"Drive on," I cried to the coachman. We threw ourselves into each other's
arms, and the horses set out at a gallop.
PART V
CHAPTER I
HAVING decided on a long tour, we went first to Paris; the necessary
preparations required time and we took a furnished apartment for one
month.
The decision to leave France had changed everything: joy, hope,
confidence, all returned; no more sorrow, no more grief over approaching
separation. It was now nothing but dreams of happiness and vows of
eternal love; I wished, once for all, to make my dear mistress forget all
the suffering I had caused her. How had I been able to resist such proofs
of tender affection and courageous resignation? Not only did Brigitte
pardon me, but she was willing to make a still greater sacrifice and
leave everything for me. As I felt myself unworthy of the devotion she
exhibited, I wished to requite her by my love; at last, my good angel had
triumphed, and admiration and love resumed their sway in my heart.
Brigitte and I examined a map to determine where we should go to bury
ourselves from the world; we had not yet decided and we found pleasure in
that very uncertainty; while glancing over the map, we said:
"Where shall we go? What shall we do? Where shall we begin life anew?"
How shall I tell how deeply I repented my cruelty when I looked upon her
smiling face, a face that laughed at the future, although still pale from
the sorrows of the past! Happy projects of future joy, you are, perhaps,
the only true happiness known to man!
For eight days we spent our time making purchases and preparing for our
departure; then a young man presented himself at our apartments: he
brought letters to Brigitte.
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