r.
Yes, irresistible!--for, when Adrienne encountered his glance, she
trembled in every limb, and felt herself attracted by a magnetic power.
Already, her eyes were heavy with a kind of intoxicating languor, when,
by a great effort of will and dignity, she succeeded in overcoming
this delicious confusion, rose from her chair, and said to Djalma in
a trembling voice: "Prince, I am happy to receive you here." Then,
pointing to one of the portraits suspended above her, she added, as if
introducing him to a living person: "Prince--my mother!"

With an instinct of rare delicacy, Adrienne had thus summoned her mother
to be present at her interview with Djalma. It seemed a security
for herself and the prince, against the seductions of a first
interview--which was likely to be all the more perilous, that they both
knew themselves madly loved that they both were free, and had only to
answer to Providence for the treasures of happiness and enjoyment
with which He had so magnificently endowed them. The prince understood
Adrienne's thoughts; so that, when the young lady pointed to the
portrait, Djalma, by a spontaneous movement full of grace and
simplicity, knelt down before the picture, and said to it in a gentle,
but manly voice: "I will love and revere you as my mother. And, in
thought, my mother too shall be present, and stand like you, beside your
child!"

No better answer could have been given to the feeling which induced
Mdlle. de Cardoville to place herself, as it were, under the protection
of her mother. From that moment, confident in Djalma, confident in
herself, the young lady felt more at her ease, and the delicious sense
of happiness replaced those exciting emotions, which had at first so
violently agitated her.

Then, seating herself once more, she said to Djalma, as she pointed to
the opposite chair: "Pray take a seat, my dear cousin; and allow me to
call you so, for there is too much ceremony in the word prince; and
do you call me cousin also, for I find other names too grave. Having
settled this point, we can talk together like old friends."

"Yes cousin," answered Djalma, blushing.

"And, as frankness is proper between friends," resumed Adrienne, "I have
first to make you a reproach," she added, with a half-smile.

The prince had remained standing, with his arm resting on the chimney
piece, in an attitude full of grace and respect.

"Yes, cousin," continued Adrienne, "a reproach, that you will perhaps
for