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following the commandments of God to win this saint to love； and he
thought right。 At night Bertha asked her cousinaccording to the old
custom； to which the ladies of our day objectto keep her company in
her big seigneurial bed。 To which request Sylvia repliedin order to
keep up the role of a well…born maidenthat nothing would give her
greater pleasure。 The curfew rang； and found the two cousins in a
chamber richly ornamented with carpeting； fringes； and royal
tapestries； and Bertha began gracefully to disarray herself； assisted
by her women。 You can imagine that her companion modestly declined
their services； and told her cousin； with a little blush； that she was
accustomed to undress herself ever since she had lost the services of
her dearly beloved； who had put her out of conceit with feminine
fingers by his gentle ways； that these preparations brought back the
pretty speeches he used to make； and his merry pranks while playing
the lady's…maid； and that to her injury； the memory of all these
things brought the water into her mouth。
This discourse considerably astonished the lady Bertha； who let her
cousin say her prayers； and make other preparations for the night
beneath the curtains of the bed； into which my lord； inflamed with
desire； soon tumbled； happy at being able to catch an occasional
glimpse of the wondrous charms of the chatelaine； which were in no way
injured。 Bertha； believing herself to be with an experienced girl； did
not omit any of the usual practices； she washed her feet； not minding
whether she raised them little or much； exposed her delicate little
shoulders； and did as all the ladies do when they are retiring to
rest。 At last she came to bed； and settled herself comfortably in it；
kissing her cousin on the lips； which she found remarkably warm。
〃Are you unwell； Sylvia； that you burn so？〃 said she。
〃I always burn like that when I go to bed；〃 replied her companion；
〃because at that time there comes back to my memory the pretty little
tricks that he invented to please me； and which make me burn still
more。〃
〃Ah！ cousin； tell me all about this he。 Tell all the sweets of love to
me； who live beneath the shadow of a hoary head； of which the snows
keep me from such warm feelings。 Tell me all； you are cured。 It will
be a good warning to me； and then your misfortunes will have been a
salutary lesson to two poor weak women。〃
〃I do not know I ought to obey you； sweet cousin；〃 said the youth。
〃Tell me； why not？〃
〃Ah！ deeds are better than words；〃 said the false maiden； heaving a
deep sigh as the /ut/ of an organ。 〃But I am afraid that this milord
has encumbered me with so much joy that you may get a little of it；
which would be enough to give you a daughter； since the power of
engendering is weakened in me。〃
〃But；〃 said Bertha； 〃between us； would it be a sin？〃
〃It would be； on the contrary； a joy both here and in heaven； the
angels would shed their fragrance around you； and make sweet music in
your ears。〃
〃Tell me quickly； then；〃 said Bertha。
〃Well； then； this is how my dear lord made my heart rejoice。〃
With these words Jehan took Bertha in his arms； and strained her
hungering to his heart； for in the soft light of the lamp； and clothed
with the spotless linen； she was in this tempting bed； like the pretty
petals of a lily at the bottom of the virgin calyx。
〃When he held me as I hold thee he said to me； with a voice far
sweeter than mine； 'Ah； Bertha； thou art my eternal love； my priceless
treasure； my joy by day and my joy by night； thou art fairer than the
day is day； there is naught so pretty as thou art。 I love thee more
than God； and would endure a thousand deaths for the happiness I ask
of thee！' Then he would kiss me； not after the manner of husbands；
which is rough； but in a peculiar dove…like fashion。〃
To show her there and then how much better was the method of lovers；
he sucked all the honey from Bertha's lips； and taught her how； with
her pretty tongue； small and rosy as that of a cat； she could speak to
the heart without saying a single word； and becoming exhausted at this
game； Jehan spread the fire of his kisses from the mouth to the neck；
from the neck to the sweetest forms that ever a woman gave a child to
slake its thirst upon。 And whoever had been in his place would have
thought himself a wicked man not to imitate him。
〃Ah！〃 said Bertha； fast bound in love without knowing it； 〃this is
better。 I must take care to tell Imbert about it。〃
〃Are you in your proper senses； cousin？ Say nothing about it to your
old husband。 How could he make his hands pleasant like mine？ They are
as hard as washerwoman's beetles； and his piebald beard would hardly
please this centre of bliss； that rose in which lies our wealth； our
substance； our loves； and our fortune。 Do you know that it is a living
flower； which should be fondled thus； and not used like a trombone； or
as if it were a catapult of war？ Now this was the gentle way of my
beloved Englishman。〃
Thus saying； the handsome youth comported himself so bravely in the
battle that victory crowned his efforts； and poor innocent Bertha
exclaimed
〃Ah！ cousin； the angels are come！ but so beautiful is the music； that
I hear nothing else； and so flaming are their luminous rays； that my
eyes are closing。〃
And； indeed； she fainted under the burden of those joys of love which
burst forth in her like the highest notes of the organ； which
glistened like the most magnificent aurora； which flowed in her veins
like the finest musk； and loosened the liens of her life in giving her
a child of love； who made a great deal of confusion in taking up his
quarters。 Finally； Bertha imagined herself to be in Paradise； so happy
did she feel； and woke from this beautiful dream in the arms of Jehan；
exclaiming
〃Ah！ who would not have been married in England！〃
〃My sweet mistress；〃 said Jehan； whose ecstasy was sooner over； 〃you
are married to me in France； where things are managed still better；
for I am a man who would give a thousand lives for you if he had
them。〃
Poor Bertha gave a shriek so sharp that it pierced the walls； and
leapt out of bed like a mountebank of the plains of Egypt would have
done。 She fell upon her knees before her /Prie…Dieu/； joined her
hands； and wept more pearls than ever Mary Magdalene wore。
〃Ah！ I am dead〃 she cried； 〃I am deceived by a devil who has taken the
face of an angel。 I am lost； I am the mother for certain of a
beautiful child； without being more guilty than you； Madame the
Virgin。 Implore the pardon of God for me； if I have not that of men
upon earth； or let me die； so that I may not blush before my lord and
master。〃
Hearing that she said nothing against him； Jehan rose； quite aghast to
see Bertha take this charming dance for two so to heart。 But the
moment she heard her Gabriel moving she sprang quickly to her feet；
regarded him with a