pbytheprodugandlightingofacigar;havingplacedittohislipsahedatrailofHavannahinseonthefreezingandsunlessair,hewenton—

    “Ilikedbonbonstoointhosedays,MissEyre,andIwascroquant—(overlookthebarbarism)—croquantchocolatefits,andsmokingalternately,watgmeaheequipagesthatrolledalongthefashioreetstowardstheneighbopera-house,wheninaclosecarriagedrawnbyabeautifulpairofEnglishhorses,anddistinctlyseeninthebrilliantcity-night,Ireisedthe‘voiture’Ihadgivene.Shewasreturning:ofcoursemyheartthumpedwithimpatienceagainsttheironrailsIleantupon.Thecarriagestopped,asIhadexpected,atthehoteldoor;myflame(thatistheverywordforanoperainamorata)alighted:thoughmuffedinacloak—anunnecessaryencumbrance,by-the-bye,onsowarmaJuneevening—Iknewherinstantlybyherlittlefoot,seenpeepingfromtheskirtofherdress,assheskippedfromthecarriage-step.Bendihebaly,Iwasabouttomurmur‘Monange’—inatone,ofcourse,whichshouldbeaudibletotheearoflovealone—whenafigurejumpedfromthecarriageafterher;cloakedalso;butthaturredheelwhichhadrungonthepavement,andthatwasahattedheadwhiowpasseduhearchedportecochèreofthehotel.

    “Youneverfeltjealousy,didyou,MissEyre?Ofcoursenot:Iaskyou;becauseyouneverfeltlove.Youhavebothsesyettoexperience:yoursoulsleeps;theshockisyettobegivenwhichshallwakenit.Youthinkallexistencelapsesinasquietaflowasthatinwhichyouryouthhashithertoslidaway.Floatingonwithclosedeyesandmuffledears,youherseetherocksbristlingnotfaroffinthebedoftheflood,hebreakersboilattheirbase.ButItellyou—andyoumaymarkmywords—youwillesomedaytypassinth