The Mysteries of Udolpho

Emily surveyed the gaiety of the scene with a melancholy kind

of pleasure, and her emotion may be imagined when, as she stood with her

aunt, looking at one of the groups, she perceived Valancourt; saw him

dancing with a young and beautiful lady, saw him conversing with her

with a mixture of attention and familiarity, such as she had seldom

observed in his manner. She turned hastily from the scene, and attempted

to draw away Madame Cheron, who was conversing with Signor Cavigni,

and neither perceived Valancourt, or was willing to be interrupted. A

faintness suddenly came over Emily, and, unable to support herself, she

sat down on a turf bank beneath the trees, where several other persons

were seated. One of these, observing the extreme paleness of her

countenance, enquired if she was ill, and begged she would allow him to

fetch her a glass of water, for which politeness she thanked him, but

did not accept it.

Her apprehension lest Valancourt should observe her

emotion made her anxious to overcome it, and she succeeded so far as

to re-compose her countenance. Madame Cheron was still conversing with

Cavigni; and the Count Bauvillers, who had addressed Emily, made some

observations upon the scene, to which she answered almost unconsciously,

for her mind was still occupied with the idea of Valancourt, to whom

it was with extreme uneasiness that she remained so near. Some remarks,

however, which the Count made upon the dance obliged her to turn her

eyes towards it, and, at that moment, Valancourt's met hers. Her colour

faded again, she felt, that she was relapsing into faintness, and

instantly averted her looks, but not before she had observed the altered

countenance of Valancourt, on perceiving her. She would have left the

spot immediately, had she not been conscious, that this conduct would

have shewn him more obviously the interest he held in her heart; and,

having tried to attend to the Count's conversation, and to join in

it, she, at length, recovered her spirits. But, when he made some

observation on Valancourt's partner, the fear of shewing that she was

interested in the remark, would have betrayed it to him, had not

the Count, while he spoke, looked towards the person of whom he was

speaking.

'The lady,' said he, 'dancing with that young Chevalier, who

appears to be accomplished in every thing, but in dancing, is ranked

among the beauties of Tholouse. She is handsome, and her fortune will be

very large. I hope she will make a better choice in a partner for life

than she has done in a partner for the dance, for I observe he has just

put the set into great confusion; he does nothing but commit blunders. I

am surprised, that, with his air and figure, he has not taken more care

to accomplish himself in dancing.'