could I see the walls of that city, never could I enter it, without feeling my heart sink froe of liberty elevated entleness of manners, touched ret at having forfeited all these advantages What an error was I in! but yet how natural! I iined I saw all this in my native country, because I bore it in h Nion: could I do this without seeingso, I ret I left Merceret at the inn, and ventured to his house

Horong was I to fear hiave way to the parental tenderness hich it was filled What tears were ht I was returned to him: I related my history, and infor the dangers to which I exposedme the shortest follies were best, but did not attempt to keep ht; but it is certain he did not do everything in his power to detain me, even by fair ht not to return, or was puzzled at e to knohat to do with me--I have since found that he conceived a very unjust opinion of ood wo me to stay to supper; I did not, however, coer with the as a deposit my little packet, that had come by water, and would have been an incumbrance, had I taken it with , well satisfied that I had seen e to doTowards the conclusion of the journey, the politeness of Mademoiselle Merceret rather diminished, and, after our arrival, she treated me even with coldness Her father, as not in the best circued to lodge at an alehouse I went to see the, and received an invitation to dine there, which I accepted We separated without tears at night; I returned to , and departed the second day after o to

This was a circumstance of my life in which Providence offered me precisely as necessary to irl, neither witty, handsoly; not very lively, but tolerably rational, except while under the influence of some little humors, which usually evaporated in tears, without any violent outbreak of teht have married her without difficulty, and followed her father's business My taste for music would have , a small town, not pretty, but inhabited by very worthy people--I should certainly have reat pleasures, but should have lived in peace to ained by such a step

I did not return to Nion, but to Lausanne, wishi+ng to gratify myself with a view of that beautiful lake which is seen there in its utreater part of my secret motives have not been so reasonable

Distant expectation has rarely strength enough to influence ard projects whose execution requires a length of tiive in to visionary scenes of hope as well as others, provided they cost nothing, but if attended with any trouble, I have done with the pleasure that is conveniently within my reach, tempts me more than all the joys of paradise I must except, however, those pleasures which are necessarily followed by pain; I only love those enjoyments which are unadulterated, which can never be the case where we are conscious they must be followed by repentance

It was necessary I should arrive at so lostat Moudon, where I spent all that remained of my little stock except ten creuzers, which served to purchaseat Lausanne, I went into an ale-house, without a penny inould beco, therefore, a good face on the matter, I ordered supper, reat co breakfasted and reckoned with e for seven batz, which was the a, thank Heaven, he had never stripped any one, and would not now begin for seven batz, adding I should keep my waistcoat and pay him when I could I was affected with this unexpected kindness, but felt it less than I ought to have done, or have since experienced on the re him his money, with thanks, by one I could depend on Fifteen years after, passing Lausanne, on otten the name of the landlord and house I wished to see hi to his memory that worthy action

Services which doubtless have been much more important, but rendered with ostentation, have not appeared to ratitude as the simple unaffected humanity of this honest ht ofin want to rie, to my friend Venture, on his arrival at Annecy, and was so war that I had neither his gentility nor his talents, I determined to act the part of little Venture at Lausanne, to teach music, which I did not understand, and say I came from Paris, where I had never been

In consequence of this noble project (as there was no company where I could introduceprofessional people), I inquired for soe cheap, and was directed to one named Perrotet, who took in boarders

This Perrotet, as one of the bestheard ned story and profession, promised to speak ofhe should not expect any h reat deal to in with half board, which consisted of good soup only for dinner, but a plentiful supper at night I closed with this proposition, and the poor Perrotet trusted ,found so e? Is their race extinct? No; but I do not seek the the commonality, where violent passions predoenuine sentiments In more elevated stations they are entirely smothered, and under the mask of senti written to my father from Lausanne, he sent my packet and some excellent advice, of which I should have profited better I have already observed that I have moments of inconceivable delirium, in which I am entirely out of myself The adventure I am about to relate is an instance of this: to coree I had 'Venturised' (if I ances I ran into at the sa ; for if the five or six months passed with Le Maitre had improved me, they could not be supposed sufficient to qualify ht by a h (as I have before observed) toa Parisian froht I should changeas near as possible to the great model I had in view He called hira ood co of the art, I boasted ofpresented to Monsieur de Freytorens, professor of laho lovedwould do but I ly I set about co a piece for his concerts, as boldly as if I had really understood the science I had the constancy to labor a fortnight at this curious business, to copy it fair, write out the different parts, and distribute them with as much assurance as if they had been masterpieces of harh strictly true), I tacked a very pretty minuet to the end of it, that was commonly played about the streets, and which many may remember from these words, so well known at that time:

Quel caprice!