Page:Clermont - Roche (1798, volume 1).djvu/133

 pied the same seat, though at a little distance from her, and thus prevented any impropriety in her situation. Here she was sufficiently amused by attending to what was going forward; but when she saw the company preparing for the dance, an universal terror seized her least she should be asked to join them: fearful as she was that she should not be able to acquit herself like them from never having mixed in any but the simple dance of the peasant, she took care to place herself as much out of the way as possible: but while enjoying her obscurity, a party of officers suddenly emerged from a winding path near her seat, and in passing it, they could not avoid observing her; they stopped as if involuntarily, and their eyes were immediately fastened on her. Confused by their ardent gaze, she was bending hers to the ground, when a gentleman, who had hitherto stood rather behind them, suddenly starting forward, exclaimed,

"Good heaven! do my eyes really de-