I felt sufficient control over my own feelings to resist any attempt against her virtue which my conscience might afterwards reproach me with.

The mere thought of taking advantage of her innocence made me shudder, and my self-esteem was a guarantee to her parents, who abandoned her to me on the strength of the good opinion they entertained of me, that Lucie's honour was safe in my hands.

I thought I would have despised myself if I had betrayed the trust they reposed in me.

I therefore determined to conquer my feelings, and, with perfect confidence in the victory, I made up my mind to wage war against myself, and to be satisfied with her presence as the only reward of my heroic efforts.

I was not yet acquainted with the axiom that "as long as the fighting lasts, victory remains uncertain." As I enjoyed her conversation much, a natural instinct prompted me to tell her that she would afford me great pleasure if she could come earlier in the morning, and even wake me up if I happened to be asleep, adding, in order to give more weight to my request, that the less I slept the better I felt in health.