第8章

Sadnessorgladness，itallcomestomethroughyou。ThehopeofsuccessalwayscarriesmebacktothedayfollowingthatoneonwhichIsawyouforthefirsttime，whenmylifebecameonewithyoursastheearthturnstothelight。/Qualpianto/aretheseelevenyears，forthisisthe26thofDecember，theanniversaryofmyarrivalatyourvillaontheLakeofGeneva。ForelevenyearshaveIbeencryingtoyou，whileyoushinelikeastarsettoohighformantoreachit。

"27th。

"No，dearest，donotgotoMilan；stayatBelgirate。Milanterrifiesme。IdonotlikethatodiousMilanesefashionofchattingattheScalaeveryeveningwithadozenpersons，amongwhomitishardifnoonesayssomethingsweet。Tomesolitudeislikethelumpofamberinwhoseheartaninsectlivesforeverinunchangingbeauty。Thustheheartandsoulofawomanremainspureandunalteredintheformoftheirfirstyouth。Isitthe/Tedeschi/thatyouregret？

"28th。

"Isyourstatuenevertobefinished？Ishouldwishtohaveyouinmarble，inpainting，inminiature，ineverypossibleform，tobeguilemyimpatience。IstillamwaitingfortheviewofBelgiratefromthesouth，andthatofthebalcony；theseareallthatInowlack。Iamsoextremelybusythatto-dayIcanonlywriteyounothing——butthatnothingiseverything。WasitnotofnothingthatGodmadetheworld？Thatnothingisaword，God"sword:Iloveyou!

"30th。

"Ah!Ihavereceivedyourjournal。Thanksforyourpunctuality——

Soyoufoundgreatpleasureinseeingallthedetailsofourfirstacquaintancethussetdown？Alas!evenwhiledisguisingthemIwassorelyafraidofoffendingyou。Wehadnostories，anda/Review/

withoutstoriesisabeautywithouthair。Notbeinginventivebynature，andinsheerdespair，Itooktheonlypoetryinmysoul，theonlyadventureinmymemory，andpitcheditinthekeyinwhichitwouldbeartelling；nordidIeverceasetothinkofyouwhilewritingtheonlyliteraryproductionthatwillevercomefrommyheart，Icannotsayfrommypen。DidnotthetransformationofyourfierceSormanointoGinamakeyoulaugh？

"Youaskaftermyhealth。Well，itisbetterthaninParis。ThoughIworkenormously，thepeacefulnessofthesurroundingshasitseffectonthemind。Whatreallytriesandagesme，dearangel，istheanguishofmortifiedvanity，theperpetualfrictionofParislife，thestruggleofrivalambitions。Thispeaceisabalm。

"Ifyoucouldimaginethepleasureyourlettergivesme!——thelong，kindletterinwhichyoutellmethemosttrivialincidentsofyourlife。No!youwomencanneverknowtowhatadegreeatrueloverisinterestedinthesetrifles。Itwasanimmensepleasuretoseethepatternofyournewdress。Canitbeamatterofindifferencetometoknowwhatyouwear？Ifyourloftybrowisknit？Ifourwritersamuseyou？IfCanalis"songsdelightyou？I

readthebooksyouread。Eventoyourboatingonthelakeeveryincidenttouchedme。Yourletterisaslovely，assweetasyoursoul!Oh!flowerofheaven，perpetuallyadored，couldIhavelivedwithoutthosedearletters，whichforelevenyearshaveupheldmeinmydifficultpathlikealight，likeaperfume，likeasteadychant，likesomedivinenourishment，likeeverythingwhichcansootheandcomfortlife。

"Donotfailme!IfyouknewwhatanxietyIsufferthedaybeforetheyaredue，orthepainaday"sdelaycangiveme!Issheill？

Is/he/？Iammidwaybetweenhellandparadise。

"/Omiacaradiva/，keepupyourmusic，exerciseyourvoice，practise。Iamenchantedwiththecoincidenceofemploymentsandhoursbywhich，thoughseparatedbytheAlps，welivebypreciselythesamerule。Thethoughtcharmsmeandgivesmecourage。ThefirsttimeIundertooktopleadhere——Iforgettotellyouthis——I

fanciedthatyouwerelisteningtome，andIsuddenlyfelttheflashofinspirationwhichliftsthepoetabovemankind。IfIamreturnedtotheChamber——oh!youmustcometoParistobepresentatmyfirstappearancethere!

"30th，Evening。

"Goodheavens，howIloveyou!Alas!Ihaveintrustedtoomuchtomyloveandmyhopes。Anaccidentwhichshouldsinkthatoverloadedbarkwouldendmylife。ForthreeyearsnowIhavenotseenyou，andatthethoughtofgoingtoBelgiratemyheartbeatssowildlythatIamforcedtostop——Toseeyou，tohearthatgirlishcaressingvoice!Toembraceinmygazethativoryskin，glisteningunderthecandlelight，andthroughwhichIcanreadyournoblemind!Toadmireyourfingersplayingonthekeys，todrinkinyourwholesoulinalook，inthetoneofan/Oime/oran/Alberto/!Towalkbytheblossomingorange-trees，toliveafewmonthsinthebosomofthatgloriousscenery!——Thatislife。Whatfollyitistorunafterpower，aname，fortune!ButatBelgiratethereiseverything；thereispoetry，thereisglory!Ioughttohavemademyselfyoursteward，or，asthatdeartyrantwhomwecannothateproposedtome，livethereas/cavaliereservente/，onlyourpassionwastoofiercetoallowofit。

"Farewell，myangel，forgivememynextfitofsadnessinconsiderationofthischeerfulmood；ithascomeasabeamoflightfromthetorchofHope，whichhashithertoseemedtomeaWill-o"-the-wisp。"

"Howhelovesher!"criedRosalie，droppingtheletter，whichseemedheavyinherhand。"Afterelevenyearstowritelikethis!"

"Mariette，"saidMademoiselledeWattevilletohermaidnextmorning，"goandpostthisletter。TellJeromethatIknowallIwishtoknow，andthatheistoserveMonsieurAlbertfaithfully。Wewillconfessoursins，youandI，withoutsayingtowhomthelettersbelonged，nortowhomtheyweregoing。Iwasinthewrong；Ialoneamguilty。"

"Mademoisellehasbeencrying？"saidMariette。

"Yes，butIdonotwantthatmymothershouldperceiveit；givemesomeverycoldwater。"

InthemidstofthestormsofherpassionRosalieoftenlistenedtothevoiceofconscience。Touchedbythebeautifulfidelityofthesetwohearts，shehadjustsaidherprayers，tellingherselfthattherewasnothinglefttoherbuttoberesigned，andtorespectthehappinessoftwobeingsworthyofeachother，submissivetofate，lookingtoGodforeverything，withoutallowingthemselvesanycriminalactsorwishes。Shefeltabetterwoman，andhadacertainsenseofsatisfactionaftercomingtothisresolution，inspiredbythenaturalrectitudeofyouth。Andshewasconfirmedinitbyagirl"sidea:Shewassacrificingherselffor/him/。

"Shedoesnotknowhowtolove，"thoughtshe。"Ah!ifitwereI——I

wouldgiveupeverythingtoamanwholovedmeso——Tobeloved!——

When，bywhomshallIbeloved？ThatlittleMonsieurdeSoulasonlylovesmymoney；ifIwerepoor，hewouldnotevenlookatme。"

"Rosalie，mychild，whatareyouthinkingabout？Youareworkingbeyondtheoutline，"saidtheBaronesstoherdaughter，whowasmakingworsted-workslippersfortheBaron。

Rosaliespentthewinterof1834-35tornbysecrettumults；butinthespring，inthemonthofApril，whenshereachedtheageofnineteen，shesometimesthoughtthatitwouldbeafinethingtotriumphoveraDuchessed"Argaiolo。Insilenceandsolitudetheprospectofthisstrugglehadfannedherpassionandherevilthoughts。Sheencouragedherromanticdaringbymakingplanafterplan。Althoughsuchcharactersareanexception，thereare，unfortunately，toomanyRosaliesintheworld，andthisstorycontainsamoralthatoughttoservethemasawarning。

InthecourseofthiswinterAlbertdeSavarushadquietlymadeconsiderableprogressinBesancon。Confidentofsuccess，henowimpatientlyawaitedthedissolutionoftheChamber。AmongthemenofthemoderatepartyhehadwonthesuffragesofoneofthemakersofBesancon，arichcontractor，whohadverywideinfluence。

WherevertheysettledtheRomanstookimmensepains，andspentenormoussumstohaveanunlimitedsupplyofgoodwaterineverytownoftheirempire。AtBesancontheydrankthewaterfromArcier，ahillatsomeconsiderabledistancefromBesancon。ThetownstandsinahorseshoecircumscribedbytheriverDoubs。Thus，torestoreanaqueductinordertodrinkthesamewaterthattheRomansdrank，inatownwateredbytheDoubs，isoneofthoseabsurditieswhichonlysucceedinacountryplacewherethemostexemplarygravityprevails。

Ifthiswhimcouldbebroughthometotheheartsofthecitizens，itwouldleadtoconsiderableoutlay；andthisexpenditurewouldbenefittheinfluentialcontractor。

AlbertSavarondeSavarusopinedthatthewateroftheriverwasgoodfornothingbuttoflowunderthesuspensionbridge，andthattheonlydrinkablewaterwasthatfromArcier。Articleswereprintedinthe/Review/whichmerelyexpressedtheviewsofthecommercialinterestofBesancon。Thenobilityandthecitizens，themoderatesandthelegitimists，thegovernmentpartyandtheopposition，everybody，inshort，wasagreedthattheymustdrinkthesamewaterastheRomans，andboastofasuspensionbridge。ThequestionoftheArcierwaterwastheorderofthedayatBesancon。AtBesancon——asinthematterofthetworailwaystoVersailles——asforeverystandingabuse——therewereprivateinterestsunconfessedwhichgavevitalforcetothisidea。Thereasonablefolkinoppositiontothisscheme，whowereindeedbutfew，wereregardedasoldwomen。NoonetalkedofanythingbutofSavaron"stwoprojects。Andthus，aftereighteenmonthsofundergroundlabor，theambitiouslawyerhadsucceededinstirringtoitsdepthsthemoststagnanttowninFrance，themostunyieldingtoforeigninfluence，infindingthelengthofitsfoot，touseavulgarphrase，andexertingapreponderantinfluencewithoutstirringfromhisownroom。Hehadsolvedthesingularproblemofhowtobepowerfulwithoutbeingpopular。

InthecourseofthiswinterhewonsevenlawsuitsforvariouspriestsofBesancon。Atmomentshecouldbreathefreelyatthethoughtofhiscomingtriumph。Thisintensedesire，whichmadehimworksomanyinterestsanddevisesomanysprings，absorbedthelaststrengthofhisterriblyoverstrungsoul。Hisdisinterestednesswaslauded，andhetookhisclients"feeswithoutcomment。Butthisdisinterestednesswas，intruth，moralusury；hecountedonarewardfargreatertohimthanallthegoldintheworld。

InthemonthofOctober1834hehadbrought，ostensiblytoserveamerchantwhowasindifficulties，withmoneylenthimbyLeopoldHannequin，ahousewhichgavehimaqualificationforelection。Hehadnotseemedtoseekordesirethisadvantageousbargain。

"Youarereallyaremarkableman，"saidtheAbbedeGrancey，who，ofcourse，hadwatchedandunderstoodthelawyer。TheVicar-GeneralhadcometointroducetohimaCanonwhoneededhisprofessionaladvice。

"Youareapriestwhohastakenthewrongturning。"ThisobservationstruckSavarus。

Rosalie，onherpart，hadmadeuphermind，inherstronggirl"shead，togetMonsieurdeSavarusintothedrawing-roomandacquaintedwiththesocietyoftheHoteldeRupt。SofarshehadlimitedherdesirestoseeingandhearingAlbert。Shehadcompounded，sotospeak，andacompositionisoftennomorethanatruce。

LesRouxey，theinheritedestateoftheWattevilles，wasworthjusttenthousandfrancsayear；butinotherhandsitwouldhaveyieldedagreatdealmore。TheBaroninhisindifference——forhiswifewastohave，andinfacthad，fortythousandfrancsayear——leftthemanagementoflesRouxeytoasortoffactotum，anoldservantoftheWattevillesnamedModinier。Nevertheless，whenevertheBaronandhiswifewishedtogooutofthetown，theywenttolesRouxey，whichisverypicturesquelysituated。Thechateauandtheparkwere，infact，createdbythefamousWatteville，whoinhisactiveoldagewaspassionatelyattachedtothismagnificentspot。

Betweentwoprecipitoushills——littlepeakswithbaresummitsknownasthegreatandthelittleRouxey——intheheartofaravinewherethetorrentsfromtheheights，withtheDentdeVilardattheirhead，cometumblingtojointhelovelyupperwatersoftheDoubs，Wattevillehadahugedamconstructed，leavingtwocuttingsfortheoverflow。Abovethisdamhemadeabeautifullake，andbelowittwocascades；andthese，unitingafewyardsbelowthefalls，formedalovelylittlerivertoirrigatethebarren，uncultivatedvalley，andthesetwohillsheenclosedinaringfence，andbuilthimselfaretreatonthedam，whichhewidenedtotwoacresbyaccumulatingaboveitallthesoilwhichhadtoberemovedtomakeachannelfortheriverandtheirrigationcanals。

WhentheBarondeWattevillethusobtainedthelakeabovehisdamhewasownerofthetwohills，butnotoftheuppervalleythusflooded，throughwhichtherehadbeenatalltimesaright-of-waytowhereitendsinahorseshoeundertheDentdeVilard。Butthisferociousoldmanwassowidelydreaded，thatsolongashelivednoclaimwasurgedbytheinhabitantsofRiceys，thelittlevillageonthefurthersideoftheDentdeVilard。WhentheBarondied，helefttheslopesofthetwoRouxeyhillsjoinedbyastrongwall，toprotectfrominundationthetwolateralvalleysopeningintothevalleyofRouxey，totherightandleftatthefootoftheDentdeVilard。ThushediedthemasteroftheDentdeVilard。

HisheirsassertedtheirprotectorateofthevillageofRiceys，andsomaintainedtheusurpation。Theoldassassin，theoldrenegade，theoldAbbeWatteville，endedhiscareerbyplantingtreesandmakingafineroadovertheshoulderofoneoftheRouxeyhillstojointhehighroad。Theestatebelongingtothisparkandhousewasextensive，butbadlycultivated；therewerechaletsonbothhillsandneglectedforestsoftimber。Itwasallwildanddeserted，lefttothecareofnature，abandonedtochancegrowths，butfullofsublimeandunexpectedbeauty。YoumaynowimaginelesRouxey。

Itisunnecessarytocomplicatethisstorybyrelatingalltheprodigioustroubleandtheinventivenessstampedwithgenius，bywhichRosalieachievedherendwithoutallowingittobesuspected。ItisenoughtosaythatitwasinobediencetohermotherthatsheleftBesanconinthemonthofMay1835，inanantiquetravelingcarriagedrawnbyapairofsturdyhiredhorses，andaccompaniedherfathertolesRouxey。

Toayounggirllovelurksineverything。Whensherose，themorningafterherarrival，MademoiselledeWattevillesawfromherbedroomwindowthefineexpanseofwater，fromwhichthelightmistsroselikesmoke，andwerecaughtinthefirsandlarches，rollingupandalongthehillstilltheyreachedtheheights，andshegaveacryofadmiration。

"Theylovedbythelakes!/She/livesbyalake!Alakeiscertainlyfulloflove!"shethought。

Alakefedbysnowshasopalescentcolorsandatranslucencythatmakesitonehugediamond；butwhenitisshutinlikethatoflesRouxey，betweentwogranitemassescoveredwithpines，whensilencebroodsoveritlikethatoftheSavannasortheSteppes，theneveryonemustexclaimasRosaliedid。

"Weowethat，"saidherfather，"tothenotoriousWatteville。"

"Onmyword，"saidthegirl，"hedidhisbesttoearnforgiveness。Letusgoinaboattothefurtherend；itwillgiveusanappetiteforbreakfast。"

TheBaroncalledtwogardenerladswhoknewhowtorow，andtookwithhimhisprimeministerModinier。Thelakewasaboutsixacresinbreadth，insomeplacestenortwelve，andfourhundredinlength。

RosaliesoonfoundherselfattheupperendshutinbytheDentdeVilard，theJungfrauofthatlittleSwitzerland。

"Hereweare，MonsieurleBaron，"saidModinier，signingtothegardenerstotieuptheboat；"willyoucomeandlook？"

"Lookatwhat？"askedRosalie。

"Oh，nothing!"exclaimedtheBaron。"Butyouareasensiblegirl；wehavesomelittlesecretsbetweenus，andImaytellyouwhatrufflesmymind。Somedifficultieshavearisensince1830betweenthevillageauthoritiesofRiceysandme，onaccountofthisveryDentdeVilard，andIwanttosettlethematterwithoutyourmother"sknowinganythingaboutit，forsheisstubborn；sheiscapableofflingingfireandflamesbroadcast，particularlyifsheshouldhearthattheMayorofRiceys，arepublican，gotupthisactionasasoptohispeople。"

Rosaliehadpresenceofmindenoughtodisguiseherdelight，soastoworkmoreeffectuallyonherfather。

"Whataction？"saidshe。

"Mademoiselle，thepeopleofRiceys，"saidModinier，"havelongenjoyedtherightofgrazingandcuttingfodderontheirsideoftheDentdeVilard。NowMonsieurChantonnit，theMairesince1830，declaresthatthewholeDentbelongstohisdistrict，andmaintainsthatahundredyearsago，ormore，therewasawaythroughourgrounds。Youunderstandthatinthatcaseweshouldnolongerhavethemtoourselves。Thenthisbarbarianwouldendbysaying，whattheoldmeninthevillagesay，thatthegroundoccupiedbythelakewasappropriatedbytheAbbedeWatteville。ThatwouldbetheendoflesRouxey；whatnext？"

"Indeed，mychild，betweenourselves，itisthetruth，"saidMonsieurdeWattevillesimply。"Thelandisanusurpation，withnotitle-deedbutlapseoftime。And，therefore，toavoidallworry，IshouldwishtocometoafriendlyunderstandingastomyborderlineonthissideoftheDentdeVilard，andIwillthenraiseawall。"

"Ifyougivewaytothemunicipality，itwillswallowyouup。YououghttohavethreatenedRiceys。"

"ThatisjustwhatItoldthemasterlastevening，"saidModinier。

"ButinconfirmationofthatviewIproposedthatheshouldcometoseewhether，onthissideoftheDentorontheother，theremaynotbe，highorlow，sometracesofanenclosure。"

ForacenturytheDentdeVilardhadbeenusedbybothpartieswithoutcomingtoextremities；itstoodasasortofpartywallbetweenthecommunesofRiceysandlesRouxey，yieldinglittleprofit。Indeed，theobjectindispute，beingcoveredwithsnowforsixmonthsintheyear，wasofanaturetocooltheirardor。Thusitrequiredallthehotblastbywhichtherevolutionof1830inflamedtheadvocatesofthepeople，tostirupthismatter，bywhichMonsieurChantonnit，theMaireofRiceys，hopedtogiveadramaticturntohiscareeronthepeacefulfrontierofSwitzerland，andtoimmortalizehistermofoffice。Chantonnit，ashisnameshows，wasanativeofNeuchatel。

"Mydearfather，"saidRosalie，astheygotintotheboatagain，"I

agreewithModinier。IfyouwishtosecurethejointpossessionoftheDentdeVilard，youmustactwithdecision，andgetalegalopinionwhichwillprotectyouagainstthisenterprisingChantonnit。Whyshouldyoubeafraid？GetthefamouslawyerSavaron——engagehimatonce，lestChantonnitshouldplacetheinterestsofthevillageinhishands。ThemanwhowonthecasefortheChapteragainstthetowncancertainlywinthatofWatteville/versus/Riceys!Besides，"sheadded，"lesRouxeywillsomedaybemine——notforalongtimeyet，Itrust——

Well，thendonotleavemewithalawsuitonmyhands。Ilikethisplace，Ishalloftenlivehere，andaddtoitasmuchaspossible。Onthosebanks，"andshepointedtothefeetofthetwohills，"IshallcutflowerbedsandmaketheloveliestEnglishgardens。LetusgotoBesanconandbringbackwithustheAbbedeGrancey，MonsieurSavaron，andmymother，ifshecarestocome。Youcanthenmakeupyourmind；

butinyourplaceIshouldhavedonesoalready。YournameisWatteville，andyouareafraidofafight!Ifyoushouldloseyourcase——well，Iwillneverreproachyoubyaword!"

"Oh，ifthatisthewayyoutakeit，"saidtheBaron，"Iamquiteready；Iwillseethelawyer。"

"Besidesalawsuitisreallygreatfun。Itbringssomeinterestintolife，withcomingandgoingandragingoverit。Youwillhaveagreatdealtodobeforeyoucangetholdofthejudges——WedidnotseetheAbbedeGranceyforthreeweeks，hewassobusy!"

"ButtheveryexistenceoftheChapterwasinvolved，"saidMonsieurdeWatteville；"andthentheArchbishop"spride，hisconscience，everythingthatmakesupthelifeofthepriesthood，wasatstake。

ThatSavarondoesnotknowwhathedidfortheChapter!Hesavedit!"

"Listentome，"saidhisdaughterinhisear，"ifyousecureMonsieurdeSavaron，youwillgainyoursuit，won"tyou？Well，then，letmeadviseyou。YoucannotgetatMonsieurSavaronexceptingthroughMonsieurdeGrancey。Takemywordforit，andletustogethertalktothedearAbbewithoutmymother"spresenceattheinterview，forI

knowawayofpersuadinghimtobringthelawyertous。"

"Itwillbeverydifficulttoavoidmentioningittoyourmother!"

"TheAbbedeGranceywillsettlethatafterwards。ButjustmakeupyourmindtopromiseyourvotetoMonsieurSavaronatthenextelection，andyouwillsee!"

"Gototheelection!taketheoath？"criedtheBarondeWatteville。

"Whatthen!"saidshe。

"Andwhatwillyourmothersay？"

"Shemayevendesireyoutodoit，"repliedRosalie，knowingasshedidfromAlbert"slettertoLeopoldhowdeeplytheVicar-Generalhadpledgedhimself。

Fourdaysafter，theAbbedeGranceycalledveryearlyonemorningonAlbertdeSavarus，havingannouncedhisvisitthedaybefore。TheoldpriesthadcometowinoverthegreatlawyertothehouseoftheWattevilles，aproceedingwhichshowshowmuchtactandsubtletyRosaliemusthaveemployedinanunderhandway。

"WhatcanIdoforyou，MonsieurleVicaire-General？"askedSavarus。

TheAbbe，whotoldhisstorywithadmirablefrankness，wascoldlyheardbyAlbert。

"Monsieurl"Abbe，"saidhe，"itisoutofthequestionthatIshoulddefendtheinterestsoftheWattevilles，andyoushallunderstandwhy。

Mypartinthistownistoremainperfectlyneutral。Iwilldisplaynocolors；Imustremainamysterytilltheeveofmyelection。Now，topleadfortheWattevilleswouldmeannothinginParis，buthere!——

Here，whereeverythingisdiscussed，IshouldbesupposedbyeveryonetobeanallyofyourFaubourgSaint-Germain。"

"What!doyousupposethatyoucanremainunknownonthedayoftheelection，whenthecandidatesmustopposeeachother？ItmustthenbecomeknownthatyournameisSavarondeSavarus，thatyouhaveheldtheappointmentofMasterofAppeals，thatyouareamanoftheRestoration!"

"Onthedayoftheelection，"saidSavarus，"IwillbeallIamexpectedtobe；andIintendtospeakatthepreliminarymeetings。"

"IfyouhavethesupportofMonsieurdeWattevilleandhisparty，youwillgetahundredvotesinamass，andfarmoretobetrustedthanthoseonwhichyourely。Itisalwayspossibletoproducedivisionofinterests；convictionsareinseparable。"