第6章

"YoucannottellmewhetherwithinaweekorsoabooksellerfromMilanhascomewithhiswife——namedLamporani，oneoftheleadersofthelastrevolution？"

"IcouldeasilyfindoutbygoingtotheForeigners"Club，"saidthejeweler。

Rodolphe"sfirstwalkwasverynaturallytotheVillaDiodati，theresidenceofLordByron，whoserecentdeathaddedtoitsattractiveness:forisnotdeaththeconsecrationofgenius？

TheroadtoEaux-Vivesfollowstheshoreofthelake，and，likealltheroadsinSwitzerland，isverynarrow；insomespots，inconsequenceoftheconfigurationofthehillyground，thereisscarcelyspacefortwocarriagestopasseachother。

AtafewyardsfromtheJeanrenauds"house，whichhewasapproachingwithoutknowingit，Rodolpheheardthesoundofacarriagebehindhim，and，findinghimselfinasunkroad，heclimbedtothetopofarocktoleavetheroadfree。Ofcoursehelookedattheapproachingcarriage——anelegantEnglishphaeton，withasplendidpairofEnglishhorses。HefeltquitedizzyashebeheldinthiscarriageFrancesca，beautifullydressed，bythesideofanoldladyashardasacameo。A

servantblazingwithgoldlacestoodbehind。FrancescarecognizedRodolphe，andsmiledatseeinghimlikeastatueonapedestal。Thecarriage，whichtheloverfollowedwithhiseyesasheclimbedthehill，turnedinatthegateofacountryhouse，towardswhichheran。

"Wholiveshere？"heaskedthegardener。

"PrinceandPrincessColonna，andPrinceandPrincessGandolphini。"

"Havetheynotjustdrivenin？"

"Yes，sir。"

InthatinstantaveilfellfromRodolphe"seyes；hesawclearlythemeaningofthepast。

"Ifonlythisisherlastpieceoftrickery!"thoughtthethunder-

strucklovertohimself。

Hetrembledlestheshouldhavebeentheplaythingofawhim，forhehadheardwhata/capriccio/mightmeaninanItalian。Butwhatacrimehadhecommittedintheeyesofawoman——inacceptingabornprincessasacitizen"swife!inbelievingthatadaughterofoneofthemostillustrioushousesoftheMiddleAgeswasthewifeofabookseller!TheconsciousnessofhisblundersincreasedRodolphe"sdesiretoknowwhetherhewouldbeignoredandrepelled。HeaskedforPrinceGandolphini，sendinginhiscard，andwasimmediatelyreceivedbythefalseLamparini，whocameforwardtomeethim，welcomedhimwiththebestpossiblegrace，andtookhimtowalkonaterracewhencetherewasaviewofGeneva，theJura，thehillscoveredwithvillas，andbelowthemawideexpanseofthelake。

"Mywifeisfaithfultothelakes，yousee，"heremarked，afterpointingoutthedetailstohisvisitor。"Wehaveasortofconcertthisevening，"headded，astheyreturnedtothesplendidVillaJeanrenaud。"IhopeyouwilldomeandthePrincessthepleasureofseeingyou。Twomonthsofpovertyenduredinintimacyareequaltoyearsoffriendship。"

Thoughhewasconsumedbycuriosity，RodolphedarednotasktoseethePrincess；heslowlymadehiswaybacktoEaux-Vives，lookingforwardtotheevening。Inafewhourshispassion，greatasithadalreadybeen，wasaugmentedbyhisanxietyandbysuspenseastofutureevents。Henowunderstoodthenecessityformakinghimselffamous，thathemightsomedayfindhimself，sociallyspeaking，onalevelwithhisidol。InhiseyesFrancescawasmadereallygreatbythesimplicityandeaseofherconductatGersau。PrincessColonna"shaughtiness，soevidentlynaturaltoher，alarmedRodolphe，whowouldfindenemiesinFrancesca"sfatherandmother——atleastsohemightexpect；andthesecrecywhichPrincessGandolphinihadsostrictlyenjoinedonhimnowstruckhimasawonderfulproofofaffection。Bynotchoosingtocompromisethefuture，hadshenotconfessedthatshelovedhim？

Atlastnineo"clockstruck；Rodolphecouldgetintoacarriageandsaywithanemotionthatisveryintelligible，"TotheVillaJeanrenaud——toPrinceGandolphini"s。"

AtlasthesawFrancesca，butwithoutbeingseenbyher。ThePrincesswasstandingquitenearthepiano。Herbeautifulhair，sothickandlong，wasboundwithagoldenfillet。Herface，inthelightofwaxcandles，hadthebrilliantpallorpeculiartoItalians，andwhichlooksitsbestonlybyartificiallight。Shewasinfulleveningdress，showingherfascinatingshoulders，thefigureofagirlandthearmsofanantiquestatue。Hersublimebeautywasbeyondallpossiblerivalry，thoughthereweresomecharmingwomenofGeneva，andotherItalians，amongthemthedazzlingandillustriousPrincessVarese，andthefamoussingerTinti，whowasatthatmomentsinging。

Rodolphe，leaningagainstthedoor-post，lookedatthePrincess，turningonherthefixed，tenacious，attractinggaze，chargedwiththefull，insistentwillwhichisconcentratedinthefeelingcalleddesire，andthusassumesthenatureofavehementcommand。DidtheflameofthatgazereachFrancesca？WasFrancescaexpectingeachinstanttoseeRodolphe？Inafewminutesshestoleaglanceatthedoor，asthoughmagnetizedbythiscurrentoflove，andhereyes，withoutreserve，lookeddeepintoRodolphe"s。Aslightthrillquiveredthroughthatsuperbfaceandbeautifulbody；theshocktoherspiritreacted:Francescablushed!Rodolphefeltawholelifeinthisexchangeoflooks，soswiftthatitcanonlybecomparedtoalightningflash。Buttowhatcouldhishappinesscompare？Hewasloved。TheloftyPrincess，inthemidstofherworld，inthishandsomevilla，keptthepledgegivenbythedisguisedexile，thecapriciousbeautyofBergmanns"lodgings。Theintoxicationofsuchamomentenslavesamanforlife!Afaintsmile，refinedandsubtle，candidandtriumphant，curledPrincessGandolphini"slips，andatamomentwhenshedidnotfeelherselfobservedshelookedatRodolphewithanexpressionwhichseemedtoaskhispardonforhavingdeceivedhimastoherrank。

WhenthesongwasendedRodolphecouldmakehiswaytothePrince，whograciouslyledhimtohiswife。RodolphewentthroughtheceremonialofaformalintroductiontoPrincessandPrinceColonna，andtoFrancesca。Whenthiswasover，thePrincesshadtotakepartinthefamousquartette，/Mimancalavoce/，whichwassungbyherwithTinti，withthefamoustenorGenovese，andwithawell-knownItalianPrincetheninexile，whosevoice，ifhehadnotbeenaPrince，wouldhavemadehimoneofthePrincesofArt。

"Takethatseat，"saidFrancescatoRodolphe，pointingtoherownchair。"/Oime/!Ithinkthereissomemistakeinmyname；IhaveforthelastminutebeenPrincessRodolphini。"

Itwassaidwiththeartlessgracewhichrevived，inthisavowalhiddenbeneathajest，thehappydaysatGersau。Rodolphereveledintheexquisitesensationoflisteningtothevoiceofthewomanheadored，whilesittingsoclosetoherthatonecheekwasalmosttouchedbythestuffofherdressandthegauzeofherscarf。Butwhen，atsuchamoment，/Mimancalavoce/isbeingsung，andbythefinestvoicesinItaly，itiseasytounderstandwhatitwasthatbroughtthetearstoRodolphe"seyes。

Inlove，asperhapsinallelse，therearecertaincircumstances，trivialinthemselves，buttheoutcomeofathousandlittlepreviousincidents，ofwhichtheimportanceisimmense，asanepitomeofthepastandasalinkwiththefuture。Ahundredtimesalreadywehavefeltthepreciousnessoftheonewelove；butatrifle——theperfecttouchoftwosoulsunitedduringawalkperhapsbyasingleword，bysomeunlooked-forproofofaffection，willcarrythefeelingtoitssupremestpitch。Inshort，toexpressthistruthbyanimagewhichhasbeenpre-eminentlysuccessfulfromtheearliestagesoftheworld，thereareinalongchainpointsofattachmentneededwherethecohesionisstrongerthanintheintermediateloopsofrings。ThisrecognitionbetweenRodolpheandFrancesca，atthisparty，inthefaceoftheworld，wasoneofthoseintensemomentswhichjointhefuturetothepast，andrivetarealattachmentmoredeeplyintheheart。ItwasperhapsoftheseincidentalrivetsthatBossuetspokewhenhecomparedtothemtherarityofhappymomentsinourlives——hewhohadsuchalivingandsecretexperienceoflove。

Nexttothepleasureofadmiringthewomanwelove，comesthatofseeingheradmiredbyeveryoneelse。Rodolphewasenjoyingbothatonce。Loveisatreasuryofmemories，andthoughRodolphe"swasalreadyfull，headdedtoitpearlsofgreatprice；smilesshedasideforhimalone，stolenglances，tonesinhersingingwhichFrancescaaddressedtohimalone，butwhichmadeTintipalewithjealousy，theyweresomuchapplauded。Allhisstrengthofdesire，thespecialexpressionofhissoul，wasthrownoverthebeautifulRoman，whobecameunchangeablythebeginningandtheendofallhisthoughtsandactions。Rodolphelovedaseverywomanmaydreamofbeingloved，withaforce，aconstancy，atenacity，whichmadeFrancescatheverysubstanceofhisheart；hefeltherminglingwithhisbloodaspurerblood，withhissoulasamoreperfectsoul；shewouldhenceforthunderlietheleasteffortsofhislifeasthegoldensandoftheMediterraneanliesbeneaththewaves。Inshort，Rodolphe"slightestaspirationwasnowalivinghope。

Attheendofafewdays，Francescaunderstoodthisboundlesslove；

butitwassonatural，andsoperfectlysharedbyher，thatitdidnotsurpriseher。Shewasworthyofit。

"Whatistherethatisstrange？"saidshetoRodolphe，astheywalkedonthegardenterrace，whenhehadbeenbetrayedintooneofthoseoutburstsofconceitwhichcomesonaturallytoFrenchmenintheexpressionoftheirfeelings——"whatisextraordinaryinthefactofyourlovingayoungandbeautifulwoman，artistenoughtobeabletoearnherlivinglikeTinti，andofgivingyousomeofthepleasuresofvanity？WhatloutbutwouldthenbecomeanAmadis？Thisisnotinquestionbetweenyouandme。Whatisneededisthatwebothlovefaithfully，persistently；atadistancefromeachotherforyears，withnosatisfactionbutthatofknowingthatweareloved。"

"Alas!"saidRodolphe，"willyounotconsidermyfidelityasdevoidofallmeritwhenyouseemeabsorbedintheeffortsofdevouringambition？DoyouimaginethatIcanwishtoseeyouonedayexchangethefinenameofGandolphiniforthatofamanwhoisanobody？Iwanttobecomeoneofthemostremarkablemenofmycountry，toberich，great——thatyoumaybeasproudofmynameasofyourownnameofColonna。"

"Ishouldbegrievedtoseeyouwithoutsuchsentimentsinyourheart，"shereplied，withabewitchingsmile。"Butdonotwearyourselfouttoosooninyourambitiouslabors。Remainyoung。Theysaythatpoliticssoonmakeamanold。"

Oneoftherarestgiftsinwomenisacertaingaietywhichdoesnotdetractfromtenderness。ThiscombinationofdeepfeelingwiththelightnessofyouthaddedanenchantinggraceatthismomenttoFrancesca"scharms。Thisisthekeytohercharacter；shelaughsandsheistouched；shebecomesenthusiastic，andreturnstoarchraillerywithareadiness，afacility，whichmakesherthecharmingandexquisitecreaturesheis，andforwhichherreputationisknownoutsideItaly。Underthegracesofawomansheconcealsvastlearning，thankstotheexcessivelymonotonousandalmostmonasticlifesheledinthecastleoftheoldColonnas。

Thisrichheiresswasatfirstintendedforthecloister，beingthefourthchildofPrinceandPrincessColonna；butthedeathofhertwobrothers，andofhereldersister，suddenlybroughtheroutofherretirement，andmadeheroneofthemostbrilliantmatchesinthePapalStates。HereldersisterhadbeenbetrothedtoPrinceGandolphini，oneoftherichestlandownersinSicily；andFrancescawasmarriedtohiminstead，sothatnothingmightbechangedinthepositionofthefamily。TheColonnasandGandolphinishadalwaysintermarried。

Fromtheageofninetillshewassixteen，Francesca，underthedirectionofaCardinalofthefamily，hadreadallthroughthelibraryoftheColonnas，tomakeweightagainstherardentimaginationbystudyingscience，art，andletters。Butinthesestudiessheacquiredthetasteforindependenceandliberalideas，whichthrewher，withherhusband，intotheranksoftherevolution。Rodolphehadnotyetlearnedthat，besidesfivelivinglanguages，FrancescaknewGreek，Latin，andHebrew。Thecharmingcreatureperfectlyunderstoodthat，forawoman，thefirstconditionofbeinglearnedistokeepitdeeplyhidden。

RodolphespentthewholewinteratGeneva。Thiswinterpassedlikeaday。Whenspringreturned，notwithstandingtheinfinitedelightsofthesocietyofacleverwoman，wonderfullywellinformed，youngandlovely，theloverwentthroughcruelsufferings，enduredindeedwithcourage，butwhichweresometimeslegibleinhiscountenance，andbetrayedthemselvesinhismannersorspeech，perhapsbecausehebelievedthatFrancescasharedthem。Nowandagainitannoyedhimtoadmirehercalmness。LikeanEnglishwoman，sheseemedtoprideherselfonexpressingnothinginherface；itsserenitydefiedlove；helongedtoseeheragitated；heaccusedherofhavingnofeeling，forhebelievedinthetraditionwhichascribestoItalianwomenafeverishexcitability。

"IamaRoman!"FrancescagravelyrepliedonedaywhenshetookquiteseriouslysomebanteronthissubjectfromRodolphe。

Therewasadepthoftoneinherreplywhichgaveittheappearanceofscathingirony，andwhichsetRodolphe"spulsesthrobbing。ThemonthofMayspreadbeforethemthetreasuresofherfreshverdure；thesunwassometimesaspowerfulasatmidsummer。Thetwolovershappenedtobeatapartoftheterracewheretherockarisesabruptlyfromthelake，andwereleaningoverthestoneparapetthatcrownsthewallaboveaflightofstepsleadingdowntoalanding-stage。Fromtheneighboringvilla，wherethereisasimilarstairway，aboatpresentlyshotoutlikeaswan，itsflagflaming，itscrimsonawningspreadoveralovelywomancomfortablyrecliningonredcushions，herhairwreathedwithrealflowers；theboatmanwasayoungmandressedlikeasailor，androwingwithallthemoregracebecausehewasunderthelady"seye。

"Theyarehappy!"exclaimedRodolphe，withbitteremphasis。"ClairedeBourgogne，thelastsurvivoroftheonlyhousewhichcaneverviewiththeroyalfamilyofFrance——"

"Oh!ofabastardbranch，andthatafemaleline。"

"Atanyrate，sheisVicomtessedeBeauseant；andshedidnot——"

"Didnothesitate，youwouldsay，toburyherselfherewithMonsieurGastondeNueil，youwouldsay，"repliedthedaughteroftheColonnas。

"SheisonlyaFrenchwoman；IamanItalian，mydearsir!"

Francescaturnedawayfromtheparapet，leavingRodolphe，andwenttothefurtherendoftheterrace，whencethereisawideprospectofthelake。Watchingherassheslowlywalkedaway，Rodolphesuspectedthathehadwoundedhersoul，atoncesosimpleandsowise，soproudandsohumble。Itturnedhimcold；hefollowedFrancesca，whosignedtohimtoleavehertoherself。Buthedidnotheedthewarning，anddetectedherwipingawayhertears。Tears!insostronganature。

"Francesca，"saidhe，takingherhand，"isthereasingleregretinyourheart？"

Shewassilent，disengagedherhandwhichheldherembroideredhandkerchief，andagaindriedhereyes。

"Forgiveme!"hesaid。Andwitharush，hekissedhereyestowipeawaythetears。

Francescadidnotseemawareofhispassionateimpulse，shewassoviolentlyagitated。Rodolphe，thinkingsheconsented，grewbolder；heputhisarmroundher，claspedhertohisheart，andsnatchedakiss。

Butshefreedherselfbyadignifiedmovementofoffendedmodesty，and，standingayardoff，shelookedathimwithoutanger，butwithfirmdetermination。

"Gothisevening，"shesaid。"WemeetnomoretillwemeetatNaples。"

Thisorderwasstern，butitwasobeyed，foritwasFrancesca"swill。

OnhisreturntoParisRodolphefoundinhisroomsaportraitofPrincessGandolphinipaintedbySchinner，asSchinnercanpaint。TheartisthadpassedthroughGenevaonhiswaytoItaly。Ashehadpositivelyrefusedtopainttheportraitsofseveralwomen，RodolphedidnotbelievethatthePrince，anxiousashewasforaportraitofhiswife，wouldbeabletoconquerthegreatpainter"sobjections；butFrancesca，nodoubt，hadbewitchedhim，andobtainedfromhim——whichwasalmostamiracle——anoriginalportraitforRodolphe，andaduplicateforEmilio。Shetoldhimthisinacharminganddelightfulletter，inwhichthemindindemnifieditselfforthereserverequiredbytheworshipoftheproprieties。Theloverreplied。Thusbegan，nevertocease，aregularcorrespondencebetweenRodolpheandFrancesca，theonlyindulgencetheyallowedthemselves。

Rodolphe，possessedbyanambitionsanctifiedbyhislove，settowork。Firsthelongedtomakehisfortune，andriskedhisallinanundertakingtowhichhedevotedallhisfacultiesaswellashiscapital；buthe，aninexperiencedyouth，hadtocontendagainstduplicity，whichwontheday。Thusthreeyearswerelostinavastenterprise，threeyearsofstrugglingandcourage。

TheVilleleministryfelljustwhenRodolphewasruined。Thevaliantloverthoughthewouldseekinpoliticswhatcommercialindustryhadrefusedhim；butbeforebravingthestormsofthiscareer，hewent，allwoundedandsickatheart，tohavehisbruiseshealedandhiscouragerevivedatNaples，wherethePrinceandPrincesshadbeenreinstatedintheirplaceandrightsontheKing"saccession。This，inthemidstofhiswarfare，wasarespitefullofdelights；hespentthreemonthsattheVillaGandolphini，rockedinhope。

Rodolphethenbeganagaintoconstructhisfortune。Histalentswerealreadyknown；hewasabouttoattainthedesiresofhisambition；ahighpositionwaspromisedhimastherewardofhiszeal，hisdevotion，andhispastservices，whenthestormofJuly1830broke，andagainhisbarkwasswamped。

She，andGod!Thesearetheonlywitnessesofthebraveefforts，thedaringattemptsofayoungmangiftedwithfinequalities，buttowhom，sofar，theprotectionofluck——thegodoffools——hasbeendenied。Andthisindefatigablewrestler，upheldbylove，comesbacktofreshstruggles，lightedonhiswaybyanalwaysfriendlyeye，aneverfaithfulheart。

Lovers!Prayforhim!

*****

Asshefinishedthisnarrative，MademoiselledeWatteville"scheekswereonfire；therewasafeverinherblood。Shewascrying——butwithrage。Thislittlenovel，inspiredbytheliterarystyletheninfashion，wasthefirstreadingofthekindthatRosaliehadeverhadthechanceofdevouring。Lovewasdepictedinit，ifnotbyamaster-

hand，atanyratebyamanwhoseemedtogivehisownimpressions；andtruth，evenifunskilled，couldnotfailtotouchavirginsoul。HerelaythesecretofRosalie"sterribleagitation，ofherfeverandhertears；shewasjealousofFrancescaColonna。

Sheneverforaninstantdoubtedthesincerityofthispoeticalflight；Alberthadtakenpleasureintellingthestoryofhispassion，whilechangingthenamesofpersonsandperhapsofplaces。Rosaliewaspossessedbyinfernalcuriosity。Whatwomanbutwould，likeher，havewantedtoknowherrival"sname——forshetooloved!Asshereadthesepages，toherreallycontagious，shehadsaidsolemnlytoherself，"I

lovehim!"——ShelovedAlbert，andfeltinherheartagnawingdesiretofightforhim，tosnatchhimfromthisunknownrival。Shereflectedthatsheknewnothingofmusic，andthatshewasnotbeautiful。

"Hewillneverloveme!"thoughtshe。

Thisconclusionaggravatedheranxietytoknowwhethershemightnotbemistaken，whetherAlbertreallylovedanItalianPrincess，andwaslovedbyher。Inthecourseofthisfatefulnight，thepowerofswiftdecision，whichhadcharacterizedthefamousWatteville，wasfullydevelopedinhisdescendant。Shedevisedthosewhimsicalschemes，roundwhichhoverstheimaginationofmostyounggirlswhen，inthesolitudetowhichsomeinjudiciousmothersconfinethem，theyarerousedbysometremendouseventwhichthesystemofrepressiontowhichtheyaresubjectedcouldneitherforeseenorprevent。ShedreamedofdescendingbyaladderfromthekioskintothegardenofthehouseoccupiedbyAlbert；oftakingadvantageofthelawyer"sbeingasleeptolookthroughthewindowintohisprivateroom。Shethoughtofwritingtohim，orofburstingthefettersofBesanconsocietybyintroducingAlberttothedrawing-roomoftheHoteldeRupt。Thisenterprise，whichtotheAbbedeGranceyevenwouldhaveseemedtheclimaxoftheimpossible，wasamerepassingthought。

"Ah!"saidshetoherself，"myfatherhasadisputependingastohislandatlesRouxey。Iwillgothere!Ifthereisnolawsuit，Iwillmanagetomakeone，and/he/shallcomeintoourdrawing-room!"shecried，asshesprangoutofbedandtothewindowtolookatthefascinatinggleamwhichshonethroughAlbert"snights。Theclockstruckone；hewasstillasleep。

"Ishallseehimwhenhegetsup；perhapshewillcometohiswindow。"

AtthisinstantMademoiselledeWattevillewaswitnesstoanincidentwhichpromisedtoplaceinherpowerthemeansofknowingAlbert"ssecrets。BythelightofthemoonshesawapairofarmsstretchedoutfromthekiosktohelpJerome，Albert"sservant，togetacrossthecopingofthewallandstepintothelittlebuilding。InJerome"saccompliceRosalieatoncerecognizedMariettethelady"s-maid。

"MarietteandJerome!"saidshetoherself。"Mariette，suchanuglygirl!Certainlytheymustbeashamedofthemselves。"

ThoughMariettewashorriblyuglyandsix-and-thirty，shehadinheritedseveralplotsofland。ShehadbeenseventeenyearswithMadamedeWatteville，whovaluedherhighlyforherbigotry，herhonesty，andlongservice，andshehadnodoubtsavedmoneyandinvestedherwagesandperquisites。Hence，earningabouttenlouisayear，sheprobablyhadbythistime，includingcompoundinterestandherlittleinheritance，notlessthantenthousandfrancs。

InJerome"seyestenthousandfrancscouldalterthelawsofoptics；

hesawinMarietteaneatfigure；hedidnotperceivethepitsandseamswhichvirulentsmallpoxhadleftonherflat，parchedface；tohimthecrookedmouthwasstraight；andeversinceSavaron，bytakinghimintohisservice，hadbroughthimsoneartotheWattevilles"

house，hehadlaidsiegesystematicallytothemaid，whowasasprimandsanctimoniousashermistress，andwho，likeeveryuglyoldmaid，wasfarmoreexactingthanthehandsomest。

Ifthenight-sceneinthekioskisthusfullyaccountedfortoallperspicaciousreaders，itwasnotsotoRosalie，thoughshederivedfromitthemostdangerouslessonthatcanbegiven，thatofabadexample。Amotherbringsherdaughterupstrictly，keepsherunderherwingforseventeenyears，andthen，inonehour，aservantgirldestroysthelongandpainfulwork，sometimesbyaword，oftenindeedbyagesture!Rosaliegotintobedagain，notwithoutconsideringhowshemighttakeadvantageofherdiscovery。

Nextmorning，asshewenttoMassaccompaniedbyMariette——hermotherwasnotwell——Rosalietookthemaid"sarm，whichsurprisedthecountrywenchnotalittle。

"Mariette，"saidshe，"isJeromeinhismaster"sconfidence？"

"Idonotknow，mademoiselle。"

"Donotplaytheinnocentwithme，"saidMademoiselledeWattevilledrily。"Youlethimkissyoulastnightunderthekiosk；Inolongerwonderthatyousowarmlyapprovedofmymother"sideasfortheimprovementssheplanned。"

RosaliecouldfeelhowMariettewastremblingbytheshakingofherarm。

"Iwishyounoill，"Rosaliewenton。"Bequiteeasy；Ishallnotsayawordtomymother，andyoucanmeetJeromeasoftenasyouplease。"

"But，mademoiselle，"saidMariette，"itisperfectlyrespectable；

Jeromehonestlymeanstomarryme——"

"Butthen，"saidRosalie，"whymeetatnight？"

Mariettewasdumfounded，andcouldmakenoreply。

"Listen，Mariette；Iaminlovetoo!Insecretandwithoutanyreturn。