This led to a metaphysical conversation, half playful, half serious:--the distinction which a man sometimes makes to his conscience between thinking a woman entertaining, and feeling her interesting, vanishes more easily, and more rapidly, than he is aware of--at least in certain situations. This was not an observation I could make to my companion in the woods, and he certainly did not make it for himself. It would have been vanity in me to have broken off our conversation, lest he should fall in love with me--it would have been blindness not to have seen that he was in some danger. I thought of Leonora--and sighed--and did all that was in my power to put him upon his guard. By way of preservative, I frankly made him a confession of my attachment to R----. This I imagined would put things upon a right footing for ever; but, on the contrary, by convincing him of my innocence, and of my having no designs on his heart, this candour has, I fear, endangered him still more; yet I know not what to think--his manner is so variable towards me--I must be convinced of what his sentiments are, before I can decide what my conduct ought to be. Adieu, my amiable Gabrielle; I wait for something decisive with an inexpressible degree of anxiety--I will not now call it curiosity.--Apropos, does R---- wish that I should forget that he exists? What is this business that detains him? But why do I condescend to inquire? OLIVIA. * * * * * LETTER XXXI. GENERAL B---- TO MR. L----. MY DEAR L----, London. I send you the horse to which you took a fancy. He has killed one of his grooms, and lamed two; but you will be his master, and I hope he will know it. I have a word to say to you on a more serious subject. Pardon me if I tell you that I think you are a happy man, and excuse me if I add, that if you do not keep yourself so I shall not think you a wise one. A good wife is better than a good-for-nothing mistress.--A self-evident proposition!--A stupid truism! Yes; but if every man who knows a self-evident proposition when he sees it on paper, always acted as if he knew it, this would be a very wise and a very happy world; and I should not have occasion to write this letter. You say that you are only amusing yourself at the expense of a finished coquette; take care that she does not presently divert herself at yours.--“_You are proof against French coquetry and German sentiment_.”--Granted--but a fine woman?--and your own vanity?--But you have no vanity.--You call it pride then, I suppose. I will not quarrel with you for a name. Pride, properly managed, will do your business as well as vanity. And no doubt Lady Olivia knows this as well as I do. I hope you may never know it better. I am, my dear friend, Truly yours, J. B. * * * * * LETTER XXXII. OLIVIA TO MADAME DE P----. L---- Castle.