However, that was the least of my troubles; I
soon restored her to comparative calmness; and before I quitted
her, made her promise she would come and see me.
She would gladly have evaded this request; but her son, the master
of requests, who sufficiently misjudged me to fear my resentment,
and who possessed great influence over her, induced her to present
herself at my house. She accordingly came to call upon me, with a
mind bursting with spite and jealousy; yet she choked down her
angry passions, and so far humbled herself, as to entreat my
pardon for her own sake and that of her family, for all her
unkindness towards me. I would not allow her to finish; "Madame,"
said I, "I only allow agreeable recollections to find a place in
my memory; had I entertained the slightest resentment against
either you or yours, you may be quite certain I should not have
again entered your dwelling; and I again repeat the offer I
made the other day, of gladly seizing the first opportunity
of being useful to you."
Each of these words expressive of the kindest feelings towards
her was like the stab of a poniard. She, however, extolled them
with the most exaggerated praise, imploring me to believe how
deeply she regretted her behavior, and talked so long and so much
about it, that when she quitted me, it was with the most certain
impression on my mind, that in her I possessed a most violent and
implacable enemy, and in this conclusion I was quite correct.
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