[Villette by Charlotte Bronte]@TWC D-Link book
Villette

CHAPTER XIV
58/62

"How ?" "It would be difficult to say how--difficult, at least, to tell _you_ how." "And why me ?" "I wonder she is not better pleased that you are so much her friend." "But she has not the slightest idea how much I _am_ her friend.

That is precisely the point I cannot teach her.

May I inquire did she ever speak of me to you ?" "Under the name of 'Isidore' she has talked about you often; but I must add that it is only within the last ten minutes I have discovered that you and 'Isidore' are identical.

It is only, Dr.John, within that brief space of time I have learned that Ginevra Fanshawe is the person, under this roof, in whom you have long been interested--that she is the magnet which attracts you to the Rue Fossette, that for her sake you venture into this garden, and seek out caskets dropped by rivals." "You know all ?" "I know so much." "For more than a year I have been accustomed to meet her in society.
Mrs.Cholmondeley, her friend, is an acquaintance of mine; thus I see her every Sunday.

But you observed that under the name of 'Isidore' she often spoke of me: may I--without inviting you to a breach of confidence--inquire what was the tone, what the feeling of her remarks?
I feel somewhat anxious to know, being a little tormented with uncertainty as to how I stand with her." "Oh, she varies: she shifts and changes like the wind." "Still, you can gather some general idea-- ?" "I can," thought I, "but it would not do to communicate that general idea to you.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books