My grandmother noticed my agitation and told me so. I replied that I had overslept myself, and contrary to habit had not taken my morning walk.
My aunt embraced me, and talking of one thing and another I recovered myself completely.
Monsieur B. came soon, and telling us of an excursion to a neighbouring village, we sat down to table.
I took care, without being seen, to notice everything which passed between Monsieur B. and my aunt. I must acknowledge I was disappointed and greatly surprised. Not a look to show there was anything whatever between them.
About the middle of the repast my aunt carelessly remarked to my grandmother — "Dear, good mother, I was so forgetful on leaving Paris that I have forgotten several indispensible necessaries. Have I your permission to send my femme de chamhre to-morrow to fetch them? Do not put anyone out.
I am used to attend to myself, and it will only be a short absence."
The day passed quietly, Monsieur B. took a long ride on horseback; we went and sat by the piece of water, amusing ourselves by needlework; some neighbours came to visit my grandmother, and she kept them to dinner.
In the evening we had music, and I sang a duet with my aunt. Although already a good musician, and having a fine voice, I was not equal to my aunt, who gave me some excellent lessons in taste and feeling.
Monsieur B. played whist with my grandmother, and was completely reserved.
I retired about eleven o'clock, and impatient to be alone with my thoughts, so I went to bed quickly and dismissed my femme de chambre. I had no doubt that the next evening would be the time for a serious meeting between Monsieur B. and my aunt. I burned to assist at the delicious scenes which would be enacted. I must find out how to be there.
Knowing all the ways of the house, I thought over the plan of my aunt's apartment. It was situated on the second floor, the same as mine, but at the opposite extremity. A corridor gave communication to all the rooms on this floor; Monsieur B. was also lodged on the same flight, in a turning off the principal corridor.
My aunt had at her disposition a little room in which a bed was made up for her femme de chambre, a beautiful bedroom and a dressing room. I recollected that this cabinet, which occupied about one-third of the side of the room, used to be contiguous to an alcove, now closed by a strong partition, I also remembered a small hole in the upper part of the alcove, only stopped up by a small and very indifferent oil painting of a pastoral scene.
A door in an unoccupied room gave access to this kind of dark closet.
It was on these recollections I arranged my plan, then went to sleep, full of resolution and hope for the following day.
Mdlle. Julie started for Paris, as it had been arranged.
Monsieur B. and my aunt were more reserved than ever.
However, I found out what I wanted to know as the day wore on.
After dinner Monsieur B. leaned negligently on the mantelpiece, pretending to admire the pendulum of a superb ormolu clock; he placed his finger for a moment on the figure XI, then on the figure VI; it was easy to understand that he intended to say half-past eleven. My aunt responded by a slight movement of her eyes. I knew then all I wanted, it only remained then to make my preparations.
When we were seated in the garden Monsieur B. offered to read to us, which was accepted.
I soon slipped away under some pretext, and, sure of being unobserved on the second floor, went to the little door of the dark closet, of which I have spoken. (Continued on page 138) The Lady Hobart, everyone being sat at the table to dinner, and nobody giving a blessing, but gazing one upon another, in expectation of who should be chaplain — "Well," said my Lady, "I think I must say as one did in the like case, 'God be thanked, nobody will say grace.'"
CHOICE LETTER FROM THE GREEK OF ARISTENETUS
Philomatia to Eumusus This comes to let you know that we are not so bewitched to music as you imagine, and that the best lute and guitar in the world will make but little progress unless it comes attended with the more powerful harmony of money.
Why then do you give yourself and me the unnecessary trouble of so many serenades? Why must you employ your hands to show the passion of your heart? Why do you persecute me with your sonnets, and sing under my windows?
You are old enough, one would think, to know that money atones for all defects with us women, and that beauty and vigour have no merit with us, if they have no gold to recommend them. But you think me an easy, foolish, good-natured creature, who am to be imposed upon by any wheedling stories. You fancied, I suppose, that I never had been initiated into the mysteries of our profession, and that I would immediately surrender to you, upon the first stroke of your violin, and the first touch of your lute; but to undeceive you, know that I was bred up under the most experienced mistress of her time, who formed my tender mind with wholesome precepts, telling me that nothing under the sun was sincere or desirable but money, and teaching me to despise everything but that. Under her instructions, and by her virtuous example, I have profited so much, that I now measure love, not by vain empty compliments, that signify nothing, but by the presents that are made me, and by the almighty rhetoric of gold, which will stand my friend, when a thousand such fluttering weathercocks as you have left me in the lurch.
EPIGRAMS
When wedded Nell was brought to bed,
She scream'd and roar'd with pain;
She'd rather die a maid, she said,
Was it to do again.
Pray have a little patience Nell,
And say, why this pother?
Before your marriage you could tell
What 'twas to be a mother.
A tax on women to impose, is surely, sir, a sin,
Why should you try to punish those who never took you in?