Page:The Story of Manon Lescaut and the Chevalier Des Grieux.djvu/70

Rh and so devoted ? No, no ! Nature casts hut few in the same mould as mine ! But tell me this, at least ; have you ever thought of that loving heart with i-egret ? How far am I to rely on this revival of affection which has brought you back to-day to console it ? You are more beautiful than ever — that I see only too well ; but, in the name of all the pangs I have suffered for your sake, tell me, Manon, my lovely girl, whether you will be more constant also ?" She replied with such pathetic expressions of her pen- itence, and pledged herself to constancy by such earnest vows and protestations, that I was moved beyond all words. '* Dearest Manon,'* I said to her, with a profane ming- ling of the phrases of lov^e and of theology, "you are a divinity ; no created being could inspire such adoration as I feel for you ! My heart is swelling with triumph and beatitude. Let them talk of free-will as they please at St. Sulpice, 'tis but a chimera ! I am going to sacrifice fortune and reputation for your sake ; 1 foresee it plainly ; I read my destiny in your bright eyes ; but where is the sacrifice for which 3'our love would not richly compensate me? I care nothing for the favors of fortune; glory seems to me but an idle vapor ; all my projects of a life devoted to the service of the Church were vain imagin-