"Had you no idea what I shewed you was like till just now?" "My ideas on the subject were inaccurate. My aunt only took me out of the convent a month ago, and I had been there since I was seven." "How old are you now?" "Seventeen. They tried to make me take the veil, but not having any relish for the fooleries of the cloister I refused." "Are you vexed with me?" "I ought to be very angry with you, but I know it was my fault, so I will only ask you to be discreet." "Don't be afraid, if I were indiscreet I should be the first to suffer." "You have given me a lesson which will come in useful. Stop! stop! or I will go away." "No, keep quiet; it's done now." I had taken her pretty hand, with which she let me do as I liked, and at last when she drew it back she was astonished to find it wanted wiping. "What is that?" "The most pleasant of substances, which renovates the world." "I see you are an excellent master. Your pupils make rapid progress, and you give your lessons with such a learned air." "Now don't be angry with me for what has happened. I should never have dared to go so far if your beauty had not inspired me." "Am I to take that speech as a declaration of love?" "Yes, it is bold, sweetheart, but it is sincere. If it were not, I should be unworthy both of you and of myself." "Can I believe you?" "Yes, with all your heart. But tell me if I may hope for your love?" "I don't know. All I know at present is that I ought to hate you, for in the space of a quarter of an hour you have taught me what I thought I should never know till I was married." "Are you sorry?" "I ought to be, although I feel that I have nothing more to learn on a matter which I never dared to think about. But how is it that you have got so quiet?" "Because we are talking reasonably and after the rapture love requires some repose. But look at this!" "What! again? Is that the rest of the lesson?" "It is the natural result of it." "How is it that you don't frighten me now?" "The soldier gets used to fire." "I see our fire is going out." With these words she took up a stick to poke the fire, and as she was stooping down in a favourable position my rash hand dared to approach the porch of the temple, and found the door closed in such sort that it would be necessary to break it open if one wished to enter the sanctuary. She got up in a dignified way, and told me in a polite and feeling manner that she was a well-born girl and worthy of respect. Pretending to be confused I made a thousand excuses, and I soon saw the amiable expression return to the face which it became so well. I said that in spite of my repentance I was glad to know that she had never made another man happy. "Believe me," she said, "that if I make anyone happy it will be my husband, to whom I have given my hand and heart."