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Rh dependent on such slight circumstances?—the discovery, too, how much you have overrated your own power? humiliation and regret exchange but to heighten their bitterness.

"Soon after my recovery, Mademoiselle de Guise appeared to seek my friendship more than she had before done. How willingly I met her advances!—I loved François too well not to love those connected with him. Yet her friendship disturbed our intercourse; she was constantly interrupting our conversations, and I found myself perpetually engaged in a whispering dialogue, from which François was completely excluded. She possessed a peculiar talent for placing everybody in their worst possible light; I felt that I never appeared to advantage in her presence. She drew from you some playful opinion, and then, suddenly repeating your words seriously, would, by some imperceptible change, contrive to make your expression appear the unconscious betrayal of some strangely unamiable feeling. Mademoiselle de Montpensier warned me against her treachery. 'She hates you,' said my friend; 'you give in to her snares, and will be surprised when you find they have succeeded.' I little heeded this warning—it is so difficult for the young to believe themselves hated without a cause!