I went to see them the next morning, and received an invitation to
dine there, which I accepted. We separated without tears at night; I
returned to my paltry lodging, and departed the second day after my
arrival, almost without knowing whither to go to.
This was a circumstance of my life in which Providence offered me
precisely what was necessary to make my days pass happily. Merceret
was a good girl, neither witty, handsome, nor ugly; not very lively,
but tolerably rational, except while under the influence of some
little humors, which usually evaporated in tears, without any
violent outbreak of temper. She had a real inclination for me; I might
have married her without difficulty, and followed her father's
business. My taste for music would have made me love her; I should
have settled at Fribourg, a small town, not pretty, but inhabited by
very worthy people- I should certainly have missed great pleasures,
but should have lived in peace to my last hour, and I must know best
what I should have gained by such a step.
I did not return to Nion, but to Lausanne, wishing to gratify myself
with a view of that beautiful lake which is seen there in its utmost
extent. The greater part of my secret motives have not been so
reasonable. Distant expectation has rarely strength enough to
influence my actions; the uncertainty of the future ever making me
regard projects whose execution requires a length of time as deceitful
lures. I give in to visionary scenes of hope as well as others,
provided they cost nothing, but if attended with any trouble, I have
done with them.
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