Page:Horrid Mysteries Volume 3.djvu/218

 I now led her to her sofa, presenting the Count to her; and she returned his courtly civility in a manner which betrayed the most accomplished education. I now was more at leisure to make observations, and my eager soul was absorpt in the contemplation of her exquisite charms. I had travelled much, and seen a great many beautiful women; I even had possessed a wife adorned with heavenly charms; and my imagination added to her image, which was deeply engraven in my soul, perfections which the original, perhaps, never had; but here my boldest dreams were more than realized; I frequently doubted that I was awake.

Her soul, which soon recovered its wonted flight, to unfold all its perfections, enchanted me irresistibly by its romantic turn. I never should have thought it possible that such pure and just notions of human life could be treasured up in that beautiful mind, which evidently had received rather a singular turn. Even the prejudices of education, the national