第3章

I’msureIdon’tknowwheresuchpeople"（VictorHugo，Lamartine，ByronbeingSUCHPEOPLEtotheMadameLatournellesofthebourgeoisie）

"gettheirideas。ModestekepttalkingtomeofChildeHarold，andasIdidnotwishtogettheworstoftheargumentIwassillyenoughtotrytoreadthething。Perhapsitwasthefaultofthetranslator，butitactuallyturnedmystomach;Iwasdazed;Icouldn’tpossiblyfinishit。Why，themantalksaboutcomparisonsthathowl，rocksthatfaint，andwavesofwar！However，heisonlyatravellingEnglishman，andwemustexpectabsurdities，——thoughhisarereallyinexcusable。HetakesyoutoSpain，andsetsyouinthecloudsabovetheAlps，andmakesthetorrentstalk，andthestars;andhesaystherearetoomanyvirgins！

Didyoueverhearthelike？Then，afterNapoleon’scampaigns，thelinesarefullofsonorousbrassandflamingcannon—balls，rollingalongfrompagetopage。Modestetellsmethatallthatbathosisputinbythetranslator，andthatIoughttoreadthebookinEnglish。

ButIcertainlysha’n’tlearnEnglishtoreadLordByronwhenIdidn’tlearnittoteachExupere。ImuchpreferthenovelsofDucray—DumeniltoalltheseEnglishromances。I’mtoogoodaNormantofallinlovewithforeignthings，——aboveallwhentheycomefromEngland。"

MadameMignon，notwithstandinghermelancholy，couldnothelpsmilingattheideaofMadameLatournellereadingChildeHarold。Thesternscionofaparliamentaryhouseacceptedthesmileasanapprovalofherdoctrine。

"And，therefore，mydearMadameMignon，"shewenton，"youhavetakenModeste’sfancies，whicharenothingbuttheresultsofherreading，foralove—affair。Remember，sheisjusttwenty。Girlsfallinlovewiththemselvesatthatage;theydresstoseethemselveswell—

dressed。IrememberIusedtomakemylittlesister，nowdead，putonaman’shatandpretendweweremonsieurandmadame。Yousee，youhadaveryhappyyouthinFrankfort;butletusbejust，——Modesteislivingherewithouttheslightestamusement。Although，tobesure，hereverywishisattendedto，stillsheknowssheisshutupandwatched，andthelifesheleadswouldgivehernopleasureatallifitwerenotfortheamusementshegetsoutofherbooks。Come，don’tworryyourself;shelovesnobodybutyou。YououghttobeverygladthatshegoesintotheseenthusiasmsforthecorsairsofByronandtheheroesofWalterScottandyourownGermans，Egmont，Goethe，Werther，Schiller，andalltheother’ers。’"

"Well，madame，whatdoyousaytothat？"askedDumay，respectfully，alarmedatMadameMignon’ssilence。

"Modesteisnotonlyinclinedtolove，butshelovessomeman，"

answeredthemother，obstinately。

"Madame，mylifeisatstake，andyoumustallowme——notformysake，butformywife，mycolonel，forallofus——toprobethismattertothebottom，andfindoutwhetheritisthemotherorthewatch—dogwhoisdeceived。"

"Itisyouwhoaredeceived，Dumay。Ah！ifIcouldbutseemydaughter！"criedthepoorwoman。

"Butwhomisitpossibleforhertolove？"askedthenotary。"I’llanswerformyExupere。"

"Itcan’tbeGobenheim，"saidDumay，"forsincethecolonel’sdeparturehehasnotspentninehoursaweekinthishouse。Besides，hedoesn’tevennoticeModeste——thatfive—francpieceofaman！HisuncleGobenheim—Kellerisallthetimewritinghim，’GetrichenoughtomarryaKeller。’Withthatideainhismindyoumaybesurehedoesn’tknowwhichsexModestebelongsto。Noothermenevercomehere，——forofcourseIdon’tcountButscha，poorlittlefellow;Ilovehim！HeisyourDumay，madame，"saidthecashiertoMadameLatournelle。"ButschaknowsverywellthatamereglanceatModestewouldcosthimaBretonducking。Notasoulhasanycommunicationwiththishouse。MadameLatournellewhotakesModestetochurcheversinceyour——yourmisfortune，madame，hascarefullywatchedheronthewayandallthroughtheservice，andhasseennothingsuspicious。Inshort，ifImustconfessthetruth，Ihavemyselfrakedallthepathsaboutthehouseeveryeveningforthelastmonth，andfoundnotraceoffootstepsinthemorning。"

"Rakesareneithercostlynordifficulttohandle，"remarkedthedaughterofGermany。

"Butthedogs？"criedDumay。

"Lovershavephiltersevenfordogs，"answeredMadameMignon。

"Ifyouareright，myhonorislost！Imayaswellblowmybrainsout，"exclaimedDumay。

"Whyso，Dumay？"saidtheblindwoman。

"Ah，madame，Icouldnevermeetmycolonel’seyeifhedidnotfindhisdaughter——nowhisonlydaughter——aspureandvirtuousasshewaswhenhesaidtomeonthevessel，’Letnofearofthescaffoldhinderyou，Dumay，ifthehonorofmyModesteisatstake。’"

"Ah！Irecognizeyouboth，"saidMadameMignoninavoiceofstrongemotion。

"I’llwagermysalvationthatModesteisaspureasshewasinhercradle，"exclaimedMadameDumay。

"Well，Ishallmakecertainofit，"repliedherhusband，"ifMadamelaComtessewillallowmetoemploycertainmeans;foroldtroopersunderstandstrategy。"

"Iwillallowyoutodoanythingthatshallenlightenus，provideditdoesnoinjurytomylastchild。"

"Whatareyougoingtodo，Jean？"askedMadameDumay;"howcanyoudiscoverayounggirl’ssecretifshemeanstohideit？"

"Obeyme，all！"criedthelieutenant，"Ishallneedeveryoneofyou。"

Ifthisrapidsketchwereclearlydevelopeditwouldgiveawholepictureofmannersandcustomsinwhichmanyafamilycouldrecognizetheeventsoftheirownhistory;butitmustsufficeasitistoexplaintheimportanceofthefewdetailsheretoforegivenaboutpersonsandthingsonthememorableeveningwhentheoldsoldierhadmadereadyhisplotagainsttheyounggirl，intendingtowrenchfromtherecessesofherheartthesecretofaloveandaloverseenonlybyablindmother。

CHAPTERV

THEPROBLEMSTILLUNSOLVED

Anhourwentbyinsolemnstillnessbrokenonlybythecabalisticphrasesofthewhist—players:"Spades！""Trumped！""Cut！""Howarehonors？""Twotofour。""Whosedeal？"——phraseswhichrepresentinthesedaysthehigheremotionsoftheEuropeanaristocracy。Modestecontinuedtowork，withoutseemingtobesurprisedathermother’ssilence。MadameMignon’shandkerchiefslippedfromherlaptothefloor;Butschaprecipitatedhimselfuponit，pickeditup，andashereturneditwhisperedinModeste’sear，"Takecare！"Modesteraisedapairofwonderingeyes，whosepuzzledglancefilledthepoorcripplewithjoyunspeakable。"Sheisnotinlove！"hewhisperedtohimself，rubbinghishandstilltheskinwasnearlypeeledoff。AtthismomentExuperetorethroughthegardenandthehouse，plungedintothesalonlikeanavalanche，andsaidtoDumayinanaudiblewhisper，"Theyoungmanishere！"Dumaysprangforhispistolsandrushedout。

"GoodGod！supposehekillshim！"criedMadameDumay，burstingintotears。

"Whatisthematter？"askedModeste，lookinginnocentlyatherfriendsandnotbetrayingtheslightestfear。

"Itisallaboutayoungmanwhoishangingroundthehouse，"criedMadameLatournelle。

"Well！"saidModeste，"whyshouldDumaykillhim？"

"Sanctasimplicita！"ejaculatedButscha，lookingathismasterasproudlyasAlexanderismadetocontemplateBabyloninLebrun’sgreatpicture。

"Whereareyougoing，Modeste？"askedthemotherasherdaughterrosetoleavetheroom。

"Togetreadyforyourbedtime，mamma，"answeredModeste，inavoiceaspureasthetonesofaninstrument。

"Youhaven’tpaidyourexpenses，"saidthedwarftoDumaywhenhereturned。

"ModesteisaspureastheVirginonouraltar，"criedMadameLatournelle。

"GoodGod！suchexcitementswearmeout，"saidDumay;"andyetI’mastrongman。"

"MayIlosethattwenty—fivesousifIhavetheslightestideawhatyouareabout，"remarkedGobenheim。"Youseemtometobecrazy。"

"Andyetitisallaboutatreasure，"saidButscha，standingontiptoetowhisperinGobenheim’sear。

"Dumay，IamsorrytosaythatIamstillalmostcertainofwhatI

toldyou，"persistedMadameMignon。

"Theburdenofproofisnowonyou，madame，"saidDumay，calmly;"itisforyoutoprovethatwearemistaken。"

DiscoveringthatthematterinquestionwasonlyModeste’shonor，Gobenheimtookhishat，madehisbow，andwalkedoff，carryinghistensouswithhim，——therebeingevidentlynohopeofanotherrubber。

"Exupere，andyoutoo，Butscha，mayleaveus，"saidMadameLatournelle。"GobacktoHavre;youwillgetthereintimeforthelastpieceatthetheatre。I’llpayforyourtickets。"

WhenthefourfriendswerealonewithMadameMignon，MadameLatournelle，afterlookingatDumay，whobeingaBretonunderstoodthemother’sobstinacy，andatherhusbandwhowasfingeringthecards，feltherselfauthorizedtospeakup。

"MadameMignon，comenow，telluswhatdecisivethinghasstruckyourmind。"

"Ah，mygoodfriend，ifyouwereamusicianyouwouldhaveheard，asI

have，thelanguageoflovethatModestespeaks。"

ThepianoofthedemoisellesMignonwasamongthefewarticlesoffurniturewhichhadbeenmovedfromthetown—housetotheChalet。

Modesteoftenconjuredawayhertroublesbypractising，withoutamaster。Bornamusician，sheplayedtoenlivenhermother。Shesangbynature，andlovedtheGermanairswhichhermothertaughther。Fromtheselessonsandtheseattemptsatself—instructioncameaphenomenonnotuncommontonatureswithamusicalvocation;Modestecomposed，asfarasapersonignorantofthelawsofharmonycanbesaidtocompose，tenderlittlelyricmelodies。Melodyistomusicwhatimageryandsentimentaretopoetry，aflowerthatblossomsspontaneously。

Consequently，nationshavehadmelodiesbeforeharmony，——botanycomeslaterthantheflower。Inlikemanner，Modeste，whoknewnothingofthepainter’sartexceptwhatshehadseenhersisterdointhewayofwater—color，wouldhavestoodsubduedandfascinatedbeforethepicturesofRaphael，Titian，Rubens，Murillo，Rembrandt，AlbertDurer，Holbein，——inotherwords，beforethegreatidealsofmanylands。

Lately，foratleastamonth，Modestehadwarbledthesongsofnightingales，musicalrhapsodieswhosepoetryandmeaninghadrousedtheattentionofhermother，alreadysurprisedbyhersuddeneagernessforcompositionandherfancyforputtingairsintocertainverses。

"Ifyoursuspicionshavenootherfoundation，"saidLatournelletoMadameMignon，"Ipityyoursusceptibilities。"

"WhenaBretongirlsings，"saidDumaygloomily，"theloverisnotfaroff。"

"IwillletyouhearModestewhensheisimprovising，"saidthemother，"andyoushalljudgeforyourselves——"

"Poorgirl！"saidMadameDumay，"Ifsheonlyknewouranxietyshewouldbedeeplydistressed;shewouldtellusthetruth，——especiallyifshethoughtitwouldsaveDumay。"

"Myfriends，Iwillquestionmydaughterto—morrow，"saidMadameMignon;"perhapsIshallobtainmorebytendernessthanyouhavediscoveredbytrickery。"

Wasthecomedyofthe"FillemalGardee"beingplayedhere，——asitiseverywhereandforever，——underthenosesofthesefaithfulspies，thesehonestBartholos，thesePyreneanhounds，withouttheirbeingabletoferretout，detect，norevensurmisethelover，thelove—

affair，orthesmokeofthefire？Atanyrateitwascertainlynottheresultofastrugglebetweenthejailersandtheprisoner，betweenthedespotismofadungeonandthelibertyofavictim，——itwassimplythenever—endingrepetitionofthefirstsceneplayedbymanwhenthecurtainoftheCreationrose;itwasEveinParadise。

Andnow，whichofthetwo，themotherorthewatch—dog，hadtherightofit？

NoneofthepersonswhowereaboutModestecouldunderstandthatmaidenheart——forthesoulandthefacewehavedescribedwereinharmony。Thegirlhadtransportedherexistenceintoanotherworld，asmuchdeniedanddisbelievedininthesedaysofoursasthenewworldofChristopherColumbusinthesixteenthcentury。Happily，shekeptherowncounsel，ortheywouldhavethoughthercrazy。Butfirstwemustexplaintheinfluenceofthepastuponhernature。

Twoeventshadformedthesoulanddevelopedthemindofthisyounggirl。MonsieurandMadameMignon，warnedbythefatethatovertookBettina，hadresolved，justbeforethefailure，tomarryModeste。Theychosethesonofarichbanker，formerlyofHamburg，butestablishedinHavresince1815，——aman，moreover，whowasunderobligationstothem。Theyoungman，whosenamewasFrancoisAlthor，thedandyofHavre，blessedwithacertainvulgarbeautyinwhichthemiddleclassesdelight，well—made，well—fleshed，andwithafinecomplexion，abandonedhisbetrothedsohastilyonthedayofherfather’sfailurethatneitherModestenorhermothernoreitheroftheDumayshadseenhimsince。LatournelleventuredaquestiononthesubjecttoJacobAlthor，thefather;butheonlyshruggedhisshouldersandreplied，"I

reallydon’tknowwhatyoumean。"

Thisanswer，toldtoModestetogivehersomeexperienceoflife，wasalessonwhichshelearnedallthemorereadilybecauseLatournelleandDumaymademanyandlongcommentsonthecowardlydesertion。ThedaughtersofCharlesMignon，likespoiledchildren，hadalltheirwishesgratified;theyrodeonhorseback，kepttheirownhorsesandgrooms，andotherwiseenjoyedaperilousliberty。Seeingherselfinpossessionofanofficiallover，ModestehadallowedFrancisquetokissherhand，andtakeherbythewaisttomounther。Sheacceptedhisflowersandallthelittleproofsoftendernesswithwhichitispropertosurroundtheladyofourchoice;sheevenworkedhimapurse，believinginsuchties，——strongindeedtonoblesouls，butcobwebsfortheGobenheims，theVilquins，andtheAlthors。

SometimeduringthespringwhichfollowedtheremovalofMadameMignonandherdaughtertotheChalet，FrancisqueAlthorcametodinewiththeVilquins。HappeningtoseeModesteoverthewallatthefootofthelawn，heturnedawayhishead。SixweekslaterhemarriedtheeldestMademoiselleVilquin。InthiswayModeste，young，beautiful，andofhighbirth，learnedthelessonthatforthreewholemonthsofherengagementshehadbeennothingmorethanMademoiselleMillion。

Herpoverty，wellknowntoall，becameasentineldefendingtheapproachestotheChaletfullyaswellastheprudenceoftheLatournellesorthevigilanceofDumay。ThetalkofthetownranforatimeonMademoiselleMignon’spositiononlytoinsulther。

"Poorgirl！whatwillbecomeofher？——anoldmaid，ofcourse。"

"Whatafate！tohavehadtheworldatherfeet;tohavehadthechancetomarryFrancisqueAlthor，——andnow，nobodywillingtotakeher！"

"Afteralifeofluxury，tocomedowntosuchpoverty——"

AndtheseinsultswerenotutteredinsecretorlefttoModeste’simagination;sheheardthemspokenmorethanoncebytheyoungmenandtheyoungwomenofHavreastheywalkedtoIngouville，and，knowingthatMadameMignonandherdaughterlivedattheChalet，talkedofthemastheypassedthehouse。FriendsoftheVilquinsexpressedsurprisethatthemotheranddaughterwerewillingtoliveonamongthescenesoftheirformersplendor。FromheropenwindowbehindtheclosedblindsModestesometimesheardsuchinsolenceasthis:——

"IamsureIcan’tthinkhowtheycanlivethere，"someonewouldsayashepacedthevillalawn，——perhapstoassistVilquiningettingridofhistenant。

"Whatdoyousupposetheyliveon？theyhaven’tanymeansofearningmoney。"

"Iamtoldtheoldwomanhasgoneblind。"

"IsMademoiselleMignonstillpretty？Dearme，howdashingsheusedtobe！Well，shehasn’tanyhorsesnow。"

Mostyounggirlsonhearingthesespitefulandsillyspeeches，bornofanenvythatnowrushed，peevishanddrivelling，toavengethepast，wouldhavefeltthebloodmounttotheirforeheads;otherswouldhavewept;somewouldhaveundergonespasmsofanger;butModestesmiled，aswesmileatthetheatrewhilewatchingtheactors。Herpridecouldnotdescendsolowasthelevelofsuchspeeches。

Theothereventwasmoreseriousthanthesemercenarymeannesses。

BettinaCarolinediedinthearmsofheryoungersister，whohadnursedherwiththedevotionofgirlhood，andthecuriosityofanuntaintedimagination。Inthesilenceoflongnightsthesistersexchangedmanyaconfidence。WithwhatdramaticinterestwaspoorBettinainvestedintheeyesoftheinnocentModeste？Bettinaknewlovethroughsorrowonly，andshewasdyingofit。Amongyounggirlseveryman，scoundrelthoughhebe，isstillalover。Passionistheonethingabsolutelyrealinthethingsoflife，anditinsistsonitssupremacy。Charlesd’Estourny，gambler，criminal，anddebauchee，remainedinthememoryofthesisters，theelegantParisianofthefetesofHavre，theadmiredofthewomenkind。BettinabelievedshehadcarriedhimofffromthecoquettishMadameVilquin，andtoModestehewashersister’shappylover。Suchadorationinyounggirlsisstrongerthanallsocialcondemnations。ToBettina’sthinking，justicehadbeendeceived;ifnot，howcouldithavesentencedamanwhohadlovedherforsixmonths？——lovedhertodistractioninthehiddenretreattowhichhehadtakenher，——thathemight，wemayadd，beatlibertytogohisownway。Thusthedyinggirlinoculatedhersisterwithlove。Togethertheytalkedofthegreatdramawhichimaginationenhances;andBettinacarriedwithhertothegravehersister’signorance，leavingher，ifnotinformed，atleastthirstingforinformation。

Nevertheless，remorsehadsetitsfangstoosharplyinBettina’sheartnottoforcehertowarnhersister。InthemidstofherownconfessionsshehadpreacheddutyandimplicitobediencetoModeste。

Ontheeveningofherdeathsheimploredhertorememberthetearsthatsoakedherpillow，andnottoimitateaconductwhichevensufferingcouldnotexpiate。Bettinaaccusedherselfofbringingacurseuponthefamily，anddiedindespairatbeingunabletoobtainherfather’spardon。Notwithstandingtheconsolationswhichtheministersofreligion，touchedbyherrepentance，freelygaveher，shecriedinheartrendingtoneswithherlatestbreath:"Ohfather！

father！""Nevergiveyourheartwithoutyourhand，"shesaidtoModesteanhourbeforeshedied;"andaboveall，acceptnoattentionsfromanymanwithouttellingeverythingtopapaandmamma。"

Thesewords，soearnestintheirpracticalmeaning，utteredinthehourofdeath，hadmoreeffectuponModestethanifBettinahadexactedasolemnoath。Thedyinggirl，farseeingasprophet，drewfrombeneathherpillowaringwhichshehadsentbyherfaithfulmaid，FrancoiseCochet，tobeengravedinHavrewiththesewords，"ThinkofBettina，1827，"andplaceditonhersister’sfinger，begginghertokeepitthereuntilshemarried。Thustherehadbeenbetweenthesetwoyounggirlsastrangecomminglingofbitterremorseandtheartlessvisionsofafleetingspring—timetooearlyblightedbythekeennorthwindofdesertion;yetalltheirtears，regretsandmemorieswerealwayssubordinatetotheirhorrorofevil。

Nevertheless，thisdramaofapoorseducedsisterreturningtodieunderaroofofelegantpoverty，thefailureofherfather，thebasenessofherbetrothed，theblindnessofhermothercausedbygrief，hadtouchedthesurfaceonlyofModeste’slife，bywhichalonetheDumaysandtheLatournellesjudgedher;fornodevotionoffriendscantaketheplaceofamother’seye。ThemonotonouslifeinthedaintylittleChalet，surroundedbythechoiceflowerswhichDumaycultivated;thefamilycustoms，asregularasclock—work，theprovincialdecorum，thegamesatwhistwhilethemotherknittedandthedaughtersewed，thesilence，brokenonlybytheroaroftheseaintheequinoctialstorms，——allthismonastictranquillitydidinfacthideaninnerandtumultuouslife，thelifeofideas，thelifeofthespiritualbeing。Wesometimeswonderhowitispossibleforyounggirlstodowrong;butsuchasdosohavenoblindmothertosendherplummetlineofintuitiontothedepthsofthesubterraneanfanciesofavirginheart。TheDumayssleptwhenModesteopenedherwindow，asitweretowatchforthepassingofaman，——themanofherdreams，theexpectedknightwhowastomountherbehindhimandrideawayunderthefireofDumay’spistols。

Duringthedepressioncausedbyhersister’sdeathModesteflungherselfintothepracticeofreading，untilhermindbecamesoddeninit。Borntotheuseoftwolanguages，shecouldspeakandreadGermanquiteaswellasFrench;shehadalso，togetherwithhersister，learnedEnglishfromMadameDumay。Beingverylittleoverlookedinthematterofreadingbythepeopleabouther，whohadnoliteraryknowledge，Modestefedhersoulonthemodernmasterpiecesofthreeliteratures，English，French，andGerman。LordByron，Goethe，Schiller，WalterScott，Hugo，Lamartine，Crabbe，Moore，thegreatworksofthe17thand18thcenturies，history，drama，andfiction，fromAstraeatoManonLescaut，fromMontaigne’sEssaystoDiderot，fromtheFabliauxtotheNouvelleHeloise，——inshort，thethoughtofthreelandscrowdedwithconfusedimagesthatgirlishhead，augustinitscoldguilelessness，itsnativechastity，butfromwhichtheresprangfull—armed，brilliant，sincere，andstrong，anoverwhelmingadmirationforgenius。ToModesteanewbookwasanevent;amasterpiecethatwouldhavehorrifiedMadameLatournellemadeherhappy，——equallyunhappyifthegreatworkdidnotplayhavocwithherheart。Alyricinstinctbubbledinthatgirlishsoul，sofullofthebeautifulillusionsofitsyouth。Butofthisradiantexistencenotagleamreachedthesurfaceofdailylife;itescapedthekenofDumayandhiswifeandtheLatournelles;theearsoftheblindmotheralonecaughtthecracklingofitsflame。

TheprofounddisdainwhichModestenowconceivedforordinarymengavetoherfacealookofpride，aninexpressibleuntamedshyness，whichtemperedherTeutonicsimplicity，andaccordedwellwithapeculiarityofherhead。Thehairgrowinginapointabovetheforeheadseemedthecontinuationofaslightlinewhichthoughthadalreadyfurrowedbetweentheeyebrows，andmadetheexpressionofuntameabilityperhapsashadetoostrong。Thevoiceofthischarmingchild，whomherfather，delightinginherwit，waswonttocallhis"littleproverbofSolomon，"hadacquiredapreciousflexibilityoforganthroughthepracticeofthreelanguages。Thisadvantagewasstillfurtherenhancedbyanaturalbell—liketonebothsweetandfresh，whichtouchedtheheartasdelightfullyasitdidtheear。Ifthemothercouldnolongerseethesignsofanobledestinyuponherdaughter’sbrow，shecouldstudythetransitionsofhersoul’sdevelopmentintheaccentsofthatvoiceattunedtolove。

CHAPTERVI

AMAIDEN’SFIRSTROMANCE

TothisperiodofModeste’seagerrageforreadingsucceededtheexerciseofastrangefacultygiventovigorousimaginations，——thepower，namely，ofmakingherselfanactorinadream—existence;ofrepresentingtoherownmindthethingsdesired，withsovividaconceptionthattheyseemedactuallytoattainreality;inshort，toenjoybythought，——toliveoutheryearswithinhermind;tomarry;togrowold;toattendherownfunerallikeCharlesV。;toplaywithinherselfthecomedyoflifeand，ifneedbe，thatofdeath。Modestewasindeedplaying，butallalone，thecomedyofLove。Shefanciedherselfadoredtothesummitofherwishesinmanyanimaginedphaseofsociallife。Sometimesastheheroineofadarkromance，shelovedtheexecutioner，orthewretchwhoendedherdaysuponthescaffold，or，likehersister，someParisianyouthwithoutapenny，whosestruggleswereallbeneathagarret—roof。SometimesshewasNinon，scorningmenamidcontinualfetes;orsomeapplaudedactress，orgayadventuress，exhaustinginherownbehalftheluckofGilBlas，orthetriumphsofPasta，Malibran，andFlorine。Then，wearyofthehorrorsandexcitements，shereturnedtoactuallife。Shemarriedanotary，sheatetheplainbrownbreadofhonesteverydaylife，shesawherselfaMadameLatournelle;sheacceptedapainfulexistence，sheboreallthetrialsofastrugglewithfortune。Afterthatshewentbacktotheromances:shewaslovedforherbeauty;asonofapeerofFrance，aneccentric，artisticyoungman，divinedherheart，recognizedthestarwhichthegeniusofaDeStaelhadplantedonherbrow。Herfatherreturned，possessingmillions。Withhispermission，sheputhervariousloverstocertaintests（alwayscarefullyguardingherownindependence）;sheownedamagnificentestateandcastle，servants，horses，carriages，thechoicestofeverythingthatluxurycouldbestow，andkepthersuitorsuncertainuntilshewasfortyyearsold，atwhichageshemadeherchoice。

ThiseditionoftheArabianNightsinasinglecopylastednearlyayear，andtaughtModestethesenseofsatietythroughthought。Sheheldherlifetooofteninherhand，shesaidtoherselfphilosophicallyandwithtoorealabitterness，tooseriously，andtoooften，"Well，whatisit，afterall？"nottohaveplungedtoherwaistinthedeepdisgustwhichallmenofgeniusfeelwhentheytrytocompletebyintensetoiltheworktowhichtheyhavedevotedthemselves。HeryouthandherrichnaturealonekeptModesteatthisperiodofherlifefromseekingtoenteracloister。Butthissenseofsatietycasther，saturatedasshestillwaswithCatholicspirituality，intotheloveofGood，theinfiniteofheaven。Sheconceivedofcharity，servicetoothers，asthetrueoccupationoflife;butshecoweredinthegloomydrearinessoffindinginitnofoodforthefancythatlaycrouchinginherheartlikeaninsectatthebottomofacalyx。Meanwhileshesattranquillysewinggarmentsforthechildrenofthepoor，andlisteningabstractedlytothegrumblingsofMonsieurLatournellewhenDumayheldthethirteenthcardordrewouthislasttrump。

HerreligiousfaithdroveModesteforatimeintoasingulartrackofthought。Sheimaginedthatifshebecamesinless（speakingecclesiastically）shewouldattaintosuchaconditionofsanctitythatGodwouldhearherandaccomplishherdesires。"Faith，"shethought，"canmovemountains;Christhassaidso。TheSaviourledhisapostleuponthewatersofthelakeTiberias;andI，allIaskofGodisahusbandtoloveme;thatiseasierthanwalkinguponthesea。"

ShefastedthroughthenextLent，anddidnotcommitasinglesin;

thenshesaidtoherselfthatonacertaindaycomingoutofchurchsheshouldmeetahandsomeyoungmanwhowasworthyofher，whomhermotherwouldaccept，andwhowouldfallmadlyinlovewithher。Whenthedaycameonwhichshehad，asitwere，summonedGodtosendheranangel，shewaspersistentlyfollowedbyaratherdisgustingbeggar;

moreover，itrainedheavily，andnotasingleyoungmanwasinthestreets。OnanotheroccasionshewenttowalkonthejettytoseetheEnglishtravellersland;buteachEnglishmanhadanEnglishwoman，nearlyashandsomeasModesteherself，whosawnooneatallresemblingawanderingChildeHarold。Tearsovercameher，asshesatdownlikeMariusontheruinsofherimagination。ButonthedaywhenshesubpoenaedGodforthethirdtimeshefirmlybelievedthattheElectofherdreamswaswithinthechurch，hiding，perhapsoutofdelicacy，behindoneofthepillars，roundallofwhichshedraggedMadameLatournelleonatourofinspection。Afterthisfailure，shedeposedtheDeityfromomnipotence。Manywereherconversationswiththeimaginarylover，forwhomsheinventedquestionsandanswers，bestowinguponhimagreatdealofwitandintelligence。

ThehighambitionsofherhearthiddenwithintheseromancesweretherealexplanationoftheprudentconductwhichthegoodpeoplewhowatchedoverModestesomuchadmired;theymighthavebroughtheranynumberofyoungAlthorsorVilquins，andshewouldneverhavestoopedtosuchclowns。Shewanted，purelyandsimply，amanofgenius，——

talentshecaredlittlefor;justasalawyerisofnoaccounttoagirlwhoaimsforanambassador。Heronlydesireforwealthwastocastitatthefeetofheridol。Indeed，thegoldenbackgroundofthesevisionswasfarlessrichthanthetreasuryofherownheart，filledwithwomanlydelicacy;foritsdominantdesirewastomakesomeTasso，someMilton，aJean—JacquesRousseau，aMurat，aChristopherColumbushappy。

Commonplacemiseriesdidnotseriouslytouchthisyouthfulsoul，wholongedtoextinguishthefiresofthemartyrsignoredandrejectedintheirownday。SometimessheimaginedbalmsofGilead，soothingmelodieswhichmighthaveallayedthesavagemisanthropyofRousseau。

OrshefanciedherselfthewifeofLordByron;guessingintuitivelyhiscontemptforthereal，shemadeherselfasfantasticasthepoetryofManfred，andprovidedforhisscepticismbymakinghimaCatholic。

ModesteattributedMoliere’smelancholytothewomenoftheseventeenthcentury。"Whyistherenotsomeonewoman，"sheaskedherself，"loving，beautiful，andrich，readytostandbesideeachmanofgeniusandbehisslave，likeLara，themysteriouspage？"Shehad，asthereaderperceives，fullyunderstood"ilpianto，"whichtheEnglishpoetchantedbythemouthofhisGulmare。ModestegreatlyadmiredthebehavioroftheyoungEnglishwomanwhoofferedherselftoCrebillon，theson，whomarriedher。ThestoryofSterneandElizaDraperwasherlifeandherhappinessforseveralmonths。Shemadeherselfideallytheheroineofalikeromance，andmanyatimesherehearsedinimaginationthesublimeroleofEliza。Thesensibilitysocharminglyexpressedinthatdelightfulcorrespondencefilledhereyeswithtearswhich，itissaid，werelackinginthoseofthewittiestofEnglishwriters。