按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
letter than you were at the beginning。 Attend； then； and I will
compel myself to give you the details。
I mentioned to you the other day that I had become acquainted with
S； the district judge； and that he had invited me to go and visit
him in his retirement； or rather in his little kingdom。 But I
neglected going； and perhaps should never have gone； if chance had
not discovered to me the treasure which lay concealed in that
retired spot。 Some of our young people had proposed giving a ball
in the country； at which I consented to be present。 I offered my
hand for the evening to a pretty and agreeable； but rather commonplace；
sort of girl from the immediate neighbourhood； and it was agreed
that I should engage a carriage； and call upon Charlotte； with my
partner and her aunt； to convey them to the ball。 My companion
informed me； as we drove along through the park to the hunting…lodge；
that I should make the acquaintance of a very charming young lady。
〃Take care；〃 added the aunt； 〃that you do not lose your heart。〃
〃Why？〃 said I。 〃Because she is already engaged to a very worthy
man；〃 she replied； 〃who is gone to settle his affairs upon the
death of his father； and will succeed to a very considerable
inheritance。〃 This information possessed no interest for me。
When we arrived at the gate； the sun was setting behind the tops
of the mountains。 The atmosphere was heavy； and the ladies expressed
their fears of an approaching storm； as masses of low black clouds
were gathering in the horizon。 I relieved their anxieties by
pretending to be weather…wise； although I myself had some
apprehensions lest our pleasure should be interrupted。
I alighted； and a maid came to the door； and requested us to wait
a moment for her mistress。 I walked across the court to a well…built
house； and； ascending the flight of steps in front； opened the door；
and saw before me the most charming spectacle I had ever witnessed。
Six children； from eleven to two years old； were running about the
hall； and surrounding a lady of middle height； with a lovely figure；
dressed in a robe of simple white； trimmed with pink ribbons。 She
was holding a rye loaf in her hand； and was cutting slices for the
little ones all around； in proportion to their age and appetite。
She performed her task in a graceful and affectionate manner； each
claimant awaiting his turn with outstretched hands； and boisterously
shouting his thanks。 Some of them ran away at once； to enjoy their
evening meal； whilst others； of a gentler disposition； retired to
the courtyard to see the strangers； and to survey the carriage in
which their Charlotte was to drive away。 〃Pray forgive me for
giving you the trouble to come for me； and for keeping the ladies
waiting： but dressing； and arranging some household duties before
I leave； had made me forget my children's supper； and they do not
like to take it from any one but me。〃 I uttered some indifferent
compliment： but my whole soul was absorbed by her air； her voice；
her manner； and I had scarcely recovered myself when she ran into
her room to fetch her gloves and fan。 The young ones threw inquiring
glances at me from a distance； whilst I approached the youngest；
a most delicious little creature。 He drew back； and Charlotte；
entering at the very moment； said； 〃Louis； shake hands with your
cousin。〃 The little fellow obeyed willingly； and I could not
resist giving him a hearty kiss； notwithstanding his rather dirty
face。 〃Cousin；〃 said I to Charlotte； as I handed her down； 〃do
you think I deserve the happiness of being related to you？〃 She
replied； with a ready smile； 〃Oh！ I have such a number of cousins；
that I should be sorry if you were the most undeserving of them。〃
In taking leave； she desired her next sister； Sophy； a girl about
eleven years old； to take great care of the children； and to say
good…bye to papa for her when he came home from his ride。 She
enjoined to the little ones to obey their sister Sophy as they
would herself； upon which some promised that they would； but a
little fair…haired girl； about six years old； looked discontented；
and said； 〃But Sophy is not you； Charlotte； and we like you best。〃
The two eldest boys had clambered up the carriage； and； at my
request； she permitted them to accompany us a little way through
the forest； upon their promising to sit very still； and hold fast。
We were hardly seated； and the ladies had scarcely exchanged
compliments； making the usual remarks upon each other's dress； and
upon the company they expected to meet； when Charlotte stopped the
carriage； and made her brothers get down。 They insisted upon
kissing her hands once more； which the eldest did with all the
tenderness of a youth of fifteen； but the other in a lighter and
more careless manner。 She desired them again to give her love to
the children； and we drove off。
The aunt inquired of Charlotte whether she had finished the book
she had last sent her。 〃No；〃 said Charlotte； 〃I did not like it：
you can have it again。 And the one before was not much better。〃
I was surprised； upon asking the title； to hear that it was ____。
（We feel obliged to suppress the passage in the letter； to prevent
any one from feeling aggrieved； although no author need pay much
attention to the opinion of a mere girl； or that of an unsteady
young man。）
I found penetration and character in everything she said： every
expression seemed to brighten her features with new charms； with
new rays of genius； which unfolded by degrees； as she felt
herself understood。
〃When I was younger；〃 she observed； 〃I loved nothing so much as
romances。 Nothing could equal my delight when； on some holiday；
I could settle down quietly in a corner； and enter with my whole
heart and soul into the joys or sorrows of some fictitious Leonora。
I do not deny that they even possess some charms for me yet。 But
I read so seldom； that I prefer books suited exactly to my taste。
And I like those authors best whose scenes describe my own situation
in life； and the friends who are about me； whose stories touch
me with interest； from resembling my own homely existence； which；
without being absolutely paradise； is； on the whole； a source of
indescribable happiness。〃
I endeavoured to conceal the emotion which these words occasioned；
but it was of slight avail； for； when she had expressed so truly
her opinion of 〃The Vicar of Wakefield；〃 and of other works； the
names of which I omit （Though the names are omitted； yet the authors
mentioned deserve Charlotte's approbation； and will feel it in
their hearts when they read this passage。 It concerns no other
person。）； I could no longer contain myself； but gave full utterance
to what I thought of it： and it was not until Charlotte had addressed
herself to the two other ladies； that I remembered their presence；
and observed them sitting mute with astonishment。 The aunt looked
at me several times with an air of raillery； which； however； I did
not at all mind。
We talked of the pleasures of dancing。 〃If it is a fault to love
it；〃 said Charlotte； 〃I am ready to confess that I prize it above
all other amusements。 If anything disturbs me； I go to the piano；
play an air to which I have danced； and all goes right again
directly。〃
You； who know me； can fancy how steadfastly I gazed upon her rich
dark eyes during these remarks； how my very soul gloated over her
warm lips and fresh； glowing cheeks； how I became quite lost in
the delightful meaning of her words； so much so； that I scarcely
heard the actual expressions。 In short； I alighted from the
carriage like a person in a dream； and was so lost to the dim
world around me； that I scarcely heard the music which resounded
from the illuminated ballroom。
The two Messrs。 Andran and a certain N。 N。 （I cannot trouble myself
with the names）； who were the aunt's and Charlotte's partners；
received us at the carriage…door； and took possession of their
ladies； whilst I followed with mine。
We commenced with a minuet。 I led out one lady after another；
and precisely those who were the most disagreeable could not bring
themselves to leave off。 Charlotte and her partner began an English
country dance； and you must imagine my delight when it was their
turn to dance the figure with us。 You should see Charlotte dance。
She dances with her whole heart and soul： her figure is all harmony；
elegance； and grace； as if she were conscious of nothing else； and
had no other thought or feeling； and； doubtless； for the moment；
every other sensation is extinct。
She was engaged for the second country dance； but promised me the
third； and assured me； with the most agreeable freedom； that she
was very fond of waltzing。 〃It is the custom here；〃 she said；
〃for the previous partners to waltz together； but my partner is
an indifferent waltzer； and will feel delighted if I save him the
trouble。 Your partner is not allowed to waltz； and； indeed； is
equally incapable： but I observed during the country dance that
you waltz well； so； if you will waltz with me； I beg you would
propose it to my partner； and I will propose it to yours。〃 We
agreed； and it was arranged that our partners should mutually
e