y lips were half opened, as if
to give a passage to her heated breath, for her bosom heaved violently,
as thought youth and life had accelerated the pulsations of her heart,
and made her blood boil in her veins. Finally, the burning cheeks of
Adrienne betrayed a species of ecstasy, timid and passionate, chaste and
sensual, the expression of which was ineffably touching.

An affecting spectacle indeed is that of a young maiden, whose modest
brow flushes with the first fires of a secret passion. Does not the
Creator of all things animate the body as well as the soul, with a
spark of divine energy? Should He not be religiously glorified in the
intellect as in the senses, with which He has so paternally endowed His
creatures? They are impious blasphemers who seek to stifle the celestial
senses, instead of guiding and harmonizing them in their divine flight.
Suddenly, Mdlle. de Cardoville started, raised her head, opened her eyes
as if awakening from a dream, withdrew abruptly from the sculptures,
and walked several times up and down the room in an agitated manner,
pressing her burning hands to her forehead. Then, falling, as it were,
exhausted on her seat, her tears flowed in abundance. The most bitter
grief was visible in her features, which revealed the fatal struggle
that was passing within her. By degrees, her tears ceased. To this
crisis of painful dejection succeeded a species of violent scorn and
indignation against herself, which were expressed by these words that
escaped her: "For the first time in my life, I feel weak and cowardly.
Oh yes! cowardly--very cowardly!"

The sound of a door opening and closing, roused Mdlle. de Cardoville
from her bitter reflections. Georgette entered the room, and said to her
mistress: "Madame, can you receive the Count de Montbron?"

Adrienne, too well-bred to exhibit before her women the sort of
impatience occasioned by this unseasonable visit, said to Georgette:
"You told M. de Montbron that I was at home?"

"Yes, Madame."

"Then beg him to walk in." Though Mdlle. de Cardoville felt at that
moment much vexed at the arrival of Montbron, let us hasten to say,
that she entertained for him an almost filial affection, and a profound
esteem, though, by a not unfrequent contrast, she almost always differed
from him in opinion. Hence arose, when Mdlle. de Cardoville had nothing
to disturb her mind, the most gay and animated discussions, in which M.
de Montbron, notwithstanding his moc