I went to see her almost every day, and dined with her twice or thrice a week.

I burned with inclination to speak, but never dared attempt it.

Several circumstances increased my natural timidity.
Permission to visit in an opulent family was a door open to fortune, and in my situation I was unwilling to run the risk of shutting it against myself.
Madam Dupin, amiable as she was, was serious and unanimated; I found nothing in her manners sufficiently alluring to embolden me.

Her house, at that time, as brilliant as any other in Paris, was frequented by societies the less numerous, as the persons by whom they were composed were chosen on account of some distinguished merit.

She was fond of seeing every one who had claims to a marked superiority; the great men of letters, and fine women.