Yes，returned。HowandwhyshouldIdoubtitforaninstant。WhatotherconstructioncouldIpossiblyputuponsuchconduct，onthepartofaladysobeautifulsowealthyevidentlysoaccomplishedofsohighbreedingofsoloftyapositioninsocietyineveryregardsoentirelyrespectableasIfeltassuredwasMadameLalande？Yes，shelovedmeshereturnedtheenthusiasmofmylove，withanenthusiasmasblindasuncompromisingasuncalculatingasabandonedandasutterlyunboundedasmyown！
　　Thesedeliciousfanciesandreflections，however，werenowinterruptedbythefallingofthedrop-curtain。Theaudiencearose；
　　andtheusualtumultimmediatelysupervened。QuittingTalbotabruptly，ImadeeveryefforttoforcemywayintocloserproximitywithMadameLalande。Havingfailedinthis，onaccountofthecrowd，Iatlengthgaveupthechase，andbentmystepshomeward；consolingmyselfformydisappointmentinnothavingbeenabletotoucheventhehemofherrobe，bythereflectionthatIshouldbeintroducedbyTalbot，indueform，uponthemorrow。
　　Thismorrowatlastcame，thatistosay，adayfinallydawneduponalongandwearynightofimpatience；andthenthehoursuntil“one“
　　weresnail-paced，dreary，andinnumerable。ButevenStamboul，itissaid，shallhaveanend，andtherecameanendtothislongdelay。
　　Theclockstruck。Asthelastechoceased，IsteppedintoB’sandinquiredforTalbot。
　　“Out。”saidthefootmanTalbot’sown。
　　“Out！”Ireplied，staggeringbackhalfadozenpaces“letmetellyou，myfinefellow，thatthisthingisthoroughlyimpossibleandimpracticable；Mr。Talbotisnotout。Whatdoyoumean？”
　　“Nothing，sir；onlyMr。Talbotisnotin，that’sall。HerodeovertoS，immediatelyafterbreakfast，andleftwordthathewouldnotbeintownagainforaweek。”
　　Istoodpetrifiedwithhorrorandrage。Iendeavoredtoreply，butmytonguerefuseditsoffice。AtlengthIturnedonmyheel，lividwithwrath，andinwardlyconsigningthewholetribeoftheTalbotstotheinnermostregionsofErebus。Itwasevidentthatmyconsideratefriend，ilfanatico，hadquiteforgottenhisappointmentwithmyselfhadforgottenitassoonasitwasmade。Atnotimewasheaveryscrupulousmanofhisword。Therewasnohelpforit；sosmotheringmyvexationaswellasIcould，Istrolledmoodilyupthestreet，propoundingfutileinquiriesaboutMadameLalandetoeverymaleacquaintanceImet。Byreportshewasknown，Ifound，toall-tomanybysightbutshehadbeenintownonlyafewweeks，andtherewereveryfew，therefore，whoclaimedherpersonalacquaintance。Thesefew，beingstillcomparativelystrangers，couldnot，orwouldnot，takethelibertyofintroducingmethroughtheformalityofamorningcall。WhileIstoodthusindespair，conversingwithatriooffriendsupontheallabsorbingsubjectofmyheart，itsohappenedthatthesubjectitselfpassedby。
　　“AsIlive，theresheis！”criedone。
　　“Surprisinglybeautiful！”exclaimedasecond。
　　“Anangeluponearth！”ejaculatedathird。
　　Ilooked；andinanopencarriagewhichapproachedus，passingslowlydownthestreet，sattheenchantingvisionoftheopera，accompaniedbytheyoungerladywhohadoccupiedaportionofherbox。
　　“Hercompanionalsowearsremarkablywell。”saidtheoneofmytriowhohadspokenfirst。
　　“Astonishingly。”saidthesecond；“stillquiteabrilliantair，butartwilldowonders。Uponmyword，shelooksbetterthanshedidatParisfiveyearsago。Abeautifulwomanstill；don’tyouthinkso，Froissart？Simpson，Imean。”
　　“Still！”saidI，“andwhyshouldn’tshebe？Butcomparedwithherfriendsheisasarushlighttotheeveningstaraglow
　　wormtoAntares。
　　“Ha！ha！ha！why，Simpson，youhaveanastonishingtactatmakingdiscoveriesoriginalones，Imean。”Andhereweseparated，whileoneofthetriobeganhummingagayvaudeville，ofwhichIcaughtonlythelines-
　　Ninon，Ninon，Ninonabas-
　　AbasNinonDeL’Enclos！
　　Duringthislittlescene，however，onethinghadservedgreatlytoconsoleme，althoughitfedthepassionbywhichIwasconsumed。AsthecarriageofMadameLalanderolledbyourgroup，Ihadobservedthatsherecognizedme；andmorethanthis，shehadblessedme，bythemostseraphicofallimaginablesmiles，withnoequivocalmarkoftherecognition。
　　Asforanintroduction，IwasobligedtoabandonallhopeofituntilsuchtimeasTalbotshouldthinkpropertoreturnfromthecountry。
　　InthemeantimeIperseveringlyfrequentedeveryreputableplaceofpublicamusement；and，atlength，atthetheatre，whereIfirstsawher，Ihadthesupremeblissofmeetingher，andofexchangingglanceswithheronceagain。Thisdidnotoccur，however，untilthelapseofafortnight。Everyday，intheinterim，IhadinquiredforTalbotathishotel，andeverydayhadbeenthrownintoaspasmofwrathbytheeverlasting“Notcomehomeyet“ofhisfootman。
　　Upontheeveninginquestion，therefore，Iwasinaconditionlittleshortofmadness。MadameLalande，Ihadbeentold，wasaParisian
　　hadlatelyarrivedfromParismightshenotsuddenlyreturn？
　　returnbeforeTalbotcamebackandmightshenotbethuslosttomeforever？Thethoughtwastooterribletobear。Sincemyfuturehappinesswasatissue，Iresolvedtoactwithamanlydecision。Inaword，uponthebreakingupoftheplay，Itracedtheladytoherresidence，notedtheaddress，andthenextmorningsentherafullandelaborateletter，inwhichIpouredoutmywholeheart。
　　Ispokeboldly，freelyinaword，Ispokewithpassion。I
　　concealednothingnothingevenofmyweakness。Ialludedtotheromanticcircumstancesofourfirstmeetingeventotheglanceswhichhadpassedbetweenus。IwentsofarastosaythatIfeltassuredofherlove；whileIofferedthisassurance，andmyownintensityofdevotion，astwoexcusesformyotherwiseunpardonableconduct。Asathird，IspokeofmyfearthatshemightquitthecitybeforeIcouldhavetheopportunityofaformalintroduction。I
　　concludedthemostwildlyenthusiasticepistleeverpenned，withafrankdeclarationofmyworldlycircumstancesofmyaffluence
　　andwithanofferofmyheartandofmyhand。
　　InanagonyofexpectationIawaitedthereply。Afterwhatseemedthelapseofacenturyitcame。
　　Yes，actuallycame。Romanticasallthismayappear，IreallyreceivedaletterfromMadameLalandethebeautiful，thewealthy，theidolizedMadameLalande。Hereyeshermagnificenteyes，hadnotbeliedhernobleheart。LikeatrueFrenchwomanasshewasshehadobeyedthefrankdictatesofherreasonthegenerousimpulsesofhernaturedespisingtheconventionalpruderiesoftheworld。
　　Shehadnotscornedmyproposals。Shehadnotshelteredherselfinsilence。Shehadnotreturnedmyletterunopened。Shehadevensentme，inreply，onepennedbyherownexquisitefingers。Itranthus：
　　“MonsieurSimpsonvillpardonnemefornotcomposedebutefulletongofhiscontreesovellasmight。ItisonlydelatedatIamarrive，andnotyetavedoopportunitefortol’etudier。
　　“Viddisapologieforthemaniere，Ivillnowsaydat，helas！-
　　MonsieurSimpsonaveguessbutdetootrue。NeedIsaydemore？
　　Helas！amInotreadyspeakdetoomoshe？
　　“EUGENIELALAND。”
　　ThisnoblespiritednoteIkissedamilliontimes，andcommitted，nodoubt，onitsaccount，athousandotherextravagancesthathavenowescapedmymemory。StillTalbotwouldnotreturn。Alas！couldhehaveformedeventhevaguestideaofthesufferinghisabsencehadoccasionedhisfriend，wouldnothissympathizingnaturehaveflownimmediatelytomyrelief？Still，however，hecamenot。Iwrote。Hereplied。Hewasdetainedbyurgentbusinessbutwouldshortlyreturn。HebeggedmenottobeimpatienttomoderatemytransportstoreadsoothingbookstodrinknothingstrongerthanHock
　　andtobringtheconsolationsofphilosophytomyaid。Thefool！ifhecouldnotcomehimself，why，inthenameofeverythingrational，couldhenothaveenclosedmealetterofpresentation？Iwrotehimagain，entreatinghimtoforwardoneforthwith。Myletterwasreturnedbythatfootman，withthefollowingendorsementinpencil。
　　Thescoundrelhadjoinedhismasterinthecountry：
　　“LeftS-yesterday，forpartsunknowndidnotsaywhereorwhenbebacksothoughtbesttoreturnletter，knowingyourhandwriting，andashowyouisalways，moreorless，inahurry。
　　“Yourssincerely，“STUBBS。”
　　Afterthis，itisneedlesstosay，thatIdevotedtotheinfernaldeitiesbothmasterandvalet：buttherewaslittleuseinanger，andnoconsolationatallincomplaint。
　　ButIhadyetaresourceleft，inmyconstitutionalaudacity。
　　Hithertoithadservedmewell，andInowresolvedtomakeitavailmetotheend。Besides，afterthecorrespondencewhichhadpassedbetweenus，whatactofmereinformalitycouldIcommit，withinbounds，thatoughttoberegardedasindecorousbyMadameLalande？
　　Sincetheaffairoftheletter，Ihadbeeninthehabitofwatchingherhouse，andthusdiscoveredthat，abouttwilight，itwashercustomtopromenade，attendedonlybyanegroinlivery，inapublicsquareoverlookedbyherwindows。Here，amidtheluxuriantandshadowinggroves，inthegraygloomofasweetmidsummerevening，I
　　observedmyopportunityandaccostedher。
　　Thebettertodeceivetheservantinattendance，Ididthiswiththeassuredairofanoldandfamiliaracquaintance。WithapresenceofmindtrulyParisian，shetookthecueatonce，and，togreetme，heldoutthemostbewitchinglylittleofhands。Thevaletatoncefellintotherear，andnow，withheartsfulltooverflowing，wediscoursedlongandunreservedlyofourlove。
　　AsMadameLalandespokeEnglishevenlessfluentlythanshewroteit，ourconversationwasnecessarilyinFrench。Inthissweettongue，soadaptedtopassion，Igaveloosetotheimpetuousenthusiasmofmynature，and，withalltheeloquenceIcouldcommand，besoughthertoconsenttoanimmediatemarriage。
　　Atthisimpatienceshesmiled。Sheurgedtheoldstoryofdecorum-
　　thatbug-bearwhichdeterssomanyfromblissuntiltheopportunityforblisshasforevergoneby。Ihadmostimprudentlymadeitknownamongmyfriends，sheobserved，thatIdesiredheracquaintance-thusthatIdidnotpossessitthus，again，therewasnopossibilityofconcealingthedateofourfirstknowledgeofeachother。Andthensheadverted，withablush，totheextremerecencyofthisdate。Towedimmediatelywouldbeimproperwouldbeindecorouswouldbeoutre。Allthisshesaidwithacharmingairofnaivetewhichenrapturedwhileitgrievedandconvincedme。Shewentevensofarastoaccuseme，laughingly，ofrashnessofimprudence。ShebademerememberthatIreallyevenknownotwhoshewaswhatwereherprospects，herconnections，herstandinginsociety。Shebeggedme，butwithasigh，toreconsidermyproposal，andtermedmyloveaninfatuationawillo’thewispafancyorfantasyofthemomentabaselessandunstablecreationratheroftheimaginationthanoftheheart。Thesethingssheutteredastheshadowsofthesweettwilightgathereddarklyandmoredarklyaroundusandthen，withagentlepressureofherfairy-likehand，overthrew，inasinglesweetinstant，alltheargumentativefabricshehadreared。
　　IrepliedasbestIcouldasonlyatruelovercan。Ispokeatlength，andperseveringlyofmydevotion，ofmypassionofherexceedingbeauty，andofmyownenthusiasticadmiration。Inconclusion，Idwelt，withaconvincingenergy，upontheperilsthatencompassthecourseoflovethatcourseoftruelovethatneverdidrunsmoothandthusdeducedthemanifestdangerofrenderingthatcourseunnecessarilylong。
　　Thislatterargumentseemedfinallytosoftentherigorofherdetermination。Sherelented；buttherewasyetanobstacle，shesaid，whichshefeltassuredIhadnotproperlyconsidered。Thiswasadelicatepointforawomantourge，especiallyso；inmentioningit，shesawthatshemustmakeasacrificeofherfeelings；still，forme，everysacrificeshouldbemade。Shealludedtothetopicofage。WasIawarewasIfullyawareofthediscrepancybetweenus？
　　Thattheageofthehusband，shouldsurpassbyafewyearsevenbyfifteenortwentytheageofthewife，wasregardedbytheworldasadmissible，and，indeed，asevenproper，butshehadalwaysentertainedthebeliefthattheyearsofthewifeshouldneverexceedinnumberthoseofthehusband。Adiscrepancyofthisunnaturalkindgaverise，toofrequently，alas！toalifeofunhappiness。Nowshewasawarethatmyownagedidnotexceedtwoandtwenty；andI，onthecontrary，perhaps，wasnotawarethattheyearsofmyEugenieextendedveryconsiderablybeyondthatsum。