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a young widow ， who set great store by him。 He spoke so much of his mistress，
and praised her so extravagantly， that I could soon see he was desperately
in love with her。 〃She is no longer young ，〃 he said ： 〃and she was
treated so badly by her former husband that she does not mean to marry
again。〃 From his account it was so evident what inparable charms she
possessed for him ， and how ardently he wished she would select him to
extinguish the recollection of her first husband's misconduct ， that
I should have to repeat his own words in order to describe the depth of
the poor fellow's attachment， truth， and devotion。 It would ， in fact，
require the gifts of a great poet to convey the expression of his features，
the harmony of his voice， and the heavenly fire of his eye。 No words
can portray the tenderness of his every movement and of every feature
： no effort of mine could do justice to the scene。 His alarm lest I should
misconceive his position with regard to his mistress， or question the
propriety of her conduct， touched me particularly。 The charming manner
with which he described her form and person ， which， without possessing
the graces of youth ， won and attached him to her， is inexpressible ，
and must be left to the imagination。 I have never in my life witnessed
or fancied or conceived the possibility of such intense devotion， such
ardent affections ， united with so much purity。 Do not blame me if I
say that the recollection of this innocence and truth is deeply impressed
upon my very soul ； that this picture of fidelity and tenderness haunts
me everywhere ； and that my own heart， as though enkindled by the flame，
glows and burns within me。
I mean now to try and see her as soon as I can： or perhaps ， on
second thoughts ， I had better not ； it is better I should behold her
through the eyes of her lover。 To my sight， perhaps， she would not appear
as she now stands before me ； and why should I destroy so sweet a picture？
JUNE 16。 〃Why do I not write to you ？〃 You lay claim to learning ，
and ask such a question。 You should have guessed that I am well —— that
is to say —— in a word， I have made an acquaintance who has won my
heart ： I have —— I know not。
To give you a regular account of the manner in which I have bee
acquainted with the most amiable of women would be a difficult task。 I
am a happy and contented mortal ， but a poor historian。
An angel！ Nonsense ！ Everybody so describes his mistress； and yet
I find it impossible to tell you how perfect she is ， or why she is so
perfect ： suffice it to say she has captivated all my senses。
So much simplicity with so much understauding —— so mild， and yet
so resolute —— a mind so placid ， and a life so active。
But all this is ugly balderdash ， which expresses not a single character
nor feature。 Some other time—— but no ， not some other time， now，
this very instant ， will I tell you all about it。 Now or never。 Well ，
between ourselves ， since I menced my letter， I have been three times
on the point of throwing down my pen， of ordering my horse ， and riding
out。 And yet I vowed this morning that I would not ride to…day， and yet
every moment I am rushing to the window to see how high the sun is。
I could not restrain myself —— go to her I must。 I have just returned，
Wilhelm ； and whilst I am taking supper I will write to you。 What a delight
it was for my soul to see her in the midst of her dear， beautiful children，
—— eight brothers and sisters ！
But ， if I proceed thus， you will be no wiser at the end of my letter
than you were at the beginning。 Attend， then ， and I will pel myself
to give you the details。
I mentioned to you the other day that I had bee acquainted with
S ——， the district judge ， and that he had invited me to go and visit
him in his retirement ， or rather in his little kingdom。 But I neglected
going ， and perhaps should never have gone ， if chance had not discovered
to me the treasure which lay concealed in that retired spot。 Some of our
young people had proposed giving a ball in the country， at which I consented
to be present。 I offered my hand for the evening to a pretty and agreeable，
but rather monplace， sort of girl from the immediate neighbourhood
； and it was agreed that I should engage a carriage， and call upon Charlotte，
with my partner and her aunt， to convey them to the ball。 My panion
informed me ， as we drove along through the park to the hunting…lodge，
that I should make the acquaintance of a very charming young lady。 〃Take
care，〃 added the aunt， 〃that you do not lose your heart。〃 〃Why？〃 said
I。 〃Because she is already engaged to a very worthy man ，〃 she replied，
〃who is gone to settle his affairs upon the death of his father ， and
will succeed to a very considerable inheritance。〃 This information possessed
no interest for me。 When we arrived at the gate ， the sun was setting
behind the tops of the mountains。 The atmosphere was heavy； and the ladies
expressed their fears of an approaching storm ， as masses of low black
clouds were gathering in the horizon。 I relieved their anxieties by pretending
to be weather…wise， although I myself had some apprehensions lest our
pleasure should be interrupted。
I alighted； and a maid came to the door， and requested us to wait
a moment for her mistress。 I walked across the court to a well…built house，
and ， ascending the flight of steps in front ， opened the door， and
saw before me the most charming spectacle I had ever witnessed。 Six children，
from eleven to two years old， were running about the hall， and surrounding
a lady of middle height ， with a lovely figure ， dressed in a robe of
simple white， trimmed with pink ribbons。 She was holding a rye loaf in
her hand， and was cutting slices for the little ones all around， in
proportion to their age and appetite。 She performed her task in a graceful
and affectionate manner ； each claimant awaiting his turn with outstretched
hands ， and boisterously shouting his thanks。 Some of them ran away at
once， to enjoy their evening meal； whilst others， of a gentler disposition，
retired to the courtyard to see the strangers ， and to survey the carriage
in which their Charlotte was to drive away。 〃Pray forgive me for giving
you the trouble to e for me， and for keeping the ladies waiting ：
but dressing， and arranging some household duties before I leave ， had
made me forget my children's supper ； and they do not like to take it
from any one but me。〃 I uttered some indifferent pliment ： but my
whole soul was absorbed by her air， her voice， her manner ； and I had
scarcely recovered myself when she ran into her room to fetch her gloves
and fan。 The young ones threw inquiring glances at me from a distance
； whilst I approached the youngest ， a most delicious little creature。
He drew back； and Charlotte， entering at the very moment， said ， 〃Louis，
shake hands with your cousin。〃 The little fellow obeyed willingly ； and
I could not resist giving him a hearty kiss ， notwithstanding his rather
dirty face。 〃Cousin ，〃 said I to Charlotte ， as I handed her down ，
〃do you think I deserve the happiness of being related to you ？〃 She
replied ， with a ready smile ， 〃Oh！ I have such a number of cousins，
that I should be sorry if you were the most undeserving of them。〃 In taking
leave ， she desired her next sister， Sophy， a girl about eleven years
old ， to take great care of the children ， and to say good…bye to papa
for her when he came home from his ride。 She enjoined to the little ones
to obey their sister Sophy as they would herself， upon which some promised
that they would ； but a little fair…haired girl， about six years old，
looked discontented ， and said ， 〃But Sophy is not you， Charlotte；
and we like you best。〃 The two eldest boys had clambered up the carriage
； and， at my request， she permitted them to acpany us a little way
through the forest， upon their promising to sit very still ， and hold
fast。
We were hardly seated ， and the ladies had scarcely ex