dazzling in her eye. She still had on her night-dress, and wore just such a hat with a ribbon of the same color, as on the morning when I first saw her in the garden of her father's castle. This remembrance forcibly struck and affected my sensibility. I gave her a signal of adieu by waving my handkerchief, she returned it with a flight motion of her hand, but before I had fully passed the gate, returned to her apartment.
This fresh token of indifference and light estimation, made me very much inclined, instead of going to Alcantara, to turn back immediately, order the carriage out, and set off for France with the marchioness that same day. I thought it however my duty first to consult my mother's friend, in so delicate a business.
On my arrival in town, I waited on the lady, but had the mortification to find her in the country on a visit from which she was not expected for several days. I then went to my own house, ordered dinner, visited some acquaintances, and towards evening mounted again to ride back to the villa.
