And whenever she came, she sat down on the sofa on the plea of fatigue.
I was ashamed of my timidity; furious at my humiliation; afraid that she might think me a fool; conflicting emotions wore away my self-control, and the day came when I watched her from my window, walking away slowly, until she was hidden by the turn of the street. I sighed heavily.
The son of the people had carried off the white skin, the plebeian had won the aristocrat, the swineherd had mated with the princess! But he had paid a heavy price.
A storm was brewing. All sorts of rumours circulated in the town. The fair fame of the Baroness had suffered.
Her mother asked me to call on her. I went.
"Is it true that you are in love with my daughter?"
"It is true."
"And are you not ashamed?"
"I glory in it."