write his; and, in our amusements, my disposition being most active,
ever had the lead. In a word, our characters accorded so well, and the
friendship that subsisted between us was so cordial, that during the
five years we were at Bossey and Geneva we were inseparable: we
often fought, it is true, but there never was any occasion to separate
us. No one of our quarrels lasted more than a quarter of an hour,
and never in our lives did we make any complaint of each other. It may
be said, these remarks are frivolous; but, perhaps, a similar
example among children can hardly be produced.

  The manner in which I passed my time at Bossey was so agreeable to
my disposition, that it only required a longer duration absolutely
to have fixed my character, which would have had only peaceable,
affectionate, benevolent sentiments for its basis. I believe no
individual of our kind ever possessed less natural vanity than myself.
At intervals, by an extraordinary effort, I arrived at sublime
ideas, but presently sunk again into my original languor. To be
beloved by every one who knew me was my most ardent wish. I was
naturally mild, my cousin was equally so, and those who had the care
of us were of similar dispositions. Everything contributed to
strengthen those propensities which nature had implanted in my breast,
and during the two years I was neither the victim nor witness of any
violent emotions.

  I knew nothing so delightful as to see every one content; not only
with me, but all that concerned them. When repeating our catechism
at church, nothing could give me greater vexation, on being obliged to
hesitate, than to see Miss Lambercier's countenance express
disapprobation and uneasiness. This alone was more afflicting to me
than the shame of faltering before so many witnesses, which,
notwithstanding, was sufficiently painful; for though not
over-solicitous of praise, I was feelingly alive to shame; yet I can
truly affirm, the dread of being reprimanded by Miss Lambercier
alarmed me less than the thought of making her uneasy.

  Neither she nor her brother were deficient in a reasonable severity,
but as this was scarce ever exerted without just cause, I was more
afflicted at their disapprobation than the punishment. Certainly the
method of treating youth would be altered if the distant effects, this
indiscriminate, and frequently indiscreet method produces, were more
conspicuous. I would willingly excuse myself from a further
explanation, did not the lesson this example conveys (which points out
an evil as frequent as it is pernicious) forbid my silence.

  As Miss Lambercier felt a mother's affection, she sometimes
exerted a mother's authority, even to inflicting on us, when we
deserved it, the punishment of infants. She had often threatened it,
and this threat of a treatment entirely new, appeared to me
extremely dreadful; but I found the reality much less terrible than
the idea, and what is still more unaccountable, this punishment
increased my affection for the person who had inflicted it. All this
affection, aided by my natural mildness, was scarcely sufficient to
prevent my seeking, by fresh offenses, a return of the same
chastisement; for a degree of sensuality had mingled with the smart
and shame, which left more desire than fear of a repetition. I was
well convinced the same discipline from her brother would have
produced a quite contradictory effect; but from a man of his
disposition this was not probable, and if I abstained from meriting
correction, it was merely from a fear of offending Miss Lambercier,
for benevolence, aided by the passions, has ever maintained an
empire over me which has given law to my heart.

  This event, which, though desirable, I had not endeavored to
accelerate, arrived without my fault; I should say, without my
seeking; and I profited by it with a safe conscience; but this second,
was also the last time, for Miss Lambercier, who doubtless had some
reason to imagine this chastisement did not produce the desired
effect, declared it was too fatiguing, and that she renounced it for
the future. Till now we had slept in her chamber, and during the
winter, even in her bed; but two days after another room was
prepared for us.

  Who would believe this childish discipline, received at eight
years old, from the hand of a woman of thirty, should influence my
propensities, my desires, my passions, for the rest of my life, and
that in quite a contrary sense from what might naturally have been
expected? The very incident that inflamed my senses, gave my desires
such an extraordinary turn, that, confined to what I had already
experienced, I sought no further, and, with blood boiling with
sensuality almost from my birth, preserved my purity beyond the age
when the coldest constitutions lose their sensibility; long tormented,
without knowing by what, I gazed on every handsome woman with delight;
imagination incessantly brought their charms to my remembrance, only
to transform them into so many Miss Lamberciers. Even after having
attained the marriageable age this odd taste still continued and drove
me nearly to depravity and madness.

  If ever education was perfectly chaste, it certainly that I
received; my three aunts were of exemplary prudence. My father, it
is true, loved pleasure, but his gallantry was rather of the last than
the present century. At M. Lambercier's a good maidservant was
discharged for having once made use of an expression before us which
was thought to contain some degree of indelicacy. I entertained a
particular aversion for courtesans, nor could I look on a rake without
a degree of disdain mingled with terror. My aversion for lewdness went
so far, since one day I walked through a hollow in the road at Petit
Sacconez; I saw on both sides cavities in the earth and was told
that it was there the people did their pairing. When I thought of
it, it came to my mind, that I had seen dogs in a similar situation,
and my heart revolted at the remembrance.