Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and of the Chevalier des Grieux.pdf/45

Rh in this we set off early in the morning, arriving home the following evening. He saw my father before I did, in order to predispose him in my favor by telling him how unresistingly I had allowed myself to be brought home; the result being that I was received with less severity than I had looked for. My father contented himself with rebuking me in a general way for the breach of duty of which I had been guilty in absenting myself without his permission. As far as my mistress was concerned, he told me that I had richly merited what had just happened to me for my folly in abandoning myself to a woman of whom I knew absolutely nothing; that he had entertained a better opinion of my prudence, but that he was in hopes that this little adventure would teach me greater wisdom.

I received these admonitions only in the sense which accorded with my own ideas. I thanked my father for his kindness in pardoning me, and I promised him to conduct myself in future with more obedience and propriety. In my secret heart I was full of exultation; for, from the course which things were taking, I felt little doubt but that I should find a chance to slip away from home, even before the night had passed.

We sat down to supper, and I was rallied on my conquest at Amiens and my flight with that constant mis-