There were certain days when madame remembered that she herself had been young, and on those days whoever talked with her found in her a sincere friend. She related to us her flirtations with Monsieur, and we told her of the flirtations she had had with others, or, at least, the rumors of them which had been spread abroad. Poor woman, so simple-minded! she laughed at them, as we did. Where is she now?"
"Ah, Montalais — laughter-loving Montalais!" cried La Valliere, "you see you are sighing again; the woods inspire you, and you are almost reasonable this evening."
"You ought not, either of you," said Athenais, "to regret the court at Blois so much, unless you do not feel happy with us. A court is a place where men and women resort to talk of matters which mothers, guardians, and especially confessors, so severely denounce."
"Oh, Athenais!" said Louise, blushing.
"Athenais is frank to-night," said Montalais; "let us avail ourselves of it."
"Yes; let us take advantage of it, for this evening I could divulge the dearest secrets of my heart."
"Ah, if Monsieur de Montespan were here!" said Montalais.
"Do you think that I care for Monsieur de Montespan?" murmured the beautiful young girl.
"He is handsome, I believe?"
"Yes. And that is no small advantage in my eyes."
"There, now, you see "
"I will go further, and say that of all the men whom one sees here, he is the handsomest and the most "
"What was that?" said La Valliere, starting suddenly from the mossy bank.
"A deer which hurried by, perhaps."
"I am only afraid of men," said Athenais.
"When they do not resemble Monsieur de Montespan."
"A truce to this raillery. Monsieur de Montespan is attentive to me, but that does not commit me in any way. Is not Monsieur de Guiche here, he who is so devoted to madame?"
"Poor fellow!" said La Valliere.
"Why poor? Madame is sufficiently beautiful and of sufficiently high rank, I suppose."
La Valliere shook her head sorrowfully, saying:
"When one loves, it is neither beauty nor rank; when one loves, it should be the heart, or the eyes only, of him or of her whom one loves."
