Moreover, as women never set their feet within the world of real difficulties, they cease to appreciate what they once admired as soon as they think they see the inner mechanism of it.
I close with a last thought, in which there is no disguised entreaty; it is the counsel of a friend.

The exchange of souls can take place only between persons who are resolved to hide nothing from each other.

Would you show yourself for such as you are to an unknown man?
I dare not follow out the consequences of that idea.
Deign to accept, mademoiselle, the homage which we owe to all women, even those who are disguised and masked.
So this was the letter she had worn between her flesh and her corset above her palpitating heart throughout one whole day! For this she had postponed the reading until the midnight hour when the household slept, waiting for the solemn silence with the eager anxiety of an imagination on fire! For this she had blessed the poet by anticipation, reading a thousand letters ere she opened one,--fancying all things, except this drop of cold water falling upon the vaporous forms of her illusion, and dissolving them as prussic acid dissolves life.

What could she do but hide herself in her bed, blow out her candle, bury her face in the sheets and weep?
All this happened during the first days of July.

But Modeste presently got up, walked across the room and opened the window.