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460 The Royal AMERICAN MAGAZINE,

"for me, he will give his son - told me so. What a charming man this count is! He even left the ladies to concern himself about a poor country girl! This does not look like pride, yet he has a great deal to be proud of. He seemed as if I did him a favour in prefering him to the country fellows: he thanked me for it in such tender looks, in so humble and affecting a manner, that had he spoke to a lady of quality, he could not have been more civil. Luckily I was tolerably dressed; but today, if he should see me, what cloaths, what a condition am I in!"
Her disgust at her situation continually encreased during three days of fatigue and weariness which she had yet to pass before her next meeting with the count; but, at last, the expected moment came: the village youth were assembled at the neighbouring feat, and the instruments gave the signal for dancing in a saloon formed by lime-trees. Lauretta advanced with her companions, no more with that resolute air which she had at the last holiday, but with a modest and bashful countenance. This Luzy thought a fresh beauty; he saluted her particularly, but without the least mark of acquaintance with her; he even abstained from approaching, and waited offering to dance with her till some other person should first set an example.
The chevalier de Soligny, who, since the last holliday, had never ceased speaking of Lauretta with a kind of rapture, took her out to dance. Luzy looked upon him as a rival, and watched his eyes with the greatest uneasiness; but Lauretta had no occasion to perceive his jealousy to quiet him. In dancing with Soligny, her behaviour was indifferent, cold, and without meaning. When his own turn came to dance, all her charms brightened up, a blush covered her cheeks, and a secret, almost imperceptible, smile stole from her rosy lips. Had they been alone, his step would have been, to fall at her feet, and return her thanks; but, at present, he could only squeeze the hand of his mistress, and, by his trembling, express his transports.
"Charming Lauretta," says he after the dance was over, "I am impatient to know your resolution." "It is to take no step without the approbation of my father, and to follow his advice in every thing. If you do my any kindness, I would have him partake of it, if I am yours I would have his consent." "Take care you do not consult him, I fear him beyond every thing. There are formalities amongst you, which my condition prevents my complying with. Your father would, in endeavouring to subject me to them, require an impossibility; and, on my refusal, would accuse me of endeavouring to deceive you. He is ignorant how much I love you; but Lauretta, do you think me capable of injuring you?" "Alas, I think you all goodness; you would be an excellent impostor if you were wicked." "Dare you then to trust yourself with me?" "It is not I that distrust you, but I cannot hide myself from my father. If what you propose is proper "sent[[?]] sent to it." "No, he will never consent; you will lose me and be sorry for it; the opportunity will be lost, and you will, all your life, be condemned to hard labour; which, no doubt, you are fond of, since you dare not quit it. Ah! Lauretta, were these delicate hands made for labour? Should the weatherspoil your charming complexion? Ought you, Lauretta, the charm of nature possessed of every grace, to waste your life in an obscure and toilsome station? become perhaps, the drudge of some vile peasant: and pass your old age in indigence, with out having tasted any of those pleasures which ought to follow you without ceasing? See what you prefer to the delights of ease and plenty, which I promise you; and on what does your resolution depend? On the fear of causing your father some uneasy moments! It is true your flight will affect him at first; but afterwards, how pleased will he be to see you rich by my favours, which shall be heaped on him too! What sweet violence will you not be guilty of, in forcing him to quit his cottage, and pass the remainder of his life without work! For them I shall have no longer his refusal to fear: my happiness, yours and his, will be secured for ever."
Lauretta escaped being seduced, at this time, with the greatest difficulty; and, had it not been for the fatal accident which threw her again into the snare, the instinct of innocence alone would have been sufficient to have preserved her from it.
A violent hail storm fell about the village of Coulange, which entirely destroyed the vintage and harvest. The damage was general. During the storm a thousand piteous cries were heard mixed with the noise of the winds and thunder; but, when the mischief was all over, and the light, more frightful than the proceeding darkness, discovered the branches of the vines stripped of their grapes and broke, the corn laid, and the fruit beaten down, a profound silence succeeded. The roads were filled with a crowd of unhappy wretches in the greatest consternation, who contemplated their ruin, bewailed the los of their harvest, and saw nothing before them but the prospect of the utmost misery. By the fire-sides, the mothers, in tears, pressed their tender infants to their breasts, and cried out, "Who will give you suck if we want bread?"
At sight of this calamity, the first ideas with Luzy conceived were those of sorrow for the misfortune of Lauretta and her father. Impatient to fly to their relief, he concealed his tender interest under the veil of pity for these unfortunate people in general. "Let us go to the village," says he to his company, "and comfort these poor people: it will cost each of us but a trifle to save twenty poor families from the distress and despair this accident has reduced them to: we have partook of their joy, let us partake of their misfortune." These words made an impression on hearts already melted by pity. The marquis of Clancy set the example; he offered his peasants assistance, promised them relief, and

Transcription Notes:
5/12/23 Made some updates on the language to exactly replicate the text. -------------------- Please note the different letterforms of f and s in this typeface. The f looks like the long 's', but it lacks the crossbar. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-12 09:29:20 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-12 12:58:52