Page:Villette (1st edition).djvu/380

28 hangs a tale, but we will inquire no further this evening. Good night, Miss Lucy."

And so, he kindly led me to the door, and holding a wax candle, lighted me up the one flight of steps.

When I had said my prayers, and when I was undressed and laid down, I felt that I still had friends. Friends, not professing vehement attachment, not offering the tender solace of well-matched and congenial relationship; on whom, therefore, but moderate demand of affection was to be made, of whom but moderate expectation formed; but towards whom, my heart softened instinctively and yearned with an importunate gratitude, which I entreated Reason betimes to check.

"Do not let me think of them too often, too much too fondly," I implored; "let me be content with a temperate draught of this living stream: let me not run athirst, and apply passionately to its welcome waters: let me not imagine in them a sweeter taste than earth's fountains know. Oh! would to God! I may be enabled to feel enough sustained by an occasional, amicable intercourse, rare, brief, unengrossing and tranquil: quite tranquil!"

Still repeating this word, I turned to my pillow; and, still repeating it, I steeped that pillow with tears.