286 YOUR QUALITIES, ETC. 
with a dashing colonel, who was more cele¬ 
brated for his conquests in the drawing-room 
than the battle-field, attracted the notice of 
the Count, so as to make his uneasiness visi¬ 
ble, which the amiable Charlotte, ever studi¬ 
ous of Amelia’s real happiness, wished to 
amuse, and to call back the mind of her 
cousin, demanded the verse for the rose. 
The Count saw this affectionate trait in 
Charlotte’s conduct, took out his pencil, and 
wrote for the rose, 
Elle ne vit qu’un jour, et ne plait qu’un moment, 
which he gave to the gay daughter, at the 
same time presenting the humble cousin 
with this line on the mignonette : 
Ses qualites surpassent ses charmes. 
Amelia’s pride was roused, and she retali¬ 
ated by her attention to the colonel, which she 
carried so far as to throw herself into the 
power of a profligate, who brought her to 
ruin. The Count transferred his affections 
from beauty to amiability: and rejoicing in 
the exchange, and to commemorate the event 
which had brought about his happiness, and 
delivered him from a coquette, he added a 
branch of the sweet reseda to the ancient 
arms of his family, with the motto, 
Your qualities surpass your charms. 
