Thechalet，adornedwithawildvinewhichcoverstheroof，isliterallyembeddedinclimbingplantsofallkinds——hops，clematis，jasmine，azalea，copaea。Itwillbeasharpeyewhichcandescryourwindows!
Thechalet，mydear，isagood，solidhouse，withitsheatingsystemandalltheconveniencesofmodernarchitecture，whichcanraiseapalaceinthecompassofahundredsquarefeet。ItcontainsasuiteofroomsforGastonandanotherforme。Theground-floorisoccupiedbyanante-room，aparlor，andadiningroom。Aboveourflooragainarethreeroomsdestinedforthenurseries。Ihavefivefirst-ratehorses，asmalllightcoupe，andatwo-horsecabriolet。Weareonlyforty-
minutes’drivefromParis；sothat，whenthespiritmovesustohearanoperaorseeanewplay，wecanstartafterdinnerandreturnthesamenighttoourbower。Theroadisagoodone，andpassesundertheshadeofourgreendividingwall。
Myservants——cook，coachman，groom，andgardeners，inadditiontomymaid——areallveryrespectablepeople，whomIhavespentthelastsixmonthsinpickingup，andtheywillbesuperintendedbymyoldPhilippe。Althoughconfidentoftheirloyaltyandgoodfaith，Ihavenotneglectedtocultivateself-interest；theirwagesaresmall，butwillreceiveanannualadditionintheshapeofaNewYear’sDaypresent。Theyareallawarethattheslightestfault，orameresuspicionofgossiping，mightlosethemacapitalplace。Loversarenevertroublesometotheirservants；theyareindulgentbydisposition，andthereforeIfeelthatIcanreckononmyhousehold。
Allthatischoice，pretty，ordecorativeinmyhouseintheRueduBachasbeentransportedtothechalet。TheRembrandthangsonthestaircase，asthoughitwereameredaub；theHobbemafacestheRubensin/his/study；theTitian，whichmysister-in-lawMarysentmefromMadrid，adornstheboudoir。ThebeautifulfurniturepickedupbyFelipelooksverywellintheparlor，whichthearchitecthasdecoratedmosttastefully。Everythingatthechaletischarminglysimple，withthesimplicitywhichcan’tbegotunderahundredthousandfrancs。Ourground-floorrestsoncellars，whicharebuiltofmillstoneandembeddedinconcrete；itisalmostcompletelyburiedinflowersandshrubs，andisdeliciouslycoolwithoutavestigeofdamp。