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ough a wilderness of pavilions, forests, clouds and cataracts, and at length arrived at a little door, at which he knocked gently. "Come in," said a soft voice inside. We opened, and beheld a very beautiful young woman, in Tyrolese costume. She was to perform in the afterpiece--her low boddice and short scarlet petticoat displaying the most perfect symmetry of form and roundness of proportion. She was dressing her hair before a low glass as we came in, and scarcely turned at our approach; but in an instant, as if some sudden thought had struck her, she sprung fully round, and looking at me fixedly for above a minute--a very trying one for me--she glanced at her husband, whose countenance plainly indicated that she was right, and calling out, "C'est lui--c'est bien lui," threw herself into my arms, and sobbed convulsively. "If this were to be the only fruits of my impersonation," thought I, "it is not so bad--but I am greatly afraid these good people will find out a wife and seven babies for me before morning." Whether the manager thought that enough had been done for stage effect, I know not; but he gently disengaged the lovely Amelie, and deposited her upon a sofa, to a place upon which she speedily motioned me by a look from a pair of very seducing blue eyes. "Francois, mon cher, you must put off La Chaumiere. I can't play to-night." "Put it off! But only think of the audience, ma mie--they will pull down the house." "C'est possible," said she, carelessly. "If that give them any pleasure, I suppose they must be indulged; but I, too, must have a little of my own way. I shall not play." The tone this was said in--the look--the easy gesture of command--no less than the afflicted helplessness of the luckless husband, showed me that Amelie, however docile as a sweetheart, had certainly her own way as wife. While Le cher Francois then retired, to make his proposition to the audience, of substituting something for the Chaumiere--the "sudden illness of Madame Baptiste having prevented her appearance,"--we began to renew our old acquaintance, by a thousand inquiries from that long-past time, when we were sweethearts and lovers. "You remember me then so well?" said I. "As of yesterday. You are much taller, and your eyes darker; but still--there is something. You know, however, I have been expecting to see you these two days; and tell me frankly how do you find me looking?" "More beautiful, a t
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