There is something fearful in bearing such a relationto a creature so imperfectly known， and in the ideathat， to a certain extent， all which concerns myself willbe reflected in its consequences upon him. When wefeel that another is to share the self-same fortune withourselves， we judge more severely of our prospects， andwithhold our confidence from that delusive magic whichappears to shed an infallibility of happiness over our ownpathway. Of late years， indeed， there has been much tosadden my intercourse with M. du Miroir. Had not ourunion been a necessary condition of our life， we musthave been estranged ere now. In early youth， when myaffections were warm and free， I loved him well， and couldalways spend a pleasant hour in his society， chiefly becauseit gave me an excellent opinion of myself. Speechless ashe was， M. du Miroir had then a most agreeable way ofcalling me a handsome fellow； and I， of course， returnedthe compliment； so that， the more we kept each other’scompany， the greater coxcombs we mutually grew. Butneither of us need apprehend any such misfortune now.
When we chance to meet—for it is chance oftenerthan design—each glances sadly at the other’s forehead，dreading wrinkles there， and at our temples， whence thehair is thinning away too early， and at the sunken eyes，which no longer shed a gladsome light over the wholeface. I involuntarily peruse him as a record of my heavyyouth， which has been wasted in sluggishness， for lackof hope and impulse， or equally thrown away in toil， thathad no wise motive， and has accomplished no good end.
I perceive that the tranquil gloom of a disappointedsoul has darkened through his countenance， where theblackness of the future seems to mingle with the shadowsof the past， giving him the aspect of a fated man. Is ittoo wild a thought， that my fate may have assumed thisimage of myself， and therefore haunts me with suchinevitable pertinacity， originating every act which itappears to imitate， while it deludes me by pretending toshare the events， of which it is merely the emblem andthe prophecy； I must banish this idea， or it will throw toodeep an awe round my companion. At our next meeting，especially if it be at midnight or in solitude， I fear thatI shall glance aside and shudder； in which case， as M. duMiroir is extremely sensitive to ill-treatment， he also willavert his eyes， and express horror or disgust.
