第192页 / 共483页

He played a sweet mournful air which I perceived drew tears from

the eyes of his amiable companion, of which the old man took no

notice, until she sobbed audibly; he then pronounced a few

sounds, and the fair creature, leaving her work, knelt at his

feet. He raised her and smiled with such kindness and affection

that I felt sensations of a peculiar and overpowering nature;

they were a mixture of pain and pleasure, such as I had never

before experienced, either from hunger or cold, warmth or food;

and I withdrew from the window, unable to bear these emotions.