It Is Largely A Matter Of Usage; And That The Old Plan, Which Seems So Faulty To Us, Produced Very Many Happy And Lasting Unions, There Is Much Delightful French Family History To Prove.

Laperouse had now been many months away from Ile-de-France and the bright eyes of Eleonore.

He was extremely fond of his mother, and anxious to meet her wishes. Moreover, he held Madame de Vesian in high esteem, and wrote that he "had always admired her, and felt sure that her daughter resembled her." These influences swayed him, and he gave way; but, being frank and honest by disposition, insisted that no secret should be made of his affair of the heart with the lady across the sea. He wrote to Madame de Vesian a candid letter, in which he said: -

"Being extremely sensitive, I should be the most unfortunate of men if I were not beloved by my wife, if I had not her complete confidence, if her life amongst her friends and children did not render her perfectly happy. I desire one day to regard you as a mother, and to-day I open my heart to you as my best friend. I authorise my mother to relate to you my old love affair. My heart has always been a romance (MON COEUR A TOUJOURS ETE UN ROMAN); and the more I sacrificed prudence to those whom I loved the happier I was. But I cannot forget the respect that I owe to my parents and to their wishes.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 19 of 82
Words from 4800 to 5055 of 22180