Languages & literature > Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane > Volume 1

GIL BLAS.
1 :ount of her hufband ; I was feized with a fit
(hivering that diituibed my joy- “ Madam,
‘Jd I to her, how have you been able to de-
ve the, vigilance of your governante ? After
' iat I have heard of Dame Melancia, I did not
ul nk it poffible for you to find means to let me
'ar from you, much lefs to give me a perfbral
'1 erview. Donna Mergillina, finding at my dif-
1 ^ urfe, anfwered, “ You will ceafe to be furpri-
at the private opportunity we now enjoy, af-
: r 1 have told you what palled between my du-
Ji.na and me. When Ihe came firft into the fa¬
mily, my hulband loaded her with civilities, and
ho to me Mergellina, I commit you to the con-
- 'id of this uifcreet gentlewoman, who is a fum-
J f ary of all the virtues: a mirror which you mult
* h ways have before your eyes, for your improve¬
ment in wifdom : this admirable perfon governed
>i apothecary’s wife (a friend of mine) twelve
pars; and that in fuch an uncommon manner,
JJat Ihe became a kind of faint, under her in-
i .ruction.”
• This encomium, which the fevere look of
upame Melancia did not belie, coll me a world of
: i Pars, and threw me into defpair. I reprefented
;D myfelf the ledtures I mult hear from morn to
i^ght, and the rebukes I mult every day under-
i ;o. In fhort, I expedted to be the molt unhappy
< voman in the wrorld : and thinking it needlefs to
.1 je on the referve, in fuch a cruel Hate of expec¬
tation, I faid to my duenna, with a reiblute air,
a .as foon as I found myfelf alone with her) “ You
cire doubtlefs preparing a great many lufferings
nor me; but I think proper to advertife you be-
si prehand, that I have not a great deal of patience;
md that I will endeavour to give you as many
j mortifications as 1 can : In the mean time, I de-
P 2 clars