Eloisa · Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Letter CLIX. From Fanny Anet.
Oh sir! O my benefactor! what tidings do they order me to write to you! Madam----my poor mistress----good God! methinks I see already how frightened you are! but you cannot see the affliction we are all in here.----But I have not a moment to lose----I must tell you.----I must run----Oh that I had already told you all!----what will become of you, when you know our misfortune! The whole family went out yesterday to dine at Chillon. The baron, who was going into Savoy to spend some days at the castle of Blonay, went away after dinner. The company attended him a little way, and afterwards walked along the dyke. Mrs. Orbe and the bailiff’s lady went before with my master; my mistress followed, having hold by one hand of Harriot and by the other of Marcellin. I came after with the eldest. His honour, the bailiff, who had staid behind to speak to some body, came up; and joining the company, offered my mistress his arm; which, in order to accept of, she sent Marcellin to me. I ran forward to meet him while the child did the same towards me; but, in running, his foot slipped and he fell unhappily into the water. I screamed out, when my mistress, turning her head and seeing the child in the water, flew back in an instant and threw herself in after him.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.