But I doubt myself too much to dare describe you to yourself; I can only love you.

After listening to you yesterday I recalled certain words which seem as though written for you; suffer me to transcribe them:-- "Made to draw all hearts and charm all eyes, gentle and intelligent, spiritual yet able to reason, courteous as though she had passed her life at court, simple as the hermit who had never known the world, the fire of her soul is tempered in her eyes by sacred modesty." I feel the value of the noble soul revealed in you by many, even the most trifling, things.

This it is which gives me the courage to ask you, provided you love no one else, to let me prove to you by my conduct and my devotion that I am not unworthy of you.

It concerns my very life; you cannot doubt that all my powers will be employed, not only in trying to please you, but in deserving your esteem, which is more precious to me than any other upon earth.

With this hope, Ursula--if you will suffer me so to call you in my heart--Nemours will be to me a paradise, the hardest tasks will bring me joys derived through you, as life itself is derived from God.