Acontractofthiskind，directlyopposedtothelegalcontract，andeventothesacramentitself，couldbeconcludedonlybetweenLouisandme。Thisdifficulty，thefirstwhichhasarisen，istheonlyonewhichhasdelayedthecompletionofourmarriage。Although，atfirst，Imayhavemadeupmymindtoacceptanythingratherthanreturntotheconvent，itisonlyinhumannature，havinggotaninch，toaskforanell，andyouandI，sweetlove，areofthosewhowouldhaveitall。
IwatchedLouisoutofthecornerofmyeye，andputittomyself，“Hassufferinghadasofteningorahardeningeffectonhim？“Bydintofclosestudy，Iarrivedattheconclusionthathisloveamountedtoapassion。Oncetransformedintoanidol，whoseslightestfrownwouldturnhimwhiteandtrembling，IrealizedthatImightventureanything。Idrewhimasideinthemostnaturalmanneronsolitarywalks，duringwhichIdiscreetlysoundedhisfeelings。Imadehimtalk，andgothimtoexpoundtomehisideasandplansforourfuture。
Myquestionsbetrayedsomanypreconceivednotions，andwentsostraightfortheweakpointsinthisterribledualexistence，thatLouishassinceconfessedtomethealarmitcausedhimtofindinmesolittleoftheignorantmaiden。
ThenIlistenedtowhathehadtosayinreply。Hegotmixedupinhisarguments，aspeopledowhenhandicappedbyfear；andbeforelongitbecameclearthatchancehadgivenmeforadversaryonewhowasthelessfittedforthecontestbecausehewasconsciousofwhatyoumagniloquentlycallmy“greatnessofsoul。“Brokenbysufferingsandmisfortune，helookedonhimselfasasortofwreck，andthreefearsinespecialhauntedhim。
First，weareagedrespectivelythirty-sevenandseventeen；andhecouldnotcontemplatewithoutquakingthetwentyyearsthatdivideus。
Inthenextplace，hesharesourviewsonthesubjectofmybeauty，anditiscruelforhimtoseehowthehardshipsofhislifehaverobbedhimofyouth。Finally，hefeltthesuperiorityofmywomanhoodoverhismanhood。Theconsciousnessofthesethreeobviousdrawbacksmadehimdistrustfulofhimself；hedoubtedhispowertomakemehappy，andguessedthathehadbeenchosenasthelesseroftwoevils。
OneeveninghetentativelysuggestedthatIonlymarriedhimtoescapetheconvent。
“Icannotdenyit，“wasmygravereply。
Mydear，ittouchedmetothehearttoseethetwogreattearswhichstoodinhiseyes。NeverbeforehadIexperiencedtheshockofemotionwhichamancanimparttous。
“Louis，“Iwenton，askindlyasIcould，“itrestsentirelywithyouwhetherthismarriageofconveniencebecomesonetowhichIcangivemywholeheart。ThefavorIamabouttoaskfromyouwilldemandunselfishnessonyourpart，farnoblerthantheservitudetowhichaman’slove，whensincere，issupposedtoreducehim。Thequestionis，CanyourisetotheheightoffriendshipsuchasIunderstandit？
“Lifegivesusbutonefriend，andIwishtobeyours。Friendshipisthebondbetweenapairofkindredsouls，unitedintheirstrength，andyetindependent。Letusbefriendsandcomradestobearjointlytheburdenoflife。Leavemeabsolutelyfree。Iwouldputnohindranceinthewayofyourinspiringmewithalovesimilartoyourown；butI
amdeterminedtobeyoursonlyofmyownfreegift。Createinmethewishtogiveupmyfreedom，andatonceIlayitatyourfeet。
“Infusewithpassion，then，ifyouwill，thisfriendship，andletthevoiceoflovedisturbitscalm。OnmypartIwilldowhatIcantobringmyfeelingsintoaccordwithyours。Onething，aboveall，I
wouldbegofyou。Sparemetheannoyancestowhichthestrangenessofourmutualpositionmightgiverisetoourrelationswithothers。Iamneitherwhimsicalnorprudish，andshouldbesorrytogetthatreputation；butIfeelsurethatIcantrusttoyourhonorwhenIaskyoutokeepuptheoutwardappearanceofweddedlife。“
Never，dear，haveIseenamansohappyasmyproposalmadeLouis。Theblazeofjoywhichkindledinhiseyesdriedupthetears。
“Donotfancy，“Iconcluded，“thatIaskthisfromanywishtobeeccentric。ItisthegreatdesireIhaveforyourrespectwhichpromptsmyrequest。Ifyouowethecrownofyourlovemerelytothelegalandreligiousceremony，whatgratitudecouldyoufeeltomelaterforagiftinwhichmygoodwillcountedfornothing？IfduringthetimethatIremainedindifferenttoyouyieldingonlyapassiveobedience，suchasmymotherhasjustbeenurgingonmeachildwereborntous，doyousupposethatIcouldfeeltowardsitasIwouldtowardsonebornofourcommonlove？Apassionatelovemaynotbenecessaryinmarriage，but，atleast，youwilladmitthatthereshouldbenorepugnance。Ourpositionwillnotbewithoutitsdangers；inacountrylife，suchasourswillbe，oughtwenottobearinmindtheevanescentnatureofpassion？Isitnotsimpleprudencetomakeprovisionbeforehandagainstthecalamitiesincidenttochangeoffeeling？“
Hewasgreatlyastonishedtofindmeatoncesoreasonableandsoaptatreasoning；buthemademeasolemnpromise，afterwhichItookhishandandpresseditaffectionately。
Weweremarriedattheendoftheweek。Secureofmyfreedom，Iwasabletothrowmyselfgailyintothepettydetailswhichalwaysaccompanyaceremonyofthekind，andtobemynaturalself。PerhapsI
mayhavebeentakenforanoldbird，astheysayatBlois。Ayounggirl，delightedwiththenovelandhopefulsituationshehadcontrivedtomakeforherself，andmayhavepassedforastrong-mindedfemale。
Dear，thedifficultieswhichwouldbesetmylifehadappearedtomeclearlyasinavision，andIwassincerelyanxioustomakethehappinessofthemanImarried。Now，inthesolitudeofalifelikeours，marriagesoonbecomesintolerableunlessthewomanisthepresidingspirit。Awomaninsuchacaseneedsthecharmofamistress，combinedwiththesolidqualitiesofawife。Tointroduceanelementofuncertaintyintopleasureistoprolongillusion，andrenderlastingthoseselfishsatisfactionswhichallcreatureshold，andshouldshroudawomaninexpectancy，crownhersovereign，andinvestherwithanexhaustlesspower，aredundancyoflife，thatmakeseverythingblossomaroundher。Themoresheismistressofherself，themorecertainlywilltheloveandhappinessshecreatesbefittoweatherthestormsoflife。
But，aboveall，Ihaveinsistedonthegreatestsecrecyinregardtoourdomesticarrangements。Ahusbandwhosubmitstohiswife’syokeisjustlyheldanobjectofridicule。Awoman’sinfluenceoughttobeentirelyconcealed。Thecharmofallwedoliesinitsunobtrusiveness。IfIhavemadeitmytasktoraiseadroopingcourageandrestoretheirnaturalbrightnesstogiftswhichIhavedimlydescried，itmustallseemtospringfromLouishimself。
SuchisthemissiontowhichIdedicatemyself，amissionsurelynotignoble，andwhichmightwellsatisfyawoman’sambition。Why，Icouldgloryinthissecretwhichshallfillmylifewithinterest，inthistasktowardswhichmyeveryenergyshallbebent，whileitremainsconcealedfromallbutGodandyou。
Iamverynearlyhappynow，butshouldIbesowithoutafriendlyheartinwhichtopourtheconfession？Forhowmakeaconfidantofhim？Myhappinesswouldwoundhim，andhastobeconcealed。Heissensitiveasawoman，likeallmenwhohavesufferedmuch。
Forthreemonthsweremainedaswewerebeforemarriage。Asyoumayimagine，duringthistimeImadeaclosestudyofmanysmallpersonalmatters，whichhavemoretodowithlovethanisgenerallysupposed。
Inspiteofmycoldness，Louisgrewbolder，andhisnatureexpanded。I
sawonhisfaceanewexpression，alookofyouth。ThegreaterrefinementwhichIintroducedintothehousewasreflectedinhisperson。InsensiblyIbecameaccustomedtohispresence，andmadeanotherselfofhim。BydintofconstantwatchingIdiscoveredhowhismindandcountenanceharmonize。“Theanimalthatwecallahusband，“
toquoteyourwords，disappeared，andonebalmyeveningIdiscoveredinhissteadalover，whosewordsthrilledmeandonwhosearmIleantwithpleasurebeyondwords。Inshort，tobeopenwithyou，asIwouldbewithGod，beforewhomconcealmentisimpossible，theperfectloyaltywithwhichhehadkepthisoathmayhavepiquedme，andIfeltaflutteringofcuriosityinmyheart。Bitterlyashamed，Istruggledwithmyself。Alas!whenprideistheonlymotiveforresistance，excusesforcapitulationaresoonfound。
Wecelebratedourunioninsecret，andsecretitmustremainbetweenus。Whenyouaremarriedyouwillapprovethisreserve。Enoughthatnothingwaslackingeitherofsatisfactionforthemostfastidioussentiment，orofthatunexpectednesswhichbrings，inasense，itsownsanction。Everywitcheryofimagination，ofpassion，ofreluctanceovercome，oftheidealpassingintoreality，playeditspart。
Yet，inspiteofallthisenchantment，Ioncemorestoodoutformycompleteindependence。Ican’ttellyouallmyreasonsforthis。ToyoualoneshallIconfideevenasmuchasthis。Ibelievethatwomen，whetherpassionatelylovedornot，losemuchintheirrelationwiththeirhusbandsbynotconcealingtheirfeelingsaboutmarriageandthewaytheylookatit。
Myonejoy，anditissupreme，springsfromthecertaintyofhavingbroughtnewlifetomyhusbandbeforeIhavebornehimanychildren。
Louishasregainedhisyouth，strength，andspirits。Heisnotthesameman。WithmagictouchIhaveeffacedtheverymemoryofhissufferings。Itisacompletemetamorphosis。Louisisreallyveryattractivenow。Feelingsureofmyaffection，hethrowsoffhisreserveanddisplaysunsuspectedgifts。
Tobetheunceasingspringofhappinessforamanwhoknowsitandaddsgratitudetolove，ah!dearone，thisisaconvictionwhichfortifiesthesoul，evenmorethanthemostpassionatelovecando。
Theforcethusdeveloped——atonceimpetuousandenduring，simpleanddiversified——bringsforthultimatelythefamily，thatnobleproductofwomanhood，whichIrealizenowinallitsanimatingbeauty。
Theoldfatherhasceasedtobeamiser。HegivesblindlywhateverI
wishfor。Theservantsarecontent；itseemsasthoughtheblissofLouishadletafloodofsunshineintothehousehold，wherelovehasmademequeen。Eventheoldmanwouldnotbeablotuponmyprettyhome，andhasbroughthimselfintolinewithallmyimprovements；topleasemehehasadoptedthedress，andwiththedress，themannersoftheday。
WehaveEnglishhorses，acoupe，abarouche，andatilbury。Theliveryofourservantsissimplebutingoodtaste。Ofcoursewearelookedonasspendthrifts。IapplyallmyintellectIamspeakingquiteseriouslytomanagingmyhouseholdwitheconomy，andobtainingforitthemaximumofpleasurewiththeminimumofcost。
IhavealreadyconvincedLouisofthenecessityofgettingroadsmade，inorderthathemayearnthereputationofamaninterestedinthewelfareofhisdistrict。Iinsisttooonhisstudyingagreatdeal。
BeforelongIhopetoseehimamemberoftheCouncilGeneraloftheDepartment，throughtheinfluenceofmyfamilyandhismother’s。I
havetoldhimplainlythatIamambitious，andthatIwasverywellpleasedhisfathershouldcontinuetolookaftertheestateandpractiseeconomies，becauseIwishedhimtodevotehimselfexclusivelytopolitics。Ifwehadchildren，IshouldliketoseethemallprosperousandwithgoodStateappointments。Underpenalty，therefore，offorfeitingmyesteemandaffection，hemustgethimselfchosendeputyforthedepartmentatthecomingelections；myfamilywouldsupporthiscandidature，andweshouldthenhavethedelightofspendingallourwintersinParis。Ah!mylove，bytheardorwithwhichheembracedmyplans，Icangaugethedepthofhisaffection。
ToconcludehereisaletterhewrotemeyesterdayfromMarseilles，wherehehadgonetospendafewhours：
“MYSWEETRENEE，——Whenyougavemepermissiontoloveyou，Ibegantobelieveinhappiness；now，Iseeitunfoldingendlesslybeforeme。Thepastismerelyadimmemory，ashadowybackground，withoutwhichmypresentblisswouldshowlessradiant。WhenIamwithyou，lovesotransportsmethatIampowerlesstoexpressthedepthofmyaffection；Icanbutworshipandadmire。Onlyatadistancedoesthepowerofspeechreturn。Youaresupremelybeautiful，Renee，andyourbeautyisofthestatuesqueandregaltype，onwhichtimeleavesbutlittleimpression。Nodoubttheloveofhusbandandwifedependslessonoutwardbeautythanongracesofcharacter，whichareyoursalsoinperfection；still，letmesaythatthecertaintyofhavingyourunchangingbeauty，onwhichtofeastmyeyes，givesmeajoythatgrowswitheveryglance。Thereisagraceanddignityinthelinesofyourface，expressiveofthenoblesoulwithin，andbreathingofpuritybeneaththevividcoloring。Thebrillianceofyourdarkeyes，theboldsweepofyourforehead，declareaspiritofnocommonelevation，soundandtrustworthyineveryrelation，andwellbracedtomeetthestormsoflife，shouldsucharise。Thekeynoteofyourcharacterisitsfreedomfromallpettiness。Youdonotneedtobetoldallthis；butIwriteitbecauseIwouldhaveyouknowthatIappreciatethetreasureIpossess。Yourfavorstome，howeverslight，willalwaysmakemyhappinessinthefar-distantfutureasnow；forIamsensiblehowmuchdignitythereisinourpromisetorespecteachother’sliberty。Ourownimpulseshallwithusalonedictatetheexpressionoffeeling。Weshallbefreeeveninourfetters。IshallhavethemoreprideinwooingyouagainnowthatIknowtherewardyouplaceonvictory。Youcannotspeak，breathe，act，orthink，withoutaddingtotheadmirationI