Own
room and went to bed, ordering the servants to tell their lady, in case
she enquired for her, that she was a little indisposed.
While Louisa was thus deploring a misfortune she wanted power to remedy,
the person for whom she was concerned past her time in a far different
manner: the count omitted nothing that might convince her of his
gallantry, and give her a pretence for flattering herself with his
sincerity: - he swore ten thousand oaths of constancy, and she easily
gave credit to what she wished and had vanity enough to think she
merited: - he had prepared every thing that could delight the senses for
her reception at the house to which he carried her; and she found in
herself so little inclination to quit the pleasures she enjoyed, that it
was as much as the little remains of decency and care of reputation
could do, to make her tear herself away before midnight.
In the fullness of her heart she had doubtless concealed no part of this
adventure from Louisa, but on hearing she was gone to rest, and not very
well, would not disturb her. The first thing she did in the morning was
to run into the chamber and enquire after her health, which she did in
so affectionate and tender a manner, that it very much heightened the
other's trouble for her.
