第5章

theyhavemanydefects。Somearefrivolous，heedless，foppish，ambitious，dissipated;and，believeme，nomatterhowimposinginnocencemaybe，howchivalrousapoetis，youwillmeetwithmanyadegeneratetroubadourinParisreadytocultivateyouraffectiononlytobetrayit。Bysuchamanyourletterwouldbeinterpretedotherwisethanitisbyme。Hewouldseeathoughtthatisnotinit，whichyou，inyourinnocence，havenotsuspected。Thereareasmanynaturesastherearewriters。Iamdeeplyflatteredthatyouhavejudgedmecapableofunderstandingyou;buthadyou，perchance，fallenuponahypocrite，ascoffer，onewhosebooksmaybemelancholybutwhoselifeisaperpetualcarnival，youwouldhavefoundastheresultofyourgenerousimprudenceanevil—mindedman，thefrequenterofgreen—rooms，perhapsaheroofsomegayresort。Inthebowerofclematiswhereyoudreamofpoets，canyousmelltheodorofthecigarwhichdrivesallpoetryfromthemanuscript？

Butletuslookstillfurther。Howcouldthedreamy，solitarylifeyoulead，doubtlessbythesea—shore，interestapoet，whosemissionitistoimagineall，andtopaintall？Whatrealitycanequalimagination？TheyounggirlsofthepoetsaresoidealthatnolivingdaughterofEvecancompetewiththem。Andnowtellme，whatwillyougain，——you，ayounggirl，broughtuptobethevirtuousmotherofafamily，——ifyoulearntocomprehendtheterribleagitationsofapoet’slifeinthisdreadfulcapital，whichmaybedefinedbyonesentence，——thehellinwhichmenlove。

Ifthedesiretobrightenthemonotonousexistenceofayounggirlthirstingforknowledgehasledyoutotakeyourpeninhandandwritetome，hasnotthestepitselftheappearanceofdegradation？WhatmeaningamItogivetoyourletter？Areyouoneofarejectedcaste，anddoyouseekafriendfarawayfromyou？

Or，areyouafflictedwithpersonalugliness，yetfeelingwithinyouanoblesoulwhichcangiveandreceiveaconfidence？Alas，alas，theconclusiontobedrawnisgrievous。Youhavesaidtoomuch，ortoolittle;youhavegonetoofar，ornotfarenough。

Eitherletusdropthiscorrespondence，or，ifyoucontinueit，tellmemorethanintheletteryouhavenowwrittenme。

But，mademoiselle，ifyouareyoung，ifyouarebeautiful，ifyouhaveahome，afamily，ifinyourheartyouhavethepreciousointment，thespikenard，topourout，asdidMagdaleneonthefeetofJesus，letyourselfbewonbyamanworthyofyou;becomewhateverypureyounggirlshouldbe，——agoodwoman，thevirtuousmotherofafamily。Apoetisthesaddestconquestthatagirlcanmake;heisfullofvanity，fullofanglesthatwillsharplywoundawoman’sproperpride，andkillatendernesswhichhasnoexperienceoflife。Thewifeofapoetshouldlovehimlongbeforeshemarrieshim;shemusttrainherselftothecharityofangels，totheirforbearance，toallthevirtuesofmotherhood。Suchqualities，mademoiselle，arebutgermsinayounggirl。

Hearthewholetruth，——doInotoweittoyouinreturnforyourintoxicatingflattery？Ifitisagloriousthingtomarryagreatrenown，rememberalsothatyoumustsoondiscoverasuperiormantobe，inallthatmakesaman，likeothermen。Hethereforepoorlyrealizesthehopesthatattachtohimasaphoenix。Hebecomeslikeawomanwhosebeautyisover—praised，andofwhomwesay:"Ithoughtherfarmorelovely。"ShehasnotwarrantedtheportraitpaintedbythefairytowhomIoweyourletter，——thefairywhosenameisImagination。

Believeme，thequalitiesofthemindliveandthriveonlyinasphereinvisible，notindailylife;thewifeofapoetbearstheburden;sheseesthejewelsmanufactured，butsheneverwearsthem。Ifthegloryofthepositionfascinatesyou，hearmenowwhenItellyouthatitspleasuresaresoonatanend。Youwillsufferwhenyoufindsomanyasperitiesinanaturewhich，fromadistance，youthoughtequable，andsuchcoldnessattheshiningsummit。Moreover，aswomenneversettheirfeetwithintheworldofrealdifficulties，theyceasetoappreciatewhattheyonceadmiredassoonastheythinktheyseetheinnermechanismofit。

Iclosewithalastthought，inwhichthereisnodisguisedentreaty;itisthecounselofafriend。Theexchangeofsoulscantakeplaceonlybetweenpersonswhoareresolvedtohidenothingfromeachother。Wouldyoushowyourselfforsuchasyouaretoanunknownman？Idarenotfollowouttheconsequencesofthatidea。

Deigntoaccept，mademoiselle，thehomagewhichweowetoallwomen，eventhosewhoaredisguisedandmasked。

Sothiswasthelettershehadwornbetweenherfleshandhercorsetaboveherpalpitatingheartthroughoutonewholeday！Forthisshehadpostponedthereadinguntilthemidnighthourwhenthehouseholdslept，waitingforthesolemnsilencewiththeeageranxietyofanimaginationonfire！Forthisshehadblessedthepoetbyanticipation，readingathousandletterseresheopenedone，——fancyingallthings，exceptthisdropofcoldwaterfallinguponthevaporousformsofherillusion，anddissolvingthemasprussicaciddissolveslife。Whatcouldshedobuthideherselfinherbed，blowouthercandle，buryherfaceinthesheetsandweep？

AllthishappenedduringthefirstdaysofJuly。ButModestepresentlygotup，walkedacrosstheroomandopenedthewindow。Shewantedair。

Thefragranceoftheflowerscametoherwiththepeculiarfreshnessoftheodorsofthenight。Thesea，lightedbythemoon，sparkledlikeamirror。Anightingalewassinginginatree。"Ah，thereisthepoet！"thoughtModeste，whoseangersubsidedatonce。Bitterreflectionschasedeachotherthroughhermind。Shewascuttothequick;shewishedtore—readtheletter，andlitacandle;shestudiedthesentencessocarefullystudiedwhenwritten;andendedbyhearingthewheezingvoiceoftheouterworld。

"Heisright，andIamwrong，"shesaidtoherself。"ButwhocouldeverbelievethatunderthestarrymantleofapoetIshouldfindnothingbutoneofMoliere’soldmen？"

Whenawomanoryounggirlistakenintheact，"flagrantedelicto，"

sheconceivesadeadlyhatredtothewitness，theauthor，ortheobjectofherfault。Andsothetrue，thesingle—minded，theuntamedanduntamableModesteconceivedwithinhersoulanunquenchabledesiretogetthebetterofthatrighteousspirit，todrivehimintosomefatalinconsistency，andsoreturnhimblowforblow。Thisgirl，thischild，aswemaycallher，sopure，whoseheadalonehadbeenmisguided，——partlybyherreading，partlybyhersister’ssorrows，andmoreperhapsbythedangerousmeditationsofhersolitarylife，——wassuddenlycaughtbyarayofsunshineflickeringacrossherface。ShehadbeenstandingforthreehoursontheshoresofthevastseaofDoubt。Nightsliketheseareneverforgotten。ModestewalkedstraighttoherlittleChinesetable，agiftfromherfather，andwrotealetterdictatedbytheinfernalspiritofvengeancewhichpalpitatesintheheartsofyounggirls。

CHAPTERVIII

BLADETOBLADE

ToMonsieurdeCanalis:

Monsieur，——Youarecertainlyagreatpoet，andyouaresomethingmore，——anhonestman。Aftershowingsuchloyalfranknesstoayounggirlwhowassteppingtothevergeofanabyss，haveyouenoughlefttoanswerwithouthypocrisyorevasionthefollowingquestion？

WouldyouhavewrittentheletterInowholdinanswertomine，——

wouldyourideas，yourlanguagehavebeenthesame，——hadsomeonewhisperedinyourear（whatmayprovetrue），MademoiselleO。

d’EsteM。hassixmillionsanddoesintendtohaveadunceforamaster？

Admitthesuppositionforamoment。Bewithmewhatyouarewithyourself;fearnothing。Iamwiserthanmytwentyyears;nothingthatisfrankcanhurtyouinmymind。WhenIhavereadyourconfidence，ifyoudeigntomakeit，youshallreceivefrommeananswertoyourfirstletter。

Havingadmiredyourtalent，oftensosublime，permitmetodohomagetoyourdelicacyandyourintegrity，whichforcemetoremainalways，Yourhumbleservant，O。d’EsteM。

WhenErnestdeLaBrierehadheldthisletterinhishandsforsomelittletimehewenttowalkalongtheboulevards，tossedinmindlikeatinyvesselbyatempestwhenthewindisblowingfromallpointsofthecompass。Mostyoungmen，speciallytrueParisians，wouldhavesettledthematterinasinglephrase，"Thegirlisalittlehussy。"

Butforayouthwhosesoulwasnobleandtrue，thisattempttoputhim，asitwere，uponhisoath，thisappealtotruth，hadthepowertoawakenthethreejudgeshiddenintheconscienceofeveryman。Honor，Truth，andJustice，gettingontheirfeet，criedoutintheirseveralwaysenergetically。

"Ah，mydearErnest，"saidTruth，"youneverwouldhavereadthatlessontoarichheiress。No，myboy;youwouldhavegoneinhothastetoHavretofindoutifthegirlwerehandsome，andyouwouldhavebeenveryunhappyindeedatherpreferenceforgenius;andifyoucouldhavetrippedupyourfriendandsupplantedhiminheraffections，Mademoiselled’Estewouldhavebeenadivinity。"

"What？"criedJustice，"areyounotalwaysbemoaningyourselves，youpennilessmenofwitandcapacity，thatrichgirlsmarrybeingswhomyouwouldn’ttakeasyourservants？Yourailagainstthematerialismofthecenturywhichhastenstojoinwealthtowealth，andnevermarriessomefineyoungmanwithbrainsandnomoneytoarichgirl。

Whatanoutcryyoumakeaboutit;andyethereisayoungwomanwhorevoltsagainstthatveryspiritoftheage，andbehold！thepoetreplieswithablowatherheart！"

"Richorpoor，youngorold，uglyorhandsome，thegirlisright;shehassenseandjudgment，shehastrippedyouoverintothesloughofself—interestandletsyouknowit，"criedHonor。"Shedeservesananswer，asincereandloyalandfrankanswer，and，aboveall，thehonestexpressionofyourthought。Examineyourself！soundyourheartandpurgeitofitsmeannesses。WhatwouldMoliere’sAlcestesay？"

AndLaBriere，havingstartedfromtheboulevardPoissoniere，walkedsoslowly，absorbedinthesereflections，thathewasmorethananhourinreachingtheboulevarddesCapucines。Thenhefollowedthequays，whichledhimtotheCourdesComptes，situatedinthattimeclosetotheSaint—Chapelle。Insteadofbeginningontheaccountsasheshouldhavedone，heremainedatthemercyofhisperplexities。

"Onethingisevident，"hesaidtohimself;"shehasn’tsixmillions;

butthat’snotthepoint——"

Sixdayslater，Modestereceivedthefollowingletter:

Mademoiselle，——YouarenotaD’Este。Thenameisafeignedonetoconcealyourown。DoIowetherevelationswhichyousolicittoapersonwhoisuntruthfulaboutherself？Questionforquestion:Areyouofanillustriousfamily？oranoblefamily？oramiddle—classfamily？Undoubtedlyethicsandmoralitycannotchange;theyareone:butobligationsvaryinthedifferentstatesoflife。Justasthesunlightsupascenediverselyandproducesdifferenceswhichweadmire，somoralityconformssocialdutytorank，toposition。

Thepeccadilloofasoldierisacrimeinageneral，andvice—

versa。Observancesarenotalikeinallcases。Theyarenotthesameforthegleanerinthefield，forthegirlwhosewsatfifteensousaday，forthedaughterofapettyshopkeeper，fortheyoungbourgoise，forthechildofarichmerchant，fortheheiressofanoblefamily，foradaughterofthehouseofEste。A

kingmustnotstooptopickupapieceofgold，butalaboreroughttoretracehisstepstofindtensous;thoughbothareequallyboundtoobeythelawsofeconomy。AdaughterofEste，whoisworthsixmillions，hastherighttowearabroad—brimmedhatandplume，toflourishherwhip，presstheflanksofherbarb，andridelikeanamazondeckedingoldlace，withalackeybehindher，intothepresenceofapoetandsay:"Ilovepoetry;andIwouldfainexpiateLeonora’scrueltytoTasso！"butadaughterofthepeoplewouldcoverherselfwithridiculebyimitatingher。Towhatclassdoyoubelong？Answersincerely，andIwillanswerthequestionyouhaveputtome。

AsIhavenotthehonorofknowingyoupersonally，andyetamboundtoyou，inameasure，bythetiesofpoeticcommunion，Iamunwillingtoofferanycommonplacecompliments。Perhapsyouhavealreadywonamaliciousvictorybythusembarrassingamakerofbooks。

Theyoungmanwascertainlynotwantinginthesortofshrewdnesswhichispermissibletoamanofhonor。Byreturncourierhereceivedananswer:——

ToMonsieurdeCanalis，——Yougrowmoreandmoresensible，mydearpoet。Myfatherisacount。Thechiefgloryofourhousewasacardinal，inthedayswhencardinalswalkedtheearthbythesideofkings。Iamthelastofourfamily，whichendsinme;butI

havethenecessaryquarteringstomakemyentryintoanycourtorchapter—houseinEurope。WearequitetheequalsoftheCanalis。

Youwillbesokindastoexcusemefromsendingyouourarms。

EndeavortoanswermeastruthfullyasIhavenowansweredyou。I

awaityourresponsetoknowifIcanthensignmyselfasIdonow，Yourservant，O。d’EsteM。

"Thelittlemischief！howsheabusesherprivileges，"criedLaBriere;

"butisn’tshefrank！"

Noyoungmancanbefouryearsprivatesecretarytoacabinetminister，andliveinParisandobservethecarryingonofmanyintrigues，withperfectimpunity;infact，thepurestsoulismoreorlessintoxicatedbytheheadyatmosphereoftheimperialcity。HappyinthethoughtthathewasnotCanalis，ouryoungsecretaryengagedaplaceinthemail—coachforHavre，afterwritingaletterinwhichheannouncedthatthepromisedanswerwouldbesentafewdayslater，——

excusingthedelayonthegroundoftheimportanceoftheconfessionandthepressureofhisdutiesattheministry。

Hetookcaretogetfromthedirector—generalofthepost—officeanotetothepostmasteratHavre，requestingsecrecyandattentiontohiswishes。ErnestwasthusenabledtoseeFrancoiseCochetwhenshecamefortheletters，andtofollowherwithoutexcitingobservation。

Guidedbyher，hereachedIngouvilleandsawModesteMignonatthewindowoftheChalet。

"Well，Francoise？"heheardtheyounggirlsay，towhichthemaidresponded，——

"Yes，mademoiselle，Ihaveone。"

Struckbythegirl’sgreatbeauty，Ernestretracedhisstepsandaskedamanonthestreetthenameoftheownerofthatmagnificentestate。

"That？"saidtheman，noddingtothevilla。

"Yes，myfriend。"

"Oh，thatbelongstoMonsieurVilquin，therichestshippingmerchantinHavre，sorichhedoesn’tknowwhatheisworth。"

"ThereisnoCardinalVilquinthatIknowofinhistory，"thoughtErnest，ashewalkedbacktoHavreforthenightmailtoParis。

NaturallyhequestionedthepostmasterabouttheVilquinfamily，andlearnedthatitpossessedanenormousfortune。MonsieurVilquinhadasonandtwodaughters，oneofwhomwasmarriedtoMonsieurAlthor，junior。PrudencekeptLaBrierefromseeminganxiousabouttheVilquins;thepostmasterwasalreadylookingathimslyly。

"Istherethereanyonestayingwiththematthepresentmoment，"heasked，"besidesthefamily？"

"Thed’Herouvillefamilyistherejustnow。TheydotalkofamarriagebetweentheyoungdukeandtheremainingMademoiselleVilquin。"

"Ha！"thoughtErnest;"therewasacelebratedCardinald’HerouvilleundertheValois，andaterriblemarshalwhomtheymadeadukeinthetimeofHenriIV。"

ErnestreturnedtoParishavingseenenoughofModestetodreamofher，andtothinkthat，whethershewererichorwhethershewerepoor，ifshehadanoblesoulhewouldliketomakeherMadamedeLaBriere;andsothinking，heresolvedtocontinuethecorrespondence。

Ah！youpoorwomenofFrance，trytoremainhiddenifyoucan;trytoweavetheleastlittleromanceaboutyourlivesinthemidstofacivilizationwhichpostsinthepublicstreetsthehourswhenthecoachesarriveanddepart;whichcountsalllettersandstampsthemtwiceover，firstwiththehourwhentheyarethrownintotheboxes，andnextwiththatoftheirdelivery;whichnumbersthehouses，printsthetaxofeverytenantonametalregisteratthedoors（afterverifyingitsparticulars），andwillsoonpossessonevastregisterofeveryinchofitsterritorydowntothesmallestparcelofland，andthemostinsignificantfeaturesofit，——agiantworkordainedbyagiant。Try，imprudentyoungladies，toescapenotonlytheeyeofthepolice，buttheincessantchatterwhichtakesplaceinacountrytownabouttheveriesttrifles，——howmanydishestheprefecthasathisdessert，howmanyslicesofmelonareleftatthedoorofsomesmallhouseholder，——whichstrainsitseartocatchthechinkofthegoldathriftymanlaysby，andspendsitseveningsincalculatingtheincomesofthevillageandthetownandthedepartment。ItwasmerechancethatenabledModestetoescapediscoverythroughErnest’sreconnoitringexpedition，——astepwhichhealreadyregretted;butwhatParisiancanallowhimselftobethedupeofalittlecountrygirl？

Incapableofbeingduped！thathorridmaximisthedissolventofallnoblesentimentsinman。

Wecanreadilyguessthestruggleoffeelingtowhichthishonestyoungfellowfellapreywhenwereadtheletterthathenowindited，inwhicheverystrokeoftheflailwhichscourgedhisconsciencewillbefoundtohaveleftitstrace。

ThisiswhatModestereadafewdayslater，asshesatbyherwindowonafinesummer’sday:——

Mademoiselle，——Withouthypocrisyorevasion，YES，ifIhadbeencertainthatyoupossessedanimmensefortuneIshouldhaveacteddifferently。Why？Ihavesearchedforthereason;hereitis。Wehavewithinusaninbornfeeling，inordinatelydevelopedbysociallife，whichdrivesustothepursuitandtothepossessionofhappiness。Mostmenconfoundhappinesswiththemeansthatleadtoit;moneyintheireyesisthechiefelementofhappiness。I

should，therefore，haveendeavoredtowinyou，promptedbythatsocialsentimentwhichhasinallagesmadewealthareligion。Atleast，IthinkIshould。Itisnottobeexpectedofamanstillyoungthathecanhavethewisdomtosubstitutesoundsenseforthepleasureofthesenses;withinsightofapreythebrutalinstinctshiddenintheheartofmandrivehimon。Insteadofthatlesson，Ishouldhavesentyoucomplimentsandflatteries。ShouldIhavekeptmyownesteeminsodoing？Idoubtit。Mademoiselle，insuchacasesuccessbringsabsolution;buthappiness？Thatisanotherthing。ShouldIhavedistrustedmywifehadIwonherinthatway？MostassuredlyIshould。Youradvanceonmewouldsoonerorlaterhavecomebetweenus。Yourhusband，howevergrandyourfancymaymakehim，wouldhaveendedbyreproachingyouforhavingabasedhim。You，yourself，mighthavecome，soonerorlater，todespisehim。Thestrongmanforgives，butthepoetwhines。Such，mademoiselle，istheanswerwhichmyhonestycompelsmetomaketoyou。

Andnow，listentome。Youhavethetriumphofforcingmetoreflectdeeply，——firstonyou，whomIdonotsufficientlyknow;

next，onmyself，ofwhomIknewtoolittle。Youhavehadthepowertostirupmanyoftheevilthoughtswhichcrouchedinmyheart，asinallhearts;butfromthemsomethinggoodandgeneroushascomeforth，andIsaluteyouwithmymostferventbenedictions，justasatseawesalutethelighthousewhichshowstherocksonwhichwewereabouttoperish。Hereismyconfession，forIwouldnotloseyouresteemnormyownforallthetreasuresofearth。

Iwishedtoknowwhoyouare。IhavejustreturnedfromHavre，whereIsawFrancoiseCochet，andfollowedhertoIngouville。Youareasbeautifulasthewomanofapoet’sdream;butIdonotknowifyouareMademoiselleVilquinconcealedunderMademoiselled’Herouville，orMademoiselled’HerouvillehiddenunderMademoiselleVilquin。Thoughallisfairinwar，Iblushedatsuchspyingandstoppedshortinmyinquiries。Youhaverousedmycuriosity;forgivemeforbeingsomewhatofawoman;itis，I

believe，theprivilegeofapoet。

NowthatIhavelaidbaremyheartandallowedyoutoreadit，youwillbelieveinthesincerityofwhatIamabouttoadd。ThoughtheglimpseIhadofyouwasalltoorapid，ithassufficedtomodifymyopinionofyourconduct。Youareapoetandapoem，evenmorethanyouareawoman。Yes，thereisinyousomethingmorepreciousthanbeauty;youarethebeautifulIdealofart，offancy。Thestepyoutook，blamableasitwouldbeinanordinaryyounggirl，allottedtoanevery—daydestiny，hasanotheraspectifendowedwiththenaturewhichInowattributetoyou。Amongthecrowdofbeingsflungbyfateintothesociallifeofthisplanettomakeupagenerationthereareexceptionalsouls。Ifyourletteristheoutcomeoflongpoeticreveriesonthefatewhichconventionsbringtowomen，if，constrainedbytheimpulseofaloftyandintelligentmind，youhavewishedtounderstandthelifeofamantowhomyouattributethegiftofgenius，totheendthatyoumaycreateafriendshipwithdrawnfromtheordinaryrelationsoflife，withasoulincommunionwithyourown，disregardingthustheordinarytrammelsofyoursex，——then，assuredly，youareanexception。Thelawwhichrightlylimitstheactionsofthecrowdistoolimitedforyou。Butinthatcase，theremarkinmyfirstletterreturnsingreaterforce，——youhavedonetoomuchornotenough。

Acceptoncemoremythanksfortheserviceyouhaverenderedme，thatofcompellingmetosoundmyheart。Youhavecorrectedinmethefalseidea，onlytoocommoninFrance，thatmarriageshouldbeameansoffortune。WhileIstruggledwithmyconscienceasacredvoicespoketome。Isworesolemnlytomakemyfortunemyself，andnotbeledbymotivesofcupidityinchoosingthecompanionofmylife。Ihavealsoreproachedmyselffortheblamablecuriosityyouhaveexcitedinme。Youhavenotsixmillions。ThereisnoconcealmentpossibleinHavreforayoungladywhopossessessuchafortune;youwouldbediscoveredatoncebythepackofhoundsofgreatfamilieswhomIseeinParisonthehuntafterheiresses，andwhohavealreadysentone，thegrandequerry，theyoungduke，amongtheVilquins。Therefore，believeme，thesentimentsIhavenowexpressedarefixedinmymindasaruleoflife，fromwhichI

haveabstractedallinfluencesofromanceorofactualfact。Provetome，therefore，thatyouhaveoneofthosesoulswhichmaybeforgivenforitsdisobediencetothecommonlaw，byperceivingandcomprehendingthespiritofthisletterasyoudidthatofmyfirstletter。Ifyouaredestinedtoamiddle—classlife，obeytheironlawwhichholdssocietytogether。Liftedinmindaboveotherwomen，Iadmireyou;butifyouseektoobeyanimpulsewhichyououghttorepress，Ipityyou。Theall—wisemoralofthatgreatdomesticepic"ClarissaHarlowe"isthatlegitimateandhonorableloveledthepoorvictimtoherruinbecauseitwasconceived，developed，andpursuedbeyondtheboundariesoffamilyrestraint。

Thefamily，howevercruelandevenfoolishitmaybe，isintherightagainsttheLovelaces。ThefamilyisSociety。Believeme，thegloryofayounggirl，ofawoman，mustalwaysbethatofrepressinghermostardentimpulseswithinthenarrowsphereofconventions。IfIhadadaughterabletobecomeaMadamedeStaelIshouldwishherdeadatfifteen。Canyouimagineadaughterofyoursflauntingonthestageoffame，exhibitingherselftowintheplauditsofacrowd，andnotsufferanguishatthethought？Nomattertowhatheightsawomancanrisebytheinwardpoetryofhersoul，shemustsacrificetheoutersignsofsuperiorityonthealtarofherhome。Herimpulse，hergenius，heraspirationstowardGood，thewholepoemofayounggirl’sbeing，shouldbelongtothemansheacceptsandthechildrenwhomshebringsintotheworld。I

thinkIperceiveinyouasecretdesiretowidenthenarrowcircleofthelifetowhichallwomenarecondemned，andtoputloveandpassionintomarriage。Ah！itisalovelydream！itisnotimpossible;itisdifficult，butifrealized，mayitnotbetothedespairofsouls——forgivemethehackneyedword——"incompris"？

Ifyouseekaplatonicfriendshipitwillbetoyoursorrowinafteryears。Ifyourletterwasajest，discontinueit。Perhapsthislittleromanceistoendhere——isit？Ithasnotbeenwithoutfruit。Mysenseofdutyisaroused，andyou，onyourside，willhavelearnedsomethingofSociety。Turnyourthoughtstoreallife;throwtheenthusiasmsyouhaveculledfromliteratureintothevirtuesofyoursex。

Adieu，mademoiselle。Domethehonortograntmeyouresteem。

Havingseenyou，oronewhomIbelievetobeyou，Ihaveknownthatyourletterwassimplynatural;aflowersolovelyturnstothesun——ofpoetry。Yes，lovepoetryasyouloveflowers，music，thegrandeurofthesea，thebeautiesofnature;lovethemasanadornmentofthesoul，butrememberwhatIhavehadthehonoroftellingyouastothenatureofpoets。Becautiousnottomarry，asyousay，adunce，butseekthepartnerwhomGodhasmadeforyou。Therearesouls，believeme，whoarefittoappreciateyou，andtomakeyouhappy。IfIwererich，ifyouwerepoor，Iwouldlaymyheartandmyfortunesatyourfeet;forIbelieveyoursoultobefullofrichesandofloyalty;toyouIcouldconfidemylifeandmyhonorinabsolutesecurity。

Oncemore，adieu，adieu，fairestdaughterofEvethefair。

Thereadingofthisletter，swallowedlikeadropofwaterinthedesert，liftedthemountainwhichweighedheavilyonModeste’sheart:

thenshesawthemistakeshehadmadeinarrangingherplan，andrepaireditbygivingFrancoisesomeenvelopesdirectedtoherself，inwhichthemaidcouldputtheletterswhichcamefromParisanddropthemagainintothebox。ModesteresolvedtoreceivethepostmanherselfonthestepsoftheChaletatthehourwhenhemadehisdelivery。

Astothefeelingsthatthisreply，inwhichthenobleheartofpoorLaBrierebeatbeneaththebrilliantphantomofCanalis，excitedinModeste，theywereasmultifariousandconfusedasthewaveswhichrushedtodiealongtheshorewhilewithhereyesfixedonthewideoceanshegaveherselfuptothejoyofhaving（ifwedaresayso）

harpoonedanangelicsoulintheParisianGulf，ofhavingdivinedthatheartsofpricemightstillbefoundinharmonywithgenius，and，aboveall，forhavingfollowedthemagicvoiceofintuition。

Avastinterestwasnowabouttoanimateherlife。Thewiresofhercagewerebroken:theboltsandbarsoftheprettyChalet——wherewerethey？Herthoughtstookwings。

"Oh，father！"shecried，lookingouttothehorizon。"Comebackandmakeusrichandhappy。"

TheanswerwhichErnestdeLaBrierereceivedsomefivedayslaterwilltellthereadermorethananyelaboratedisquisitionofours。

CHAPTERIX

THEPOWEROFTHEUNSEEN

ToMonsieurdeCanalis:

Myfriend，——Suffermetogiveyouthatname，——youhavedelightedme;Iwouldnothaveyouotherthanyouareinthisletter，thefirst——oh，mayitnotbethelast！Whobutapoetcouldhaveexcusedandunderstoodayounggirlsodelicately？

Iwishtospeakwiththesinceritythatdictatedthefirstlinesofyourletter。Andfirst，letmesaythatmostfortunatelyyoudonotknowme。IcanjoyfullyassureyouthanIamneitherthathideousMademoiselleVilquinnortheverynobleandwitheredMademoiselled’Herouvillewhofloatsbetweentwentyandfortyyearsofage，unabletodecideonasatisfactorydate。TheCardinald’HerouvilleflourishedinthehistoryoftheChurchatleastacenturybeforethecardinalofwhomweboastasouronlyfamilyglory，——forItakenoaccountoflieutenant—generals，andabbeswhowritetrumperylittleverses。

Moreover，IdonotliveinthemagnificentvillaVilquin;thereisnotinmyveins，thankGod，theten—millionthofadropofthatchillybloodwhichflowsbehindacounter。IcomeononesidefromGermany，ontheotherfromthesouthofFrance;mymindhasaTeutonicloveofreverie，mybloodthevivacityofProvence。Iamnobleonmyfather’sandonmymother’sside。Onmymother’sI

derivefromeverypageoftheAlmanachdeGotha。Inshort，myprecautionsarewelltaken。Itisnotinanyman’spower，noreveninthepowerofthelaw，tounmaskmyincognito。Ishallremainveiled，unknown。

Astomypersonandastomy"belongings，"astheNormanssay，makeyourselfeasy。Iamatleastashandsomeasthelittlegirl（ignorantlyhappy）onwhomyoureyeschancedtolightduringyourvisittoHavre;andIdonotcallmyselfpoverty—stricken，althoughtensonsofpeersmaynotaccompanymeonmywalks。I

haveseenthehumiliatingcomedyoftheheiresssoughtforhermillionsplayedonmyaccount。Inshort，makenoattempt，evenonawager，toreachme。Alas！thoughfreeasair，Iamwatchedandguarded，——bymyself，inthefirstplace，andsecondly，bypeopleofnerveandcouragewhowouldnothesitatetoputaknifeinyourheartifyoutriedtopenetratemyretreat。Idonotsaythistoexciteyourcourageorstimulateyourcuriosity;IbelieveIhavenoneedofsuchincentivestointerestyouandattachyoutome。

Iwillnowreplytothesecondedition，considerablyenlarged，ofyourfirstsermon。

Willyouhaveaconfession？IsaidtomyselfwhenIsawyousodistrustful，andmistakingmeforCorinne（whoseimprovisationsboremedreadfully），thatinallprobabilitydozesofMuseshadalreadyledyou，rashlycurious，intotheirvalleys，andbeggedyoutotastethefruitsoftheirboarding—schoolParnassus。Oh！

youareperfectlysafewithme，myfriend;Imaylovepoetry，butIhavenolittleversesinmypocket—book，andmystockingsare，andwillremain，immaculatelywhite。Youshallnotbepesteredwiththe"FlowersofmyHeart"inoneormorevolumes。And，finally，shoulditeverhappenthatIsaytoyoutheword"Come！"

youwillnotfind——youknowitnow——anoldmaid，no，norapooranduglyone。

Ah！myfriend，ifyouonlyknewhowIregretthatyoucametoHavre！Youhaveloweredthecharmofwhatyoucallmyromance。GodaloneknewthetreasureIwasreservingforthemannobleenough，andtrustingenough，andperspicaciousenoughtocome——havingfaithinmyletters，havingpenetratedstepbystepintothedepthsofmyheart——tocometoourfirstmeetingwiththesimplicityofachild:forthatwaswhatIdreamedtobetheinnocenceofamanofgenius。Andnowyouhavespoiledmytreasure！ButIforgiveyou;youliveinParisand，asyousay，thereisalwaysamanwithinapoet。