"Listen to me, Théodore," said Rosette, standing up and throwing the hair back from both sides of her face, as well as I could judge by the feeble light which the stars and a very slender crescent moon, just appearing above the horizon, cast into the room, the window being still open;--"this is a strange step I have taken; everybody would blame me for it.--But you are going away soon, and I love you! I cannot let you go thus without having an explanation with you.--Perhaps you will never come back; perhaps this is the first and last time that I am to see you.--Who knows where you will go? But wherever you go you will carry my heart and my life with you.--If you had remained, I should not have resorted to this extreme measure. The happiness I felt on seeing you, of listening to your voice, of living beside you, would have been enough for me; I would have asked for nothing more. I would have confined my love in my heart; you would have thought that you had simply a kind and affectionate friend in me; but that cannot be. You say that you absolutely must go.--It bores you, Théodore, to see me clinging to your footsteps like an amorous shadow which can only follow you, but would like to be blended with your body; it must annoy you always to find behind you imploring eyes and hands stretched out to grasp the hem of your cloak.--I know it, but I cannot refrain from doing it.--You cannot complain, however; it is your fault.--I was calm, peaceful, almost happy before I knew you.--You appeared, handsome, young, and smiling, like Phœbus, the charming god.--You paid me most marked, most gallant attention; never was cavalier more courteous and clever. Rubies and roses fell from your lips every moment; everything became for you an opportunity to turn a compliment, and you knew how to transform the most insignificant words into charming flattery.--A woman who had hated you mortally at first, would have ended by loving you, and for my part, I loved you the moment I saw you. Why, having made yourself so agreeable, do you seem surprised to be so loved? Isn't it a perfectly natural consequence? I am neither mad nor empty-headed, nor a romantic child who falls in love with the first sword she sees. I have seen society, and I know what life is. Any woman, even the most virtuous or the most prudish, would have done as much as I am doing.--What was your idea or your purpose? to please me, I imagine, for I cannot attribute any other to you. How does it happen, then, that you seem in some measure sorry because you have succeeded so well? Have I unintentionally done anything to displease you?--I ask your pardon.--Do you no longer think me beautiful, or have you discovered in me some defect that repels you?--You have the right to be exacting in the matter of beauty, but either you have lied outrageously, or I am beautiful!--I am young like yourself and I love you; why do you disdain me now? You used to be so attentive to me, you held my arm with such