We both went
to the Chevrette; we sometimes met there by appointment. We lived
there according to our accustomed manner; walking together every day
talking of our amours, our duties, our friend, and our innocent
projects: all this in the park opposite the apartment of Madam
d'Epinay, under her windows, whence incessantly examining us, and
thinking herself braved, she by her eyes filled her heart with rage
and indignation.
Women have the art of concealing their anger, especially when it
is great. Madam d'Epinay, violent but deliberate, possessed this art
to an eminent degree. She feigned not to see or suspect anything,
and at the same time that she doubled towards me her cares, attention,
and allurements, she affected to load her sister-in-law with
incivilities and marks of disdain, which she seemingly wished to
communicate to me. It will easily be imagined she did not succeed; but
I was on the rack. Torn by opposite passions, at the same time that
I was sensible of her caresses, I could scarcely contain my anger when
I saw her wanting in good manners to Madam d'Houdetot. The angelic
sweetness of this lady made her endure everything without a complaint,
or even without being offended.
She was, in fact, so absent, and always so little attentive to these
things, that half the time she did not perceive them.
I was so taken up with my passion, that, seeing nothing but Sophia
(one of the names of Madam. d'Houdetot), I did not perceive that I was
become the laughing stock of the whole house, and all those who came
to it.
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