“I wanted to kiss you, dear.” “Well, kiss me, my husband.” Within the trembling young girl the coquetry of the woman was breaking forth in spite of herself. I could not help it; she exhaled a delightful perfume which mounted to my brain, and the contact of this dear creature whom I touched, despite myself, swept away all my resolutions. My lips--I do not know how it was--met hers, and we remained thus for a long moment; I felt against my breast the echo of the beating heart, and her rapid breathing came full into my face. “You do love me a little, dear?” I whispered in her ear. I distinguished amid a confused sigh a little “Yes!” that resembled a mere breath. “I don’t frighten you any longer?” “No,” she murmured, very softly. “You will be my little wife, then, Louise; you will let me teach you to love me as I love you?” “I do love you,” said she, but so softly and so gently that she seemed to be dreaming. How many times have we not laughed over these recollections, already so remote. BOOK 2. CHAPTER XIII. THE BLUE NOTE-BOOK Toward midnight mamma made a sign to me with her eyes, and under cover of a lively waltz we slipped out of the drawing-room. In the hall the servants, who were passing to and fro, drew aside to let us go by them, but I felt that their eyes were fixed upon me with the curiosity which had pursued me since the morning. The large door giving on to the park was open, although the night was cool, and in the shadow I could make out groups of country folk gathered there to catch a glimpse of the festivities through the windows. These good people were laughing and whispering; they were silent for a moment as we advanced to ascend the staircase, but I once more felt that I was the mark of these inquisitive looks and the object of all these smiles. The face of mamma, who accompanied me, was much flushed, and large tears were flowing from her eyes. How was it that an event so gay for some was so sad for others? When I think over it now I can hardly keep my countenance. What silly terrors at that frightful yet charming moment! Yet, after all, one exaggerates things a great deal. On reaching the first floor mamma stopped, choking, took my head in her hands, and kissed me on the forehead, and exclaimed, “Valentine!” I was not greatly moved by this outburst, knowing that mamma, since she has grown a little too stout, has some difficulty in getting upstairs. I judged, therefore, that the wish to take breath for a moment without appearing to do so had something to do with this sudden halt.