The postillion managed the point to a miracle: by the time he had got to the foot of a steep hill about half a league from Nampont, he had put me out of temper with him - and then with myself, for being fo. My case then required a different treatment; and a good rattling gallop would have been of real service to me. Then, prithee get on -get on, my good lad, faid I. - The postillion pointed to the hill I then tried to return back to the story of the poor German and his afs but I had broke the clue and could no more get into it again, than the postillion could into a trot. The deuce go, said I, with it all! Here am I fitting as candidly disposed to make the best of the worst, as ever wight was, and all runs counter, There is one sweet lenitive at least for evils, which nature holds out to us; so I took it kindly at her hands, and fell asleep; and the first word which roused me was Amiens. Bless me! faid I, rubbing me eyes this is the very town where my poor lady is to come. Нити озMIEN S. The words were scarce out of any mouth, when the Count de L-'s post-chaife, with his fifter in it, drove hastily by: she had just time to make me a bow of recognition and of that particular kind of it, which told me the had not yet done with me. She was as good as her look; for, before I had quite finished my supper, her brother's fervant came into the room with a billet, in which she said she had taken the liberty to charge me with a letter, which I was to present myself to Madame Rthe first morning I had nothing to do at Paris. There was only added, she was forry, but from what penchant she had not confidered, that she had been prevented telling ine her story -- that she still owed it me; and if my rout should ever lay through Bruffels, and I had not by then forgot the name of Madame de L.-- that Madame de I.- would be glad to discharge her obligation. - Then I will meet thee, faid I, fair spirit! at Bruffels 'tis only returning from Italy through Germany to Holland, by the rout of Flanders, home 'twill scarce be ten posts out of of my way; but wete it ten thousand! with what a moral delight will it crown my journey, in sharing in the fickening incidents of a tale of misery told to me by fuch a sufferer? to see her weep! and though I cannot dry up the fountain of her tears, what an exquisite sensation is there still left; in wiping them away from off the cheeks of the first and fairest of women, as I'm fitting with my handkerchief in any hand in filence the whole night befides her, There was nothing wrong in the sentiment; and yet I instantly reproached my heart with it in the bitterest and most reprobate of expressions. It had ever, as I told the reader, been one of the fingular bleffings of my life, to be almost every hour of it miferably in love with fome one; and my last flame happening to be blown out by a whiff of jealousy on the sudden turn of a corner, I had lighted it up afresh at the pure taper of Eliza but about three months before -- swearing as I did it, that it should last me through the whole journey Why should I dissemble the matter? I had sworn to to her eternal fidelity - she had a right to my whole heart - to divide my affections was to leffen E5 leffen them - to expose them, was to rifk them: where there is risk, there may be lofs: and what wilt thou have, Yorick! to answer to a heart so full of trust and confidence I will not go to Brussels, replied I, interrupting myself - but my imagination went On -- I recall'd her looks at that crisis of our separation when neither of us had power to say Adieu! I look'd at the picture she had tied in a black ribband about my neck - and blush'd as I look'd at it I would have given the world to have kiss'd it, - but was ashained And fhall this tender flower, said I, preffing it bet. ween my hands shall it be smitten to its very root and smitten, Yorick! by thee, who haft promised to shelter it in thy breast? - Eternal fountain of happiness! said I, kneeling down upon the ground - be thou my witness and every pure spirit which tastes it, be my witness also, That I would not travel to Bruffels, unless Eliza went along with me, did the road lead me towards heaven. In transports of this kind, the heart, in spite too of the understanding, will alwas say toomuch. THE THE LETTER. AMIENS. Fortune had not smiled upon La Fleur; for he had been unsuccessful in his feats of chivalry -- and not one thing had offer'd to fignalize his zeal for my service from the time he had enter'd into it, which was alınost four and twenty hours. The poor foul burn'd with im patience; and the Count de L-'s servanr's coming with the letter, being the first practic able occafion which offered, La Fleur had laid hold of it; and in order to do honour to his master, had taken him into a back parlour in in the Auberge, and treated him with a cup or two of the best wine in Picardy; and the Count de L's fervant in return, and not to be behind hand in politeness with La Fleur, had taken hiım back with him to the Count's hôtel, La Fleur's prevenancy (for there was a pafsport in his very looks) foon set every fervant in the kitchen at ease with him; and as a Frenchman, whatever be his talents, has no fort of prudery in shewing them, La Fleur, in less than five minutes, had pull'd out his fife, and leading off |