These Words Made A Very Deep Impression On The Grateful Soul Of Him They
Were Addressed To; And Equally Distressed
Between the necessity of
either disobliging a person whose generosity he had experienced, or
falsifying the promise he had made
To Charlotta, at last an expedient
offered to his mind how to avoid both, and yet not be guilty of injuring
the truth.
Alas! my lord, answered he, you little know the heart of Horatio, if you
imagine there be any thing there that would hide itself from you: - I
freely confess, the charms of mademoiselle Charlotta had such an effect
on me, that, had I been in circumstances which in the least could have
flattered me with success, I should long ago have avowed myself her
lover: but when I reflected on the disparity between us, the humour of
her father, and a thousand other impediments, I endeavoured to banish so
hopeless a passion from my breast, and was the more confirmed in my
resolution to do so by the ill treatment monsieur de Coigney
received: - besides, her removal from St. Germains, depriving me in a
great measure of those opportunities I had before of entertaining her,
might very well contribute to wean off a passion, not settled either by
time or expectation, of ever being gratified; and I hope, continued he,
I shall always have so much command over myself as not to become
ridiculous by aiming at impossibilities.
Whether the baron gave any credit to what he said on this account or
not, he had too much politeness to press him any farther; and the
discourse soon after taking another turn, Horatio was very well pleased
to think he had got off so well.
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