\"Icannotinviteyoutomyhouse，\"saidshe，\"forcertainsufficientreasons；butifyouwillstayheresometimeweshallbeabletoseeeachother。ButIentreatyounottoshewmeanymarkedattentioninpublic，fortherearethosewhowillspyuponouractions，anditisnotpleasanttobetalkedabout。
Iwasquitesatisfiedwiththis，andtoldherthatIwoulddoallinmypowertopleaseher，andthatthemostpryingeyesshouldhavenothingtofixon。IfeltthatthepleasureIlookedforwardtowouldberenderedallthesweeterbyatinctureofmystery。
Ihadproclaimedmyselfasanoviceinthemimicart，andhadentreatedmylamefriendtobekindenoughtoinstructme。I
thereforewenttoherinthemorning，butshecouldonlyflatterherselfthatherswasareflectedlight，asIhadopportunitiesforpayingmycourttomycharmerinherhouse，andhowevergreathervanitymayhavebeen，shemusthavehadsomesuspicionsofthetruth。
Thiswomanwasawidow，agedbetweenthirtyandfortyyears，ofajaundicedcomplexion，andapiercingandmaliciousaspect。Inhereffortstohidetheinequalityofherlegs，shewalkedwithastiffandawkwardair；and，wishingtobethoughtawit，sheincreasedhernaturaldullnessbyaceaselessflowofsmalltalk。Ipersistedinbehavingtowardsherwithagreatairofrespect，andonedayshesaidthat，havingseenmeinthedisguiseofawaiter，shewouldnothavethoughtIwasamanofatimidnature。