uct of life
from this behavior of the father's,--a maxim, which, as he thought, had
done him great good. He says:--

This conduct on the part of a father of whose affection and virtue
I have had so many proofs, has given rise within me to reflections
on my own character which have not a little contributed to maintain
my heart uncorrupted. I have derived therefrom this great maxim of
morality, perhaps the only one of any use in practice; namely, to
avoid such situations as put our duty in antagonism with our
interest, or disclose our own advantage in the misfortunes of
another, certain that in such circumstances, however sincere the
love of virtue we bring with us, it will sooner or later, and
whether we perceive it or not, become weakened, and we shall come
to be unjust and culpable in our acts without having ceased to be
upright and blameless in our intentions.

The fruitful maxim thus deduced by Rousseau, he thinks he tried
faithfully to put in practice. With apparent perfect assurance
concerning himself, he says:--

I have sincerely desired to do what was right. I have, with all the
energy of my character, shunned situations which set my interest in
opposition to the interest of another, thus inspiring me with a
secret though involuntary desire prejudicial to that man.

Jean Jacques at Turin made speed to convert himself, by the abjurations
required, into a pretty good Catholic. He was hereon free to seek his
fortune in the Sardinian capital. This he did by getting successively
various situations in service. In one of these he stole, so he tells us,
a piece of ribbon, which was soon found in his possession. He said a
maid-servant, naming her, gave it to him. The two were confronted with
each other. In spite of the poor girl's solemn appeal, Jean Jacques
persisted in his lie against her. Both servants were discharged. The
autobiographer protests that he has suffered much remorse for this lie
of his to the harm of the innocent maid. He expresses confident hope
that his suffering sorrow, already experienced on this behalf, will
stand him in stead of punishment that might be his due in a future
state. Remorse is a note in Rousseau that distinguishes him from
Montaigne. Montaigne reviews his own life to live over his sins, not to
repent of them.

The end of several vicissitudes is, that young Rousseau gets back to
Madame de Warens. She w