Page:The Adventures of David Simple (1904).djvu/339

 done, and told him it was the suspicion of his slighting her that had made her so uneasy she could not command herself: by this means he was perfectly convinced that she had no fault but what arose from the strength of her good-nature. "As to the gentleman who was always pleased, she had no great trouble with him, and only danced and sung with him, and he was perfectly satisfied she was the best-humoured woman in the world, which was the quality he most admired. "The Balancer never told her he liked her in his life; for he did not dare to go so far, lest he should not be able afterwards to disengage himself. He sat whole hours, and looked at her with wonder and admiration, considering with himself whether it would be wise for him to make love to her or no. She saw she had him sure enough, but did not let it appear to him that she understood his looks. She flattered him in his own way, asking his advice about every trifle, pretending she was deliberating about things she never had a serious thought of; he therefore believed her a miracle of discretion. "Her hardest task was how to manage Le Vive; for the impetuosity of his inclinations would not bear being dallied with; and she found, with all her art, it was impossible to keep him long without consenting to marry him. But as be was always apt to believe whatever his inclinations suggested to him, she contrived to make him think that she had no other reason for not immediately complying with his desire bot delicacy; for that she thought a woman most be a strange creature who did not expect some gallantry from a man before he could obtain her love. And as Le Vive had really a very delicate turn in his own mind, it was what he most admired in a woman; and consequently, he was the more charmed with her for thinking she had so large a share of it. She was obliged to be denied to