I gave the letter to my housekeeper, who read it attentively, and gave it back to me quite coolly.
“What do you think of his advice, dearest?”
“I think I had better follow it: he says there is no hurry, and delay is all we want. Let us love each other and think only of that. This letter is written with great wisdom, but I cannot imagine our becoming indifferent to each other, though I know such a thing is possible.”
“Never indifferent; you make a mistake there.”
“Well, friends, then; and that is not much better after being lovers.”
“But friendship, dearest, is never indifferent. Love, it is true, may be in its composition. We know it, as it has been thus from the beginning of the world.”
“Then the ambassador was right. Repentance might come and torment us when love had been replaced by calmer friendship.”
“If you think so, let us marry each other to-morrow, and punish thereby the vices of our human nature.”
“Yes, we will marry, but there is no hurry; fearing lest hymen should quicken the departure of love, let us enjoy our happiness while we can.”
“You speak admirably, my angel, and deserve the greatest good fortune.”