being related to you？〃 She replied； with a ready smile； 〃Oh！ I have such a number of cousins； that I should be sorry if you were the most undeserving of them。〃 In taking leave； she desired her next sister； Sophy； a girl about eleven years old； to take great care of the children； and to say good…bye to papa for her when he came home from his ride。 She enjoined to the little ones to obey their sister Sophy as they would herself； upon which some promised that they would； but a little fair…haired girl； about six years old； looked discontented； and said； 〃But Sophy is not you； Charlotte； and we like you best。〃 The two eldest boys had clambered up the carriage； and； at my request； she permitted them to accompany us a little way through the forest； upon their promising to sit very still； and hold fast。
We were hardly seated； and the ladies had scarcely exchanged compliments； making the usual remarks upon each other's dress； and upon the company they expected to meet； when Charlotte stopped the carriage； and made her brothers get down。 They insisted upon kissing her hands once more； which the eldest did with all the tenderness of a youth of fifteen； but the other in a lighter and more careless manner。 She desired them again to give her love to the children； and we drove off。
The aunt inquired of Charlotte whether she had finished the book she had last sent her。 〃No；〃 said Charlotte； 〃I did not like it： you can have it again。 And the one before was not much better。〃 I was surprised； upon asking the title； to hear that it was ____。 （We feel obliged to suppress the passage in the letter； to prevent any one from feeling aggrieved； although no author need pay much attention to the opinion of a mere girl； or that of an unsteady young man。）
I found penetration and character in everything she said： every expression seemed to brighten her features with new charms； with new rays of genius； which unfolded by degrees； as she felt herself understood。
〃When I was younger；〃 she observed； 〃I loved nothing so much as romances。 Nothing could equal my delight when； on some holiday； I could settle down quietly in a corner； and enter with my whole heart and soul into the joys or sorrows of some fictitious Leonora。 I do not deny that they even possess some charms for me yet。 But I read so seldom； that I prefer books suited exactly to my taste。 And I like those authors best whose scenes describe my own situation in life； and the friends who are about me； whose stories touch me with interest； from resembling my own homely existence； which； without being absolutely paradise； is； on the whole； a source of indescribable happiness。〃
I endeavoured to conceal the emotion which these words occasioned； but it was of slight avail； for； when she had expressed so truly her opinion of 〃The Vicar of Wakefield；〃 and of other works； the names of which I omit （Though the names are omitted； yet the authors mentioned deserve Charlotte's approbation； and will feel it in their hearts when they read this passage。 It concerns no other person。）； I could no longer contain myself； but gave full utterance to what I thought of it： and it was not until Charlotte had addressed herself to the two other ladies； that I remembered their presence； and observed them sitting mute with astonishment。 The aunt looked at me several times with an air of raillery； which； however； I did not at all mind。
We talked of the pleasures of dancing。 〃If it is a fault to love it；〃 said Charlotte； 〃I am ready to confess that I prize it above all other amusements。 If anything disturbs me； I go to the piano； play an air to which I have danced； and all goes right again directly。〃
You； who know me； can fancy how steadfastly I gazed upon her rich dark eyes during these remarks； how my very soul gloated over her warm lips and fresh； glowing cheeks； how I became quite lost in the delightful meaning of her words； so much so； that I scarcely heard the actual expressions。 In short； I alighted from the carriage like a person in a dream； and was so lost to the dim world around me； that I scarcely heard the music which resounded from the illuminated ballroom。
The two Messrs。 Andran and a certain N。 N。 （I cannot trouble myself with the names）； who were the aunt's and Charlotte's partners； received us at the carriage…door； and took possession of their ladies； whilst I followed with mine。
We commenced with a minuet。 I led out one lady after another； and precisely those who were the most disagreeable could not bring themselves to leave off。 Charlotte and her partner began an English country dance； and you must imagine my delight when it was their turn to dance the figure with us。 You should see Charlotte dance。 She dances with her whole heart and soul： her figure is all harmony； elegance； and grace； as if she were conscious of nothing else； and had no other thought or feeling； and； doubtless； for the moment； every other sensation is extinct。
She was engaged for the second country dance； but promised me the third； and assured me； with the most agreeable freedom； that she was very fond of waltzing。 〃It is the custom here；〃 she said； 〃for the previous partners to waltz together； but my partner is an indifferent waltzer； and will feel delighted if I save him the trouble。 Your partner is not allowed to waltz； and； indeed； is equally incapable： but I observed during the country dance that you waltz well； so； if you will waltz with me； I beg you would propose it to my partner； and I will propose it to yours。〃 We agreed； and it was arranged that our partners should mutually entertain each other。
We set off； and； at first； delighted ourselves with the usual graceful motions of the arms。 With what grace； with what ease； she moved！ When the waltz commenced； and the dancers whirled around each other in the giddy maze； there was some confusion； owing to the incapacity of some of the dancers。 We judiciously remained still； allowing the others to weary themselves； and； when the awkward dancers had withdrawn； we joined in； and kept it up famously together with one other couple； Andran and his partner。 Never did I dance more lightly。 I felt myself more than mortal； holding this loveliest of creatures in my arms； flying； with her as rapidly as the wind； till I lost sight of every other object； and O Wilhelm； I vowed at that moment； that a maiden whom I loved； or for whom I felt the slightest attachment； never； never should waltz with any one else but with me； if I went to perdition for it！ you will understand this。
We took a few turns in the room to recover our breath。 Charlotte sat down； and felt refreshed by partaking of some oranges which I had had secured； the only ones that had been left； but at every slice which； from politeness； she offered to her neighbours； I felt as though a dagger went through my heart。
We were the second couple in the third country dance。 As we were going down （and Heaven knows with what ecstasy I gazed at her arms and eyes； beaming with the sweetest feeling of pure and genuine enjoyment）； we passed a lady whom I had noticed for her charming expression of countenance； although she was no longer young。 She looked at Charlotte with a smile； then； holding up her finger in a threatening attitude； repeated twice in a very significant tone of voice the name of 〃Albert。〃
〃Who is Albert；〃 said I to Charlotte； 〃if it is not impertinent to ask？〃 She was about to answer； when we were obliged to separate； in order to execute a figure in the dance； and； as we crossed over again in front of each other； I perceived she looked somewhat pensive。 〃Why need I conceal it from you？〃 she said； as she gave me her hand for the promenade。 〃Albert is a worthy man； to whom I am engaged。〃 Now； there was nothing new to me in this （for the girls had told me of it on the way）； but it was so far new that I had not thought of it in connection with her whom； in so short a time； I had learned to prize so highly。 Enough； I became confused； got out in the figure； and occasioned general confusion； so that it required all Charlotte's presence of mind to set me right by pulling and pushing me into my proper place。
The dance was not yet finished when the lightning which had for some time been seen in the horizon； and which I had asserted to proceed entirely from heat； grew more violent； and the thunder was heard above the music。 When any distress or terror surprises us in the midst of our amusements； it naturally makes a deeper impression than at other times； either because the contrast makes us more keenly susceptible； or rather perhaps because our senses are then more open to impressions； and the shock is consequently stronger。 To this cause I must ascribe the fright and shrieks of the ladies。 One sagaciously sat down in a corner with her back to the window； and held her fingers to her ears； a second knelt down before her； and hid her face in her lap； a third threw herself between them； and embraced her sister with a thousand tears； some insisted on going home； others； unconscious of their actions； wanted sufficient presence of mind to repress the impertinence of their young partners； who sought to direct to themselves those sighs which the lips of our agitated beauties intended for heaven。 Some of the gentlemen had gone down…stairs to smoke a quiet cigar； and the rest of the company gladly embraced a happy suggestion of the hostess to retire into another room which was provided with shutters and curtains。 We had hardly got there； when Charlotte placed the chairs in a circle； and； when the company had sat down in compliance with her request； she forthwith proposed a round game。
I noticed some of the company prepare their mouths and draw themselves up at the prospect of some agreeable forfeit。 〃Let us play at counting；〃 said Charlotte。 〃Now； pay attention： I shall go round the circle from right to left； and each person is to count； one after the other； the number that comes to him； and must count fast； whoever stops or mistakes is to have a box on the ear； and so on； till we have counted a thousand。〃 It was delightful to see the fun。 She went round the circle with upraised arm。 〃One；〃 said the first； 〃two；〃 the second； 〃three；〃 the third； and so on； till Charlotte went faster and f