Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/33

Rh lengths he carried it, and that tears may well rise to my eyes at the thought of how I have always requited his devotion.

We pushed on our way with such speed that we arrived at St. Denis before night-fall. I had ridden beside the chaise all the way, and this had scarcely allowed of our speaking to one another, except while changing horses; but now that we were drawing so near to Paris, and felt that we were almost out of danger, we allowed ourselves time to partake of some refreshment, not a morsel having passed our lips since we left Amiens. Deeply enamored as I was of Manon, she succeeded in persuading me that she felt no less tenderly toward me. So little restraint did we place upon our caresses, that we had not even patience to wait until we were alone to indulge in them. Our postilions and the inn-keepers along the road stole wondering glances at us; and their surprise at seeing such passionate love-making between two children of our age was very apparent.

Our projects of marriage were forgotten at St. Denis. We defrauded the Church of her lights, and found ourselves united without having paused to reflect.