 acquainted with some of her
female relations; and, among the rest, with a young lady, so eminently adorned
with all the qualifications of mind and person, that, notwithstanding all his
philosophy and caution, he could not behold and converse with her, without being
deeply smitten with her charms. He did all in his power to discourage this
dangerous invasion in the beginning, and to conceal the least symptom of it from
her relation: he summoned all his reflection to his aid; and thinking it would
be base and dishonest to cherish any sentiment, repugnant to the affection which
he owed to a mistress, who had placed such unlimited confidence in him, he
attempted to stifle the infant flame by avoiding the amiable inspirer of it. But
the passion had taken too deep a root in his heart, to be so easily extirpated:
his absence from the dear object, increased the impatience of his love. The
intestine conflict between that and gratitude, deprived him of his rest and
appetite. He was, in a short time, emaciated by continual watching, anxiety, and
want of nourishment; and so much altered from his usual chearfulness, that his
mistress being surprised and alarmed at the change, which, from the symptoms,
she judged was owing to some uneasiness of mind, took all imaginable pains to
discover the cause.
    In all probability, it did not escape her penetration; for she, more than
once, asked if he was in love with her cousin; protesting that, far from being
an obstacle to his happiness, she would, in that case, be an advocate for his
passion. However, this declaration was never made without manifest signs of
anxiety and uneasiness, which made such an impression upon the heart of M-, that
he resolved to sacrifice his happiness, and even his life, rather than take any
step which might be construed into an injury or insult to a person who had
treated him with such generosity and goodness.
    In consequence of this resolution, he formed another which was to go abroad,
under pretence of recovering his health, but in reality, to avoid the
temptation, as well as the suspicion of being inconstant; and in this design he
was confirmed by his physician, who actually thought him in the first stage of a
consumption, and therefore advised him to repair to the south of France. He
communicated his design, with the doctor's opinion, to the lady, who agreed to
it with much less difficulty than he found in conquering his own reluctance, at
parting with the dear object of his love. The consent of his generous mistress
