第4章

Itisspring—timeinVenice。Theoldbalconiesaregaywithflowers；

thenightingalesstopsingingtolistentotheserenades。

Therearesongstobeheardateverystreetcorner，musicinthewakeofeverygondola。Therearesweetperfumesandlove—sighsintheair。

ThedelightsoftheVenetiannightshadneverbeendescribedlikethis。

Theharmonyof"thethreeelements，water，skyandmarble，"

hadneverbeenbetterexpressed，andthecharmofVenicehadneverbeensuggestedinsosubtleand，penetratingamanner。

Thesecondlettertreatstooofthegondoliers，andoftheirhabitsandcustoms。

Thethirdletter，tellingusaboutthenobilityandthewomenofVenice，completestheimpression。JustasthePyreneeshadmovedGeorgeSand，soItalynowmovedher。Thiswasafreshacquisitionforherpalette。MorethanoncefromhenceforthVenicewastoserveherforthewonderfulsceneryofherstories。

Thisisbynomeansafreshnote，though，inGeorgeSand’swork。

Thereisnoessentialdifference，then，inherinspiration。

Shehadalwaysbeenimpressionable，buthertastewasnowgettingpurer。Musset，themostromanticofFrenchpoets，hadaneminentlyclassicaltaste。Inthe_LettresdeDupuisetCotonet_，hedefinedromanticismasanabuseofadjectives。

HewasofMadamedeLafayette’sopinion，thatawordtakenoutwasworthtwentypennies，andaphrasetakenouttwentyshillings。

Inacopyof_Indiana_hecrossedoutalltheuselessepithets。

Thismusthavemadeaconsiderabledifferencetothelengthofthebook。

GeorgeSandwastoobroad—mindedtobehurtbysuchcriticism，andshewasintelligentenoughtolearnalessonfromit。

Musset’stransformationwassingularlydeeper。WhenhestartedforVenice，hewastheyoungestandmostcharmingofpoets，fancifulandfulloffun。"Monsieurmongamind’Alfred，"

GeorgeSandcalledhimatthattime。Whenhereturnedfromthere，hewasthesaddestofpoets。Forsometimehewas，asitwere，stunned。Hisverysoulseemedtobeboweddownwithhisgrief。

Hewasastonishedatthechangehefeltinhimself，andhedidnotbyanymeanscourtanyfreshinspiration。

_J’aivu，letempsoumajeuxesse_

_Surmeslevresetaitsanscesse_

_Preteachantercommeunoiseau；_

_Maisj’aisouffertundurmartyre_

_Etlemoinsquej’enpourraisdire_，_Sijelessayaissuralyre_，_Labriseraitcommeunroseau_，hewrites。

Inthe_NuitdeMai_，theearliestofthesesongsofdespair，wehavethepoet’ssymbolofthepelicangivingitsentrailsasfoodtoitsstarvingyoung。Theonlysymbolsthatwegetinthispoetryaresymbolsofsadness，andtheseareattimesgiveninmagnificentfulnessofdetail。Wehavesolitudeinthe_Nuitdedecembre_，andthelabourerwhosehousehasbeenburntinthe_LettreaLamartine_。

The_Nuitd’aout_givesproofofawildefforttogivelifeanothertrial，butinthe_Auitd’octobre_angergetsthebetterofhimoncemore。

_Honteatoi，quilapremiereM’asapprislatrahison……！_

ThequestionhasoftenbeenaskedwhetherthepoetrefersheretothewomanhelovedinVenicebutitmatterslittlewhetherhedidornot。

Heonlysawherthroughthepersonagewhofromhenceforthsymbolized"woman"tohimandthesufferingwhichshemaycauseaman。Andyet，asthissufferingbecamelessintense，softenedasitwasbytime，hebegantodiscoverthebenefitofit。Hissoulhadexpanded，sothathewasnowincommunionwithallthatisgreatinNatureandinArt。Theharmonyofthesky，thesilenceofnight，themurmurofflowingwater，Petrarch，MichelAngelo，Shakespeare，allappealedtohim。Thedaycamewhenhecouldwrite：

_Unsouvenirheureuxestpeut—etresurterrePlusvraiquelebonheur_。

Thisistheonlyphilosophyforaconceptionoflifewhichtreatsloveaseverythingforman。Henotonlypardonsnow，butheisgrateful_Jeneveuxriensavoir，nisileschampsfleurissent，Nicequiladviendradi。，simulacrehumain，NisicesvastescieuxeclairerontdemainCequ’ilsensevelissent。heure，encelieu，Jemedisseulement：acetteUnjour，jefusaime，j’aimais，elleetaitbelle，JenfouiscetresordansmonameimmortelleEtjel’emporteaDieu。_

Thislovepoem，runningthroughallhewrotefromthe_NuitdeMai_

tothe_Souvenir_，isundoubtedlythemostbeautifulandthemostprofoundlyhumanofanythingintheFrenchlanguage。Thecharmingpoethadbecomeagreatpoet。Thatshockhadoccurredwithinhimwhichisfeltbythehumanbeingtotheverydepthsofhissoul，andmakesofhimanewcreature。Itisinthissensethatthetheoryoftheromanticists，withregardtotheeducativevirtuesofsuffering，istrue。Butitisnotonlysufferinginconnectionwithourloveaffairswhichhasthisspecialprivilege。Aftersomemisfortunewhichuproots，asitwere，ourlife，aftersomedisappointmentwhichdestroysourmoraledifice，theworldappearschangedtous。

Thewholenetworkofacceptedideasandofconventionalopinionsisbrokenasunder。Wefindourselvesindirectcontactwithreality，andtheshockmakesourtruenaturecometothefront……SuchwasthecrisisthroughwhichMussethadjustpassed。Themancameoutofitcrushedandbruised，butthepoetcamethroughittriumphant。

IthasbeeninsistedontoomuchthatGeorgeSandwasonlythereflectionofthemenwhohadapproachedher。InthecaseofMussetitwasthecontrary。Mussetowedhermorethansheowedtohim。

Shetransformedhimbytheforceofherstrongindividuality。

She，onthecontrary，onlyfoundinMussetachild，andwhatshewasseekingwasadominator。

Shethoughtshehaddiscoveredhimthisveryyear1835。

Thesixth_Lettred’unvoyageur_wasaddressedtoEverard。

ThisEverardwasconsideredbyhertobeasuperiorman。

HewassomuchabovetheaverageheightthatGeorgeSandadvisedhimtositdownwhenhewaswithothermen，aswhenstandinghewastoomuchabovethem。ShecompareshimtoAtlascarryingtheworld，andtoHerculesinalion’sskin。Butamongallhercomparisons，whensheisseekingtogivethemeasureofhissuperiority，withouteverreallysucceedinginthis，itisevidentthatthecomparisonsheprefersisthatofMariusatMinturnae。Hepersonifiesvirtuea_l’antique：_heistheRoman。

Letusnowconsidertowhomallthisflatterywasaddressed，andwhothisman，worthyofPlutarch’spen，was。HisnamewasMichel，andhewasanadvocateatBourges。Hewasonlythirty—

sevenyearsofage，buthelookedsixty。AfterSandeauandMusset，GeorgeSandhadhadenoughof"adolescents。"ShewasverymuchstruckwithMichel，ashelookedlikeanoldman。

Thesizeofhiscraniumwasremarkable，or，asshesaidofhiscraniums：

"Itseemedasthoughhehadtwocraniums，onejoinedtotheother。"

Shewrote："Thesignsofthesuperiorfacultiesofhismindwereasprominentattheprowofthisstrongvesselasthoseofhisgenerousinstinctsatthestern。"[21]Inordertounderstandthisdefinitionofthe"finephysique"byGeorgeSand，wemustrememberthatshewasverymuchtakenupwithphrenologyatthistime。

Oneofher_Lettresd’unvoyageur_wasentitledSur_LavateretsuruneMaisondeserte_。InalettertoMadamed’Agoult，GeorgeSandtellsthathergardenergavenoticetoleave，and，onaskinghimhisreason，thesimple—mindedmanreplied："Madamehassuchanuglyheadthatmywife，whoisexpecting，mightdieoffright。"

Theheadinquestionwasaskull，ananatomicalonewithcompartmentsallmarkedandnumbered，accordingtothesystemofGallandSpurzheim。

In1837，phrenologywasverymuchinfavour。In1910，itishypnotism，sowehavenorighttojudgetheinfatuationofanotherepoch。

[21]_Histoiredemavie_。

Michel’scraniumwasbald。Hewasshort，slight，hestooped，wasshort—sightedandworeglasses。ItisGeorgeSandwhogivesthesedetailsforhisportrait。Hewasbornofpeasantparents，andwasofJacobinsimplicity。Heworeathick，shapelessinvernessandsabots。Hefeltthecoldverymuch，andusedtoaskpermissiontoputonamufflerindoors。Hewouldthentakethreeorfouroutofhispocketsandputthemonhishead，oneovertheother。

Inthe_Lettred’unvoyageur_GeorgeSandmentionsthiscrownonEverard’shead。Sucharetheillusionsoflove。

ThefirsttimeshemetMichelwasatBourges。Shewentwithhertwofriends，PapetandFleury，tocallonhimatthehotel。

Fromseveno’clockuntilmidnightheneverceasedtalking。Itwasamagnificentnight，andheproposedawalkinthetownatmidnight。

Whentheycamebacktohisdoorheinsistedontakingthemhome，andsotheycontinuedwalkingbackwardsandforwardsuntilfourinthemorning。Hemusthavebeenaninveteratechatterertohaveclungtothispublicofthreepersonsatanhourwhenthegreatbuildings，withthemoonthrowingitswhitelightoverthemandeverythingaround，musthavesuggestedthemajestyofsilence。Topeoplewhowereamazedatthisirrepressibleeloquence，Michelansweredingenuously：

"Talkingisthinkingaloud。BythinkingaloudinthiswayIadvancemorequicklythanifIthoughtquietlybymyself。"ThiswasNumaRoumestan’sidea。"Asforme，"hesaid，"whenIamnottalking，Iamnotthinking。"Asamatteroffact，Michel，likeNuma，wasanativeofProvence。InParistherewasarepetitionofthisnocturnalandrovingscene。MichelandhisfriendshadcometoastandstillontheSaints—Peresbridge。TheycaughtsightoftheTuilerieslightedupforaball。Michelbecameexcited，and，strikingtheinnocentbridgeanditsparapetwithhisstick，heexclaimed："Itellyouthatifyouaretofreshenandrenewyourcorruptsociety，thisbeautifulriverwillfirsthavetoberedwithblood，thataccursedpalacewillhavetobereducedtoashes，andthehugecityyouarenowlookingatwillhavetobeabarestrandwherethefamilyofthepoormancanusetheploughandbuildacottagehome。"

Thiswasafinephraseforapublicmeeting，butperhapstoofineforaconversationbetweenfriendsontheSaints—Peresbridge。

Thiswasin1835，atthemostbrilliantmomentofMichel’scareer。

ItwaswhenhewastakingpartinthetrialoftheaccusedmenofApril。AftertheinsurrectionsoftheprecedingyearatLyonsandParis，agreattrialhadcommencedbeforetheChamberofPeers。

Wearetoldthat："TheRepublicanpartywasdeterminedtomakeuseofthecross—questioningoftheprisonersforaccusingtheGovernmentandforpreachingRepublicanismandSocialism。

TheideawastoinviteahundredandfiftynotedRepublicanstoParisfromallpartsofFrance。Intheirqualityofdefenders，theywouldbetheoratorsofthisgreatmanifestation。"

Barb’es，Blanqui，Flocon，Marie，Raspail，TrelatandMichelofBourgeswereamongtheseRepublicans。"Onthe11thofMay，therevolutionarynewspaperspublishedamanifestoinwhichthecommitteeforthedefencecongratulatedandencouragedtheaccusedmen。

Onehundredandtensignatureswereaffixedtothisdocument，whichwasaforgery。Ithadbeendrawnupbyafewoftheupholdersofthescheme，and，inordertomakeitappearmoreimportant，theyhadaffixedthenamesoftheircolleagueswithouttheirauthorization。

Thosewhohaddonethisthentookfright，andattemptedtogetoutofthedangerousadventurebyapublicavowal。Inordertosavethesituation，twooftheguiltyparty，TrelatandMichelofBourges，tooktheresponsibilityofthedrawingupofthemanifestoandtheappositionofthesignaturesuponthemselves。

TheyweresentencedbytheCourtofPeers，TrelattofouryearsofprisonandMicheltoamonth。"[22]Thiswasthemostshockinginequality，andMichelcouldnotforgiveTrelatforgettingsuchafinesentence。

[22]ThureauDangin，_HistoiredelaMonarchiedeJuillet_，II。297。

Whatgoodwasonemonthofprison？Michel’scareercertainlyhadbeenaveryordinaryone。Hehesitatedandtackedabout。

Inaword，hewasjustapolitician。GeorgeSandtellsusthathewasobliged"toaccept，intheory，whathecalledthenecessitiesofpurepolitics，ruse，charlatanismandevenuntruth，concessionsthatwerenotsincere，alliancesinwhichhedidnotbelieve，andvainpromises。"Weshouldsaythathewasaradicalopportunist。

Tobemerelyanopportunist，though，isnotenoughforensuringsuccess。

Therearedifferentwaysofbeinganopportunist。MichelhadbeenelectedaDeputy，buthehadno_role_toplay。In1848，hecouldnotcompetewiththebrilliancyofRaspail，norhadhetheprestigeofFlocon。Hewentintotheshadecompletelyafterthe_coupd’etat_。

Foralongtimehehadreallypreferredbusinesstopolitics，andachoicemustbemadewhenoneisnotamemberoftheGovernment。

ItiseasytoseewhatcharmedGeorgeSandinMichel。Hewasasectarian，andshetookhimforanapostle。Hewasbrutal，andshethoughthimenergetic。Hehadbeenbadlybroughtup，butshethoughthimsimplyaustere。Hewasatyrant，butsheonlysawinhimamaster。

Hehadtoldherthathewouldhaveherguillotinedatthefirstpossibleopportunity。Thiswasanincontestableproofofsuperiority。

Shewassincereherself，andwascon—

sequentlynotonherguardagainstvainboasting。Hehadalarmedher，andsheadmiredhimforthis，andatonceincarnatedinhimthatstoicalidealofwhichshehadbeendreamingforyearsandhadnotyetbeenabletoattributetoanyoneelse。

ThisishowsheexplainedtoMichelherreasonsforlovinghim。

"Iloveyou，"shesays，"becausewheneverIfiguretomyselfgrandeur，wisdom，strengthandbeauty，yourimagerisesupbeforeme。

Noothermanhaseverexercisedanymoralinfluenceoverme。

Mymind，whichhasalwaysbeenwildandunfettered，hasneveracceptedanyguidance……Youcame，andyouhavetaughtme。"

Thenagainshesays："ItisyouwhomIlove，whomIhavelovedeversinceIwasborn，andthroughallthephantomsinwhomIthought，foramoment，thatIhadfoundyou。"Accordingtothis，itwasMichelshelovedthroughMusset。Letushopethatshewasmistaken。

AwholecorrespondenceexistsbetweenGeorgeSandandMichelofBourges。

Partofitwaspublishednotlongagointhe_Revueillustree_underthetitleof_Lettresdelemmze_。NoneofGeorgeSand’sletterssurpasstheseepistlestoMichelforferventpassion，beautyofform，andakindofsuperb_impudeur_。Letustake，forinstance，thiscalltoherbeloved。GeorgeSand，afteranightofwork，complainsoffatigue，hungerandcold："Oh，mylover，"shecries，"appear，and，liketheearthonthereturnoftheMaysunshine，Ishouldbereanimated，andwouldflingoffmyshroudoficeandthrillwithlove。Thewrinklesofsufferingwoulddisappearfrommybrow，andIshouldseembeautifulandyoungtoyou，forIshouldleapwithjoyintoyourironstrongarms。Come，come，andIshallhavestrength，health，youth，gaiety，hope……Iwillgoforthtomeetyoulikethebrideofthesong，`toherwell—beloved。’"

TheWell—belovedtowhomthisShulamitewouldhastenwasabald—headedprovinciallawyerwhoworespectaclesandthreemufflers。Butitappearsthathis"beauty，veiledandunintelligibletothevulgar，revealeditself，likethatofJupiterhiddenunderhumanform，tothewomenwhomheloved。"

Wemustnotsmileatthesemythologicalcomparisons。GeorgeSandhad，asitwere，restoredforherselfthatconditionofsoultowhichtheancientmythsaredue。Agreatcurrentofnaturalistpoetrycirculatesthroughthesepages。InTheocritusandinRousardtherearecertaindescriptivepassages。ThereisananalogybetweenthemandthatimageofthehorsewhichcarriesGeorgeSandalongonherimpetuouscourse。

"Assoonashecatchessightofme，hebeginstopawthegroundandrearimpatiently。Ihavetrainedhimtoclearahundredfathomsasecond。Theskyandthegrounddisappearwhenhebearsmealongunderthoselongvaultsformedbytheapple—treesinblossom……

Theleastsoundofmyvoicemakeshimboundlikeaball；thesmallestbirdmakeshimshudderandhurryalonglikeachildwithnoexperience。

Heisscarcelyfiveyearsold，andheistimidandrestive。

Hisblackcruppershinesinthesunshinelikearaven’swing。"

Thisdescriptionhasallthereliefofanantiquefigure。

Anothertime，GeorgeSandtellshowshehasseenPhoebusthrowoffherrobeofcloudsandrushalongradiantintothepuresky。

Thefollowingdayshewrites："Shewaseatenbytheevilspirits。

ThedarkspritesfromErebus，ridingonsombre—lookingclouds，threwthemselvesonher，anditwasinvainthatshestruggled。"

WemightcomparethesepassageswithaletterofJuly10，1836，inwhichshetellshowshethrowsherself，alldressedassheis，intotheIndre，andthencontinueshercoursethroughthesunnymeadows，andwithwhatvoluptuousnesssherevelsinallthejoysofprimitivelife，andimaginesherselflivinginthebeautifultimesofancientGreece。TherearedaysandpageswhenGeorgeSand，undertheaffluxofphysicallife，ispagan。Hergeniusthenisthatofthegreenwooddivinities，who，atcertaintimesoftheyear，wereintoxicatedbytheodourofthemeadowsandthesapofthewoods。

Ifsomedayweweretohavehercompletecorrespondencegiventous，IshouldnotbesurprisedifmanypeoplepreferredittoherletterstoMusset。Inthefirstplace，itisnotspoiledbythatpreoccupationwhichtheVenicelovershad，ofwritingliterature。

Mingledwiththeaccentsofsincerepassion，wedonotfindextraordinaryconceptionsofparadoxicalmetaphysics。ItisNaturewhichspeaksintheseletters，andforthatveryreasontheyarenonethelesssorrowful。They，too，tellusofaveritablemartyrdom。

WecaneasilyimaginefromthemthatMichelwascoarse，despotic，faithlessandjealous。Weknow，too，thatmorethanonceGeorgeSandcameverynearlosingallpatiencewithhim，sothatwecansympathizewithherwhenshewrotetoMadamed’AgoultinJuly，1836：

"Ihavehad，myfillofgreatmen（excusetheexpression）……

IprefertoseethemallinPlutarch，astheywouldnotthencausemeanysufferingonthehumanside。Maytheyallbecarvedinmarbleorcastinbronze，butmayIhearnomoreaboutthem！"_Amen_。

WhatdisgustedGeorgeSandwithherMichelwashisvanityandhiscravingforadulation。InJuly，1837，shehadcometotheendofherpatience，asshewrotetoGirerd。Itwasoneofherpeculiaritiestoalwaystakeathirdpersonintoherconfidence。

AtthetimeofSandeau，thisthirdpersonwasEmileRegnault；

atthetimeofMusset，Sainte—Beuve，andnowitwasGirerd。

"Iamtiredoutwithmyowndevotion，andIhavefoughtagainstmypridewithallthestrengthofmylove。Ihavehadnothingbutingratitudeandhardnessasmyrecompense。Ihavefeltmylovedyingawayandmysoulbeingcrushed，butIamcuredatlast……"

Ifonlyshehadhadallthissufferingforthesakeofagreatman，butthistimeitwasonlyinimaginarygreatman。

Theinfluence，though，thathehadhadoverherthoughtwasreal，andinacertainwaybeneficial。

AtthebeginningshewasfarfromsharingMichel’sideas，andforsomeofthemshefeltanaversionwhichamountedtohorror。

Thedogmaofabsoluteequalityseemedanabsurditytoher。

TheRepublic，orratherthevariousrepublicstheningestation，appearedtoherasortofUtopia，andasshesaweachofherfriendsmaking"hisownlittleRepublic"forhimself，shehadnotmuchfaithinthevirtueofthatformofgovernmentforunitingallFrenchpeople。

OnepointshockedheraboveallothersinMichel’stheories。

Thispoliticiandidnotlikeartists。JustastheRevolutiondidnotfindchemistsnecessary，heconsideredthattheRepublicdidnotneedwriters，paintersandmusicians。Thesewerealluselessindividuals，andtheRepublicwouldgivethemalittlesurprisebyputtingalabourer’sspadeorashoemaker’sawlintotheirhands。GeorgeSandconsideredthisideanotonlybarbarous，butsilly。

Timeworkswonders，forwehaveanindisputableproofthatcertainofhisopinionssoonbecamehers。ThisproofistheRepublicancatechismcontainedinherletterstohersonMaurice，whowasthentwelveyearsofage。HewasattheLyceeHenriIV，inthesameclassastheprincesofOrleans。Itisinterestingtoreadwhathismothersaystohimconcerningthefatherofhisyoungschoolfriends。

Inaletter，writteninDecember，1835，shesays："ItiscertainlytruethatLouis—Philippeistheenemyofhumanity……"Nothinglessthanthat！Alittlelater，theenemyofhumanityinvitestheyoungfriendsofhissonMontpensiertohis_chateau_forthecarnivalholiday。

Mauriceisallowedtoaccepttheinvitation，ashewishesto，butheistoavoidshowingthatgratitudewhichdestroysindependence。

"TheentertainmentsthatMontpensieroffersyouarefavours，"

writesthismotheroftheGracchiquitegravely。Ifheisaskedabouthisopinions，thechildistoreplythatheisrathertooyoungtohaveopinionsyet，butnottooyoungtoknowwhatopinionshewillhavewhenheisfreetohavethem。"Youcanreply，"

sayshismother，"thatyouareRepublicanbyraceandbynature。"

Shethenaddsafewaphorisms。"Princesareournaturalenemies，"

shesays；andthenagain："Howevergood—heartedthechildofakingmaybe，heisdestinedtobeatyrant。"Allthisiscertainlyagreatcommotiontomakeaboutherlittlesonacceptingaglassoffruitsyrupandafewcakesatthehouseofaschoolfellow。

ButGeorgeSandwasthenunderthedominationof"Robespierreinperson。"

MichelhadbroughtGeorgeSandovertorepublicanism。Withoutwishingtoexaggeratetheservicehehadrenderedherbythis，itappearstomethatitcertainlywasone，ifwelookatitinoneway。

Rightlyorwrongly，GeorgeSandhadseeninMichelthemanwhodevoteshimselfentirelytoacauseofgeneralinterest。

Shehadlearntsomethinginhisschool，andperhapsallthemorethoroughlybecauseitwasinhisschool。Shehadlearntthatloveisinanycaseaselfishpassion。Shehadlearntthatanotherobjectmustbegiventotheforcesofsympathyofagenerousheart，andthatsuchanobjectmaybetheserviceofhumanity，devotiontoanidea。

Thiswasaturnintheroad，andledthewriterontoleavethepersonalstylefortheimpersonalstyle。

Therewasanotherservice，too，whichMichelhadrenderedtoGeorgeSand。Hehadpleadedforherinherpetitionforseparationfromherhusband，andshehadwonhercase。

EversinceGeorgeSandhadtakenbackherindependencein1831，herintercoursewithDudevanthadnotbeendisagreeable。Sheandherhusbandexchangedcordialletters。WhenhecametoParis，hemadenoattempttostaywithhiswife，lestheshouldinconvenienceher。

"IshallputupatHippolyte’s，"hesaysinhislettertoher。

"Idonotwanttoinconvenienceyouintheleast，nortobeinconveniencedmyself，whichisquitenatural。"Hecertainlywasamostdiscreethusband。WhenshestartedforItaly，hebegshertotakeadvantageofsogoodanopportunityforseeingsuchabeautifulcountry。Hewasalsoahusbandreadytogivegoodadvice。

Lateron，heinvitedPagellotospendalittletimeatNohant。

Thiswascertainlytheclimaxinthisstrangestory。

Duringthemonths，though，thatthehusbandandwifeweretogether，againatNohant，thescenesbeganoncemore。Dudevant’sirritabilitywasincreasedbythefactthathewasalwaysshortofmoney，andthathewasawareofhisowndeplorableshortcomingsasafinancialadministrator。Hehadmadespeculationswhichhadbeendisastrous。

Hewasverycredulous，assomanysuspiciouspeopleare，andhehadbeendupedbyaswindlerinanaffairofmaritimearmaments。

Hehadhadallthemorefaithinthisenterprisebecauseapictureoftheboathadbeenshownhimonpaper。Hehadspentninetythousandfrancsofthehundredthousandhehadhad，andwasnowlivingonhiswife’sincome。Somethinghadtobedecidedupon。

GeorgeSandpaidhisdebtsfirst，andthehusbandandwifethensignedanagreementtotheeffectthattheirrespectivepropertyshouldbeseparated。Dudevantregrettedhavingsignedthisafterwards，anditwastornupafteraviolentscenewhichtookplacebeforewitnessesinOctober，1835。ThepretextofthisscenehadbeenanordergiventoMaurice。Inaseriesofletters，whichhaveneverhithertobeenpublished，GeorgeSandrelatesthevariousincidentsofthisaffair。Wegivesomeofthemoreimportantpassages。

Thefollowingletteristoherhalf—brotherHippolyte，whousedtobeCasimir’sdrinkingcompanion。

_"ToHippolyteChatiron。_

"Myfriend，Iamabouttotellyousomenewswhichwillreachyouindirectly，andthatyouhadbetterhearfirstfromme。

Insteadofcarryingoutouragreementpleasantlyandloyally，Casimirisactingwiththemostinsaneanimositytowardsme。

Withoutmygivinghimanyreasonforsuchathing，eitherbymyconductormymanneroftreatinghim，heendeavouredtostrikeme。

Hewaspreventedbyfivepersons，oneofwhomwasDutheil，andhethenfetchedhisguntoshootme。Asyoucanimagine，hewasnotallowedtodothis。

"Onaccountofsuchtreatmentandofhishatred，whichamountstomadness，thereisnosafetyformeinahousetowhichhealwayshastherighttocome。Ihavenoguarantee，excepthisownwillandpleasure，thathewillkeepouragreement，andIcannotremainatthemercyofamanwhobehavessounreasonablyandindelicatelytome。

Ihavethereforedecidedtoaskforalegalseparation，andIshallnodoubtobtainthis。CasimirmadethisfrightfulscenetheeveningbeforeleavingforParis。Onhisreturnhere，hefoundthehouseempty，andmestayingatDutheil’s，bypermissionofthePresidentofLaChatre。Healsofoundasummonsawaitinghimonthemantelshelf。

Hehadtomakethebestofit，forheknewitwasnouseattemptingtofightagainsttheresultofhisownfolly，andthat，byholdingout，thescandalwouldallfallonhim。Hemadethefollowingstipulations，promisingtoadheretothem。Duthellwasourintermediary。

Iamtoallowhimapensionof3，800francs，which，withthe1，200

francsincomethathenowhas，willmake5，000francsayearforhim。

Ithinkthisisallstraightforward，asIampayingfortheeducationofthetwochildren。Mydaughterwillremainundermyguidance，asIunderstand。Mysonwillremainatthecollegewherehenowisuntilhehasfinishedhiseducation。Duringtheholidayshewillspendamonthwithhisfatherandamonthwithme。Inthisway，therewillbenocontest。DudevantwillreturntoParisverysoon，withoutmakinganyopposition，andtheCourtwillpronouncetheseparationindefault。"[23]

[23]CommunicatedbyM。S。Rocheblave。

ThefollowingamusingletteronthesamesubjectwaswrittenbyGeorgeSandtoAdolpheDuplombinthe_patois_peculiartoBerry：

"DEARHYDROGEN，"YouhavebeenmisinformedaboutwhattookplaceatLaChatre。

DuthellneverquarrelledwiththeBaronofNohant—Vic。Thisisthetruestory。Thebarontookitintohisheadtostrikeme。

Dutheilobjected。FleuryandPapetalsoobjected。Thebaronwenttosearchforhisguntokilleveryone。Everyonedidnotwanttobekilled，andsothebaronsaid：`Well，that’senoughthen，’

andbegantodrinkagain。Thatwashowitallhappened。Noonequarrelledwithhim。ButIhadhadenough。AsIdonotcaretoearnmylivingandthenleave_mysubstance_inthehandsofthe_diable_

andbebowedoutofthehouseeveryyear，whilethevillagehussiessleepinmybedsandbringtheirfleasintomyhouse，Ijustsaid：

`Iain’tgoingtohaveanymoreofthat，’andIwentandfoundthebigjudgeofLaChatre，andIsays，saysI：`That’showitis。’

Andthenhesays，sayshe：`Allright。’Andsoheunmarriedus。

AndIamnotsorry。Theysaythatthebaronwillmakeanappeal。

Iain’tknowin’。Weshallsee。Ifhedoes，he’llloseeverything。

Andthat’sthewholestory。"[24]

[24]CommunicatedbyM。CharlesDuplomb。

ThecasewaspleadedinMarch，1836，atLaChatre，andinJulyatBourges。TheCourtgrantedtheseparation，andthecareofthechildrenwasattributedtoGeorgeSand。

Thiswasnottheendoftheaffair，though。InSeptember，1837，GeorgeSandwaswarnedthatDudevantintendedtogetMauriceawayfromher。ShesentafriendonwhomshecouldcounttotakeherboytoFontainebleau，andthenwentherselftowatchoverhim。

Inthemeantime，Dudevant，notfindinghissonatNohant，tookSolangeawaywithhim，inspiteofthechild’stearsandtheresistanceofthegoverness。GeorgeSandgavenoticetothepolice，and，ondiscoveringthatherlittledaughterwassequesteredatGuillery，nearNerac，shewentherselfinapost—chaisetothesub—prefect，acharmingyoungman，whowasnootherthanBaronHauss—

mann。Onhearingthestory，hewenthimselfwithher，and，accompaniedbythelieutenantoftheconstabularyandthesheriff’sofficeronhorseback，laidsiegetothehouseatGuilleryinwhichtheyounggirlwasimprisoned。Dudevantbroughthisdaughtertothedoorandhandedherovertohermother，threateningatthesametimetotakeMauricefromherbylegalauthority。

Thehusbandandwifethenseparated……delightedwitheachother，accordingtoGeorgeSand。Theyveryrarelymetafterthisaffair。

Dudevantcertainlydidnotimpresspeopleveryfavourably。

Aftertheseparation，whenmatterswerebeingfinallysettled，heputinaclaimforfifteenpotsofjamandanironfrying—pan。

Allthisseemsverypetty。

ThefirstuseGeorgeSandmadeofthelibertygrantedtoherbythelaw，in1836，wastostartoffwithMauriceandSolangeforSwitzerlandtojoinherfriendsFranzLisztandtheComtessed’Agoult。GeorgeSandhadmadeLiszt’sacquaintancethroughMusset。

Lisztgavemusic—lessonstoAlfred’ssister，Herminie。Hewasbornin1811，sothathewassevenyearsyoungerthanGeorgeSand。

Hewastwenty—threeatthetimehefirstmether，andtheirfriendshipwasalwaysplatonc。Theyhadremarkableaffinitiesofnature。

Liszthadfirstthoughtofbecomingapriest。Hisreligiousfervourwasgraduallytransformedintoanardentloveofhumanity。

Hisearlyeducationhadbeenneglected，andhenowreadeagerly。

HeonceaskedMonsieurCremieux，theadvocate，toteachhim"thewholeofFrenchliterature。"Onrelatingthistosomeone，Cremieuxremarked："Greatconfusionseemstoreigninthisyoungman’smind。"Hehadbeenwildlyexcitedduringthemovementof1830，greatlyinfluencedbytheSaint—Simonideas，andwasrousedtoenthusiasmbyLamennals，whohadjustpublishedthe_Parolesd’unCroyant_。

AfterreadingLeoneLeoni，hebecameanadmirerofGeorgeSand。

LeoneLeoniisatranspositionofManonLescautintotheromanticstyle。

AyounggirlnamedJuliettehasbeenseducedbyayoungseigneur，andthendiscoversthatthismanisanabominableswindler。

Ifwetrytoimaginealltheinfamousthingsofwhichan_apache_

wouldbecapable，whoatthesametimeisdevotedtothewomenofthepavement，wethenhaveLeoneLeoni。Juliette，whoisnaturallyhonestandstraightforward，hasahorrorofalltheatrocitiesandshamefulthingsshesees。Andyet，inspiteofall，shecomesbacktoLeoneLeoni，andcannotloveanyoneelse。

Herloveisstrongerthansheis，andherpassionsweepsawayallscruplesandtriumphsoverallscruples。Thedifferencebetweenthenoveloftheeighteenthcentury，whichwassotruetolife，andthislyricalfantasyofthenineteenthcenturyisveryevident。

ManonandDesGrieuxalwaysremainedunitedtoeachother，fortheywereofequalvalue。Everythingtookplaceinthelowerdepthsofsociety，andinthemire，asitwere，oftheheart。YouhaveonlytomakeagoodmanofDesGrieux，oravirtuousgirlofManon，anditisallover。

ThetransposingofLeoneLeoniisjustthis，andtheromanticismofitdelightedLiszt。

Hehadjustgivenafineexampleofapplyingromanticismtolife。

Maried’Agoult，_nee_deFlavigny，haddecided，onefineday，toleaveherhusbandanddaughterforthesakeofthepassionthatwaseverythingtoher。SheaccordinglystartedforGeneva，andLisztjoinedherthere。

Betweenthesetwowomenafriendshipsprangup，whichwasduerathertoawishtolikeeachotherthantoarealattractionorrealfellow—feeling。TheComtessed’Agoult，withherblueeyes，herslenderfigure，andsomewhatetherealstyle，wasaveritableDiana，anaristocratandasocietywoman。GeorgeSandwasherexactopposite。

ButtheComtessed’Agoulthadjust"sacrificedallthevanitiesoftheworldforthesakeofanartist，"sothatshedeservedconsideration。

ThestayatGenevawasgayandanimated。The_Piffoels_（GeorgeSandandherchildren）andthe_Fellows_（Lisztandhispupil，HermannCohen）enjoyedscandalizingthewholehotelbytheirBohemianways。Theywentforanexcursiontothefrozenlake。

AtLausanneLisztplayedtheorgan。OnreturningtoParisthefriendsdidnotwanttoseparate。InOctober，1836，GeorgeSandtookupherabodeonthefirstflooroftheHoteldeFrance，intheRueLaffitte，andLisztandtheCorntessed’Agoulttookaroomonthefloorabove。Thetrioshared，adrawing—roombetweenthem，butinrealityitbecamemoretheComtessed’Agoult’s_salon_thanGeorgeSand’s。Lamennais，HenriHeine，Mickiewicz，MichelofBourgesandCharlesDidierwereamongtheirvisitors，andwearetoldthatthis_salon_，improvisedinahotelwas"areunionofthe_elite_，overwhichtheComtessed’Agoultpresidedwithexquisitegrace。"

Shewasatruesocietywoman，averitablemistressofherhome，oneofthosewhocouldtransformaroominahotel，atravellingcarriage，orevenaprisonintothatexquisitething，sodeartoFrenchpolitesocietyofyore——a_salon_。

Amongthe_habitues_ofMadamed’Agoult’s_salon_wasChopin。

ThisisanewchapterinGeorgeSand’slife，andalittlelateronweshallbeabletoconsider，asawhole，theimportanceofthisintercoursewithgreatartistsasregardsherintellectualdevelopment。

Beforefinishingourstudyofthisepochinherlife，wemustnoticehowmuchGeorgeSand’stalenthaddevelopedandblossomedout。

_Mauprat_waspublishedin1837，andisundoubtedlythefirstofher_chefs—d’oeuvre_。Inheruninterruptedliteraryproduction，whichcontinuedregularlyinspiteofandthroughallthestormsofherprivatelife，thereismuchthatisstrangeandsecond—rateandmuchthatisexcellent。_Jacques_isanextraordinarypieceofwork。ItwaswrittenatVenicewhenshewaswithPagello。

GeorgeSanddeclaredthatshehadneitherputherselfnorMussetintothisbook。Shewasneverthelessinspiredbytheircase，andshemerelytransposedtheiridealofrenunciation。

_Andre_maybeclassedamongthesecond—ratework。Itisthestoryofayoungnoblewhoseducesagirloftheworking—class。ItisasouvenirofBerry，writteninahome—sickmoodwhenGeorgeSandwasatVenice。_Simon_alsobelongstothesecond—ratecategory。

TheportraitofMichelofBourgescaneasilybetracedinit。

GeorgeSandhadintendeddoingmoreforMichelthanthis。

Shecomposedarevolutionarynovelinthreevolumes，inhishonour，entitled：_Engelwaldwiththehighforehead_。

Bulozneithercaredfor_Engelwald_norforhishighforehead，andthisnovelwasneverpublished。

AccordingtoGeorgeSand，whenshewrote_Mauprat_herideawastherehabilitationofmarriage。"Ihadjustbeenpetitioningforaseparation，"shesays。Ihad，untilthen，beenfightingagainsttheabusesofmarriage，and，asIhadneverdevelopedmyideassufficiently，IhadgiveneveryonethenotionthatI

despisedtheessentialprinciplesofit。Onthecontrary，marriagereallyappearedtomeinallthemoralbeautyofthoseprinciples，andinmybookImakemyhero，attheageofeighty，proclaimhisfaithfulnesstotheonlywomanhehaseverloved。"

"SheistheonlywomanIhaveeverloved，"saysBernarddeMauprat。

"Nootherwomanhaseverattractedmyattentionorbeenembracedbyme。Iamlikethat。WhenIlove，Iloveforever，inthepast，inthepresentandinthefuture。"

_Mauprat_，then，accordingtoGeorgeSand，wasanovelwithapurpose，justas_Indiana_was，althoughtheyeachhadanoppositepurpose。

Fortunatelyitisnothingofthekind。Thisisoneofthoseexplanationsarrangedafterwards，peculiarsometimestoauthors。

Therealityaboutallthisisquitedifferent。

InthisbookGeorgeSandhadjustgiventhereinstoherimagination，withoutallowingsociologicalpreoccupationstospoileverything。

DuringherexcursionsinBerry，shehadstoppedtogazeattheruinsofanoldfeudalcastle。Weallknowthepowerofsuggestioncontainedinthoseoldstones，andhowwonderfullytheytellstoriesofthepasttheyhavewitnessedtothosepersonswhoknowhowtoquestionthem。

Theremembranceofthe_chateau_ofRocheMaupratcametothemindofthenovelist。ShesawitjustasitstoodbeforetheRevolution，afortress，andatthesametimearefugeforthewildlordandhiseightsons，whousedtosallyforthandravagethecountry。

InFrenchnarrativeliteraturethereisnothingtosurpassthefirsthundredpagesinwhichGeorgeSandintroducesustotheburgravesofcentralFrance。SheisjustashappywhenshetakesustoPariswithBernarddeMauprat，toParisofthelastdaysoftheold_regime_。Sheintroducesustothesocietywhichshehadlearnttoknowthroughthetraditionsofhergrandmother。

ItisnotonlyNature，buthistory，whichsheusesasasettingforherstory。Howcleverly，too，shetreatstheanalysiswhichisthetruesubjectofthebook，thatofeducationthroughlove。

WeseetheuntamednatureofBernarddeMaupratgraduallygivingwayundertheinfluenceofthenobleanddeliciousEdmee。

Therearetypicalpeasants，too，in_Mauprat_。WehaveMarcasse，themole—catcher，andPatience，thegood—naturedPatience，therusticphilosopher，wellupinEpictetusandinJean—JacquesRousseau，whohasgoneintothewoodstolivehislifeaccordingtothelawsofNatureandtofindthewisdomoftheprimitivedaysoftheworld。

Wearetoldthat，duringtheRevolution，Patiencewasasortofintermediarybetweenthe_chateau_andthecottage，andthathehelpedinbringingaboutthereignofequityinhisdistrict。

Itistobehopedthiswasso。

Inanycase，itisverycertainthatwecomeacrossthisPatienceagaininRussiannovelswithanameendingin_ow_or_ew_。

Thisisaproofthatifthepersonageseemssomewhatimpossible，hewasatanyrateoriginal，newandentertaining。

WehearpeoplesaythatGeorgeSandisnolongerread。Itistobehopedthat_Mauprat_isstillread，otherwiseourmodernreadersmissoneofthefineststoriesinthehistoryofnovels。This，then，isthepointatwhichwehavearrivedintheevolutionofGeorgeSand’sgenius。Theremaystillbemodificationsinherstyle，andhertalentmaystillberefreshedundervariousinfluences，butwith_Mauprat_shetookherplaceinthefirstrankofgreatstorytellers。}

VI

ACASEOFMATERNALAFFECTIONINLOVE

CHOPIN

WehavepassedoverGeorgeSand’sintercoursewithLisztandMadamed’Agoultveryrapidly。OneofBalzac’snovelsgivesusanopportunityofsayingafewmorewordsaboutit。

BalzachadbeenintroducedtoGeorgeSandbyJulesSandeau。Atthetimeofherrupturewithhisfriend，Balzachadsidedentirelywithhim。

Inthe_Lettresal’Etrangere_，weseetheauthorofthe_Comediehumaine_pouringouthisindignationwiththebluestocking，whowassocruelinherlove，intermswhichwerenotextremelyelegant。

Gradually，andwhenheknewmoreabouttheadventure，hisangercooleddown。InMarch，1838，hegaveMadameZulmaCarraudanaccountofavisittoNohant。Hefoundhiscomrade，GeorgeSand，inherdressing—gown，smokingacigarbyherfiresideafterdinner。

"Shehadsomeprettyyellowslipperson，ornamentedwithfringe，somefancystockingsandredtrousers。Somuchforthemoralside。

Physically，shehaddoubledherchinlikeacanoness。Shehadnotasinglewhitehair，inspiteofallherfearfulmisfortunes；

herduskycomplexionhadnotchanged。Herbeautifuleyeswerejustasbright，andshelookedjustasstupidaseverwhenshewasthinking……"

ThisisGeorgeSandinherthirty—fifthyear，asshewasatthetimeofthefreshadventureweareabouttorelate。

Balzaccontinuesbygivingusafewdetailsaboutthelifeoftheauthoress。Itwasverymuchlikehisown，exceptthatBalzacwenttobedatsixo’clockandgotupatmidnight，andGeorgeSandwenttobedatsixinthemorningandgotupatnoon。

Headdsthefollowingremark，whichshowsusthestateofherfeelings：

"Sheisnowinaveryquietretreat，andcondemnsbothmarriageandlove，becauseshehashadnothingbutdisappointmentinbothherself。

Hermanwasarareone，thatwasreallyall。"

Inthecourseoftheirfriendlyconversation，GeorgeSandgavehimthesubjectforanovelwhichitwouldberatherawkwardforhertowrite。Thenovelwastobe_Galeriens_or_Amoursforces_。

These"galley—slaves"oflovewereLisztandtheComtessed’Agoult，whohadbeenwithGeorgeSandatChamonix，ParisandNohant。

Itwasveryevidentthatshecouldnotwritethenovelherself。

Balzacaccordinglywroteit，anditfiguresinthe_ComediehumaineasBeatrix_。BeatrixistheComtessed’Agoult，theinspirer，andLisztisthecomposerConti。

"Youhavenoideayetoftheawfulrightsthatalovewhichnolongerexistsgivestoamanoverawoman。Theconvictisalwaysunderthedominationofthecompanionchainedtohim。Iamlost，andmustreturntotheconvictprison，"writesBalzacinthisbook。

Then，too，thereisnomistakinghisportraitofBeatrix。

Thefairhairthatseemstogivelight，theforeheadwhichlookstransparent，thesweet，charmingface，thelong，wonderfullyshapedneck，and，aboveandbeyondall，thatairofaprincess，inallthiswecaneasilyrecognize"thefair，blue—eyedPeri。"

Notcontentwithbringingthisillustriouscoupleintohisnovel，Balzacintroducesothercontemporaries。ClaudeVignon（who，althoughhisspecialworkwascriticism，madeacertainplaceforhimselfinliterature）andGeorgeSandherselfappearinthisbook。

SheisFelicitedesTouches，andherpennameisCamilleMaupin。

"Camilleisanartist，"wearetold；"shehasgenius，andsheleadsanexceptionallifesuchascouldnotbejudgedinthesamewayasanordinaryexistence。"Someoneaskshowshewritesherbooks，andtheansweris："Justinthesamewayasyoudoyourwoman’swork，yournettingoryourtapestry。"Sheissaidtohavetheintelligenceofanangelandevenmoreheartthantalent。

Withherfixed，setgaze，herdarkcomplexionandhermasculineways，sheistheexactantithesisofthefairBeatrix。Sheisconstantlybeingcomparedtothelatter，andisevidentlypreferredtoher。

ItisveryevidentfromwhomBalzacgetshisinformation，anditisalsoevidentthatthefriendshipbetweenthetwowomenhascooleddown。

ThecauseofthecoolnessbetweenthemwasGeorgeSand’sinfatuationforChopin，whomshehadknownthroughLisztandMadamed’Agoult。GeorgeSandwrotetoLisztfromNohant，inMarch，1837：

"TellChopinthatIhopehewillcomewithyou。Mariecannotlivewithouthim，andIadorehim。"InAprilshewrotetoMadamed’Agoult："TellChopinthatIidolizehim。"WedonotknowwhetherMadamed’Agoultgavethemessage，butshecertainlyreplied：

"Chopincoughswithinfinitegrace。Heisanirresoluteman。

Theonlythingabouthimthatispermanentishiscough。"

Thisiscertainlyveryfeminineinitsferociousness。

AtthetimewhenhecameintoGeorgeSand’slife，Chopin，thecomposerandvirtuoso，wasthefavouriteofParisian_salons_，thepianistinvogue。Hewasbornin1810，sothathewasthentwenty—sevenyearsofage。Hissuccesswasdue，inthefirstplace，tohismeritsasanartist，andnowhereisanartist’ssuccesssogreatasinParis。Chopin’sdelicatestylewasadmirablysuitedtothedimensionsandtotheatmosphereofa_salon_。[25]

[25]AsregardsChopin，IhaveconsultedabiographybyLiszt，astudybyM。CamilleBellaigueandthevolumebyM。EliePoireeinthe_Collectiondesmusicienscelebres_，publishedbyH。Laurens。

HeconfessedtoLisztthatacrowdintimidatedhim，thathefeltsuffocatedbyallthequickbreathingandparalyzedbytheinquisitiveeyesturnedonhim。"Youwereintendedforallthis，"

headds，"as，ifyoudonotwinoveryourpublic，youcanatleastoverwhelmit。"

Chopinwasmademuchoftheninsociety。Hewasfragileanddelicate，andhadalwaysbeenwatchedoverandcaredfor。Hehadgrownupinapeaceful，unitedfamily，inoneofthosesimplehomesinwhichallthedetailsofeverydaylifebecomelessprosaic，thankstoaninnatedistinctionofsentimentandtoreligioushabits。

PrinceRadz’willhadwatchedoverChopin’seducation。Hehadbeenreceivedwhenquiteyounginthemostaristocraticcircles，and"themostcelebratedbeautieshadsmiledonhimasayouth。"

Sociallife，then，andfeminineinfluencehadthushelpedtomakehimultrarefined。Itwasveryevidenttoeveryonewhomethimthathewasawell—bredman，andthisisquicklyobserved，evenwithpianists。

Onarrivinghemadeagoodimpression，hewaswelldressed，hiswhitegloveswereimmaculate。Hewasreservedandsomewhatlanguid。

Everyoneknewthathewasdelicate，andtherewasarumourofanunhappyloveaffair。Itwassaidthathehadbeeninlovewithagirl，andthatherfamilyhadrefusedtoconsenttohermarriagewithhim。

Peoplesaidhewaslikehisownmusic，thedreamy，melancholythemesseemedtoaccordsowellwiththepaleyoungfaceofthecomposer。

Thefascinationofthelanguorwhichseemedtoemanatefromthemanandfromhisworkworkeditsway，inasubtlemanner，intotheheartsofhishearers。ChopindidnotcaretoknowLelia。

Hedidnotlikewomenwriters，andhewasratheralarmedatthisone。

ItwasLisztwhointroducedthem。InhisbiographyofChopin，hetellsusthattheextremelysensitiveartist，whowassoeasilyalarmed，dreaded"thiswomanaboveallwomen，as，likeapriestessofDelphi，shesaidsomanythingsthattheotherscouldnothavesaid。

Heavoidedherandpostponedtheintroduction。MadameSandhadnoideathatshewasfearedasasylph……"Shemadethefirstadvances。Itiseasytoseewhatcharmedherinhim。

Inthefirstplace，heappealedtoherashedidtoallwomen，andthen，too，therewastheabsolutecontrastoftheirtwooppositenatures。

Shewasallforce，ofanexpansive，exuberantnature。Hewasverydiscreet，reservedandmysterious。ItseemsthatthePolishcharacteristicistolendoneself，butnevertogiveoneselfaway，andoneofChopin’sfriendssaidofhimthathewas"morePolishthanPolanditself。"Suchacontrastmayproveastrongattraction，andthen，too，GeorgeSandwasverysensitivetothecharmofmusic。

ButwhatshesawaboveallinChopinwasthetypicalartist，justassheunderstoodtheartist，adreamer，lostintheclouds，incapableofanyactivitythatwaspractical，a"loveroftheimpossible。"

Andthen，too，hewasill。WhenMussetleftVenice，afteralltheatrociousnightsshehadspentathisbedside，shewrote："WhomshallIhavenowtolookafterandtend？"InChopinshefoundsomeonetotend。

Aboutthistime，shewasanxiousaboutthehealthofhersonMaurice，andshethoughtshewouldtakeherfamilytoMajorca。Thiswasalamentableexcursion，butitseemedsatisfactoryatfirst。

TheytravelledbywayofLyons，Avignon，VaucluseandNimes。

AtPerpignan，Chopinarrived，"asfreshasarose。""Ourjourney，"

wroteGeorgeSand，"seemstobeunderthemostfavourableconditions。"

TheythenwentontoBarcelonaandtoPalma。InNovember，1838，GeorgeSandwroteamostenthusiasticletter："Itispoetry，solitude，allthatismostartisticand_chique_onearth。Andwhatskies，whatacountry；wearedelighted。"[26]Thedisenchantmentwassoontobegin，though。Thefirstdifficultywastofindlodgings，andthesecondtogetfurniture。Therewasnowoodtoburnandtherewasnolinentobehad。Ittooktwomonthstohaveapairoftongsmade，anditcosttwenty—eightpoundsatthecustomsforapianotoenterthecountry。Withgreatdifficulty，theforlorntravellersfoundacountry—housebelongingtoamannamedGomez，whichtheywereabletorent。Itwascalledthe"WindyHouse。"

Thewinddidnotinconveniencethemliketherain，whichnowcommenced。

Chopincouldnotenduretheheatandtheodourofthefires。

Hisdiseaseincreased，andthiswastheoriginofthegreattribulationsthatweretofollow。

[26]ThefollowingisanunpublishedlettertoMadameBuloz：

_Monday13th。_

MYDEARCHRISTINE，"IhaveonlybeenatPalmafourdays。Myjourneyhasbeenverysatisfactory，butratherlonganddifficultuntilwewereoutofFrance。Itookupmypen（aspeoplesay）twentytimesovertowritethelastfiveorsixpagesforwhich_Spiridion_hasbeenwaitingforsixmonths。Itisnottheeasiestthingintheworld，Icanassureyou，togivetheconclusionofone’sownreligiousbelief，andwhentravellingitisimpossible。AttwentydifferentplacesIhaveresolvedtothinkitsolemnlyoverandtowritedownmyconclusion。

Butthesestoppageswerethemosttiringpartofourjourney。

Therewerevisits，dinners，walks，curiosities，ruins，theVauclusefountain，ReboulandtheNimesarena，theBarcelonacathedrals，dinnersonboardthewar—ships，theItaliantheatresofSpain（andwhattheatresandwhatItalians！），guitarsandHeavenknowswhatbeside。TherewasthemoonlightontheseaandaboveallValmaandMallorca，themostdelightfulplaceintheworld，andallthiskeptmeterriblyfarawayfromphilosophyandtheology。

FortunatelyIhavefoundsomesuperbconventshereallinruins，withpalm—trees，aloesandthecactusinthemidstofbrokenmosaicsandcrumblingcloisters，andthistakesmebackto_Spiridion_。

ForthelastthreedaysIhavehadarageforwork，whichIcannotsatisfyyet，aswehaveneitherfirenorlodging。ThereisnotaninninPalma，nohousetoletandnofurnituretobebought。

Onarrivingherepeoplefirsthavetobuysomeground，thenbuild，andafterwardssendforfurniture。Afterthis，permissiontolivesomewherehastobeobtainedfromGovernment，andafterfiveorsixyearsonecanthinkaboutopeningone’strunkandchangingone’schemise，whilstwaitingforpermissionfromtheCustomstohavesomeshoesandhandkerchiefspassed。Forthelastfourdaysthenwehavespentourtimegoingfromdoortodoor，aswedonotwanttosleepintheopenair。Wehopenowtobesettledinaboutthreedays，asamiraclehastakenplace。Forthefirsttimeinthememoryofman，thereisafurnishedhousetoletinMallorca，acharmingcountry—houseinadelightfuldesert……"{Theendoffootnote[26]}

AtthattimeSpainwastheverylastcountryinwhichtotravelwithaconsumptivepatient。Inaveryfinelecture，thesubjectofwhichwas_TheFightwithTubcrculosis_，[27]Dr。Landouzyprovestousthateversincethesixteenthcentury，inthedistrictsoftheMediterranean，inSpain，intheBalearicIslesandthroughoutthekingdomofNaples，tuberculosiswasheldtobecontagious，whilsttherestofEuropewasignorantofthiscontagion。

Extremelysevereruleshadbeenlaiddownwithregardtothemeasurestobetakenforavoidingthespreadofthisdisease。Aconsumptivepatientwasconsideredasakindofplague—strickenindividual。

ChateaubriandhadexperiencedtheinconveniencesofthisscareduringhisstayinRomewithMadamedeBeaumont，whodiedthereofconsumption，atthebeginningofthewinterof1803。

GeorgeSand，inherturn，wastohaveasimilarexperience。

WhenChopinwasconvictedofconsumption，"which，"asshewrites，"wasequivalenttotheplague，accordingtotheSpanishdoctors，withtheirforegoneconclusionsaboutcontagion，"theirlandlordsimplyturnedthemoutofhishouse。TheytookrefugeintheChartreusemonasteryofValdemosa，wheretheylivedinacell。Thesitewasverybeautiful。Byawoodedslopeaterracecouldbereached，fromwhichtherewasaviewoftheseaontwosides。

[27]L。LandouzyoftheAcademyofMedecine，_LaLuttecontrelatuberculose_，publishedbyL。Maretheux。

"Weareplantedbetweenheavenandearth，"wroteGeorgeSand。

"Thecloudscrossourgardenattheirownwillandpleasure，andtheeaglesclamouroverourheads。"

Acellinthismonasterywascomposedofthreerooms：theoneinthemiddlewasintendedforreading，prayerandmeditation，theothertwowerethebedroomandtheworkshop。Allthreeroomslookedontoagarden。Reading，restandmanuallabourmadeupthelifeofthesemen。Theylivedinalimitedspacecertainly，buttheviewstretchedoutinfinitely，andprayerwentupdirecttoGod。

Amongtheruinedbuildingsoftheenormousmonasterytherewasacloisterstillstanding，throughwhichthewindhowleddesperately。

Itwaslikethesceneryinthenuns’actin_RobertleDiable_。

Allthismadetheoldmonasterythemostromanticplaceintheworld。[28]

[28]GeorgeSandtoMadameBuloz。Postscripttotheletteralreadyquoted：

"IamleavingforthecountrywhereIhaveafurnishedhousewithagarden，magnificentlysituatedfor50francsamonth。

Ihavealsotakenacell，thatisthreeroomsandagardenfor35

francsayearintheChartreuseofValdemosa，amagnificent，immensemonasteryquitelonelyinthemidstofmountains。

Ourgardenisfulloforangesandlemons。Thetreesbreakunderthem。Wehavehedgesofcactustwentytothirtyfeethigh，theseaisaboutamileandahalfaway。Wehaveadonkeytotakeustothetown，roadsinaccessibletovisitors，immensecloistersandthemostbeautifularchitecture，acharmingchurch，acemeterywithapalm—treeandastonecrossliketheoneinthethirdactof_RobertleDiable_。Then，too，therearebedsofshrubscutinform。Allthiswehavetoourselveswithanoldwomantowaitonus，andthesacristanwhoiswarder，steward，majordomoandJack—of—all—trades。Ihopeweshallhaveghosts。Thedoorofmycellleadsintoanenormouscloister，andwhenthewindslamsthedooritislikeacannongoingoffthroughallthemonastery。

Iamdelightedwitheverything，andfancyIshallbemoreofteninthecellthaninthecountry—house，whichisaboutsixmilesaway。

YouseethatIhaveplentyofpoetryandsolitude，sothatifI

donotworkIshallbeastupidthing。"{Theendoffootnote[28]}

Theonlydrawbackwasthatitwasmostdifficulttolivethere。