Icanrecalltheday，nownearlyfourteenyearsago，whenIembarkedonalifeofself-sacrificewiththedespairofashipwreckedmarinerclingingtothemastofhisvessel；now，asIinvokethememoryofpastyears，IfeelthatIwouldmakethesamechoiceagain。Nootherguidingprincipleissosafe，orleadstosuchrichreward。Thespectacleofyourlife，which，foralltheromanceandpoetrywithwhichyouinvestit，stillremainsbasedonnothingbutaruthlessselfishness，hashelpedtostrengthenmyconvictions。ThisisthelasttimeIshallspeaktoyouinthisway；butIcouldnotrefrainfromoncemorepleadingwithyouwhenIfoundthatyourhappinesshadbeenproofagainstthemostsearchingofalltrials。
AndonemorepointImusturgeonyou，suggestedbymymeditationsonyourretirement。Life，whetherofthebodyortheheart，consistsincertainbalancedmovements。Anyexcessintroducedintotheworkingofthisroutinegivesriseeithertopainortopleasure，bothofwhichareamerefeverofthesoul，boundtobefugitivebecausenatureisnotsoframedastosupportitlong。Buttomakeoflifeonelongexcessissurelytochoosesicknessforone’sportion。Youaresickbecauseyoumaintainatthetemperatureofpassionafeelingwhichmarriageoughttoconvertintoasteadying，purifyinginfluence。
Yes，mysweet，Iseeitclearlynow；thegloryofahomeconsistsinthisverycalm，thisintimacy，thissharingalikeofgoodandevil，whichthevulgarridicule。HownoblewasthereplyoftheDuchessedeSully，thewifeofthegreatSully，tosomeonewhoremarkedthatherhusband，forallhisgraveexterior，didnotscrupletokeepamistress。“Whatofthat？“shesaid。“Irepresentthehonorofthehouse，andshoulddeclinetoplaythepartofacourtesanthere。“
Butyou，Louise，whoarenaturallymorepassionatethantender，wouldbeatoncethewifeandthemistress。WiththesoulofaHeloiseandthepassionsofaSaintTheresa，yousliptheleashonallyourimpulses，solongastheyaresanctionedbylaw；inaword，youdegradethemarriagerite。Surelythetablesareturned。Thereproachesyouonceheapedonmeforimmorally，asyousaid，seizingthemeansofhappinessfromtheveryoutsetofmyweddedlife，mightbedirectedagainstyourselfforgraspingateverythingwhichmayserveyourpassion。What!mustnatureandsocietyalikebeinbondagetoyourcaprice？YouaretheoldLouise；youhaveneveracquiredthequalitieswhichoughttobeawoman’s；self-willedandunreasonableasagirl，youintroducewithalintoyourlovethekeenestandmostmercenaryofcalculations!Areyousurethat，afterall，thepriceyouaskforyourtoiletsisnottoohigh？Alltheseprecautionsaretomymindverysuggestiveofmistrust。
Oh，dearLouise，ifonlyyouknewthesweetnessofamother’seffortstodisciplineherselfinkindnessandgentlenesstoallabouther!Myproud，self-sufficingtempergraduallydissolvedintoasoftmelancholy，whichinturnhasbeenswallowedupbythosedelightsofmotherhoodwhichhavebeenitsreward。Iftheearlyhoursweretoilsome，theeveningwillbetranquilandclear。Mydreadislestthedayofyourlifeshouldtaketheoppositecourse。