Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 291: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

PICKW10K ABROAD. | 24% “ORére amic,—I shall have the pleasure of dining with you at otir usual hour. My business did not detain me at the Bourse so long as I had at first anticipated. I have invited the Count and Countess, and Hector, to dine with us this evening. Prepare accordingly. ‘* Your affectionate husband, ‘ DE VALMONT.” ‘¢ Amelie,” said Madame de Valmont to her femme-de-chambre, ‘‘ Monsieur is certainly beside himself. He has invited M. Hector to the house!” ‘““Did I not always assure your ladysnipy returned the Abigail, ‘“‘that Monsieur was not acquainted even with the name of jealousy ?’’ ‘* But this is so singular!’’ persisted Eugenie, a vague mis-giving and presentiment of evil shooting across her imagination. ‘‘M. de Valmont was never accustomed to invite Hector to the hotel: indeed, he has often said that he could not endure his haughty and over- bearing manners—such is his ert reeno ieuRa for my part—” and Eugenie checked herself, and blushed deeply. No farther conversation took place upon the subject between Amelie and her mistress; but the all-important business of the ¢ot/ette was 1mmediately commenced. _ At half-past six the chevalier returned home, and in a few minutes afterwards the guests were introduced to the salon. Dinner was shortly served up—and every one remarked that the chevalier had never before appeared so attentive and courteous towards his wife. This behaviour may be easily accounted for, when it is considered that not wishing to seem to have experienced any annoyance, the excellent gentleman carried his politeness a little too far, so fearful might we suppose him to have been of betraying his emotions. ben the dessert was placed upon the table, the chevalier redoubled his attentions towards his wife, whose timid glances were now and then furtively met and returned by Hector. At length the count rallied De Valmont on his domestic politesse, and a variety of witty remarks were made by him and the countess on the subject. ‘“‘The felicity existing in the marriage state,” said the chevalier, “should never be used as a matter of light conversation nor ndicule. So seldom is it, in these licentious times, that a husband and wife are found to entertain reciprocal feelings of attachment, and occupy their minds solely in conducing to the happiness of each other—”’ ‘Do you not see, Monsieur,” interrupted Eugenie, ‘that all the decanters are at your end of the table?” | The chevalier bowed politely, passed the wine, and continued to expatiate on the beauties of matrimonial happiness, affectionate hus- bands, faithful wives, and honourable relations. Hector and Eugenie both endeavoured to change the conversation in vain. ‘‘There is at this moment,’’ observed De Valmont, “amongst the wide circle of my acquaintance, a couple whose lot is far from enviable ; and the domestic miseries of that unhappy pair are alone deducible from the cruelty of the lady’s parents—or guardians, I forget which— who thwarted her inclinations, and obliged her to espouse an in- dividual old enough to command respect, but too far advanced in ‘ ars'for her. The tale is affecting and terrible at the same time 3} a S 5} a 6)(0)() SS co