The Confessions - Neuromantic.net :books you can believe in...

The Confessions
pany the simplest pastimes were sufficient to delight us. went to see my father at Nion, a small city in the Vaudois
We were soon remarked for being thus inseparable: and country, where he was now settled. Being universally re-
what rendered us more conspicuous, my cousin was very spected, the affection entertained for him extended to me:
tall, myself extremely short, so that we exhibited a very whim- and, during my visits, the question seemed to be, who should
sical contrast. This meagre figure, small, sallow countenance, show me most kindness. A Madame de Vulson, in particu-
heavy air, and supine gait, excited the ridicule of the chillar, loaded me with caresses; and, to complete all, her daughdren,
who, in the gibberish of the country, nicknamed him ter made me her gallant. I need not explain what kind of
‘Barna Bredanna’; and we no sooner got out of doors than gallant a boy of eleven must be to a girl of two and twenty;
our ears were assailed with a repetition of “Barna Bredanna.” the artful hussies know how to set these puppets up in front,
He bore this indignity with tolerable patience, but I was in- to conceal more serious engagements. On my part I saw no
stantly for fighting. This was what the young rogues aimed inequality between myself and Miss Vulson, was flattered by
at. I engaged accordingly, and was beat. My poor cousin did the circumstance, and went into it with my whole heart, or
all in his power to assist me, but he was weak, and a single rather my whole head, for this passion certainly reached no
stroke brought him to the ground. I then became furious, further, though it transported me almost to madness, and
and received several smart blows, some of which were aimed frequently produced scenes sufficient to make even a cynic
at ‘Barna Bredanna’. This quarrel so far increased the evil, expire with laughter.
that, to avoid their insults, we could only show ourselves in I have experienced two kinds of love, equally real, which
the streets while they were employed at school.
have scarce any affinity, yet each differing materially from
I had already become a redresser of grievances; there only tender friendship. My whole life has been divided between
wanted a lady in the way to be a knight-errant in form. This these affections, and I have frequently felt the power of both
defect was soon supplied; I presently had two. I frequently at the same instant. For example, at the very time I so
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