第7章

FrancoisonlycaresforMadeleine，though。Onthestage，welikeamantobeadoredbyallwomen，asthisseemstousaguaranteethathewillonlycareforoneofthem。

"Champi"isawordpeculiartoacertaindistrict，meaning"naturalson。"Dumas_fils_wroteaplayentitled_LeFilsnaturel_。

Theheroisalsoasuperiorman，whoplaysthepartofProvidencetothefamilywhichhasrefusedtorecognizehim。

In_Claudie_，asin_FrancoisleChampi_，theruralsettingisoneofthegreatcharmsoftheplay。Thefirstactisoneofthemostpicturesquescenesonthestage。Ittakesplaceinafarmyard，thedaywhenthereapershavefinishedtheirtask，whichisjustasawe—inspiringasthatofthesowers。Acart，drawnbyoxen，enterstheyard，bringingasheafalladornedwithribbonsandflowers。Theoldestofthelabourers，PereRemy，addressesafinecouplettothesheafofcornwhichhascostsomuchlabour，butwhichisdestinedtokeeplifeinthemall。

Claudieisoneofthoseyoungpeasantgirls，whomwemetwithinthenovelentitled_Jeanne_。Shehadbeenunfortunate，butJeanne，althoughvirtuousandpureherself，didnotdespiseher，forinthecountrythereisgreatlatitudeincertainmatters。

Thisisjusttheplainstory，butonthestageeverythingbecomesmoredramaticandistreatedinamoredetailedandsolemnfashion。

Claudie’smisfortunecauseshertobecomeasortofpersonageapart，anditraisesherveryhighinherownesteem。

"Iamnotafraidofanythingthatcanbesaidaboutme，"

observesClaudie，"for，onknowingthetruth，kind—hearted，uprightpeoplewillacknowledgethatIdonotdeservetobeinsulted。"

Heroldgrandfather，Remy，hascompletelyabsolvedher。

"Youhaverepentedandsufferedenough，andyouhaveworkedandweptandexpiatedenough，too，mypoorClaudie，"hesays。

Throughallthisshehasbecomeworthytomakeanexcellentmarriage。

Itisacaseofthatspecialmoralcodebywhich，afterfreelove，thefaultmustberecompensed。

ClaudieislaterontheJeannineofthe_IdeesdeMadameAubray_，theDeniseofAlexandreDumas。Sheistheunmarriedmother，whosemisfortuneshavenotcrushedherpride，who，afterbeingoutraged，hasarightnowtoadoubleshareofrespect。Thefirstgoodyoungmaniscalledupontoacceptherpastlife，forthereisalawofsolidarityintheworld。Thehumanspeciesisdividedintotwocategories，theoneisalwaysbusydoingharm，andtheotherisnaturallyobligedtogiveitselfuptomakinggoodtheharmdone。

_TheMariagedeVictorine_belongstoawell—knownkindofliteraryexercise，whichwasformerlyverymuchinhonourinthecolleges。

Thisconsistsintakingacelebratedworkattheplacewheretheauthorhasleftitandinimaginingthe"sequel。"Forinstance，afterthe_Cid_，therewouldbethemarriageofRodrigueandChimeneforus。Asacontinuationof_L’EcoledesFemmes_，thereistheresultofthemarriageoftheyoungHoracewiththetiresomelittleAgnes。Corneillegaveasequeltothe_Menteur_himself。

Fabred’Eglantinewrotethesequelto_LeMisanthrope_，andcalledit_LePhilintedeMoliere_。GeorgeSandgivesusherethesequelofSedaine’s_chef—d’oeuvre_（thatis，a_chef—d’oeuvre_

forSedaine），_LePhilosophesanslesavor。_

In_LePhilosophesanslesavoir_MonsieurVanderkeisanobleman，whohasbecomeamerchantinordertobeinaccordancewiththeideasofthetimes。HeisaFrenchman，buthehastakenaDutchnameoutofsnobbishness。HehasaclerkoraconfidentialservantnamedAntoine。

VictorineisAntoine’sdaughter。Vanderke’ssonistofightaduel，andfromVictorine’semotion，whilstawaitingtheresultofthisduel，itiseasytoseethatsheisinlovewiththisyoungman。

GeorgeSand’splayturnsonthequestionofwhatistobedonewhenthedaycomesforVictorinetomarry。Anexcellenthusbandisfoundforher，acertainFulgence，oneofMonsieurVanderke’sclerks。

Hebelongstoherownclass，andthisisconsideredoneoftheindispensableconditionsforhappinessinmarriage。Helovesher，sothateverythingseemstofavourVictorine。Wearedelighted，andshe，too，seemstobeingoodspirits，but，allthetimethatsheisreceivingcongratulationsandpresents，webegintoseethatshehassomegreattrouble。

"Silkandpearls！"sheexclaims；"oh，howheavytheyare，butIamsurethattheyareveryfine。Lace，too，andsilver；oh，suchaquantityofsilver。HowrichandfineandhappyIshallbe。

AndthenFulgenceissofondofme。"（Shegetssadderandsadder。）

"Andfatherissopleased。Howstrange。Ifeelstifled。"

（ShesitsdowninAntoinc’schair。）"Isthisjoy？……Ifeel……

Ah，ithurtstobeashappyasthis……"Sheburstsintotears。

Thissuppressedemotiontowhichshefinallygivesvent，andthisforcedsmilewhichendsinsobsareveryeffectiveonthestage。

Thequestionis，howcanVictorine’stearsbedried？ShewantstomarryyoungVanderke，thesonofherfather’semployer，insteadoftheclerk。Theonlythingis，then，toarrangethismarriage。

"Isitacrime，then，formybrothertoloveVictorine？"asksSophie，"andisitmadofmetothinkthatyouwillgiveyourconsent？"

"MydearSophie，"repliesMonsieurVanderke，"therearenounequalmarriagesinthesightofGod。AservitorlikeAntoineisafriend，andIhavealwaysbroughtyouuptoconsiderVictorineasyourcompanionandequal。"

Thisisthewaythefatherofthefamilyspeaks。Personally，Iconsiderhimratherimprudent。

Asthisplayisalreadyasequeltoanotherone，Idonotwishtoproposeasequelto_LeMariagedeVictorine_，butIcannothelpwonderingwhatwillhappenwhenVanderke’ssonfindshimselftheson—in—lawofanoldservant—man，andalsowhatwilloccurifheshouldtakehiswifetocallonsomeofhissister’sfriends。

Itseemstomethathewouldthenfindouthehad，madeamistake。

Amongthevariouspersonages，onlyoneappearstomequiteworthyofinterest，andthatispoorFulgence，whowassostraightforwardandhonest，andwhoistreatedsobadly。

ButhowdeepVictorinewas！Evenifweadmitthatshedidnotdeliberatelyschemeandplottogetherselfmarriedbythesonofthefamily，shedidinstinctivelyallthathadtobedoneforthat。Shewasverydeepinaninnocentway，andIhavecometotheconclusionthatsuchdeepnessisthemosttobefeared。

Iseequitewellallthatislackinginthesepieces，andthattheyarenotverygreat，butallthesametheyforma"theatre"apart。

ThereisunityinthistheatricalworkofGeorgeSand。Whetheritmakesaheroofthenaturalson，rehabilitatestheseducedgirl，orcriesdowntheideaof_mesalliances_，itisalwaysthesamefightinwhichitisengaged；itisalwaysfightingagainstthesameenemies，prejudiceandnarrow—mindedness。Onthestage，wecalleveryopinioncontrarytoourownprejudiceornarrow—mindedness。Thetheatrelivesbyfighting。Itmatterslittlewhattheauthorisattacking。

Hemaywagewarwithprinciples，prejudices，giants，orwindmills。

Providedthattherebeabattle，therewillbeatheatreforit。

ThefactthatGeorgeSand’stheatrewastheforerunnerofthetheatreofDumas_fils_givesitadditionalvalue。WehavealreadynoticedtheanalogyofsituationsandthekinshipoftheoriescontainedinGeorgeSand’sbestplaysandinthemostnotedonesbyDumas。

IhavenodoubtthatDumasowedagreatdealtoGeorgeSand。

Weshallseethathepaidhisdebtasonlyhecouldhavedone。

Heknewthenovelistwhenhewasquiteyoung，asDumas_pere_andGeorgeSandwereonveryfriendlyterms。InherlettertellingSainte—BeuvenottotakeMussettocallonher，asshethoughthimimpertinent，shetellshimtobringDumas_pere_，whomsheevidentlyconsideredwellbred。Asshewasafriendofhisfather’s，shewaslikeamotherfortheson。Thefirstlettertohiminthe_Correspondance_

isdated1850。Dumas_fils_wasthentwenty—sixyearsofage，andshecallshim"myson。"

Hehadnotwritten_LaDameauxCamelias_then。ItwasperformedforthefirsttimeinFebruary，1852。Hewasmerelytheauthorofafewsecond—ratenovelsandofavolumeofexecrablepoetry。

Hehadnotfoundouthiscapabilitiesatthattime。ThereisnodoubtthathewasgreatlystruckbyGeorgeSand’splays，imbuedastheywerewiththeideaswehavejustpointedout。

Allthisisworthyofnote，asitisessentialforunderstandingtheworkofAlexandreDumas_fils_。He，too，wasanaturalson，andhisillegitimatebirthhadcausedhimmuchsuffering。HewassenttothePensionGoubaux，andforseveralyearsheenduredthetorturehedescribeswithsuchharshnessatthebeginningof_L’AffaireClemenceau_。

Hewasexposedtoallkindsofinsultsandblows。Hisfirstcontactwithsocietytaughthimthatthissocietywasunjust，andthatitmadetheinnocentsuffer。Thefirstexperiencehehadwasthatofthecrueltyandcowardiceofmen。Hismindwasdeeplyimpressedbythis，andheneverlosttheimpression。Hedidnotforgive，butmadeithismissiontodenouncethepharisaicalattitudeofsociety。Hisideawastotreatmenaccordingtotheirmerits，andtopaythembackfortheblowshehadreceivedasachild。[49]

Itiseasy，therefore，tounderstandhowtheprivategrievancesofDumas_fils_hadpreparedhismindtowelcomeatheatrewhichtookthepartoftheoppressedandwagedwarwithsocialprejudices。

Iamfullyawareofthedifferenceintemperamentofthetwowriters。

Dumas_fils_，withhiskeenobservation，wasapessimist。

Hedespisedwoman，andheadvisesustokillher，underthepretextthatshehasalwaysremained"thestrumpetofthelandofNo。"althoughshemaybedressedinaWorthcostumeandwearaRebouxhat。

[49]SeeourstudyofDumas_fils_inavolumeentitled_Portraitsd’ecrivains。_

Asadramaticauthor，AlexandreDumas_fils_hadjustwhatGeorgeSandlacked。Hewasvigorous，hehadtheartofbrevityandbrilliantdialogue。ItisthankstoallthisthatwehaveoneofthemasterpiecesoftheFrenchtheatre，_LeMarquisdeVillemer_，asaresultoftheircollaboration。

WeknowfromGeorgeSand’slettersthesharethatDumas_fils_

hadinthiswork。Hehelpedhertotaketheplayfromhernovel，andtowritethescenario。Afterthis，whenoncetheplaywaswritten，hetouchedupthedialogue，puttinginmoreemphasisandbrilliancy。

ItwasDumas，therefore，whoconstructedtheplay。WeallknowhowcarelessGeorgeSandwaswithhercomposition。Shewrotewithscarcelyanyplaninhermindbeforehand，andletherselfbecarriedawaybyevents。Dumas’ideawasthatthe_denouement_

isamathematicaltotal，andthatbeforewritingthefirstwordofapiecetheauthormustknowtheendandhavedecidedtheaction。

TheatricalmanagerscomplainedofthesadnessofGeorgeSand’splays。

ItistoDumasthatweowethegaietyoftheDucd’Aleria’s_role_。

Itisonecontinualflowofamusingspeeches，anditsavesthepiecefromthedangeroffallingintotearfuldrama。GeorgeSandhadnowit，andDumas_fils_wasfullofit。Itwashewhoputintothedialoguethoselittlesayingswhicharesoeasilyrecognizedashis。

"Whatdothedoctorssay？"isasked，andthereplycomes：

"Whatdothedoctorssay？Well，theysayjustwhattheyknow：

theysaynothing。"

"MybrotherdeclaresthattheairofParisistheonlyairhecanbreathe，"saysanothercharacter。

"Congratulatehimformeonhislungs，"remarkshisinterlocutor。

"Herhusbandwasabaron……"remarkssomeone。

"Whoisnotabaronatpresent？"answersanotherperson。

Acertainelderlygovernessisbeingdiscussed。

"Didyounotknowher？"

"MademoiselleArtemise？No，monsieur。"

"Haveyoueverseenanalbatross？"

"No，never。"

"Notevenstuffed？Oh，youshouldgototheZoo。Itisacuriouscreature，withitsgreatbeakendinginahook……Iteatsalldaylong……Well，MademoiselleArtemise，etc……"

The_MarquisdeVillemer_isinitsplaceintheseriesofGeorgeSand’splays，andisquiteinaccordancewiththegeneraltoneofhertheatre。Itislikethe_MariagedeVictorine_overagain。

ThistimeVictorineisareader，whogetsherselfmarriedbyaMarquisnamedUrbain。Heisofagloomydisposition，sothatshewillnotenjoyhissocietymuch，butshewillbeaMarquise。

VictorineandCarolinearebothpersonswhoknowhowtomaketheirwayintheworld。Whentheyhaveason，Ishouldbeverymuchsurprisediftheyallowedhimtomakea_mesalliance_。

GeorgeSandwasoneofthepersonsforwhomDumas_fils_

hadthegreatestadmiration。Asaproofofthis，avoluminouscorrespondencebetweenthemexists。Ithasnotyetbeenpublished，butthereisapossibilitythatitmaybesomeday。Iremember，whentalkingwithDumas_fils_，thetermsinwhichhealwaysspokeof"lamereSand，"ashecalledherinafamiliarbutfilialway。

Hecomparedhertohisfather，andthatwasgreatpraiseindeedfromhim。

Headmiredinher，too，asheadmiredinhisfather，thatwealthofcreativepowerandimmensecapacityforuninterruptedwork。

Asaproofofthisadmiration，wehaveonlytoturntotheprefaceto_LeFilsnaturel_，inwhichDumasissofuriouswiththeinhabitantsofPalaiseau。GeorgeSandhadtakenupherabodeatPalaiseau，andDumashadbeentryinginvaintodiscoverheraddressinthedistrict，whenhecameacrossoneofthenatives，whorepliedasfollows："GeorgeSand？Waitaminute。Isn’titaladywithpapers？""Somuchfortheglory，"concludesDumas，"ofthoseofuswithpapers。"Accordingtohim，nowomanhadeverhadmoretalentorasmuchgenius。"ShethinkslikeMontaigne，"

hesays，"shedreamslikeOssianandshewriteslikeJean—Jacques。

Leonardosketchesherphrasesforher，andMozartsingsthem。

MadamedeSevignekissesherhands，andMadamedeStaelkneelsdowntoherasshepasses。"WecanscarcelyimagineMadamedeStaelinthishumbleposture，butoneofthecharmsofDumaswashisgenerousnature，whichsparednopraiseandwaslavishinenthusiasm。

Attheepochatwhichwehavenowarrived，GeorgeSandhadcommencedthatperiodoftranquillityandcalminwhichshewastospendtherestofherlife。Shehadgivenuppolitics，for，aswehaveseen，shewasquicklyundeceivedwithregardtothem，andcuredofherillusions。

Whenthe_coupd’etat_ofDecember，1851，tookplace，GeorgeSand，whohadbeenLedru—Rollin’scollaboratorandafriendofBarbes，soonmadeuphermindwhattodo。AsthedaughterofMurat’s_aide—de—camp_，shenaturallyhadacertainsympathywiththeBonapartists。

NapoleonIIIwasasocialist，sothatitwaspossibletocometoanunderstanding。WhentheprincehadbeenaprisoneratHam，hehadsentthenovelisthisstudyentitled_L’Extinctiondupauperisme_。

GeorgeSandtookadvantageofherformerintercoursewithhimtobegforhisindulgrenceinfavourofsomeofherfriends。

Thistimeshewasinherproper_role_，the_role_ofawoman。

The"tyrant"grantedthefavourssheasked，andGeorgeSandthencametotheconclusionthathewasagoodsortoftyrant。Shewasaccusedoftreason，butsheneverthelesscontinuedtospeakofhimwithgratitude。SheremainedongoodtermswiththeImperialfamily，particularlywithPrinceJerome，assheappreciatedhisintellect。

Sheusedtotalkwithhimonliteraryandphilosophicalquestions。

Shesenthimtwotapestryottomansoneyear，whichshehadworkedforhim。HersonMauricewentforacruisetoAmericaonPrinceJerome’syacht，andhewasthegodfatherofGeorgeSand’slittlegrandchildrenwhowerebaptizedasProtestants。

GeorgeSanddeservesspecialmentionforherscienceintheartofgrowingold。Itisnotascienceeasytomaster，andpersonallythisisoneofmyreasonsforadmiringher。Sheunderstoodwhatacharmthereisinthattimeoflifewhenthevoiceofthepassionsisnolongerheard，sothatwecanlistentothevoiceofthingsandexaminethelessonoflife，thattimewhenourreasonmakesusmoreindulgent，whenthesadnessofearthlyseparationsissoftenedbythethoughtthatweshallsoongoourselvestojointhosewhohaveleftus。WethenbegintohaveaforetasteofthecalmnessofthatGreatSleepwhichistoconsoleusattheendofalloursufferingsandgrief。GeorgeSandwasfullyawareofthechangethathadtakenplacewithinher。Shesaid，severaltimesover，thattheageofimpersonalityhadarrivedforher。Shewasdelightedathavingescapedfromherselfandatbeingfreefromegoism。

Fromhenceforthshecouldgiveherselfuptothesentimentswhich，inpedanticandbarbarousjargon，arecalledaltruisticsentiments。

Bythiswemeanmotherlyandgrandmotherlyaffection，devotiontoherfamily，andenthusiasmforallthatisbeautifulandnoble。

Shewasdelightedwhenshewastoldofagenerousdeed，andcharmedbyabookinwhichshediscoveredtalent。Itseemedtoherasthoughshewereinsomewayjointauthorofit。

"MyheartgoesouttoallthatIseedawningorgrowing……"

shewrote，atthistime。"Whenweseeorreadanythingbeautiful，doesitnotseemasthoughitbelongstousinaway，thatitisneitheryoursnormine，butthatitbelongstoallwhodrinkfromitandarestrengthenedbyit？"[50]

[50]_Correspondance：_ToOctaveFeuillet，February27，1859。

Thisisanoblesentiment，andlessrarethanisgenerallybelieved。

Thepubliclittlethinksthatitisoneofthegreatjoysofthewriter，whenhehasreachedacertainage，toadmiretheworksofhisfellow—writers。GeorgeSandencouragedheryoung_confreres_，Dumas_fils_，FeuilletandFlaubert，atthebeginningoftheircareer，andhelpedthemwithheradvice。

Wehaveplentyofinformationaboutheratthisepoch。Herintimatefriends，inquisitivepeopleandpersonspassingthroughParis，havedescribedtheirvisitstoheroverandoveragain。WehavetheimpressionsnoteddownbytheGoncourtbrothersintheir_Jounal_。

Weallknowhowmuchtotrusttothisdiary。WhenevertheGoncourtsgiveusanidea，anopinion，oradoctrine，itisaswelltobewaryinacceptingit。Theywerenotveryintelligent。Idonotwish，insayingthis，todetractfromthem，butmerelytodefinethem。

Ontheotherhand，whattheysaw，theysawthoroughly，andtheynotedthegenerallook，theattitudeorgesturewithgreatcare。

WegivetheirimpressionsofGeorgeSand。InMarch，1862，theywenttocallonher。ShewasthenlivinginParis，intheRueRacine。

Theygiveanaccountofthisvisitintheirdiary。

"_March_30，1862。

"Onthefourthfloor，No。2，RueRacine。Alittlegentleman，verymuchlikeeveryoneelse，openedthedoortous。Hesmiled，andsaid：`MessieursdeGoncourt！’andthen，openinganotherdoor，showedusintoaverylargeroom，akindofstudio。

"Therewasawindowatthefarend，andthelightwasgettingdim，foritwasaboutfiveo’clock。Wecouldseeagreyshadowagainstthepalelight。Itwasawoman，whodidnotattempttorise，butwhoremainedimpassivetoourbowandourwords。Thisseatedshadow，lookingsodrowsy，wasMadameSand，andthemanwhoopened。

thedoorwastheengraverManceau。MadameSandislikeanautomaticmachine。Shetalksinamonotonous，mechanicalvoicewhichsheneitherraisesnorlowers，andwhichisneveranimated。

Inherwholeattitudethereisasortofgravityandplacidness，somethingofthehalf—asleepairofapersonruminating。

Shehasveryslowgestures，thegesturesofasomnambulist。Withamechanicalmovementshestrikesawaxmatch，whichgivesaflicker，andlightsthecigarsheisholdingbetweenherlips。

"MadameSandwasextremelypleasant；shepraisedusagreatdeal，butwithachildishnessofideas，aplatitudeofexpressionandamournfulgood—naturednessthatwasaschillingasthebarewallofaroom。Manceauendeavouredtoenliventhedialogue。

WetalkedofhertheatreatNohant，wheretheyactforherandforhermaiduntilfourinthemorning……Wethentalkedofherprodigiousfacultyforwork。Shetoldusthattherewasnothingmeritoriousinthat，asshehadalwaysworkedsoeasily。

Shewriteseverynightfromoneo’clockuntilfourinthemorning，andshewritesagainforabouttwohoursduringtheday。

Manceauexplainseverything，ratherlikeanexhibitorofphenomena。

`Itisallthesametoher，’hetoldus，`ifsheisdisturbed。

Supposeyouturnonatapatyourhouse，andsomeonecomesintheroom。Yousimplyturnthetapoff。ItislikethatwithMadameSand。’"

TheGoncourtbrotherswereextremelycleverindetractingfromthemeritsofthepeopleaboutwhomtheyspoke。TheytellusthatGeorgeSandhad"achildishnessinherideasandaplatitudeofexpression。"

Theywereunkindwithoutendeavouringtobeso。Theyrandownpeopleinstinctively。Theywereeminentlyliterarymen。Theywerealsoartisticwriters，andhadeveninvented"artisticwriting，"

buttheyhadverylittleincommonwithGeorgeSand’sattitudeofmind。Toherthetheoryofartforthesakeofarthadalwaysseemedaveryhollowtheory。Shewroteaswellasshecould，butsheneverdreamedoftheprofessionofwritinghavinganythingincommonwithanacrobaticdisplay。

InSeptember，1863，theGoncourtbrothersagainspeakofGeorgeSand，tellingusaboutherlifeatNohant，orratherputtingtheaccounttheygiveintothemouthofTheophileGautier。HehadjustreturnedfromNohant，andhewasaskedifitwasamusingatGeorgeSand’s。

"JustasamusingasamonasteryoftheMoravianbrotherhood，"

hereplies。"Iarrivedthereintheevening，andthehouseisalongwayfromthestation。Mytrunkwasputintoathicket，andonarrivingIenteredbythefarminthemidstofallthedogs，whichgavemeafright……"

Asamatteroffact，Gautier’sarrivalatNohanthadbeenquiteadramaticpoem，halftragicandhalfcomic。AbsolutefreedomwastheruleofNohant。Everyonethereread，wrote，orwenttosleepaccordingtohisownwillandpleasure。GautierarrivedinthatframeofmindpeculiartotheParisianofformerdays。

HeconsideredthathehadgivenaproofofheroisminventuringoutsidethewallsofParis。Hethereforeexpectedaheartywelcome。

Hewasverymuchannoyedathisreception，andwasabouttostartbackagainimmediately，whenGeorgeSandwasinformedofhisarrival。

Shewasextremelyvexedatwhathadhappened，andexclaimed，"ButhadnotanyonetoldhimhowstupidIam！"

TheGoncourtbrothersaskedGautierwhatlifeatNohantwaslike。

"Luncheonisatten，"hereplied，"andwhenthefingerwasonthehour，wealltookourseats。MadameSandarrived，lookinglikeasomnambulist，andremainedhalfasleepallthroughthemeal。

Afterluncheonwewentintothegardenandplayedat_cochonnet_。

Thisrousedher，andshewouldthensitdownandbegintotalk。"

Itwouldhavebeenmoreexacttosaythatshelistened，asshewasnotagreattalkerherself。Shehadahorrorofacertainkindofconversation，ofthatfutile，paradoxicalandspasmodickindwhichisthespecialityof"brillianttalkers。"Sparklingconversationofthissortdisconcertedherandmadeherfeelillatease。

Shedidnotlikethetopictobetheliteraryprofessioneither。

ThisexasperatedGautier，whowouldnotadmitoftherebeinganythingelseintheworldbutliterature。

"Atthreeo’clock，"hecontinued，"MadameSandwentawaytowriteuntilsix。Wethendined，butwehadtodinequickly，sothatMarieCaillotwouldhavetimetodine。MarieCaillotistheservant，asortoflittleFadettewhomMadameSandhaddiscoveredintheneighbourhoodforplayingherpieces。

ThisMarieCaillotusedtocomeintothedrawing—roomintheevening。

AfterdinnerMadameSandwouldplaypatience，withoututteringaword，untilmidnight……Atmidnightshebegantowriteagainuntilfouro’clock……Youknowwhathappenedonce。Somethingmonstrous。

Shefinishedanovelatoneo’clockinthemorning，andbegananotherduringthenight……TomakecopyisafunctionwithMadameSand。"

ThemarionettetheatrewasoneoftheNohantamusements。Oneofthejoysofthefamily，andalsooneofthedelightsof_dilettanti_，[51]

wasthepaintingofthescenery，themanufacturingofcostumes，theworkingoutofscenarios，dressingdollsandmakingthemtalk。

[51]"TheindividualnamedGeorgeSandisverywell。HeisenjoyingthewonderfulwinterwhichreignsinBerry；hegathersflowers，pointsoutanyinterestingbotanicalanomalies，sewsdressesandmantlesforhisdaughter—in—law，andcostumesforthemarionettes，cutsoutstagescenery，dressesdollsandreadsmusic……"——_Correspondance：_ToFlaubert，January17，1869。

Inoneofhernovels，publishedin1857，GeorgeSandintroducestousacertainChristianWaldo，whohasamarionetteshow。

Heexplainstheattractionofthiskindoftheatreandthefascinationofthese_burattini_，whichwerelivingbeingstohim。

Thoseamonguswho，somefifteenyearsago，wereinfatuatedbyasimilarshow，arenotsurprisedatWaldo’swords。ThemarionettestowhichwereferweretobeseeninthePassageVivienne。

Sacredplaysinverseweregiven，andthemanagerswereMonsieurRichepinandMonsieurBouchor。Forsuchplayswepreferredactorsmadeofwoodtoactorsoffleshandblood，asthereisalwaysacertaindesecrationotherwiseinactingsuchpieces。

GeorgeSandrarelyleftNohantnowexceptforherlittleflatinParis。Inthespringof1855，shewenttoRomeforashorttime，butdidnotenjoythisvisitmuch。Shesumsupherimpressionsinthefollowingwords："Romeisaregularsee—saw。"Theruinsdidnotinteresthermuch。

"Afterspendingseveraldaysinvisitingurns，tombs，cryptsandcolumns，onefeelstheneedofgettingoutofallthisalittleandofseeingNature。"

Nature，however，didnotcompensatehersufficientlyforherdisappointmentintheruins。

"TheRomanCampagna，whichhasbeensomuchvaunted，iscertainlysingularlyimmense，butitissobare，flatanddeserted，somonotonousandsad，milesandmilesofmeadow—landineverydirection，thatthelittlebrainonehasleft，afterseeingthecity，isalmostoverpoweredbyitall。"

Thisjourneyinspiredherwithoneoftheweakestofhernovels，_LaDaniella_。ItisthediaryofapainternamedJeanValreg，whomarriedalaundry—girl。In1861，afteranillness，shewenttoTamaris，inthesouthofFrance。Thisnameisthetitleofoneofhernovels。Shedoesnotcareforthisplaceeither。

Sheconsidersthatthereistoomuchwind，toomuchdust，andthattherearetoomanyolive—treesinthesouthofFrance。

Iamconvincedthatatanearliertimeinherlifeshewould，havebeenwonoverbythefascinationofRome。ShehadcomprehendedthecharmofVenicesoadmirably。Atanearlierdate，too，shewouldnothavebeenindifferenttothebeautiesofProvence，asshehaddelightedinmeridionalNaturewheninMajorca。

Theyearswereover，though，forhertoenjoythevarietyofoutsideshowswithalltheirphantasmagoria。Atimecomesinlife，andithadalreadycomeforher，whenwediscoverthatNature，whichhasseemedsovaried，isthesameeverywhere，thatwehavequitenearusallthatwehavebeensofarawaytoseek，alittleofthisearth，alittlewaterandalittlesky。Wefind，too，thatwehaveneitherthetimenortheinclinationtogoawayinsearchofallthiswhenourhoursarecountedandwefeeltheendnear。

Theessentialthingthenistoreserveforourselvesalittlespaceforourmeditations，betweentheagitationsoflifeandthatmomentwhichalonedecideseverythingforus。

X

THEGENIUSOFTHEWRITER

CORRESPONDENCEWITHFLAUBERT——LASTNOVELS

Withthatmaternalinstinctwhichwassostrongwithinher，GeorgeSandcouldnotdowithouthavingachildtoscold，directandtaketotask。

Theonetowhomshewastodevotethelasttenyearsofherlife，whoneededherbeneficentaffectionmorethananyofthoseshehadadopted，wasakindofgiantwithhairturnedbackfromhisforeheadandathickmoustachelikeaNormanoftheheroicages。HewasjustsuchamanaswecanimaginethepiratesinDucRollo’sboats。

ThisdescendantoftheVikingshadbeenbornintimesofpeace，andhissoleoccupationwastoendeavourtoformharmoniousphrasesbyavoidingassonances。

IdonotthinktherehavebeentwoindividualsmoredifferentfromeachotherthanGeorgeSandandGustaveFlaubert。Hewasanartist，andsheinmanyrespectswas_bourgeoise_。Hesawallthingsattheirworst；shesawthembetterthantheywere。Flaubertwrotetoherinsurpriseasfollows："Inspiteofyourlargesphinxeyes，youhaveseentheworldthroughgoldcolour。"

Shelovedthelowerclasses；hethoughtthemdetestable，andqualifieduniversalsuffrageas"adisgracetothehumanmind。"

Shepreachedconcord，theunionofclasses，whilsthegavehisopinionasfollows：

"Ibelievethatthepoorhatetherich，andthattherichareafraidofthepoor。Itwillbelikethiseternally。"

Itwasalwaysthus。Oneverysubjecttheopinionoftheonewassuretobethedirectoppositeoftheopinionoftheother。

Thiswasjustwhathadattractedthem。

"Ishouldnotbeinterestedinmyself，"GeorgeSandsaid，"ifI

hadthehonourofmeetingmyself。"ShewasinterestedinFlaubert，asshehaddivinedthathewasherantithesis。

"ThemanwhoisJustpassing，"saysFantasio，"ischarming。Thereareallsortsofideasinhismindwhichwouldbequitenewtome。"

GeorgeSandwantedtoknowsomethingoftheseideaswhichwerenewtoher。SheadmiredFlaubertonaccountofallsortsofqualitieswhichshedidnotpossessherself。Shelikedhim，too，asshefeltthathewasunhappy。

Shewenttoseehimduringthesummerof1866。TheyvisitedthehistoricstreetsandoldpartsofRouentogether。Shewasbothcharmedandsurprised。Shecouldnotbelievehereyes，asshehadneverimaginedthatallthatexisted，andsonearParis，too。

ShestayedinthathouseatCroissetinwhichFlaubert’swholelifewasspent。ItwasahousewithwidewindowsandaviewovertheSeine。Thehoarse，monotonoussoundofthechaintowingtheheavyboatsalongcouldbehearddistinctlywithintherooms。

Flaubertlivedtherewithhismotherandniece。ToGeorgeSandeverythingthereseemedtobreatheoftranquillityandcomfort，butatthesametimeshebroughtawaywithheranimpressionofsadness。SheattributedthistothevicinityoftheSeine，comingandgoingasitdoesaccordingtothebar。

"Thewillowsoftheisletsarealwaysbeingcoveredanduncovered，"

shewrites；"italllooksverycoldandsad。[52]

[52]_Correspondance：_ToMauriceSand，August10，1866。

Shewasnotreallyduped，though，byherownexplanation。Sheknewperfectlywellthatwhatmakesahousesadorgay，warmoricy—coldisnottheoutlookontothesurroundingcountry，butthesoulofthosewhoinhabititandwhohavefashioneditintheirownimage。

Shehadjustbeenstayinginthehouseofthemisanthropist。

WhenMoliereputthemisanthropistonthestagewithhiswretched—lookingface，hegavehimsomeofthefeatureswhichremindussostronglyofFlaubert。ThemostordinaryandeverydayeventswerealwaysenoughtoputAlcesteintoarage。

ItwasjustthesamewithFlaubert。Everydaythingswhichwearephilosophicalenoughtoaccepttookhisbreathaway。Hewasangry，andhewantedtobeangry。Hewasirritatedwitheveryoneandwitheverything，andhecultivatedthisirritation。Hekepthimselfinacontinualstateofexasperation，andthiswashisnormalstate。

Inhislettershedescribedhimselfas"worriedwithlife，"

"disgustedwitheverything，""alwaysagitatedandalwaysindignant。"

Hespells_hhhindignant_withseveralh’s。Hesignshisletters，"TheReverendFatherCruchardoftheBarnabiteOrder，directoroftheLadiesofDisenchantment。"Addedtoallthis，althoughtheremayhavebeenacertainamountofposeinhisattitude，hewassincere。

He"roared"inhisownstudy，whenhewasquitealoneandtherewasnoonetobeaffectedbyhisroaring。Hewasorganizedinaremarkablewayforsuffering。Hewasbothromanticandrealistic，akeenobserverandanimaginativeman。Heborrowedsomeofthemostpitifultraitsfromreality，andrecomposedthemintoaregularnightmare。

WeagreewithFlaubertthatinjusticeandnonsensedoexistinlife。

ButhegivesusNonsenseitself，theseven—headedandten—hornedbeastoftheApocalypse。Heseesthisbeasteverywhere，ithauntshimandblocksupeveryavenueforhim，sothathecannotseethesublimebeautiesofthecreationnorthesplendourofhumanintelligence。

Inreplytoallhiswildharangues，GeorgeSandgiveswiseanswers，smilingasshegivesthem，andusinghercommonsensewithwhichtoprotectherselfagainstthetrickeryofwords。Whathashetocomplainof，thisgrown—upchildwhoistoonaiveandwhoexpectstoomuch？Bywhatextraordinarymisfortunehashesuchanexceptionallyunhappylot？Heisfairlywelloffandhehasgreattalent。Howmanypeoplewouldenvyhim！Hecomplainsoflife，suchasitisforeveryone，andofthepresentconditionsoflife，whichhadneverbeenbetterforanyoneatanyepoch。Whatistheuseofgettingirritatedwithlife，sincewedonotwishtodie？

Humanityseemeddespicabletohim，andhehatedit。Washenotapartofthishumanityhimself？Insteadofcursingourfellow—menforawholecrowdofimperfectionsinherenttotheirnature，woulditnotbemorejusttopitythemforsuchimperfections？

Astostupidityandnonsense，ifheobjectedtothem，itwouldbebettertopaynoattentiontothem，insteadofwatchingoutforthemallthetime。Besideallthis，istherenotmorereasonthanweimagineforeveryoneofustobeindulgenttowardsthestupidityofotherpeople？

"Thatpoorstupidityofwhichwehearsomuch，"exclaimedGeorgeSand。

"Idonotdislikeit，asIlookonitwithmaternaleyes。"

Thehumanraceisabsurd，undoubtedly，butwemustownthatwecontributeourselvestothisabsurdity。

ThereissomethingmorbidinFlaubert’scase，andwithequalclearnessofvisionGeorgeSandpointsouttohimthecauseofitandtheremedy。

Themorbidnessiscausedinthefirstplacebyhisloneliness，andbythefactthathehasseveredallbondswhichunitedhimtotherestoftheuniverse。Woebetothosewhoarealone！Theremedyisthenextconsideration。Istherenot，somewhereintheworld，awomanwhomhecouldloveandwhowouldmakehimsuffer？Istherenotachildsomewherewhosefatherhecouldimaginehimselftobe，andtowhomhecoulddevotehimself？Suchisthelawoflife。

Existenceisintolerabletousaslongasweonlyaskforourownpersonalsatisfaction，butitbecomesdeartousfromthedaywhenwemakeapresentofittoanotherhumanbeing。

Therewasthesameantagonismintheirliteraryopinions。

Flaubertwasanartist，thetheoristofthedoctrineofartforart，suchasTheophileGautier，theGoncourtbrothersandtheParnassianscomprehendedit，ataboutthesameepoch。Itissingularlyinterestingtohearhimformulateeacharticleofthisdoctrine，andtohearGeorgeSand’sferventprotestationsinreply。

Flaubertconsidersthatanauthorshouldnotputhimselfintohiswork，thatheshouldnotwritehisbookswithhisheart，andGeorgeSandanswers：

"Idonotunderstandatall，then。Ohno，itisallincomprehensibletome。"

Withwhatwasanauthortowritehisbooks，ifnotwithhisownsentimentsandemotions？Washetowritethemwiththeheartsofotherpeople？Flaubertmaintainedthatanauthorshouldonlywriteforabouttwentypersons，unlesshesimplywroteforhimself，"likea_bourgeois_turninghisserviette—ringsroundinhisattic。"

GeorgeSandwasofopinionthatanauthorshouldwrite"forallthosewhocanprofitbygoodreading。"Flaubertconfessesthatifattentionbepaidtotheolddistinctionbetweenmatterandform，heshouldgivethegreaterimportancetoform，inwhichhehadareligiousbelief。

Heconsideredthatinthecorrectnessoftheputtingtogether，intherarityoftheelements，thepolishofthesurfaceandtheperfectharmonyofthewholetherewasanintrinsicvirtue，akindofdivineforce。Inconclusion，headds：

"Iendeavourtothinkwellalways，_inorderto_writewell，butIdonotconcealthefactthatmyobjectistowritewell。"

This，then，wasthesecretofthatworkingupofthestyle，untilitbecameamaniawithhimanddevelopedintoatorture。

WeallknowofthedaysofanguishwhichFlaubertspentinsearchingforawordthatescapedhim，andtheweeksthathedevotedtoroundingoffoneofhisperiods。Hewouldneverwritethesedownuntilhehadsaidthemtohimself，or，asheputithimself，until"theyhadgonethroughhisjaw。"Hewouldnotallowtwocomplementsinthesamephrase，andwearetoldthathewasillafterreadinginoneofhisownbooksthefollowingwords："Unecouronne_de_

fleurs_d_’oranger。"

"Youdonotknowwhatitis，"hewrote，"tospendawholedayholdingone’sheadandsqueezingone’sbrainstofindaword。Ideasflowwithyoufreelyandcontinually，likeastream。Withmetheycomeliketricklingwater，anditisonlybyahugeworkofartthatI

cangetawaterfall。Ah，Ihavehadsomeexperienceoftheterribletortureofstyle！"No，GeorgeSandcertainlyhadnoexperienceofthiskind，andshecouldnotevenconceiveofsuchtorture。

Itamazedhertohearofsuchpainfullabour，for，personally，sheletthewindplayonher"oldharp"justasitlisted。

Briefly，sheconsideredthatherfriendwasthevictimofahopelesserror。Hetookliteraturefortheessentialthing，buttherewassomethingbeforeallliterature，andthatsomethingwaslife。

"TheHolyofHolies，asyoucallliterature，isonlysecondarytomeinlife。Ihavealwayslovedsomeonebetterthanit，andmyfamilybetterthanthatsomeone。"

This，then，wasthekeynoteoftheargument。GeorgeSandconsideredthatlifeisnotonlyapretextforliterature，butthatliteratureshouldalwaysrefertolifeandshouldberegulatedbylife，asbyamodelwhichtakestheprecedenceofitandgoesfarbeyondit。This，too，isouropinion。

ThestateofmindwhichcanbereadbetweenthelinesinGeorgeSand’sletterstoFlaubertisserenity，andthisisalsothecharacteristicofherworkduringthelastperiodofherlife。Her"laststyle"

isthatof_JeandelaRocke_，publishedin1860。Ayoungnobleman，JeandelaRoche，loseshishearttotheexquisiteLoveButler。

Shereturnshisaffection，butthejealousyofayoungbrotherobligesthemtoseparate。Inordertobenearthewomanheloves，JeandelaRochedisguiseshimselfasaguide，andaccompaniesthewholefamilyinanexcursionthroughtheAuvergnemountains。

Ayoungnoblemanasaguideisbynomeansanordinarything，butinloveaffairssuchdisguisesareadmitted。LoversinthewritingsofMarivauxtookthepartsofservants，andinformerdaysnoonewassurprisedtomeetwithprincesindisguiseonthehigh—roads。

GeorgeSand’smasterpieceofthiskindisundoubtedly_LeMarquisdeVillemer_，publishedin1861。Aprovincial_chateau_，anoldaristocraticwoman，scepticalandindulgent，twobrotherscapableofbeingrivalswithoutceasingtobefriends，ayounggirlofnoblebirth，butpoor，calumnybeingspreadabroad，butquicklyrepudiated，somewonderfulpagesofdescription，andsomeelegant，sinuousconversations。Allthishasacertaincharm。

ThepoorgirlmarriestheMarquisintheend。This，too，isareturntoformerdays，tothedayswhenkingsmarriedshepherdesses。

Thepleasurethatwehaveinreadingsuchnovelsisverymuchlikethatwhichweusedtofeelonhearingfairy—stories。

"Ifsomeoneweretotellmethestoryof_Peaud’Ane_，Ishouldbedelighted，"confessedLaFontaine，andsurelyitwouldbebadformtobemoredifficultandover—nicethanhewas。Bigchildrenasweare，weneedstorieswhichgivefoodtoourimagination，afterbeingdisappointedbytherealitiesoflife。Thisisperhapstheveryobjectofthenovel。Romanceisnotnecessarilyanexaggeratedaspirationtowardsimaginarythings。Itissomethingelsetoo。

ItistherevoltofthesoulwhichisoppressedbytheyokeofNature。Itistheexpressionofthattendencywithinustowardsafreedomwhichisimpossible，butofwhichweneverthelessdream。

Anironlawpresidesoverourdestiny。Aroundusandwithinus，theseriesofcausesandeffectscontinuestounwinditshardchain。

Everysingleoneofourdeedsbearsitsconsequence，andthisgoesontoeternity。Everyfaultofourswillbringitschastisement。

Everyweaknesswillhavetobemadegood。Thereisnotamomentofoblivion，notaninstantwhenwemayceasetobeonourguard。

Romanticillusionis，then，justanattempttoescape，atleastinimagination，fromthetyrannyofuniversalorder。

Itisimpossible，inthisvolume，toconsiderallGeorgeSand’sworks。

Someofherothersarecharming，butthewholeserieswouldperhapsappearsomewhatmonotonous。Thereis，however，onenovelofthisepochtowhichwemustcallattention，asitislikeaburstofthunderduringcalmweather。ItalsorevealsanaspectofGeorgeSand’sideaswhichshouldnotbepassedoverlightly。

ThisbookwasperhapstheonlyoneGeorgeSandwroteundertheinfluenceofanger。Wereferto_MademoiselleLaQuintinie_。

OctaveFeuillethadjustpublishedhis_HistoiredeSibylle_，andthisbookmadeGeorgeSandfuriouslyangry。Weareatalosstocomprehendherindignation。Feuillet’snovelisverygracefulandquiteinoffensive。Sibylleisafancifulyoungperson，whofromherearliestchildhooddreamsofimpossiblethings。

Shewantshergrandfathertogetastarforher，andanothertimeshewantstorideontheswan’sbackasitswimsinthepool。

Whensheisbeingpreparedforherfirstcommunion，shehasdoubtsaboutthetruthoftheChristianreligion，butonenight，duringastorm，thepriestoftheplacespringsintoaboatandgoestotherescueofsomesailorsinperil。Allthedifficultiesoftheologicalinterpretationsareatoncedispelledforher。

Ayoungmanfallsinlovewithher，butondiscoveringthatheisnotabelieversheendeavourstoconverthim，andgoesmoonlightwalkswithhim。Moonlightissometimesdangerousforyounggirls，and，afteroneofthesesentimentalandtheologicalstrolls，shehasamysteriousailment……

InordertounderstandGeorgeSand’sangeronreadingthisnovel，whichwasbothreligiousandsocial，andatthesametimeveryharmless，wemustknowwhatherstateofmindwasontheessentialquestionofreligion。

Inthefirstplace，GeorgeSandwasnothostiletoreligiousideas。

Shehadareligion。ThereisaGeorgeSandreligion。Therearenotmanydogmas，andthecreedissimple。GeorgeSandbelievedfirmlyintheexistenceofGod。WithoutthenotionofGod，nothingcanbeexplainedandnoproblemsolved。ThisGodisnotmerelythe"firstcause。"ItisapersonalandconsciousGod，whoseessential，ifnotsole，functionistoforgive——everyone。

"Thedogmaofhell，"shewrites，"isamonstrosity，animposture，abarbarism……ItisimpioustodoubtGod’sinfinitepity，andtothinkthatHedoesnotalwayspardon，eventhemostguiltyofmen。"Thisiscertainlythemostcompleteapplicationthathaseverbeenmadeofthelawofpardon。ThisGodisnottheGodofJacob，norofPascal，norevenofVoltaire。HeisnotanunknownGodeither。

HeistheGodofBerangerandofallgoodpeople。GeorgeSandbelievedalso，veryfirmly，intheimmortalityofthesoul。

Onlosinganyofherfamily，thecertaintyofgoingtothemsomedaywashergreatconsolation。

"Iseefutureandeternallifebeforemeasacertainty，"shesaid；

"itislikealight，and，thankstoitsbrilliancy，otherthingscannotbeseen；butthelightisthere，andthatisallIneed。"

Herbeliefwas，then，intheexistenceofGod，thegoodnessofProvidenceandtheimmortalityofthesoul。GeorgeSandwasanadeptinnaturalreligion。

Shedidnotaccepttheideaofanyrevealedreligion，andtherewasoneoftheserevealedreligionsthatsheexecrated。

ThiswastheCatholicreligion。HercorrespondenceonthissubjectduringtheperiodoftheSecondEmpireismostsignificant。

ShewasapersonalenemyoftheChurch，andspokeoftheJesuitsasasubscribertothe_Siecle_mightdoto—day。ShefearedthedaggeroftheJesuitsforNapoleonIII，butatthesametimeshehopedtheremightbeafrustratedattemptatmurder，sothathiseyesmightbeopened。Thegreatdangerofmoderntimes，accordingtoher，wasthedevelopmentoftheclericalspirit。

Shewasnotanadvocateforlibertyofeducationeither。

"Thepriestlyspirithasbeenencouraged，"shewrote。[53]"Franceisoverrunwithconvents，andwretchedfriarshavebeenallowedtotakepossessionofeducation。"SheconsideredthatwherevertheChurchwasmistress，itleftitsmarks，whichwereunmistakable：

stupidityandbrutishness。ShegaveBrittanyasanexample。

[53]_Correspondance：_ToBarbes，May12，1867。

"Thereisnothingleft，"shewrites，"whenthepriestandCatholicvandalismhavepassedby，destroyingthemonumentsoftheoldworldandleavingtheirliceforthefuture。"[54]

[54]_Ibid。：_ToFlaubert，September21，1860。

Itisnouseattemptingtoignorethefact。Thisisanti—clericalisminallitsviolence。Isitnotcuriousthatthispassion，whenonceittakespossessionofeventhemostdistinguishedminds，causesthemtoloseallsentimentofmeasure，ofproprietyandofdignity。

_MademoiselleLaQuintinie_istheresultofafitofanti—clericalmania。GeorgeSandgives，inthisnovel，thecounterpartof_Sibylle_。

EmileLemontier，afree—thinker，isinlovewiththedaughterofGeneralLaQuintinie。Emileistroubledinhismindbecause，ashis_fiancee_isaCatholic，heknowsshewillhavetohaveaconfessor。

Theideaisintolerabletohim，as，likeMonsieurHomais，heconsidersthatahusbandcouldnotenduretheideaofhiswifehavingprivateconversationswithoneofthoseindividuals。MademoiselleLaQuintinie’sconfessorisacertainMoreali，anearrelativeofEugeneSue’sRodin。ThewholenovelturnsonthestrugglebetweenEmileandMoreali，whichendsinthefinaldiscomfitureofMoreali。

MademoiselleLaQuintinieistomarryEmile，whowillteachhertobeafree—thinker。EmileisproudofhisworkofdrawingasoulawayfromChristiancommunion。Heconsidersthatthelightofreasonisalwayssufficientforilluminatingthepathinawoman’slife。

Hethinksthathernaturalrectitudewillprovesufficientformakingagoodwomanofher。Idonotwishtocallthisintoquestion，butevenifsheshouldnoterr，isitnotpossiblethatshemaysuffer？

Thisfree—thinkerimaginesthatitispossibletotearbelieffromaheartwithoutrendingitandcausinganincurablewound。

Oh，whatapoorpsychologist！Heforgetsthatbeliefisthesummingupandthecontinuationofthebeliefofawholeseriesofgenerations。Hedoesnothearthedistantmurmuroftheprayersofby—goneyears。Itisinvaintoendeavourtostiflethoseprayers；

theywillbeheardforeverwithinthecrushedanddesolatesoul。

_MademoiselleLaQuintinie_isaworkofhatred。GeorgeSandwasnotsuccessfulwithit。Shehadnovocationforwritingsuchbooks，andshewasnotaccustomedtowritingthem。Itisanovelfulloftiresomedissertations，anditisextremelydull。

Fromthatdate，though，GeorgeSandexperiencedthejoyofacertainpopularity。Attheatricalperformancesandatfuneralsthestudentsmanifestedinherhonour。ItwasthesameforSainte—Beuve，butthisdoesnotseemtohavemadeeitherofthemanygreater。

Wewillpassoverallthis，andturntosomethingthatwecanadmire。

TherobustandtriumphantoldageofGeorgeSandwasadmirable。

NearlyeveryyearshewenttosomefreshplaceinFrancetofindasettingforherstories。Shehadtoearnherlivingtotheverylast，andwasdoomedtowritenovelsforever。"IshallbeturningmywheelwhenIdie，"sheusedtosay，and，afterall，thisistheproperendingforaliteraryworker。

In1870and1871，shesufferedalltheanguishofthe"TerribleYear。"

Whenoncethenightmarewasover，shesettoworkoncemorelikeatruedaughterofcourageousFrance，unwillingtogivein。

Shewasashardyasironasshegrewold。"Iwalktotheriver，"

shewrotein1872，"andbatheinthecoldwater，warmasIam……Iamofthesamenatureasthegrassinthefield。

SunshineandwaterareallIneed。"

Forawomanofsixty—eighttobeabletobatheeverydayinthecoldwateroftheIndreisagreatdeal。InMay，1876，shewasnotwell，andhadtostayinbed。Shewasillfortendays，anddiedwithoutsufferingmuch。SheisburiedatNohant，accordingtoherwishes，sothatherlastsleepisinherbelovedBerry。

Inconclusion，wewouldsayjustafewwordsaboutGeorgeSand’sgenius，andtheplacethatshetakesinthehistoryoftheFrenchnovel。

OncomparingGeorgeSandwiththenovelistsofhertime，whatstrikesusmostishowdifferentshewasfromthem。SheisneitherlikeBalzac，Stendhal，norMerimee，noranystory—tellerofourthoughtful，cleverandrefinedepoch。Sheremindsusmoreofthe"oldnovelists，"

ofthosewhotoldstoriesofchivalrousdeedsandofoldlegends，or，togostillfurtherback，sheremindsusofthe_aedes_ofoldGreece。

Intheearlydaysofanationtherewerealwaysmenwhowenttothecrowdandcharmedthemwiththestoriestheytoldinawordyway。

Theyscarcelyknewwhethertheyinventedthesestoriesastheytoldthem，orwhethertheyhadheardthemsomewhere。Theycouldnottelleitherwhichwasfictionandwhichreality，forallrealityseemedwonderfultothem。Allthepeopleaboutwhomtheytoldweregreat，allobjectsweregoodandeverythingbeautiful。

Theyminglednursery—taleswithmythsthatwerequitesensible，andthehistoryofnationswithchildren’sstories。Theywerecalledpoets。

GeorgeSanddidnotemployaversifiedformforherstories，butshebelongedtothefamilyofthesepoets。Shewasapoetherselfwhohadlostherwayandcomeintoourcenturyofprose，andshecontinuedhersinging。

Liketheseearlypoets，shewasprimitive。Likethem，sheobeyedagodwithinher。Allhertalentwasinstinctive，andshehadalltheeaseofinstinctivetalent。WhenFlaubertcomplainedtoGeorgeSandofthe"tortures"thatstylecosthim，sheendeavouredtoadmirehim。

"WhenIseethedifficultythatmyoldfriendhasinwritinghisnovel，Iamdiscouragedaboutmyowncase，andIsaytomyselfthatIamwritingpoorsortofliterature。"

Thiswasmerelyhercharity，forsheneverunderstoodthattherecouldbeanyeffortinwriting。Consequentlyshecouldnotunderstandthatitshouldcausesuffering。Forher，writingwasapleasure，asitwasthesatisfactionofaneed。Asherworkswerenoefforttoher，theyleftnotraceinhermemory。Shehadnotintendedtowritethem，and，whenoncewritten，sheforgotthem。

"_ConsueloandLaComtessedeRudolstadt_，whatarethesebooks？"

sheasks。"DidIwritethem？Idonotrememberasinglewordofthem。"

Hernovelswerelikefruit，which，whenripe，fellawayfromher。

GeorgeSandalwaysreturnedtothecelebrationofcertaingreatthemeswhicharetheeternalsubjectsofallpoetry，subjectssuchasloveandnature，andsentimentslikeenthusiasmandpity。

Theverylanguagecompletestheillusion。Thechoiceofwordswasoftenfarfromperfect，asGeorgeSand’svocabularywasoftenuncertain，andherexpressionlackedprecisionandrelief。Butshehadthegiftofimagery，andherimageswerealwaysdelightfullyfresh。

Sheneverlostthatrarefacultywhichshepossessedofbeingsurprisedatthings，sothatshelookedateverythingwithyouthfuleyes。

Thereisacertainmovementwhichcarriesthereaderon，andarhythmthatissoothing。ShedevelopstheFrenchphraseslowlyperhaps，butwithoutanyconfusion。Herlanguageislikethoseriverswhichflowalongfullandlimpid，betweenflowerybanksandoasesofverdure，riversbythesideofwhichthetravellerlovestolingerandtolosehimselfindreams。

ThesharewhichbelongstoGeorgeSandinthehistoryoftheFrenchnovelisthatofhavingimpregnatedthenovelwiththepoetryinherownsoul。Shegavetothenovelabreadthandarangewhichithadneverhithertohad。ShecelebratedthehymnofNature，ofloveandofgoodnessinit。SherevealedtousthecountryandthepeasantsofFrance。Shegavesatisfactiontotheromantictendencywhichisineveryoneofus，toamoreorlessdegree。

Allthisismoreeventhanisneededtoensureherfame。Shedeniedeverhavingwrittenforposterity，andshepredictedthatinfiftyyearsshewouldbeforgotten。Itmaybethattherehasbeenforher，asthereisforeveryillustriousauthorwhodies，atimeoftestandaperiodofneglect。Thetriumphofnaturalism，byinfluencingtasteforatime，mayhavestoppedourreadingGeorgeSand。

Atpresentwearejustastiredofdocumentaryliteratureaswearedisgustedwithbrutalliterature。Wearegraduallycomingbacktoabettercomprehensionofwhatthereisof"truth"inGeorgeSand’sconceptionofthenovel。Thismaybesummedupinafewwords——

tocharm，totouchandtoconsole。Thoseofuswhoknowsomethingoflifemayperhapswonderwhethertoconsolemaynotbethefinalaimofliterature。GeorgeSand’sliteraryidealmaybereadinthefollowingwords，whichshewrotetoFlaubert：

"Youmakethepeoplewhoreadyourbooksstillsadderthantheywerebefore。Iwanttomakethemlessunhappy。"Shetriedtodothis，andsheoftensucceededinherattempt。Whatgreaterpraisecanwegivetoherthanthat？Andhowcanwehelpaddingalittlegratitudeandaffectiontoouradmirationforthewomanwhowasthegoodfairyofthecontemporarynovel？