THE FETE OF ST. LAMBE11T. 631 



turedly thought that the poet had gone to walk in his favourite spot, 

 the Wood de Jaques, or to visit some neighbour. She therefore imme- 

 diately returned, and took back with her the bouquet, which, to pre- 

 vent him from supposing that she had made any other preparation for 

 the day, she had intended to present to him. But as she turned round 

 the corner of the garden walls, she threw another glance towards the 

 modest habitation where the muses and friendship had passed so many 

 happy moments together, and, to her utter astonishment, perceived, at 

 one of the latticed windows, St. Lambert, half hidden behind the cur- 

 tains. 9 



She could not for some time believe that she was awake. 



" St. Lambert refuse to admit me into his house ! For what reason ? 

 with what design?" JuT, ftgmr. 



Her imagination forged a thousand different ideas, all of which were 

 thrown aside as soon as formed. 



She arrived at Saunois mournful and sad ; in short, wounded to the 

 very soul, by the idea that the friend of her infancy, after they had thus 

 grown old together, should, without any cause, treat her in such an un- 

 manly, such an ungenerous manner. >1 Rjsd jrfti.69 srfo nsdw 



It was the first time in her life that she had ever received such an 

 insult, and she resolved to be revenged. St. Lambert, as soon as he had 

 finished every thing necessary for the decoration of his retreat, and 

 imagining that, perchance, his friend might feel a little uneasy, at not 

 having found him at home, at the hour when he had always been accus- 

 tomed to remain within, resolved to dress himself, and walked as far as 

 the village of Saunois. / Htehtnavae srfr 1o ^sb orit hovrnB rijgrrst JA. 



He did so, but when he arrived there, instead of finding the large 

 gates thrown open for his reception, he saw a youth put his head through 

 a kind of half-gate, to tell him that the Countess had gone out in the 

 morning, and that she would not return before dinner time. 



He felt fatigued, and therefore proposed to go in and await her arrival. 



The servant immediately answered, to his great astonishment, that he 

 could not admit him, as the Countess had expressly commanded that no 

 person of any kind, should on any pretence be allowed to enter the 

 house during her absence. 



St. Lambert accordingly retired, without knowing to what cause to 

 attribute the unexpected refusal. Nevertheless he resolved to return to 

 Eaubonne on foot, with as much haste as his fatigue and age would 

 allow of. 



But after he had walked on for a little time, with his eyes cast to the 

 ground, out of temper with himself and all around him, he suddenly 

 looked back towards the mansion of the Countess, and perceived at one 

 of the balconies, without the least appearance of concealment, his old 

 friend looking towards him, with the utmost satisfaction painted upon 

 her countenance. 



" Could she then have seen me," said he to himself, " when she made 

 me a visit this morning, and thus wishes to revenge herself for my not 

 having received her ? If that is the case, were she to learn that I 

 refused her admittance only in order to surprise her a little this evening, 

 she would soon repent of the cruel insult which she has put upon me." 



On the other side, the Countess, while she followed him with her 

 eye, exclaimed 



" How much it costs me to send him away thus ! But I ought to make 



