all goes well； this； I suppose； is one of the best things that can happen to a young fellow。 It steadies him and gives him an object in life： someone for whom to work。 If all goes ill； it is one of the worst； for then the reverse is apt to e about。 It unsteadies him； makes him reckless； and perhaps throws him in the way of undesirable adventures。 In my case； in the end all went wrong； or seemed to do so at the time。
I was taken by a friend to a ball at Richmond； who gave it I have long forgotten。 There I saw a very beautiful young lady a few years older than myself to whom I was instantly and overwhelmingly attracted。 I say beautiful advisedly； for to my mind she was one of the three really lovely women whom I have seen in my life。 The second was the late Duchess of Leinster； and the third was a village girl at Bradenham who was reported to be the daughter of a gentleman。 She； poor thing； died quite young。
At length the ball came to an end and I escorted this lady back to her carriage — she was driving back to London alone — with the intelligent object of ascertaining where she lived。 In this； by the way； I failed； either I did not catch the address or it was too vague and general。 Ultimately； however； I overcame that difficulty by a well…directed inquiry at a butcher’s shop in what I knew to be the neighbourhood。 It occurred to me that even goddesses must eat。
The reason that I mention this matter is that quite a curious coincidence is connected with it。 The house where the ball took place had a garden in front； down which garden ran a carpeted path。 At the end of the path a great arch had been erected for the occasion； and through this arch I followed the young lady。 Some thirty…five years later I was present at her death…bed — for happily I w