owdreadfultofindalumpofwaxandwoodlaidinmybosom,ahalfidiotclaspedinmyarms,andtorememberthatIhadmadeofthismyequal—nay,myidol—toknowthatImustpasstherestofmydrearylifewithacreatureincapableofunderstandingwhatIsaid,ofappreciatingwhatIthought,orofsympathizingwithwhatIfelt!“Now,ZoraideReuter,”thoughtI,“hastact,CARACTERE,judgment,discretionhassheheart?Whatagood,simplelittlesmileplayedaboutherlipswhenshegavemethebranchoflilacs!Ihavethoughthercrafty,dissembling,interestedsometimes,itistruebutmaynotmuchthatlookslikecunninganddissimulationinherconductbeonlytheeffortsmadebyablandtempertotraversequietlyperplexingdifficulties?Andastointerest,shewishestomakeherwayintheworld,nodoubt,andwhocanblameher?Evenifshebetrulydeficientinsoundprinciple,isitnotratherhermisfortunethanherfault?ShehasbeenbroughtupaCatholic:hadshebeenbornanEnglishwoman,andrearedaProtestant,mightshenothaveaddedstraightintegritytoallherotherexcellences?SupposingsheweretomarryanEnglishandProtestanthusband,wouldshenot,rational,sensibleassheis,quicklyacknowledgethesuperiorityofrightoverexpediency,honestyoverpolicy?Itwouldbeworthaman’swhiletotrytheexperimentto-morrowIwillrenewmyobservations.SheknowsthatIwatchher:howcalmsheisunderscrutiny!itseemsrathertogratifythanannoyher.”Hereastrainofmusicstoleinuponmymonologue,andsuspendedititwasabugle,veryskilfullyplayed,intheneighbourhoodofthepark,Ithought,oronthePlaceRoyale.Sosweetwerethetones,sosubduingtheireffectatthathour,inthemidstofsilenceandunderthequietreignofmoonlight,Iceasedtothink,thatImightlistenmoreintently.Thestrainretreated,itssoundwaxedfainterandwassoongonemyearpreparedtoreposeontheabsolutehushofmidnightoncemore.No.Whatmurmurwasthatwhich,low,andyetnearandapproachingnearer,frustratedtheexpectationoftotalsilence?Itwassomeoneconversing—yes,evidently,anaudible,thoughsubduedvoicespokeinthegardenimmediatelybelowme.Anotheransweredthefirstvoicewasthatofaman,thesecondthatofawomanandamanandawomanIsawcomingslowlydownthealley.Theirformswereatfirstinshade,Icouldbutdiscernaduskoutlineofeach,butarayofmoonlightmetthemattheterminationofthewalk,whentheywereundermyverynose,andrevealedveryplainly,veryunequivocally,Mdlle.ZoraideReuter,arm-in-arm,orhand-in-hand(Iforgetwhich)withmyprincipal,confidant,andcounsellor,M.FrancoisPelet.AndM.Peletwassaying—
“Aquanddonclejourdesnoces,mabien-aimee?”
AndMdlle.Reuteranswered—
“Mais,Francois,tusaisbienqu’ilmeseraitimpossibledememarieravantlesvacances.”
“June,July,August,awholequarter!”exclaimedthedirector.“HowcanIwaitsolong?—Iwhoamready,evennow,toexpireatyourfee