She found it possible to be unhappy, though loved by

Hippolitus; and acknowledged with a sigh of regret, which was yet new

to her, how tremblingly her peace depended upon him. He neither

appeared nor was mentioned at breakfast; but though delicacy prevented

her enquiring after him, conversation soon became irksome to her, and

she retired to the apartment of Madame de Menon. There she employed

herself in painting, and endeavoured to beguile the time till the hour

of dinner, when she hoped to see Hippolitus. Madame was, as usual,

friendly and cheerful, but she perceived a reserve in the conduct of

Julia, and penetrated without difficulty into its cause. She was,

however, ignorant of the object of her pupil's admiration. The hour so

eagerly desired by Julia at length arrived, and with a palpitating

heart she entered the hall. The Count was not there, and in the course

of conversation, she learned that he had that morning sailed for

Naples.

The scene which so lately appeared enchanting to her eyes, now

changed its hue; and in the midst of society, and surrounded by

gaiety, she was solitary and dejected. She accused herself of having

suffered her wishes to mislead her judgment; and the present conduct

of Hippolitus convinced her, that she had mistaken admiration for a

sentiment more tender. She believed, too, that the musician who had

addressed her in his sonnet, was not the Count; and thus at once was

dissolved all the ideal fabric of her happiness. How short a period

often reverses the character of our sentiments, rendering that which

yesterday we despised, to-day desirable. The tranquil state which she

had so lately delighted to quit, she now reflected upon with regret.

She had, however, the consolation of believing that her sentiments

towards the Count were unknown, and the sweet consciousness that her

conduct had been governed by a nice sense of propriety.

The public rejoicings at the castle closed with the week; but the gay

spirit of the marchioness forbade a return to tranquillity; and she

substituted diversions more private, but in splendour scarcely

inferior to the preceding ones. She had observed the behaviour of

Hippolitus on the night of the concert with chagrin, and his

departure with sorrow; yet, disdaining to perpetuate misfortune by

reflection, she sought to lose the sense of disappointment in the

hurry of dissipation. But her efforts to erase him from her

remembrance were ineffectual. Unaccustomed to oppose the bent of her

inclinations, they now maintained unbounded sway; and she found too

late, that in order to have a due command of our passions, it is

necessary to subject them to early obedience. Passion, in its undue

influence, produces weakness as well as injustice. The pain which now

recoiled upon her heart from disappointment, she had not strength of

mind to endure, and she sought relief from its pressure in afflicting

the innocent.




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