第4章

Heisahandsomeyoungfellow，butmelancholy，andgiventomoods。I

havedivinedhissecret，thoughneithertheDukenorDuchesshasaninklingofit。Inspiteofhisyouthandhistitle，heisjealousofhisfather。HehasnopositionintheState，nopostatCourt，heneverhastosay，“IamgoingtotheChamber。“Ialoneinthehousehavesixteenhoursformeditation。Myfatherisabsorbedinpublicbusinessandhisownamusements；mymother，too，isneveratleisure；

nomemberofthehouseholdpractisesself-examination，theyareconstantlyincompany，andhavehardlytimetolive。

Ishouldimmenselyliketoknowwhatisthepotentcharmwieldedbysocietytokeeppeopleprisonerfromnineeveryeveningtilltwoorthreeinthemorning，andforcethemtobesolavishalikeofstrengthandmoney。WhenIlongedforit，Ihadnoideaoftheseparationsitbroughtabout，oritsovermasteringspell。But，then，Iforget，itisPariswhichdoesitall。

Itispossible，itseems，formembersofonefamilytolivesidebysideandknowabsolutelynothingofeachother。Ahalf-fledgednunarrives，andinacoupleofweekshasgraspeddomesticdetails，ofwhichthemasterdiplomatistattheheadofthehouseisquiteignorant。Orperhapshe/does/see，andshutshiseyesdeliberately，aspartofthefather’s/role/。ThereisamysteryherewhichImustplumb。

Yesterday，attwoo’clock，IwenttodriveintheChamps-ElyseesandtheBoisdeBoulogne。ItwasoneofthoseautumndayswhichweusedtofindsobeautifulonthebanksoftheLoire。SoIhaveseenParisatlast!ThePlaceLouisXV。iscertainlyveryfine，butthebeautyisthatofman’shandiwork。

Iwasdressedtoperfection，pensive，withsetface(thoughinwardlymuchtemptedtolaugh)，underalovelyhat，myarmscrossed。Wouldyoubelieveit？Notasinglesmilewasthrownatme，notonepooryouthwasstruckmotionlessasIpassed，notasoulturnedtolookagain；

andyetthecarriageproceededwithadeliberationworthyofmypose。

No，Iamwrong，therewasone——aduke，andacharmingman——whosuddenlyreinedinaswewentby。Theindividualwhothussavedappearancesformewasmyfather，andheproclaimedhimselfhighlygratifiedbywhathesaw。Imetmymotheralso，whosentmeabutterflykissfromthetipsofherfingers。TheworthyGriffith，whofearsnoman，castherglanceshitherandthitherwithoutdiscrimination。Inmyjudgment，ayoungwomanshouldalwaysknowexactlywhathereyeisrestingon。

Iwasmadwithrage。Onemanactuallyinspectedmycarriagewithoutnoticingme。Thisflatteringhomageprobablycamefromacarriage-

maker。Ihavebeenquiteoutinthereckoningofmyforces。Plainly，beauty，thatraregiftwhichcomesfromheaven，iscommonerinParisthanIthought。Isawhatsdoffedwithdeferencetosimperingfools；apurplefacecalledforthmurmursof，“Itisshe!“Mymotherreceivedanimmenseamountofadmiration。Thereisananswertothisproblem，andImeantofindit。

Themen，mydear，seemedtomegenerallyveryugly。Theveryfewexceptionsarebadcopiesofus。Heavenknowswhatevilgeniushasinspiredtheircostume；itisamazinglyinelegantcomparedwiththoseofformergenerations。Ithasnodistinction，nobeautyofcolororromance；itappealsneithertothesenses，northemind，northeeye，anditmustbeveryuncomfortable。Itismeagreandstunted。Thehat，aboveall，struckme；itisasortoftruncatedcolumn，anddoesnotadaptitselfintheleasttotheshapeofthehead；butIamtolditiseasiertobringaboutarevolutionthantoinventagracefulhat。

CourageinParisrecoilsbeforethethoughtofappearinginaroundfelt；andforlackofoneday’sdaring，menstickalltheirlivestothisridiculousheadpiece。AndyetFrenchmenaresaidtobefickle!

Themenarehideousanyway，whatevertheyputontheirheads。Ihaveseennothingbutworn，hardfaces，withnocalmnorpeaceintheexpression；theharshlinesandfurrowsspeakoffoiledambitionandsmartingvanity。Afineforeheadisrarelyseen。

“AndthesearetheproductofParis!“IsaidtoMissGriffith。

“Mostcultivatedandpleasantmen，“shereplied。

Iwassilent。Theheartofaspinsterofthirty-sixisawelloftolerance。

IntheeveningIwenttotheball，whereIkeptclosetomymother’sside。Shegavemeherarmwithadevotionwhichdidnotmissitsreward。Allthehonorswereforher；Iwasmadethepretextforcharmingcompliments。Shewascleverenoughtofindmefoolsformypartners，whooneandallexpatiatedontheheatandthebeautyoftheball，tillyoumightsupposeIwasfreezingandblind。Notonefailedtoenlargeonthestrange，unheard-of，extraordinary，odd，remarkablefact——thathesawmeforthefirsttime。

Mydress，whichdazzledmeasIparadedaloneinmywhite-and-golddrawing-room，wasbarelynoticeableamidstthegorgeousfineryofmostofthemarriedwomen。Eachhadherbandoffaithfulfollowers，andtheyallwatchedeachotheraskance。Afewwereradiantintriumphantbeauty，andamongstthesewasmymother。Agirlataballisameredancing-machine——athingofnoconsequencewhatever。

Themen，withrareexceptions，didnotimpressmemorefavorablyherethanattheChamps-Elysees。Theyhaveaused-uplook；theirfeaturesaremeaningless，orrathertheyhaveallthesamemeaning。Theproud，stalwartbearingwhichwefindintheportraitsofourancestors——menwhojoinedmoraltophysicalvigor——hasdisappeared。Yetinthisgatheringtherewasonemanofremarkableability，whostoodoutfromtherestbythebeautyofhisface。ButevenhedidnotrouseinmethefeelingwhichIshouldhaveexpected。Idonotknowhisworks，andheisamanofnofamily。Whateverthegeniusandthemeritsofaplebeianoracommoner，hecouldneverstirmyblood。Besides，thismanwasobviouslysomuchmoretakenupwithhimselfthanwithanybodyelse，thatIcouldnotbutthinkthesegreatbrain-workersmustlookonusasthingsratherthanpersons。Whenmenofintellectualpowerlove，theyoughttogiveupwriting，otherwisetheirloveisnottherealthing。Theladyoftheirheartdoesnotcomefirstinalltheirthoughts。IseemedtoreadallthisinthebearingofthemanIspeakof。Iamtoldheisaprofessor，orator，andauthor，whoseambitionmakeshimtheslaveofeverybigwig。

Mymindwasmadeuponthespot。Itwasunworthyofme，Idetermined，toquarrelwithsocietyfornotbeingimpressedbymymerits，andI

gavemyselfuptothesimplepleasureofdancing，whichIthoroughlyenjoyed。IheardagreatdealofineptgossipaboutpeopleofwhomI

knownothing；butperhapsitismyignoranceonmanysubjectswhichpreventsmefromappreciatingit，asIsawthatmostmenandwomentookalivelypleasureincertainremarks，whetherfallingfromtheirownlipsorthoseofothers。Societybristleswithenigmaswhichlookhardtosolve。Itisaperfectmazeofintrigue。YetIamfairlyquickofsightandhearing，andastomywits，Mlle。deMaucombedoesnotneedtobetold!

Ireturnedhometiredwithapleasantsortoftiredness，andinallinnocencebegandescribingmysensationstomymother，whowaswithme。ShecheckedmewiththewarningthatImustneversaysuchthingstoanyonebuther。

“Mydearchild，“sheadded，“itneedsasmuchtacttoknowwhentobesilentaswhentospeak。“

Thisadvicebroughthometomethenatureofthesensationswhichoughttobeconcealedfromeveryone，notexceptingperhapsevenamother。AtaglanceImeasuredthevastfieldoffeminineduplicity。I

canassureyou，sweetheart，thatwe，inourunabashedsimplicity，wouldpassfortwoverywide-awakelittlescandal-mongers。Whatlessonsmaybeconveyedinafingeronthelips，inaword，alook!

AllinamomentIwasseizedwithexcessiveshyness。What!mayIneveragainspeakofthenaturalpleasureIfeelintheexerciseofdancing？

“Howthen，“Isaidtomyself，“aboutthedeeperfeelings？“

Iwenttobedsorrowful，andIstillsufferfromtheshockproducedbythisfirstcollisionofmyfrank，joyousnaturewiththeharshlawsofsociety。Alreadythehighwayhedgesarefleckedwithmywhitewool!

Farewell，beloved。

RENEEDEMAUCOMBETOLOUISEDECHAULIEU

October。

Howdeeplyyourlettermovedme；aboveall，whenIcompareourwidelydifferentdestinies!Howbrilliantistheworldyouareentering，howpeacefultheretreatwhereIshallendmymodestcareer!

IntheCastleofMaucombe，whichissowellknowntoyoubydescriptionthatIshallsaynomoreofit，IfoundmyroomalmostexactlyasIleftit；onlynowIcanenjoythesplendidviewitgivesoftheGemenosvalley，whichmychildisheyesusedtoseewithoutcomprehending。Afortnightaftermyarrival，myfatherandmothertookme，alongwithmytwobrothers，todinewithoneofourneighbors，M。

del’Estorade，anoldgentlemanofgoodfamily，whohasmadehimselfrich，aftertheprovincialfashion，byscrapingandparing。

M。del’EstoradewasunabletosavehisonlysonfromtheclutchesofBonaparte；aftersuccessfullyeludingtheconscription，hewasforcedtosendhimtothearmyin1813，tojointheEmperor’sbodyguard。

AfterLeipsicnomorewasheardofhim。M。deMontriveau，whomthefatherinterviewedin1814，declaredthathehadseenhimtakenbytheRussians。Mme。del’EstoradediedofgriefwhilstavainsearchwasbeingmadeinRussia。TheBaron，averypiousoldman，practisedthatfinetheologicalvirtuewhichweusedtocultivateatBlois——Hope!

Hopemadehimseehissonindreams。Hehoardedhisincomeforhim，andguardedcarefullytheportionofinheritancewhichfelltohimfromthefamilyofthelateMme。del’Estorade，nooneventuringtoridiculetheoldman。

Atlastitdawneduponmethattheunexpectedreturnofthissonwasthecauseofmyown。Whocouldhaveimagined，whilstfancywasleadingusagiddydance，thatmydestinedhusbandwasslowlytravelingonfootthroughRussia，Poland，andGermany？HisbadluckonlyforsookhimatBerlin，wheretheFrenchMinisterhelpedhisreturntohisnativecountry。M。del’Estorade，thefather，whoisasmalllandedproprietorinProvence，withanincomeofabouttenthousandlivres，hasnotsufficientEuropeanfametointeresttheworldinthewanderingKnightdel’Estorade，whosenamesmacksofhisadventures。

TheaccumulatedincomeoftwelvethousandlivresfromthepropertyofMme。del’Estorade，withtheadditionofthefather’ssavings，providesthepoorguardofhonorwithsomethingliketwohundredandfiftythousandlivres，notcountinghouseandlands——quiteaconsiderablefortuneinProvence。Hisworthyfatherhadbought，ontheveryeveoftheChevalier’sreturn，afinebutbadly-managedestate，wherehedesignstoplanttenthousandmulberry-trees，raisedinhisnurserywithaspecialviewtothisacquisition。TheBaron，havingfoundhislong-lostson，hasnowbutonethought，tomarryhim，andmarryhimtoagirlofgoodfamily。

Myfatherandmotherenteredintotheirneighbor’sideawithaneyetomyinterestssosoonastheydiscoveredthatReneedeMaucombewouldbeacceptablewithoutadowry，andthatthemoneythesaidReneeoughttoinheritfromherparentswouldbedulyacknowledgedashersinthecontract。Inasimilarway，myyoungerbrother，JeandeMaucombe，assoonashecameofage，signedadocumentstatingthathehadreceivedfromhisparentsanadvanceupontheestateequalinamounttoone-

thirdofwhole。ThisisthedevicebywhichthenoblesofProvenceeludetheinfamousCivilCodeofM。deBonaparte，acodewhichwilldriveasmanygirlsofgoodfamilyintoconventsasitwillfindhusbandsfor。TheFrenchnobility，fromthelittleIhavebeenabletogather，seemtobedividedonthesematters。

Thedinner，darling，wasafirstmeetingbetweenyoursweetheartandtheexile。TheComtedeMaucombe’sservantsdonnedtheiroldlacedliveriesandhats，thecoachmanhisgreattop-boots；wesatfiveintheantiquatedcarriage，andarrivedinstateabouttwoo’clock——thedinnerwasforthree——atthegrange，whichisthedwellingoftheBarondel’Estorade。

Myfather-in-lawtobehas，yousee，nocastle，onlyasimplecountryhouse，standingbeneathoneofourhills，attheentranceofthatnoblevalley，theprideofwhichisundoubtedlytheCastleofMaucombe。Thebuildingisquiteunpretentious：fourpebblewallscoveredwithayellowishwash，androofedwithhollowtilesofagoodred，constitutethegrange。Theraftersbendundertheweightofthisbrick-kiln。Thewindows，insertedcasually，withoutanyattemptatsymmetry，haveenormousshutters，paintedyellow。ThegardeninwhichitstandsisaProvencalgarden，enclosedbylowwalls，builtofbigroundpebblessetinlayers，alternatelyslopingorupright，accordingtotheartistictasteofthemason，whichfindshereitsonlyoutlet。

Themudinwhichtheyaresetisfallingawayinplaces。

Thankstoanironrailingattheentrancefacingtheroad，thissimplefarmhasacertainairofbeingacountry-seat。Therailing，longsoughtwithtears，issoemaciatedthatitrecalledSisterAngeliquetome。Aflightofstonestepsleadstothedoor，whichisprotectedbyapent-houseroof，suchasnopeasantontheLoirewouldtolerateforhiscoquettishwhitestonehouse，withitsblueroof，glitteringinthesun。Thegardenandsurroundingwalksarehorriblydusty，andthetreesseemburntup。ItiseasytoseethatforyearstheBaron’slifehasbeenamererisingupandgoingtobedagain，dayafterday，withoutathoughtbeyondthatofpilingupcoppers。Heeatsthesamefoodashistwoservants，aProvencalladandtheoldwomanwhousedtowaitonhiswife。Theroomsarescantilyfurnished。

Nevertheless，thehouseofl’Estoradehaddoneitsbest；thecupboardshadbeenransacked，anditslastmanbeatenupforthedinner，whichwasservedtousonoldsilverdishes，blackenedandbattered。Theexile，mydarlingpet，isliketherailing，emaciated!Heispaleandsilent，andbearstracesofsuffering。Atthirty-sevenhemightbefifty。Theoncebeautifulebonlocksofyoutharestreakedwithwhitelikealark’swing。Hisfineblueeyesarecavernous；heisalittledeaf，whichsuggeststheKnightoftheSorrowfulCountenance。

Spiteofallthis，IhavegraciouslyconsentedtobecomeMme。del’Estoradeandtoreceiveadowryoftwohundredandfiftythousandlivres，butonlyontheexpressconditionofbeingallowedtoworkmywilluponthegrangeandmakeaparkthere。Ihavedemandedfrommyfather，insetterms，agrantofwater，whichcanbebroughtthitherfromMaucombe。InamonthIshallbeMme。del’Estorade；for，dear，I

havemadeagoodimpression。AfterthesnowsofSiberiaamanisreadyenoughtoseemeritinthoseblackeyes，whichaccordingtoyou，usedtoripenfruitwithalook。Louisdel’Estoradeseemswellcontenttomarrythe/fairReneedeMaucombe/——suchisyourfriend’ssplendidtitle。

Whilstyouarepreparingtoreapthejoysofthatmany-sidedexistencewhichawaitsayoungladyoftheChaulieufamily，andtoqueenitinParis，yourpoorlittlesweetheart，Renee，thatchildofthedesert，hasfallenfromtheempyrean，whithertogetherwehadsoared，intothevulgarrealitiesofalifeashomelyasadaisy’s。Ihavevowedtomyselftocomfortthisyoungman，whohasneverknownyouth，butpassedstraightfromhismother’sarmstotheembraceofwar，andfromthejoysofhiscountryhometothefrostsandforcedlaborofSiberia。