第1章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"A Sentimental Journey",免费读到尾

  I\'lllookintothem:so,givinguptheargument,-Iwentstraighttomylodgings,putuphalfadozenshirtsandablackpairofsilkbreeches,-\"thecoatIhaveon,\"saidI,lookingatthesleeve,\"willdo;\"-tookaplaceintheDoverstage;andthepacketsailingatninethenextmorning,-bythreeIhadgotsatdowntomydinneruponafricaseedchicken,soincontestablyinFrance,thathadIdiedthatnightofanindigestion,thewholeworldcouldnothavesuspendedtheeffectsoftheDROITSD\'AUBAINE;-myshirts,andblackpairofsilkbreeches,-portmanteauandall,musthavegonetotheKingofFrance;-eventhelittlepicturewhichIhavesolongworn,andsooftenhavetoldthee,Eliza,I

  wouldcarrywithmeintomygrave,wouldhavebeentornfrommyneck!-Ungenerous!toseizeuponthewreckofanunwarypassenger,whomyoursubjectshadbeckonedtotheircoast!-Byheaven!Sire,itisnotwelldone;andmuchdoesitgrieveme,\'tisthemonarchofapeoplesocivilizedandcourteous,andsorenownedforsentimentandfinefeelings,thatIhavetoreasonwith!

  ButIhavescarcesetafootinyourdominions。

  WHENIhadfishedmydinner,anddranktheKingofFrance\'shealth,tosatisfymymindthatIborehimnospleen,but,onthecontrary,highhonourforthehumanityofhistemper,-Iroseupaninchtallerfortheaccommodation-

  No-saidI-theBourbonisbynomeansacruelrace:theymaybemisled,likeotherpeople;butthereisamildnessintheirblood。AsIacknowledgedthis,Ifeltasuffusionofafinerkinduponmycheek-morewarmandfriendlytoman,thanwhatBurgundyatleastoftwolivresabottle,whichwassuchasIhadbeendrinkingcouldhaveproduced-

  JustGod!saidI,kickingmyportmanteauaside,whatisthereinthisworld\'sgoodswhichshouldsharpenourspirits,andmakesomanykind-heartedbrethrenofusfalloutsocruellyaswedobytheway?

  Whenmanisatpeacewithman,howmuchlighterthanafeatheristheheaviestofmetalsinhishand!hepullsouthispurse,andholdingitairilyanduncompressed,looksroundhim,asifhesoughtforanobjecttoshareitwith-Indoingthis,Ifelteveryvesselinmyframedilate,-thearteriesbeatallcheerilytogether,andeverypowerwhichsustainedlife,performeditwithsolittlefriction,that\'twouldhaveconfoundedthemostPHYSICAL

  PRECIEUSEinFrance;withallhermaterialism,shecouldscarcehavecalledmeamachine-

  I\'mconfident,saidItomyself,Ishouldhaveoversethercreed。

  Theaccessionofthatideacarriednature,atthattime,ashighasshecouldgo;-Iwasatpeacewiththeworldbefore,andthisfinish\'dthetreatywithmyself——

  Now,wasIKingofFrance,criedI-whatamomentforanorphantohavebegg\'dhisfather\'sportmanteauofme!

  THEMONK。CALAIS。

  IHADscarceutteredthewords,whenapoormonkoftheorderofSt。Franciscameintotheroomtobegsomethingforahisconvent。

  Nomancarestohavehisvirtuesthesportofcontingencies-oronemanmaybegenerous,asanotherispuissant;-SEDNONQUOAD

  HANC-orbeitasitmay,-forthereisnoregularreasoningupontheebbsandflowsofourhumours;theymaydependuponthesamecauses,foraughtIknow,whichinfluencethetidesthemselves:

  \'twouldoftbenodiscredittous,tosupposeitwasso:I\'msureatleastformyself,thatinmanyacaseIshouldbemorehighlysatisfied,tohaveitsaidbytheworld,\"Ihadhadanaffairwiththemoon,inwhichtherewasneithersinnorshame,\"thanhaveitpassaltogetherasmyownactanddeed,whereintherewassomuchofboth-

  But,bethisasitmay,-themomentIcastmyeyesuponhim,I

  waspredeterminednottogivehimasinglesous;and,accordingly,Iputmypurseintomypocket-buttonedit-setmyselfalittlemoreuponmycentre,andadvancedupgravelytohim;therewassomething,Ifear,forbiddinginmylook:Ihavehisfigurethismomentbeforemyeyes,andthinktherewasthatinitwhichdeservedbetter。

  Themonk,asIjudgedbythebreakinhistonsure,afewscatteredwhitehairsuponhistemples,beingallthatremainedofit,mightbeaboutseventy;-butfromhiseyes,andthatsortoffirewhichwasinthem,whichseemedmoretemper\'dbycourtesythanyears,couldbenomorethansixty:-Truthmightliebetween-Hewascertainlysixty-five;andthegeneralairofhiscountenance,notwithstandingsomethingseem\'dtohavebeenplanting-wrinklesinitbeforetheirtime,agreedtotheaccount。

  ItwasoneofthoseheadswhichGuidohasoftenpainted,-mild,pale-penetrating,freefromallcommonplaceideasoffatcontentedignorancelookingdownwardsupontheearth;-itlook\'dforwards;butlook\'dasifitlook\'datsomethingbeyondthisworld-Howoneofhisordercamebyit,heavenabove,wholetitfalluponamonk\'sshouldersbestknows:butitwouldhavesuitedaBramin,andhadImetitupontheplainsofIndostan,Ihadreverencedit。

  Therestofhisoutlinemaybegiveninafewstrokes;onemightputitintothehandsofanyonetodesign,for\'twasneitherelegantnorotherwise,butascharacterandexpressionmadeitso:

  itwasathin,spareform,somethingabovethecommonsize,ifitlostnotthedistinctionbyabendforwardinthefigure,-butitwastheattitudeofIntreaty;and,asitnowstandspresentedtomyimagination,itgainedmorethanitlostbyit。

  Whenhehadenteredtheroomthreepaces,hestoodstill;andlayinghislefthanduponhisbreastaslenderwhitestaffwithwhichhejourney\'dbeinginhisright-whenIhadgotcloseuptohim,heintroducedhimselfwiththelittlestoryofthewantsofhisconvent,andthepovertyofhisorder;-anddiditwithsosimpleagrace,-andsuchanairofdeprecationwasthereinthewholecastofhislookandfigure,-Iwasbewitch\'dnottohavebeenstruckwithit-

  Abetterreasonwas,Ihadpredeterminednottogivehimasinglesous。

  THEMONK。CALAIS-

  \'Tisverytrue,saidI,replyingtoacastupwardswithhiseyes,withwhichhehadconcludedhisaddress;-\'tisverytrue,-andheavenbetheirresourcewhohavenootherbutthecharityoftheworld,thestockofwhich,Ifear,isnowaysufficientforthemanyGREATCLAIMSwhicharehourlymadeuponit。

  AsIpronouncedthewordsGREATCLAIMS,hegaveaslightglancewithhiseyedownwardsuponthesleeveofhistunic:-Ifeltthefullforceoftheappeal-Iacknowledgeit,saidI:-acoarsehabit,andthatbutonceinthreeyearswithmeagrediet,-arenogreatmatters;andthetruepointofpityis,astheycanbeearn\'dintheworldwithsolittleindustry,thatyourordershouldwishtoprocurethembypressinguponafundwhichisthepropertyofthelame,theblind,theagedandtheinfirm;-thecaptivewholiesdowncountingoverandoveragainthedaysofhisafflictions,languishesalsoforhisshareofit;andhadyoubeenoftheORDER

  OFMERCY,insteadoftheorderofSt。Francis,poorasIam,continuedI,pointingatmyportmanteau,fullcheerfullyshouldithavebeenopen\'dtoyou,fortheransomoftheunfortunate-Themonkmademeabow-Butofallothers,resumedI,theunfortunateofourowncountry,surely,havethefirstrights;andIhaveleftthousandsindistressuponourownshore-Themonkgaveacordialwavewithhishead,-asmuchastosay,Nodoubtthereismiseryenoughineverycorneroftheworld,aswellaswithinourconvent-Butwedistinguish,saidI,layingmyhanduponthesleeveofhistunic,inreturnforhisappeal-wedistinguish,mygoodfather!

  betwixtthosewhowishonlytoeatthebreadoftheirownlabour-

  andthosewhoeatthebreadofotherpeople\'s,andhavenootherplaninlife,buttogetthroughitinslothandignorance,FORTHE

  LOVEOFGOD。

  ThepoorFranciscanmadenoreply:ahecticofamomentpass\'dacrosshischeek,butcouldnottarry-Natureseemedtohavedonewithherresentmentsinhim;-heshowednone:-butlettinghisstafffallwithinhisarms,hepressedbothhishandswithresignationuponhisbreast,andretired。

  THEMONK。CALAIS。

  MYheartsmotemethemomentheshutthedoor-Psha!saidI,withanairofcarelessness,threeseveraltimes-butitwouldnotdo:

  everyungracioussyllableIhadutter\'dcrowdedbackintomyimagination:Ireflected,IhadnorightoverthepoorFranciscan,buttodenyhim;andthatthepunishmentofthatwasenoughtothedisappointed,withouttheadditionofunkindlanguage-I

  consider\'dhisgrayhairs-hiscourteousfigureseem\'dtore-enterandgentlyaskmewhatinjuryhehaddoneme?-andwhyIcouldusehimthus?-Iwouldhavegiventwentylivresforanadvocate-I

  havebehavedveryill,saidIwithinmyself;butIhaveonlyjustsetoutuponmytravels;andshalllearnbettermannersasIgetalong。

  THEDESOBLIGEANT。CALAIS。

  WHENamanisdiscontentedwithhimself,ithasoneadvantagehowever,thatitputshimintoanexcellentframeofmindformakingabargain。NowtherebeingnotravellingthroughFranceandItalywithoutachaise,-andnaturegenerallypromptingustothethingwearefittestfor,Iwalk\'doutintothecoach-yardtobuyorhiresomethingofthatkindtomypurpose:anoldDESOBLIGEANT

  inthefurthestcornerofthecourt,hitmyfancyatfirstsight,soIinstantlygotintoit,andfindingitintolerableharmonywithmyfeelings,IorderedthewaitertocallMonsieurDessein,themasterofthehotel:-butMonsieurDesseinbeinggonetovespers,andnotcaringtofacetheFranciscan,whomIsawontheoppositesideofthecourt,inconferencewithaladyjustarrivedattheinn,-Idrewthetaffetacurtainbetwixtus,andbeingdeterminedtowritemyjourney,ItookoutmypenandinkandwrotetheprefacetoitintheDESOBLIGEANT。

  PREFACE。INTHEDESOBLIGEANT。

  ITmusthavebeenobservedbymanyaperipateticphilosopher,Thatnaturehassetupbyherownunquestionableauthoritycertainboundariesandfencestocircumscribethediscontentofman;shehaseffectedherpurposeinthequietestandeasiestmannerbylayinghimunderalmostinsuperableobligationstoworkouthisease,andtosustainhissufferingsathome。Itisthereonlythatshehasprovidedhimwiththemostsuitableobjectstopartakeofhishappiness,andbearapartofthatburdenwhichinallcountriesandageshaseverbeentooheavyforonepairofshoulders。\'Tistrue,weareenduedwithanimperfectpowerofspreadingourhappinesssometimesbeyondHERlimits,but\'tissoordered,that,fromthewantoflanguages,connections,anddependencies,andfromthedifferenceineducation,customs,andhabits,welieundersomanyimpedimentsincommunicatingoursensationsoutofourownsphere,asoftenamounttoatotalimpossibility。

  Itwillalwaysfollowfromhence,thatthebalanceofsentimentalcommerceisalwaysagainsttheexpatriatedadventurer:hemustbuywhathehaslittleoccasionfor,attheirownprice;-hisconversationwillseldombetakeninexchangefortheirswithoutalargediscount,-andthis,bytheby,eternallydrivinghimintothehandsofmoreequitablebrokers,forsuchconversationashecanfind,itrequiresnogreatspiritofdivinationtoguessathisparty-

  Thisbringsmetomypoint;andnaturallyleadsmeifthesee-sawofthisDESOBLIGEANTwillbutletmegetonintotheefficientaswellasfinalcausesoftravelling-

  Youridlepeoplethatleavetheirnativecountry,andgoabroadforsomereasonorreasonswhichmaybederivedfromoneofthesegeneralcauses:-

  Infirmityofbody,Imbecilityofmind,orInevitablenecessity。

  Thefirsttwoincludeallthosewhotravelbylandorbywater,labouringwithpride,curiosity,vanity,orspleen,subdividedandcombinedADINFINITUM。

  Thethirdclassincludesthewholearmyofperegrinemartyrs;moreespeciallythosetravellerswhosetoutupontheirtravelswiththebenefitoftheclergy,eitherasdelinquentstravellingunderthedirectionofgovernorsrecommendedbythemagistrate;-oryounggentlementransportedbythecrueltyofparentsandguardians,andtravellingunderthedirectionofgovernorsrecommendedbyOxford,Aberdeen,andGlasgow。

  Thereisafourthclass,buttheirnumberissosmallthattheywouldnotdeserveadistinction,wereitnotnecessaryinaworkofthisnaturetoobservethegreatestprecisionandnicety,toavoidaconfusionofcharacter。AndthesemenIspeakof,aresuchascrosstheseasandsojourninalandofstrangers,withaviewofsavingmoneyforvariousreasonsanduponvariouspretences:butastheymightalsosavethemselvesandothersagreatdealofunnecessarytroublebysavingtheirmoneyathome,-andastheirreasonsfortravellingaretheleastcomplexofanyotherspeciesofemigrants,IshalldistinguishthesegentlemenbythenameofSimpleTravellers。

  ThusthewholecircleoftravellersmaybereducedtothefollowingHEADS:-

  IdleTravellers,InquisitiveTravellers,LyingTravellers,ProudTravellers,VainTravellers,SpleneticTravellers。

  Thenfollow:

  TheTravellersofNecessity,TheDelinquentandFeloniousTraveller,TheUnfortunateandInnocentTraveller,TheSimpleTraveller,AndlastofallifyoupleaseTheSentimentalTraveller,meaningtherebymyselfwhohavetravell\'d,andofwhichIamnowsittingdowntogiveanaccount,-asmuchoutofNECESSITY,andtheBESOIN

  DEVOYAGER,asanyoneintheclass。

  Iamwellaware,atthesametime,asbothmytravelsandobservationswillbealtogetherofadifferentcastfromanyofmyforerunners,thatImighthaveinsisteduponawholenitchentirelytomyself;-butIshouldbreakinupontheconfinesoftheVAIN

  Traveller,inwishingtodrawattentiontowardsme,tillIhavesomebettergroundsforitthanthemereNOVELTYOFMYVEHICLE。

  Itissufficientformyreader,ifhehasbeenatravellerhimself,thatwithstudyandreflectionhereuponhemaybeabletodeterminehisownplaceandrankinthecatalogue;-itwillbeonesteptowardsknowinghimself;asitisgreatoddsbutheretainssometinctureandresemblance,ofwhatheimbibedorcarriedout,tothepresenthour。

  ThemanwhofirsttransplantedthegrapeofBurgundytotheCapeofGoodHopeobservehewasaDutchmanneverdreamtofdrinkingthesamewineattheCape,thatthesamegrapeproducedupontheFrenchmountains,-hewastoophlegmaticforthat-butundoubtedlyheexpectedtodrinksomesortofvinousliquor;butwhethergoodorbad,orindifferent,-heknewenoughofthisworldtoknow,thatitdidnotdependuponhischoice,butthatwhatisgenerallycalledCHOICE,wastodecidehissuccess:however,hehopedforthebest;andinthesehopes,byanintemperateconfidenceinthefortitudeofhishead,andthedepthofhisdiscretion,MYNHEER

  mightpossiblyoverseebothinhisnewvineyard;andbydiscoveringhisnakedness,becomealaughingstocktohispeople。

  EvensoitfareswiththePoorTraveller,sailingandpostingthroughthepoliterkingdomsoftheglobe,inpursuitofknowledgeandimprovements。

  Knowledgeandimprovementsaretobegotbysailingandpostingforthatpurpose;butwhetherusefulknowledgeandrealimprovementsisallalottery;-andevenwheretheadventurerissuccessful,theacquiredstockmustbeusedwithcautionandsobriety,toturntoanyprofit:-but,asthechancesrunprodigiouslytheotherway,bothastotheacquisitionandapplication,Iamofopinion,Thatamanwouldactaswisely,ifhecouldprevailuponhimselftolivecontentedwithoutforeignknowledgeorforeignimprovements,especiallyifhelivesinacountrythathasnoabsolutewantofeither;-andindeed,muchgriefofhearthasitoftandmanyatimecostme,whenIhaveobservedhowmanyafoulsteptheInquisitiveTravellerhasmeasuredtoseesightsandlookintodiscoveries;allwhich,asSanchoPanzasaidtoDonQuixote,theymighthaveseendry-shodathome。Itisanagesofulloflight,thatthereisscarceacountryorcornerinEuropewhosebeamsarenotcrossedandinterchangedwithothers-Knowledgeinmostofitsbranches,andinmostaffairs,islikemusicinanItalianstreet,whereofthosemaypartakewhopaynothing-Butthereisnonationunderheaven-andGodismyrecordbeforewhosetribunalImustonedaycomeandgiveanaccountofthiswork-

  thatIdonotspeakitvauntingly,-butthereisnonationunderheavenaboundingwithmorevarietyoflearning,-wherethesciencesmaybemorefitlywoo\'d,ormoresurelywon,thanhere,-

  whereartisencouraged,andwillsosoonrisehigh,-whereNaturetakeheraltogetherhassolittletoanswerfor,-and,tocloseall,wherethereismorewitandvarietyofcharactertofeedthemindwith:-Wherethen,mydearcountrymen,areyougoing?-

  Weareonlylookingatthischaise,saidthey-Yourmostobedientservant,saidI,skippingoutofit,andpullingoffmyhat-Wewerewondering,saidoneofthem,who,IfoundwasanINQUISITIVE

  TRAVELLER,-whatcouldoccasionitsmotion-\'Twastheagitation,saidI,coolly,ofwritingapreface-Ineverheard,saidtheother,whowasaSIMPLETRAVELLER,ofaprefacewroteinaDESOBLIGEANT-Itwouldhavebeenbetter,saidI,inaVIS-A-VIS-

  ASANENGLISHMANDOESNOTTRAVELTOSEEENGLISHMEN,Iretiredtomyroom。

  CALAIS。

  IPERCEIVEDthatsomethingdarken\'dthepassagemorethanmyself,asIstepp\'dalongittomyroom;itwaseffectuallyMons。Dessein,themasterofthehotel,whohadjustreturnedfromvespers,andwithhishatunderhisarm,wasmostcomplaisantlyfollowingme,toputmeinmindofmywants。IhadwrotemyselfprettywelloutofconceitwiththeDESOBLIGEANT,andMons。Desseinspeakingofit,withashrug,asifitwouldnowaysuitme,itimmediatelystruckmyfancythatitbelong\'dtosomeINNOCENTTRAVELLER,who,onhisreturnhome,hadleftittoMons。Dessein\'shonourtomakethemostof。FourmonthshadelapsedsinceithadfinisheditscareerofEuropeinthecornerofMons。Dessein\'scoach-yard;andhavingsalliedoutfromthencebutavampt-upbusinessatthefirst,thoughithadbeentwicetakentopiecesonMountSennis,ithadnotprofitedmuchbyitsadventures,-butbynonesolittleasthestandingsomanymonthsunpitiedinthecornerofMons。Dessein\'scoach-yard。Muchindeedwasnottobesaidforit,-butsomethingmight;-andwhenafewwordswillrescuemiseryoutofherdistress,Ihatethemanwhocanbeachurlofthem-

  NowwasIthemasterofthishotel,saidI,layingthepointofmyfore-fingeronMons。Dessein\'sbreast,IwouldinevitablymakeapointofgettingridofthisunfortunateDESOBLIGEANT;-itstandsswingingreproachesatyoueverytimeyoupassbyit。

  MONDIEU!saidMons。Dessein,-Ihavenointerest-Excepttheinterest,saidI,whichmenofacertainturnofmindtake,Mons。

  Dessein,intheirownsensations,-I\'mpersuaded,toamanwhofeelsforothersaswellasforhimself,everyrainynight,disguiseitasyouwill,mustcastadampuponyourspirits:-Yousuffer,Mons。Dessein,asmuchasthemachine-

  Ihavealwaysobserved,whenthereisasmuchSOURasSWEETinacompliment,thatanEnglishmaniseternallyatalosswithinhimself,whethertotakeit,orletitalone:aFrenchmanneveris:

  Mons。Desseinmademeabow。

  C\'ESTBIENVRAI,saidhe-ButinthiscaseIshouldonlyexchangeonedisquietudeforanother,andwithloss:figuretoyourself,mydearSir,thatingivingyouachaisewhichwouldfalltopiecesbeforeyouhadgothalf-waytoParis,-figuretoyourselfhowmuchIshouldsuffer,ingivinganillimpressionofmyselftoamanofhonour,andlyingatthemercy,asImustdo,D\'UNHOMMED\'ESPRIT。

  Thedosewasmadeupexactlyaftermyownprescription;soIcouldnothelptastingit,-and,returningMons。Desseinhisbow,withoutmorecasuistrywewalk\'dtogethertowardshisRemise,totakeaviewofhismagazineofchaises。

  INTHESTREET。CALAIS。

  ITmustneedsbeahostilekindofaworld,whenthebuyerifitbebutofasorrypost-chaisecannotgoforthwiththesellerthereofintothestreettoterminatethedifferencebetwixtthem,butheinstantlyfallsintothesameframeofmind,andviewshisconventionistwiththesamesortofeye,asifhewasgoingalongwithhimtoHyde-parkcornertofightaduel。Formyownpart,beingbutapoorswordsman,andnowayamatchforMonsieurDessein,Ifelttherotationofallthemovementswithinme,towhichthesituationisincident;-IlookedatMonsieurDesseinthroughandthrough-eyedhimashewalk\'dalonginprofile,-

  then,ENFACE;-thoughtlikeaJew,-thenaTurk,-dislikedhiswig,-cursedhimbymygods,-wishedhimatthedevil——

  Andisallthistobelightedupintheheartforabeggarlyaccountofthreeorfourlouisd\'ors,whichisthemostIcanbeoverreachedin?-Basepassion!saidI,turningmyselfabout,asamannaturallydoesuponasuddenreverseofsentiment,-base,ungentlepassion!thyhandisagainsteveryman,andeveryman\'shandagainstthee-Heavenforbid!saidshe,raisingherhanduptoherforehead,forIhadturnedfullinfrontupontheladywhomIhadseeninconferencewiththemonk:-shehadfollowedusunperceived-Heavenforbid,indeed!saidI,offeringhermyown;-

  shehadablackpairofsilkgloves,openonlyatthethumbandtwofore-fingers,soaccepteditwithoutreserve,-andIledheruptothedooroftheRemise。

  MonsieurDesseinhadDIABLEDthekeyabovefiftytimesbeforehehadfoundouthehadcomewithawrongoneinhishand:wewereasimpatientashimselftohaveitopened;andsoattentivetotheobstaclethatIcontinuedholdingherhandalmostwithoutknowingit:sothatMonsieurDesseinleftustogetherwithherhandinmine,andwithourfacesturnedtowardsthedooroftheRemise,andsaidhewouldbebackinfiveminutes。

  Nowacolloquyoffiveminutes,insuchasituation,isworthoneofasmanyages,withyourfacesturnedtowardsthestreet:inthelattercase,\'tisdrawnfromtheobjectsandoccurrenceswithout;-

  whenyoureyesarefixeduponadeadblank,-youdrawpurelyfromyourselves。AsilenceofasinglemomentuponMons。Dessein\'sleavingus,hadbeenfataltothesituation-shehadinfalliblyturnedabout;-soIbeguntheconversationinstantly——

  ButwhatwerethetemptationsasIwritenottoapologizefortheweaknessesofmyheartinthistour,-buttogiveanaccountofthem-shallbedescribedwiththesamesimplicitywithwhichI

  feltthem。

  THEREMISEDOOR。CALAIS。

  WHENItoldthereaderthatIdidnotcaretogetoutoftheDESOBLIGEANT,becauseIsawthemonkincloseconferencewithaladyjustarrivedattheinn-Itoldhimthetruth,-butIdidnottellhimthewholetruth;forIwasasfullasmuchrestrainedbytheappearanceandfigureoftheladyhewastalkingto。

  Suspicioncrossedmybrainandsaid,hewastellingherwhathadpassed:somethingjarreduponitwithinme,-Iwishedhimathisconvent。

  Whentheheartfliesoutbeforetheunderstanding,itsavesthejudgmentaworldofpains-Iwascertainshewasofabetterorderofbeings;-however,Ithoughtnomoreofher,butwentonandwrotemypreface。

  Theimpressionreturneduponmyencounterwithherinthestreet;aguardedfranknesswithwhichshegavemeherhand,showed,I

  thought,hergoodeducationandhergoodsense;andasIledheron,Ifeltapleasurableductilityabouther,whichspreadacalmnessoverallmyspirits——

  GoodGod!howamanmightleadsuchacreatureasthisroundtheworldwithhim!-

  Ihadnotyetseenherface-\'twasnotmaterial:forthedrawingwasinstantlysetabout,andlongbeforewehadgottothedooroftheRemise,FANCYhadfinishedthewholehead,andpleasedherselfasmuchwithitsfittinghergoddess,asifshehaddivedintotheTiberforit;-butthouartaseduced,andaseducingslut;andalbeitthoucheatestusseventimesadaywiththypicturesandimages,yetwithsomanycharmsdostthoudoit,andthoudeckestoutthypicturesintheshapesofsomanyangelsoflight,\'tisashametobreakwiththee。

  WhenwehadgottothedooroftheRemise,shewithdrewherhandfromacrossherforehead,andletmeseetheoriginal:-itwasafaceofaboutsix-and-twenty,-ofacleartransparentbrown,simplysetoffwithoutrougeorpowder;-itwasnotcriticallyhandsome,buttherewasthatinit,which,intheframeofmindI

  wasin,attachedmemuchmoretoit,-itwasinteresting:I

  fancieditworethecharactersofawidow\'dlook,andinthatstateofitsdeclension,whichhadpassedthetwofirstparoxysmsofsorrow,andwasquietlybeginningtoreconcileitselftoitsloss;-

  butathousandotherdistressesmighthavetracedthesamelines;

  Iwish\'dtoknowwhattheyhadbeen-andwasreadytoinquire,hadthesameBONTONofconversationpermitted,asinthedaysofEsdras-\"WHATAILELHTHEE?ANDWHYARTTHOUDISQUIETED?ANDWHY

  ISTHYUNDERSTANDINGTROUBLED?\"-Inaword,Ifeltbenevolenceforher;andresolv\'dsomewayorothertothrowinmymiteofcourtesy,-ifnotofservice。

  Suchweremytemptations;-andinthisdispositiontogivewaytothem,wasIleftalonewiththeladywithherhandinmine,andwithourfacesbothturnedclosertothedooroftheRemisethanwhatwasabsolutelynecessary。

  THEREMISEDOOR。CALAIS。

  THIScertainly,fairlady,saidI,raisingherhanduplittlelightlyasIbegan,mustbeoneofFortune\'swhimsicaldoings;totaketwoutterstrangersbytheirhands,-ofdifferentsexes,andperhapsfromdifferentcornersoftheglobe,andinonemomentplacethemtogetherinsuchacordialsituationasFriendshipherselfcouldscarcehaveachievedforthem,hadsheprojecteditforamonth-

  Andyourreflectionuponitshowshowmuch,Monsieur,shehasembarrassedyoubytheadventure-

  Whenthesituationiswhatwewouldwish,nothingissoill-timedastohintatthecircumstanceswhichmakeitso:youthankFortune,continuedshe-youhadreason-theheartknewit,andwassatisfied;andwhobutanEnglishphilosopherwouldhavesentnoticeofittothebraintoreversethejudgment?

  Insayingthis,shedisengagedherhandwithalookwhichIthoughtasufficientcommentaryuponthetext。

  ItisamiserablepicturewhichIamgoingtogiveoftheweaknessofmyheart,byowning,thatitsufferedapain,whichworthieroccasionscouldnothaveinflicted-Iwasmortifiedwiththelossofherhand,andthemannerinwhichIhadlostitcarriedneitheroilnorwinetothewound:Ineverfeltthepainofasheepishinferioritysomiserablyinmylife。

  Thetriumphsofatruefeminineheartareshortuponthesediscomfitures。Inaveryfewsecondsshelaidherhanduponthecuffofmycoat,inordertofinishherreply;so,somewayorother,Godknowshow,Iregainedmysituation-

  Shehadnothingtoadd。

  Iforthwithbegantomodeladifferentconversationforthelady,thinkingfromthespiritaswellasmoralofthis,thatIhadbeenmistakeninhercharacter;butuponturningherfacetowardsme,thespiritwhichhadanimatedthereplywasfled,-themusclesrelaxed,andIbeheldthesameunprotectedlookofdistresswhichfirstwonmetoherinterest:-melancholy!toseesuchsprightlinessthepreyofsorrow,-Ipitiedherfrommysoul;andthoughitmayseemridiculousenoughtoatorpidheart,-Icouldhavetakenherintomyarms,andcherishedher,thoughitwasintheopenstreet,withoutbrushing。

  Thepulsationsofthearteriesalongmyfingerspressingacrosshers,toldherwhatwaspassingwithinme:shelookeddown-asilenceofsomemomentsfollowed。

  Ifearinthisinterval,Imusthavemadesomeslighteffortstowardsaclosercompressionofherhand,fromasubtlesensationI

  feltinthepalmofmyown,-notasifshewasgoingtowithdrawhers-butasifshethoughtaboutit;-andIhadinfalliblylostitasecondtime,hadnotinstinctmorethanreasondirectedmetothelastresourceinthesedangers,-toholditloosely,andinamannerasifIwaseverymomentgoingtoreleaseit,ofmyself;sosheletitcontinue,tillMonsieurDesseinreturnedwiththekey;

  andinthemeantimeIsetmyselftoconsiderhowIshouldundotheillimpressionswhichthepoormonk\'sstory,incasehehadtoldither,musthaveplantedinherbreastagainstme。

  THESNUFFBOX。CALAIS。

  THEgoodoldmonkwaswithinsixpacesofus,astheideaofhimcrossedmymind;andwasadvancingtowardsusalittleoutoftheline,asifuncertainwhetherheshouldbreakinuponusorno-

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