登陆注册
4606300000462

第462章

But if it be granted that the passions of the two sexes are of equal strength, how comes it that a man never refuses to gratify a woman who loves him and entreats him to be kind?

We cannot receive the argument founded on the fear of results, as that is a particular and not a general consideration. Our conclusion, then, will be that the reason lies in the fact that a man thinks more of the pleasure he imparts than that which he receives, and is therefore eager to impart his bliss to another. We know, also, that, as a general rule, women, when once enjoyed, double their love and affection. On the other hand, women think more of the pleasure they receive than of that which they impart, and therefore put off enjoyment as long as possible, since they fear that in giving themselves up they lose their chief good--their own pleasure. This feeling is peculiar to the sex, and is the only cause of coquetry, pardonable in a woman, detestable in a man.

Silvia's daughter loved me, and she knew I loved her, although I had never said so, but women's wit is keen. At the same time she endeavoured not to let me know her feelings, as she was afraid of encouraging me to ask favours of her, and she did not feel sure of her strength to refuse them; and she knew my inconstant nature. Her relations intended her for Clement, who had been teaching her the clavichord for the last three years. She knew of the arrangement and had no objection, for though she did not love him she liked him very well. Most girls are wedded without love, and they are not sorry for it afterwards. They know that by marriage they become of some consequence in the world, and they marry to have a house of their own and a good position in society. They seem to know that a husband and a lover need not be synonymous terms. At Paris men are actuated by the same views, and most marriages are matters of convenience. The French are jealous of their mistresses, but never of their wives.

There could be no doubt that M. Clement was very much in love, and Mdlle. Baletti was delighted that I noticed it, as she thought this would bring me to a declaration, and she was quite right. The departure of Mdlle. de la Meure had a good deal to do with my determination to declare myself; and I was very sorry to have done so afterwards, for after I had told her I loved her Clement was dismissed, and my position was worse than before. The man who declares his love for a woman in words wants to be sent to school again.

Three days after the departure of Tiretta, I took him what small belongings he had, and Madame seemed very glad to see me. The Abbe des Forges arrived just as we were sitting down to dinner, and though he had been very friendly to me at Paris he did not so much as look at me all through the meal, and treated Tiretta in the same way.

I, for my part, took no notice of him, but Tiretta, not so patient as I, at last lost his temper and got up, begging Madame to tell him when she was going to have that fellow to dine with her. We rose from table without saying a word, and the silent abbe went with madam into another room.

Tiretta took me to see his room, which was handsomely furnished, and, as was right, adjoined his sweetheart's. Whilst he was putting his things in order, Mdlle. de la Meure made me come and see my apartment. It was a very nice room on the ground floor, and facing hers. I took care to point out to her how easily I could pay her a visit after everyone was in bed, but she said we should not be comfortable in her room, and that she would consequently save me the trouble of getting out of bed. It will be guessed that I had no objections to make to this arrangement.

She then told me of her aunt's folly about Tiretta.

"She believes," said she, "that we do not know he sleeps with her."

"Believes, or pretends to believe."

"Possibly. She rang for me at eleven o'clock this morning and told me to go and ask him what kind of night he had passed. I did so, but seeing his bed had not been slept in I asked him if he had not been to sleep.

"'No,' said he, 'I have been writing all night, but please don't say anything about it to your aunt: I promised with all my heart to be as silent as the grave."

"Does he make sheep's eyes at you?"

"No, but if he did it would be all the same. Though he is not over sharp he knows, I think, what I think of him."

"Why have you such a poor opinion of him?"

"Why? My aunt pays him. I think selling one's self is a dreadful idea."

"But you pay me."

"Yes, but in the same coin as you give me."

The old aunt was always calling her niece stupid, but on the contrary I thought her very clever, and as virtuous as clever. I should never have seduced her if she had not been brought up in a convent.

I went back to Tiretta, and had some pleasant conversation with him.

I asked him how he liked his place.

"I don't like it much, but as it costs me nothing I am not absolutely wretched."

"But her face!"

"I don't look at it, and there's one thing I like about her--she is so clean."

"Does she take good care of you?"

"O yes, she is full of feeling for me. This morning she refused the greeting I offered her. 'I am sure,' said she, 'that my refusal will pain you, but your health is so dear to me that I feel bound to look after it."

As soon as the gloomy Abbe des Forges was gone and Madame was alone, we rejoined her. She treated me as her gossip, and played the timid child for Tiretta's benefit, and he played up to her admirably, much to my admiration.

"I shall see no more of that foolish priest," said she; "for after telling me that I was lost both in this world and the next he threatened to abandon me, and I took him at his word."

同类推荐
  • 赠米都知

    赠米都知

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 洞玄灵宝自然九天生神玉章经解

    洞玄灵宝自然九天生神玉章经解

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 南华真经章句音义余事杂录

    南华真经章句音义余事杂录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 疫疹一得

    疫疹一得

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 山舍南溪小桃花

    山舍南溪小桃花

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 锦绣婚途:误惹纨绔痞少

    锦绣婚途:误惹纨绔痞少

    “唐诗诗,我劝你聪明点,孵不出蛋来就别厚颜无耻的占着窝!”婆婆扶着一个怀孕的女人找上门,无限傲娇。唐诗诗看看上门女人微微隆起的肚子,又看看她身边小心伺候着的婆婆,最后将目光落在一旁抿着唇自始至终没有打算开口的男人身上,心冷成冰。三年自以为是的幸福婚姻在这一刻成了一场狗血而俗气的笑话。六年的感情最后换来的是薄薄的小小的轻轻的一张支票:一千万!那个男人因为金钱权势背叛了他们的感情,而她却因为背叛而挥霍了他的钱。这场交易--看起来也貌似公平!最可恨的不是你被挖倒了墙角,而是那无节操的一堵破墙恶劣的公然返身还想要左拥右抱!妻子变xx?亏他想的出来!叔叔同意了!婶婶也同意了!TMD!唐诗诗忍无可忍!既然忍不下去了,那只好学着残忍!前夫悲愤的说:“你竟敢背叛我!唐诗诗,你什么时候变得这么不要脸!”唐诗诗讥诮道:“脸是个什么玩意?我要它何用?”离婚女人门前是非多,情敌步步紧逼连环陷害;前夫不要脸的公然提出“回到我身边!”,妄图左拥右抱;情根深种的大学学长闻讯回国,虚怀以待;就连养父母的弟弟都跟她住到同一个屋檐下频频示好;结果有人更绝,直接将唐诗诗拉进民政局--扯证!吃一堑长一智,再入豪门的唐诗诗脱胎换骨,见招拆招,发誓将自己的爱情,捍卫到底!推荐妖的新文《误嫁豪门之小妻难逃》:《三生三世凤临天下》:
  • 捡到一个星球

    捡到一个星球

    神秘的传送门后,连通着一个文明毁灭后的世界,陈今来到了这个陌生的地方于是——捡到金属残片一块捡到垃圾机器人一台捡到战场一个捡到城市一座捡到黄金一吨多捡到高科技资料一份捡到……捡到……总而言之,陈今捡到了一个星球
  • 呆萌小妻驯夫手册

    呆萌小妻驯夫手册

    一只呆萌隐忍、逗比小气的小白兔爱上一只阴险狠辣、嘴贱腹黑偶尔犯抽的大灰狼,且误打误撞彻底将其降服的故事。本书大叔VS小萝莉,女主呆萌,男主变态!陆旗安,青城第一贵公子,顶级钻石王老五;九歌,钻石王老五的小跟班、保镖兼生活助理;两个身份、地位、年龄相差十万八千里的大叔和小萝莉,王八看绿豆,对了眼,于是,一场你追我赶,你逃我抓的奸情戏码隆重登场。陆大爷追妻法则有三宝:下手早,对娃好,那啥,那活儿还要好!陆大爷追妻法则三步骤:先勾搭,再霸住,最后再扑倒。九歌找男人有三条:第一,得像陆大爷那么帅;第二,得像陆大爷那么有钱有势;第三,得像陆大爷那样酷帅狂霸拽破天。最后再加一条,最好像陆大爷那样,比她大十二岁。陆大爷笑的肝都颤了,“小九,你直说找的男人就是我不就成了?”可是——最后的最后,陆大爷怒了,“小兔崽子你为什么不来追我?爷早就看出来了,你对爷有欲望!对爷有渴望!”小九眨眨眼,颇为无辜,“我已经在追了啊!”陆大爷抓狂:“可爷为什么感受不到?”小九更无辜:“你想怎么感受?”陆大爷扭捏半天,憋出一句话:“我想要吃肉的感受!”小九恍然大悟:“哦,晚上我去买半斤五花肉!”“。。。。。。。。”陆旗安认为,那个小兔崽子可以是帮手,是朋友,是妹妹,甚至是他的孩子,就是没想到有一天她会成为他的小情人,且他陷进去了,就是万劫不复。一场青城特大黑帮走私案,九歌谜样身份揭晓,一场跨越生死的爱恋,他倾尽了所有。。。。。他只愿,这个小小的娃,一直住在他的心尖上。精彩彩片段:若干年后,两人的小包子跑到陆旗安跟前控诉,“我今天把三字经背全了,老师都夸我聪明,可奶奶说你在我这个年纪三字经都是倒着背的,还会看红楼梦,她什么意思?是说我不如爸爸聪明吗?”陆大爷淡定的瞥他一眼,“在智商方面,你确是随你母亲!”小包子一瘪嘴,哇的一声大哭起来,“呜呜呜,那我以后岂不是没饭吃了?妈妈大学都没毕业,老师说了上不了大学就找不到好的工作,将来就要饿肚子的,呜呜呜我不要饿肚子!”陆大爷摸摸他的头,笑,“乖啊,你不会饿肚子,因为陆家的人都是靠脸吃饭的!”小包子哭着打了个嗝,疑惑问他,“吃饭不是靠嘴吗?”陆大爷笑意更深,“只有你妈吃饭靠嘴!”躲在一边听墙脚的某九拳头捏的咯吱响,靠!变相的说我丑是不是?本文一对一,暖文,大叔VS小萝莉,女主养成型。
  • 班墨的傀儡

    班墨的傀儡

    班墨的师傅翟卿秋告诉她,她是龙虎山脚下天师府里的一个小天师在泸溪河边捡来的,因为性别原因天师府不能接纳她,故把她丢给对面琵琶山做木头人的师傅翟卿秋。十六年过去,班墨已长成亭亭玉立的女子,对面天师府的天师白发都长出来了,而师傅还是一头青丝,面容一尘不染仿佛从未被岁月吞噬过。
  • 战争狂想曲

    战争狂想曲

    想要改变世界从来都不是一句羞耻的话,未来是属于我们的,属于现代所有热血的年轻人。没有什么能阻止我们挥刀的激情,如果我们都不说这样的蠢话,那么还指望谁来切下神的头颅,难道让那些老家伙替我们赴死吗?七百里的寒冷冷冽,那是武士的国度,所有人都希望能把自己的名字铭刻在石碑上,自始至终,你都孤独一人,无路可走。
  • 桃花劫又劫

    桃花劫又劫

    十四岁相识,她是万民爱戴的福昌公主,他亦是战功赫赫的恒胜将军。十五岁及笄,她被周太子掳走,他连夜召集兵马,挥军一举歼灭周国,终得皇帝赐婚。婚礼前夕,她含羞待嫁,却听闻他意外战死沙场,于是一把火烧了公主府,自此世间再无福昌。七年后—她是青州城内的一名寡妇,替夫持家,忘尽前事。他突然带伤出现在府里,为感谢她的救命之恩硬是要以身相许。作为一名新婚之夜就死了相公的伪妇人,本来就够倒霉了,清誉不保可是大事!于是想尽办法赶他出府,奈何他仍执著如斯。他想,她只是因为不记得,才会这么狠心地把他推开。那些疼痛的过往,如果可以,他希望她永远不要忆起。总有一天,他会让她重新爱上自己。
  • 蛮妃的契约

    蛮妃的契约

    一个王爷,一个公主;两个人遇在一起,真不知道是福还是祸;唉,算了算了,就这样吧,嫁就嫁吧;于是-----她嫁给邻国做了王妃,也算她倒霉吧,那个什么王爷的,除了张脸蛋好看之外,大概没什么好的了;她还没有过门,未来夫君就先娶了个妾,向她示威,她忍;成亲当日,夫君又劳师动众的为一青楼女子赎身,并且和她同时进门,她再忍;新婚之夜,他和新娶得妾室逍遥快活,让她独守空房,她还忍;话说她必须保证在婚后七天之内不准惹事。好,我忍,我忍可以吧,忍!再忍……于是他认为她软弱可欺,不但放纵妾室骑在她头上作威作福,竟然还当众羞辱她;是可忍孰不可忍,她忍无可忍,于是就不再忍了,老虎不发威,他当她是病猫啊!你这小子,等着瞧!!!“你给我滚出去……”凤天雪终于忍不住了,她柔媚的低声说道,这样还不算,在毫无预兆的情况下竟然飞起了一脚,冷不防的将堂堂的一个王爷从床上踹了下去……那么接下来的日子呢?唉……她是皇妃不是妾--她是公主不是丫鬟--她是不好惹的,想欺负她,没门!他是男人不是暖床的工具--他是王爷不是下人--他也是不好惹的--奈何谦谦君子,深埋爱恋,只为佳人一笑,宁可黯然心碎!“我永远都会在你身后,只要你需要我!”一场突如起来的变故,彻底打破原本看似的平静的一切,梦境一一实现,她该如何面对!”回不去了吗?““天雪,我爱你……”?pstyle=1谢谢泪儿的视频!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~391254799.这是心的QQ,有什么事,直接Q我!!推荐天心的文《囚爱狂君》^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^【本作品的版权为原作者所有,任何人未经原作者同意不得将作品用于转载,否则后果自负。潇湘书院为唯一发布网站,任何网站不得转载。】PS:好友墨枫《鸾凤鸣》【男主风华绝代腹黑冷情,女主……呃,说的文雅点是聪慧狡黠,说的通俗点就是一小魔女】迷雪蝶翼《冷酷君王俏皮妃》白天的月亮《不做妹妹》倪雪《痴心错付》鈎鈎拉《弑天狂女》女狼《红妆御剑》天雪夏月《双面魔女闹校园》
  • 尤物商女

    尤物商女

    徐绮涟,这个名字无数次引起了京都的轰动!她堪比天仙的美貌里面装着一个现代的灵魂,在这异世中努力的想要找寻现代不曾拥有过的一切!京都首富是她初恋情人,晋王世子是她的朋友,当朝状元是她的义兄,九五至尊对她纠缠不清。而她爱慕的那个人,却有一张善变的脸!保健、美容、剖腹产、彩妆、卫生棉......但凡是这里没有的,她统统让它有!建妇产科医院、开化妆品公司、搞集吃喝玩乐购物休闲为一体的商场......她要建立属于自己的商业王国。看现代女如何玩转古代!亲情、友情、爱情、金钱,她全部收入囊中!《继室谋略》《稚妻》《嫡妾风流》《嫡女无忧》《嫡女策》《妾乃浮云》《娘子,到我怀里来》《重生之霸宠》《部长别太坏》《D罩杯弃圮》在移动手机阅读平台上使用的名称为《俏娘子的必胜商技》
  • 第一个人

    第一个人

    《第一个人》包括《流亡与独立王国》、《第一个人》两部作品。《流亡与独立王国》为短篇小说集,《第一个人》为作者生前未完成的长篇小说。《第一个人》是加缪生前未完成的长篇小说,主要讲述了一个法籍阿尔及利亚人雅克从童年到壮年的故事。本书是加缪的精神自传,被作者自己称为“我成熟的小说”。在这本书中,他把自己视为本家族从原始状态中走出来、走向文明的“第一个人”。《流亡与独立王国》是一部短篇小说,包括《不忠的女人》《反叛者》《无声的愤怒》等六个短篇,其主题都是作为有情感有理性的人生活在这个世界上的孤独。
  • 动机

    动机

    上午10时刚过,起风了。可以鸟瞰海岸的县立医院的大厅里看不到腊月间匆匆忙忙的景象——这里既没有排队领药的患者,也没有探视病人的访客和旋风般匆匆跑过的护士的身影。无论何时来到这所医院,情景都是如此。这家窗户上镶嵌着铁框的医院里总有一种与世隔绝的气氛。到这所医院来,这应该是今年的最后一次了!贝濑正幸一边填写探视表一边这样想。他是J县警察局总部警务科的规划调查官,警衔为警督,44岁。为推行来年春季的机构改革,贝濑年内必须完成的任务多得数不胜数。