But ， if I proceed thus， you will be no wiser at the end of my letter
  than you were at the beginning. Attend， then ， and I will compel myself
  to give you the details.
  I mentioned to you the other day that I had become acquainted with
  S ——， the district judge ， and that he had invited me to go and visit
  him in his retirement ， or rather in his little kingdom. But I neglected
  going ， and perhaps should never have gone ， if chance had not discovered
  to me the treasure which lay concealed in that retired spot. Some of our
  young people had proposed giving a ball in the country， at which I consented
  to be present. I offered my hand for the evening to a pretty and agreeable，
  but rather commonplace， sort of girl from the immediate neighbourhood
  ； and it was agreed that I should engage a carriage， and call upon Charlotte，
  with my partner and her aunt， to convey them to the ball. My companion
  informed me ， as we drove along through the park to the hunting-lodge，
  that I should make the acquaintance of a very charming young lady. "Take
  care，" added the aunt， "that you do not lose your heart." "Why？" said
  I. "Because she is already engaged to a very worthy man ，" she replied，
  "who is gone to settle his affairs upon the death of his father ， and
  will succeed to a very considerable inheritance." This information possessed
  no interest for me. When we arrived at the gate ， the sun was setting
  behind the tops of the mountains. The atmosphere was heavy； and the ladies
  expressed their fears of an approaching storm ， as masses of low black
  clouds were gathering in the horizon. I relieved their anxieties by pretending
  to be weather-wise， although I myself had some apprehensions lest our
  pleasure should be interrupted.
  I alighted； and a maid came to the door， and requested us to wait
  a moment for her mistress. I walked across the court to a well-built house，
  and ， ascending the flight of steps in front ， opened the door， and
  saw before me the most charming spectacle I had ever witnessed. Six children，
  from eleven to two years old， were running about the hall， and surrounding
  a lady of middle height ， with a lovely figure ， dressed in a robe of
  simple white， trimmed with pink ribbons. She was holding a rye loaf in
  her hand， and was cutting slices for the little ones all around， in
  proportion to their age and appetite. She performed her task in a graceful
  and affectionate manner ； each claimant awaiting his turn with outstretched
  hands ， and boisterously shouting his thanks. Some of them ran away at
  once， to enjoy their evening meal； whilst others， of a gentler disposition，
  retired to the courtyard to see the strangers ， and to survey the carriage
  in which their Charlotte was to drive away. "Pray forgive me for giving
  you the trouble to come for me， and for keeping the ladies waiting ：
  but dressing， and arranging some household duties before I leave ， had
  made me forget my children's supper ； and they do not like to take it
  from any one but me." I uttered some indifferent compliment ： but my
  whole soul was absorbed by her air， her voice， her manner ； and I had
  scarcely recovered myself when she ran into her room to fetch her gloves
  and fan. The young ones threw inquiring glances at me from a distance
  ； whilst I approached the youngest ， a most delicious little creature.
  He drew back； and Charlotte， entering at the very moment， said ， "Louis，
  shake hands with your cousin." The little fellow obeyed willingly ； and
  I could not resist giving him a hearty kiss ， notwithstanding his rather
  dirty face. "Cousin ，" said I to Charlotte ， as I handed her down ，
  "do you think I deserve the happiness of being related to you ？"