iogoodness—yes,goodness.IwishtobeabettermanthanIhavebeen,thanIam;asJob’sleviathanbrokethespear,thedart,andthehabergeon,hindranceswhichotherstasironandbrass,Iwillesteembutstrawandrottenwood.”

    Adèlehereranbeforehimwithhershuttlecock.“Away!”hecriedharshly;“keepatadistance,child;ointoSophie!”tinuiopursuehiswalkinsilence,Iveorecallhimtothepointwhencehehadabruptlydiverged—

    “Didyouleavethebaly,sir,”Iasked,“whenMdlle.Vareered?”

    Ialmostexpectedarebuffforthishardlywell-timedquestion,but,orary,wakingoutofhisscowlingabstra,heturnedhiseyestowardsme,andtheshadeseemedtoclearoffhisbrow.“Oh,Ihadfottene!Well,toresume.WhenIsawmycharmerthuseinapaniedbyacavalier,Iseemedtohearahiss,andthegreensnakeofjealousy,risingonundulatingcoilsfromthemoonlitbaly,glidedwithinmywaistcoat,aswayintwomiomyheart’score.Strange!”heexclaimed,suddenlystartingagainfromthepoint.“StraIshouldchooseyouforthefidantofallthis,younglady;passingstrayoushouldlistentomequietly,asifitwerethemostusualthingintheworldforamaotellstoriesofhisopera-mistressestoaquaint,inexperiencedgirllikeyou!Butthelastsingularityexplainsthefirst,asIintimatedoncebefore:you,withyravity,siderateness,andcautionweremadetobetherecipientofsecrets.Besides,IknowwhatsortofamindIhaveplaunicationwithmyown:Iknowitisoliabletotakeiion:itisapeculiarmind:itisauniqueone.HappilyIdooharmit:but,ifIdid,itwouldnottakeharmfromme.ThemoreyouandIverse,thebetter;forwhileIotblightyou,youmayrefreshme.”Afterthisdigressionheproceeded—

    “Iremaihebaly.‘Theywill