XX
ASHORTTREATISEONCERTAINTY:BUTNOT
FROMPASCAL’SPOINTOFVIEW
Whenawomanreturnstoordinarylifeafterthenursingofherfirstchildshereappearsintheworldembellishedandcharming。Thisphaseofmaternity，whileitrejuvenatesthewomenofacertainage，givestoyoungwomenasplendoroffreshness，agayactivity，a/brio/ofmereexistence，——ifitispermissibletoapplytothebodyawordwhichItalyhasdiscoveredforthemind。Intryingtoreturntothecharminghabitsofthehoneymoon，SabinediscoveredthatherhusbandwasnottheformerCalyste。Againsheobservedhim，unhappygirl，insteadofrestingsecurelyinherhappiness。Shesoughtforthefatalperfume，andsmeltit。Thistimeshenolongerconfidedinherfriend，norinthemotherwhohadsocharitablydeceivedher。Shewantedcertainty，andCertaintymadenolongtarrying。Certaintyisneverwanting，itislikethesun；andpresentlyshadesareaskedfortokeepitout。Itis，inmattersoftheheart，arepetitionofthefableofthewoodmancallinguponDeath，——wesoonaskCertaintytoleaveusblind。
Onemorning，abouttwoweeksafterthefirstcrisis，Sabinereceivedthisterribleletter:——