Thus saying, she left the room, darting at me the most infuriated glances.

I have reflected long and deeply on the subject, and now pronounce, that all the evils in this life emanate from poverty. Were I in possession of the fortune to which I had a right, this old Tisiphone could not insult and humiliate me; Florestan would not be in a

prison, and I should not be wretched

wretched I am at this moment.

for

Should she

expel me from her house, I know not where to go, unless to the Comtesse de Hauteforte's; and she, of late, has been so negligent in writing to me, and so altered in her manner, when I have called on her, that the alternative is far from being an agreeable one.

I will despatch ma femme de chambre, in whom I can confide, with a letter detailing my vexatious position to le duc; he will sympathise with me, for on his affection I can count,

and this is indeed a consolation under present annoyances. I have seldom seen him of late, for my aunt, not content with prohibiting his visits at her hotel, has so strenuously insisted on my not meeting him elsewhere, that, to preserve peace in her triste maison, I have only rarely had an interview with him at Madame de Hauteforte's, who affected to be prudish about it. This conduct is un peu ridicule, n'est-cepas?-having so long known our attachment: and not a little ungrateful, considering that I have always thrown the shield of my friendship over her equivocal liaison with my husband. I was, also, much hurt by observing the indifference she has evinced with regard to Florestan's incarceration. She even permitted herself to make some ill-timed reflections on his extravagant habits, and incorrigible propensity to gaming; which came with a bad grace from her, who had profited so

frequently and so largely by his profuse generosity. Since our change of fortune, I have discovered that people are much less cordial and friendly than formerly; and I begin to believe that the friendships formed in gay society are not endowed with much stability. Alas! why should we only acquire wisdom by misfortune? the severity of the school is not compensated by the value of the knowledge acquired in it.

A letter from ma tante the most cruel, the most reproachful, that ever was written. She orders me to leave her house; and adds, that a méchante bête can be no fit associate for a lady so spirituelle as I am. The truth of that unlucky phrase she cannot forgive; proving the correctness of the old proverb which says, that "it is only the truth that offends."

I know not what to do, nor where to go.

Friends on whom, previously to our pecuniary embarrassments, I thought I might safely count, have all looked so coldly on me since that epoch, that my pride revolts from seeking their aid in this hour of need. The duc is, I know, of late, greatly straitened in his own finances; therefore, from him I can expect little more than sympathy and affection. There is no one to whom I can apply, except la Comtesse de Hautefort, who has received too many proofs of kindness from me, and of generosity from my husband, not to evince hospitality to me under my present distressing circumstances. How mortifying, how humiliating, to be reduced to so painful a dilemma!

Bless your stars, chère Caroline, that you are rich; for, to a proud spirit, there is no evil like poverty: nay, it includes all the others.

I have no money, for your generous loan

I sent to poor Florestan; who, alas! in his imprudence, has squandered it all away in giving recherché dinners in St. Pelagie. Mais, après tout, I cannot much blame the poor fellow; for there are so few ways of passing the time in that wretched place, that it is not either very surprising or very reprehensible that he should have fallen into this folly, pour

s'amuser.

Florestan was always so indulgent to my weaknesses, that it would be inexcusable of me not to extend a similar forbearance to his. Poor Florestan! You may laugh at me as much as you please, Caroline; ay, as much as in days of yore, when you used to say that our love resembled that of une couple bourgeoise, rather than the polite indifference of two persons of la haute noblesse: but I do still retain a sentiment of affection towards my husband, that might, had we never lived in