as the brother of her friend, that consideration
was too weak to hinder her from letting him know how displeasing his
pretensions were to her, and that if he persisted in them she should be
obliged to refuse seeing him any more. He was now sensible of his error,
and endeavoured to excuse it by the violence of his passion, which he
said would not suffer him to conceal what he felt; but as, when a heart
is truly devoted to one object, the sound of love from any other mouth
is harsh and disagreeable; the more he aimed to vindicate himself in
this point the more guilty he became, and all he said served only to
increase her dislike.

Mademoiselle de Coigney after this took upon her to intercede for her
brother's passion, but with as ill success as he had done; and being one
day more importunate than usual, mademoiselle Charlotta grew in so ill a
humour, that she told her she was determined to give no encouragement to
the amorous addresses of any man, unless commanded to do so by those who
had the power of disposing her; but, added she, I would not have
monsieur de Coigney make any efforts that way; for were he to gain the
consent of my father, which I am far from believing he would do, I have
so little inclination to give him those returns of affection he may
expect, that in such a case I should venture being guilty of
disobedience.

Is there any thing so odious then, madam, in the person of my brother?
said de Coigney with a tone that shewed how much she was picqued. I
never gave myself the trouble of examining into the merits either of his
person or behaviour, replied she; but to deal sincerely with you, I have
a perfect aversion to the thoughts of changing my condition, and if you
desire the friendship between us should subsist, you will never mention
any thing of it to me;--and as to your brother, when I am convinced I
shall receive no farther persecutions from him of the nature I have
lately had, he may depend on my treating him with my former regard; till
then, you will do me a favour, and him a service, to desire he would
refrain his visits.

These expressions may be thought little conformable to the natural
politeness of the French, or to that sweetness of disposition which
mademoiselle Charlotta testified on other occasions; but she found
herself so incessantly pressed both by the brother and the sister, and
that all the denials she had given in a different manner had been
without effect, therefore was obliged to