EvenifthiscleverladyenjoyedpoorPickering’sbedazzlement，itwasconceivablethat，takingvanityandcharitytogether，sheshouldcaremoreforhiswelfarethanforherownentertainment;andheroffertoabidebytheresultofhazardouscomparisonwithotherwomenwasafinerstrokethanherreputationhadledmetoexpect。Shereceivedmeinashabbylittlesitting—roomlitteredwithuncutbooksandnewspapers，manyofwhichIsawataglancewereFrench。Onesideofitwasoccupiedbyanopenpiano，surmountedbyajarfullofwhiteroses。Theyperfumedtheair;theyseemedtometoexhalethepurearomaofPickering’sdevotion。Buriedinanarm—chair，theobjectofthisdevotionwasreadingtheRevuedesDeuxMondes。ThepurposeofmyvisitwasnottoadmireMadameBlumenthalonmyownaccount，buttoascertainhowfarImightsafelyleavehertoworkherwilluponmyfriend。Shehadimpugnedmysinceritytheeveningoftheopera，andIwascarefulonthisoccasiontoabstainfromcompliments，andnottoplaceheronherguardagainstmypenetration。Itisneedlesstonarrateourinterviewindetail;
indeed，totelltheperfecttruth，Iwaspunishedformyrashattempttosurpriseherbyatemporaryeclipseofmyownperspicacity。Shesattheresoquestioning，soperceptive，sogenial，sogenerous，andsoprettywithal，thatIwasquitereadyattheendofhalfanhourtosubscribetothemostcomprehensiveofPickering’srhapsodies。
Shewascertainlyawonderfulwoman。Ihaveneverlikedtolinger，inmemory，onthathalf—hour。Theresultofitwastoprovethatthereweremanymorethingsinthecompositionofawomanwho，asNiedermeyersaid，hadlodgedherimaginationintheplaceofherheartthanweredreamtofinmyphilosophy。Yet，asIsattherestrokingmyhatandbalancingtheaccountbetweennatureandartinmyaffablehostess，Ifeltlikeaverycompetentphilosopher。Shehadsaidshewishedmetotellhereverythingaboutourfriend，andshequestionedmeastohisfamily，hisfortune，hisantecedents，andhischaracter。Allthiswasnaturalinawomanwhohadreceivedapassionatedeclarationoflove，anditwasexpressedwithanairofcharmedsolicitude，aradiantconfidencethattherewasreallynomistakeabouthisbeingamostdistinguishedyoungman，andthatifI
chosetobeexplicit，Imightdeepenherconvictiontodisinterestedecstasy，whichmighthavealmostprovokedmetoinventagoodopinion，ifIhadnothadonereadymade。ItoldherthatshereallyknewPickeringbetterthanIdid，andthatuntilwemetatHomburgI
hadnotseenhimsincehewasaboy。