you are in love with, and found her in very good humour; I at first put on a mournful countenance, uttered an abundance of sighs, and shed some tears. 'My good mother,' said she, 'what is the matter? Why are you in such affliction?' 'Alas! my dear and honourable lady,' replied I, 'I am just come from the young gentleman I spoke to you of the other day; it is all over with him; he is at the point of death, and all for love of you; it is a great pity, I assure you, and you are very cruel.' 'I do not know,' said she, 'why you should accuse me of being the cause of his death; how can I have contributed to his illness?' 'How?' replied I; 'did I not tell you that he seated himself before your window just as you opened it to water your flowers? He beheld this prodigy of beauty—these charms which your mirror reflects every day; from that moment he has languished for you, and his disease is so augmented, that he is now reduced to the pitiable state I have had the honour of describing to you. You may remember, madam,' continued I, 'how rigorously you treated me lately when I was going to tell you of his illness, and propose to you a method of relieving him from his dangerous condition: I returned to him after I left you, and he no sooner perceived from my countenance that I did not bring a favourable account, than his malady redoubled its violence. From that time, madam, he has been in the most imminent danger of death, and I do not know whether you could now save his life even if you were inclined to take pity on him.'
"'This was what I said to her,' added the old lady. 'The fear of your death staggered her, and I saw her face change colour. 'Is what you say to me quite true,' said she; 'and does his illness proceed only from his love
