WHE HEN I alighted at the hotel, the porter told me a young woman with a bandbox had been that moment enquiring for me. I do not know, said the porter, whether she is gone away or no. I took the key of my chamber of him, and went up stairs; and when I had got within ten steps of the top of the landing before my door, I met her coming easily down. It was the fair fille de chambre I had walked along the Quai de Conti with: Madame de R**** had sent her upon some commission to a merchante de modes within a step or two of the hotel de Modene; and as I had fail'd in waiting upon her, had bid her enquire if I had left Paris; and if so, whether I had not left a letter addressed to her. As the fair fille de chambre was so near my door, she return'd back and went into the room with me for a moment or two whilst I wrote a card. It was a fine still evening in the latter end of the month of May the crimson window-curtains (which were of the same colour of those of the bed) were drawn close the sun was setting, and reflected through them so warm a tint into the fair fille de chambre's face I thought she the idea of it made me blush blush'd myself we were quite alone; and that superinduced a second blush before the first could get off. There is a sort of a pleasing half-guilty blush, where the blood is more in fault than the man 'tis sent impetuous from the heart, and virtue flies after it not 't is to call it back, but to make the sensation of it more delicious to the nerves associated. But I'll not describe it I felt some thing at first within me which was not in strict unison with the lesson of virtue I had given her the night before I sought five minutes for a card ― I knew I had not one. I took up a pen down again I laid it my hand trembled the devil was in me. I know as well as any one he is an ad versary, whom if we resist he will fly from us but I seldom resist him at all; from a terror, that though I may conquer, I may still get a hurt in the combat —so I give up the triumph for security; and instead of thinking to make him fly, 1 generally fly myself. The fair fille de ckambre came close up to the bureau where I was looking for a card took up first the pen I cast down, then offer'd to hold me the ink; she offer'd it so sweetly, I was going to accept it ― but I durst not I have nothing, my dear, -I said I, to write upon. Write it, said she, simply, upon any thing I was just going to cry out, Then I will write it, fair girl! upon thy lips. So I If I do, said I, I shall perish took her by the hand, and led her to the door, and begg'd she would not forget the lesson I had given her She said, indeed she would not and as she uttered it with some earnestness, she turn'd about, and gave me both her hands, closed together, into mine it was impossible not to compress them in that situation ― I wish'd to let them go; and all the time I held them, I kept arguing within myself against and still I held them on. it In two minutes I found I had all the battle to fight over again and I felt my legs and every limb about me tremble at the idea. The foot of the bed was within a yard and a half of the place where we were standing I had still hold of her hands and how it happened I can give no account, but I neither ask'd her drew her down. nor nor did I think of the bed but so it did happen, we both sat I'll just shew you, said the fair fille de chambre, the little purse I have been making to-day to hold your crown. So she put her hand into her right pocket, which was next me, and felt for it some time then into the left "She had lost it." more quietly I never bore expectation at last she pull'd it green taffeta, lined with a little bit of white quilted sattin, and just big enough ; |