“My return and the polite attentions of M. de T——­ dispelled all Manon’s melancholy. `Let us forget our past annoyances, my dear soul,’ said I to her, `and endeavour to live a still happier life than before.  After all, there are worse masters than love:  fate cannot subject us to as much sorrow as love enables us to taste of happiness.’  Our supper was a true scene of joy.

“In possession of Manon and of twelve hundred and fifty francs, I was prouder and more contented than the richest voluptuary of Paris with untold treasures.  Wealth should be measured by the means it affords us of satisfying our desires.  There did not remain to me at this moment a single wish unaccomplished.  Even the future gave me little concern.  I felt a hope, amounting almost to certainty, that my father would allow me the means of living respectably in Paris, because I had become entitled, on entering upon my twentieth year, to a share of my mother’s fortune.  I did not conceal from Manon what was the extent of my present wealth; but I added, that it might suffice to support us until our fortune was bettered, either by the inheritance I have just alluded to, or by the resources of the hazard-table.

VIII

This Passion hath its floods in the very times of weakness, which are great prosperity, and great adversity; both which times kindle Love, and make it more fervent.—­Bacon.

“For several weeks I thus continued to think only of enjoying the full luxury of my situation; and being restrained, by a sense of honour, as well as a lurking apprehension of the police, from renewing my intimacy with my former companions at the hotel of Transylvania, I began to play in certain coteries less notorious, where my good luck rendered it unnecessary for me to have recourse to my former accomplishments.  I passed a part of the afternoon in town, and returned always to supper at Chaillot, accompanied very often by M. de T——­, whose intimacy and friendship for us daily increased.

“Manon soon found resources against ennui.  She became acquainted with some young ladies, whom the spring brought into the neighbourhood.  They occupied their leisure hours in walking, and the customary amusements of persons of their sex and age.  Their little gains at cards (always within innocent limits) were laid out in defraying the expense of a coach, in which they took an airing occasionally in the Bois de Boulogne; and each night when I returned, I was sure of finding Manon more beautiful—­more contented—­more affectionate than ever.

“There arose, however, certain clouds, which seemed to threaten the continuance of this blissful tranquillity, but they were soon dispelled; and Manon’s sprightliness made the affair so excessively comical in its termination, that it is even now pleasing to recur to it, as a proof of the tenderness as well as the cheerfulness of her disposition.