Their first attachment took its rise in mutual affection, in community of honourable feelings; therefore this affection is lasting.  It abandons itself, with confidence, with reason, to the most delightful madness, without fear, regret, remorse, or any other disturbing thought, but that which is inseparable from all happiness.  What lacks there yet?  Behold, inquire, imagine what still is lacking, that can be combined with present joys.  Every happiness which can exist in combination is already present; nothing could be added without taking away from what there is; he is as happy as man can be.  Shall I choose this time to cut short so sweet a period?  Shall I disturb such pure enjoyment?  The happiness he enjoys is my life’s reward.  What could I give that could outweigh what I should take away?  Even if I set the crown to his happiness I should destroy its greatest charm.  That supreme joy is a hundredfold greater in anticipation than in possession; its savour is greater while we wait for it than when it is ours.  O worthy Emile! love and be loved! prolong your enjoyment before it is yours; rejoice in your love and in your innocence, find your paradise upon earth, while you await your heaven.  I shall not cut short this happy period of life.  I will draw out its enchantments, I will prolong them as far as possible.  Alas! it must come to an end and that soon; but it shall at least linger in your memory, and you will never repent of its joys.

Emile has not forgotten that we have something to return.  As soon as the things are ready, we take horse and set off at a great pace, for on this occasion he is anxious to get there.  When the heart opens the door to passion, it becomes conscious of the slow flight of time.  If my time has not been wasted he will not spend his life like this.

Unluckily the road is intricate and the country difficult.  We lose our way; he is the first to notice it, and without losing his temper, and without grumbling, he devotes his whole attention to discovering the path; he wanders for a long time before he knows where he is and always with the same self-control.  You think nothing of that; but I think it a matter of great importance, for I know how eager he is; I see the results of the care I have taken from his infancy to harden him to endure the blows of necessity.

We are there at last!  Our reception is much simpler and more friendly than on the previous occasion; we are already old acquaintances.  Emile and Sophy bow shyly and say nothing; what can they say in our presence?  What they wish to say requires no spectators.  We walk in the garden; a well-kept kitchen-garden takes the place of flower-beds, the park is an orchard full of fine tall fruit trees of every kind, divided by pretty streams and borders full of flowers.  “What a lovely place!” exclaims Emile, still thinking of his Homer, and still full of enthusiasm, “I could fancy myself in the garden of Alcinous.”  The daughter wishes she knew who Alcinous was; her