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concealed by an elegant cap of gaze aerienne； which put me in mind of
the ventum textilem of Apuleius。 The right arm hung over the
balustrade of the box； and thrilled every nerve of my frame with its
exquisite symmetry。 Its upper portion was draperied by one of the
loose open sleeves now in fashion。 This extended but little below the
elbow。 Beneath it was worn an under one of some frail material；
close…fitting； and terminated by a cuff of rich lace； which fell
gracefully over the top of the hand； revealing only the delicate
fingers； upon one of which sparkled a diamond ring； which I at once
saw was of extraordinary value。 The admirable roundness of the wrist
was well set off by a bracelet which encircled it； and which also was
ornamented and clasped by a magnificent aigrette of jewels…telling；
in words that could not be mistaken； at once of the wealth and
fastidious taste of the wearer。
I gazed at this queenly apparition for at least half an hour； as if I
had been suddenly converted to stone； and； during this period； I felt
the full force and truth of all that has been said or sung concerning
〃love at first sight。〃 My feelings were totally different from any
which I had hitherto experienced； in the presence of even the most
celebrated specimens of female loveliness。 An unaccountable； and what
I am compelled to consider a magnetic； sympathy of soul for soul；
seemed to rivet； not only my vision； but my whole powers of thought
and feeling； upon the admirable object before me。 I saw I felt
I knew that I was deeply； madly； irrevocably in love and this even
before seeing the face of the person beloved。 So intense； indeed； was
the passion that consumed me； that I really believe it would have
received little if any abatement had the features； yet unseen； proved
of merely ordinary character； so anomalous is the nature of the only
true love of the love at first sight and so little really
dependent is it upon the external conditions which only seem to
create and control it。
While I was thus wrapped in admiration of this lovely vision； a
sudden disturbance among the audience caused her to turn her head
partially toward me； so that I beheld the entire profile of the face。
Its beauty even exceeded my anticipations and yet there was
something about it which disappointed me without my being able to
tell exactly what it was。 I said 〃disappointed；〃 but this is not
altogether the word。 My sentiments were at once quieted and exalted。
They partook less of transport and more of calm enthusiasm of
enthusiastic repose。 This state of feeling arose； perhaps； from the
Madonna…like and matronly air of the face； and yet I at once
understood that it could not have arisen entirely from this。 There
was something else… some mystery which I could not develope some
expression about the countenance which slightly disturbed me while it
greatly heightened my interest。 In fact； I was just in that condition
of mind which prepares a young and susceptible man for any act of
extravagance。 Had the lady been alone； I should undoubtedly have
entered her box and accosted her at all hazards； but； fortunately；
she was attended by two companions a gentleman； and a strikingly
beautiful woman； to all appearance a few years younger than herself。
I revolved in my mind a thousand schemes by which I might obtain；
hereafter； an introduction to the elder lady； or； for the present； at
all events； a more distinct view of her beauty。 I would have removed
my position to one nearer her own； but the crowded state of the
theatre rendered this impossible； and the stern decrees of Fashion
had； of late； imperatively prohibited the use of the opera…glass in a
case such as this； even had I been so fortunate as to have one with
me but I had not and was thus in despair。
At length I bethought me of applying to my companion。
〃Talbot；〃 I said； 〃you have an opera…glass。 Let me have it。〃
〃An opera glass！ no！ what do you suppose I would be doing
with an opera…glass？〃 Here he turned impatiently toward the stage。
〃But； Talbot；〃 I continued； pulling him by the shoulder； 〃listen to
me will you？ Do you see the stage box？ there！ no； the next。
did you ever behold as lovely a woman？〃
〃She is very beautiful； no doubt；〃 he said。
〃I wonder who she can be？〃
〃Why； in the name of all that is angelic； don't you know who she is？
'Not to know her argues yourself unknown。' She is the celebrated
Madame Lalande the beauty of the day par excellence； and the talk
of the whole town。 Immensely wealthy too a widow； and a great
match has just arrived from Paris。〃
〃Do you know her？〃
〃Yes； I have the honor。〃
〃Will you introduce me？〃
〃Assuredly； with the greatest pleasure； when shall it be？〃
〃To…morrow； at one； I will call upon you at B's。
〃Very good； and now do hold your tongue； if you can。〃
In this latter respect I was forced to take Talbot's advice； for he
remained obstinately deaf to every further question or suggestion；
and occupied himself exclusively for the rest of the evening with
what was transacting upon the stage。
In the meantime I kept my eyes riveted on Madame Lalande； and at
length had the good fortune to obtain a full front view of her face。
It was exquisitely lovely this； of course； my heart had told me
before； even had not Talbot fully satisfied me upon the point but
still the unintelligible something disturbed me。 I finally concluded
that my senses were impressed by a certain air of gravity； sadness；
or； still more properly； of weariness； which took something from the
youth and freshness of the countenance； only to endow it with a
seraphic tenderness and majesty； and thus； of course； to my
enthusiastic and romantic temperment； with an interest tenfold。
While I thus feasted my eyes； I perceived； at last； to my great
trepidation； by an almost imperceptible start on the part of the
lady； that she had become suddenly aware of the intensity of my gaze。
Still； I was absolutely fascinated； and could not withdraw it； even
for an instant。 She turned aside her face； and again I saw only the
chiselled contour of the back portion of the head。 After some
minutes； as if urged by curiosity to see if I was still looking； she
gradually brought her face again around and again encountered my
burning gaze。 Her large dark eyes fell instantly； and a deep blush
mantled her cheek。 But what was my astonishment at perceiving that
she not only did not a second time avert her head； but that she
actually took from her girdle a double eyeglass elevated it
adjusted it and then regarded me through it； intently and
deliberately； for the space of several minutes。
Had a thunderbolt fallen at my feet I could not have been more
thoroughly astounded astounded only not offended or disgusted
in the slightest degree； although an action so bold in any other
woman would have been likely to offend or disgust。 But the whole
thing was done with so much quietude so much nonchalance so
much repose… with so evident an air of the highest breeding； in short
that nothing of mere effrontery was perceptible； and my sole
sentiments were those of admiration and surprise。
I observed that； u