THE BEANS AKE IN BLOSSOM. 237 



pardon myself a moment of uneasiness, it would be to offend 

 Heaven, which has caused me to meet with her, and which 

 has placed in her hands the happiness of my life. She expects 

 me — she loves me. At the moment I write these notes she 

 is thinking of me. 



" Men, envy, destiny, are only able to delay my happiness. 



" I believe in her without any restriction : I might go to 

 the other extremity of the world, and after long years of 

 absence, might fear to find her dead; but I never once should 

 put this question to myself — Is she faithful 1 — Does she love 

 me still 1 



The beans were in blossom. 



" What a black, dismal malady is misanthropy ! and what 

 long and disheartening books it has inspired ! / have friends, 

 true friends, upon whom I can reckon as firmly as upon 

 myself They have frequently told me so, and I believe them. 



" Oh ! how sweet and smiling a thing is life ! what pleasures 

 it gives, what happinesses it promises ! 



" It is a delightful road upon which we love to walk, 

 looking forward confidently into the blue mists of the horizon 

 which veil the objects of our desires, and lingering among 

 the blossom-covered trees by which it is bordered ! 



" How deliciously my heart was moved by the protesta- 

 tions of friendship made to me on leaving that dinner-party 

 at which we sat so late ! their arms, their swords, their purses, 

 everything was at my service. Certainly I shall not abuse 

 these generous offers, but it gives me much confidence to find 

 that I have a place in such hearts!" 



The beans were in blossom. 



" I have just read the discourse of a statesman who com- 

 plains bitterly of being dragged from the calm pleasures of 

 private life, and the humble joys of his domestic hearth. 

 But, says he, my country calls upon me, and I devote myself 

 to its interests : I repair to the breach, ready to sacrifice 

 to that dear country, my energies, my life, &o. 



" Oh ! leaders of nations, why do you not always follow 

 such a noble example ? " 



The beans were in blossom. 



" I arrived yesterday evening exhausted, but so happy ! 



" I had walked eighteen leagues, but I knew that I should 



