“MydearFelipe，“Isaid，“Youhaveacquittedyourselfwellto-night；
youbehavedexactlyasIshouldhavedonehadIbeentoldthatyouwereonthepointofmarrying。“
“Ithought，“hereplied，“thatyouwouldhardlyhavetoldothersbeforeme。“
“Andwhatrighthaveyoutothisprivilege？“
“Therightofonewhoisyourdevotedslave。“
“Inverytruth？“
“Iam，andshalleverremainso。“
“Butsupposethismarriagewasinevitable；supposethatIhadagreed……“
Twoflashingglanceslitupthemoonlight——onedirectedtome，theothertotheprecipicewhichthewallmadeforus。Heseemedtocalculatewhetherafalltogetherwouldmeandeath；butthethoughtmerelypassedlikelightningoverhisfaceandsparkledinhiseyes。A
power，strongerthanpassion，checkedtheimpulse。
“AnArabcannottakebackhisword，“hesaidinahuskyvoice。“Iamyourslavetodowithasyouwill；mylifeisnotminetodestroy。“
Thehandonthebalconyseemedasthoughitsholdwererelaxing。I
placedmineonitasIsaid：
“Felipe，mybeloved，fromthismomentIamyourwifeinthoughtandwill。Gointhemorningtoaskmyfatherformyhand。Hewishestoretainmyfortune；butifyoupromisetoacknowledgereceiptofitinthecontract，hisconsentwillnodoubtbegiven。IamnolongerArmandedeChaulieu。Leavemeatonce；nobreathofscandalmusttouchLouisedeMacumer。“
Helistenedwithblanchedfaceandtremblinglimbs，then，likeaflash，hadclearedthetenfeettothegroundinsafety。Itwasamomentofagony，buthewavedhishandtomeanddisappeared。
“Iamlovedthen，“Isaidtomyself，“asneverwomanwasbefore。“AndIfellasleepinthecalmcontentofachild，mydestinyforeverfixed。
Abouttwoo’clocknextdaymyfathersummonedmetohisprivateroom，whereIfoundtheDuchessandMacumer。Therewasaninterchangeofcivilities。IrepliedquitesimplythatifmyfatherandM。Henarezwereofonemind，Ihadnoreasontoopposetheirwishes。ThereuponmymotherinvitedtheBarontodinner；andafterdinner，weallfourwentforadriveintheBoisdeBoulogne，whereIhadthepleasureofsmilingironicallytoM。deMarsayashepassedonhorsebackandcaughtsightofMacumersittingoppositetousbesidemyfather。
MybewitchingFelipehashadhiscardsreprintedasfollows：
HENAREZ
BarondeMacumer，formerlyDucdeSoria。
Everymorninghebringsmewithhisownhandsasplendidbouquet，hiddeninwhichIneverfailtofindaletter，containingaSpanishsonnetinmyhonor，whichhehascomposedduringthenight。
Nottomakethisletterinordinatelylarge，Isendyouasspecimensonlythefirstandlastofthesesonnets，whichIhavetranslatedforyourbenefit，wordforword，andlineforline：——
FIRSTSONNET
ManyatimeI’vestood，cladinthinsilkenvest，Drawnswordinhand，withsteadypulse，Waitingthechargeofaragingbull，Andthethrustofhishorn，sharper-pointedthanPhoebe’screscent。
I’vescaled，onmylipstheliltofanAndalusiandance，Thesteepredoubtunderarainoffire；
I’vestakedmylifeuponahazardofthediceCareless，asthoughitwereagolddoubloon。
Myhandwouldseektheballoutofthecannon’smouth，ButnowmeseemsIgrowmoretimidthanacrouchinghair，Orachildspyingsomeghostinthecurtain’sfolds。
Forwhenyoursweeteyerestsonme，Anyicysweatcoversmybrow，mykneesgiveway，Itremble，shrink，mycouragegone。
SECONDSONNET
LastnightIfainwouldsleeptodreamofthee，Butjealoussleepfledmyeyelids，Isoughtthebalconyandlookedtowardsheaven，AlwaysmyglancefliesupwardwhenIthinkofthee。
Strangesight!whosemeaninglovealonecantell，Theskyhadlostitssapphirehue，Thestars，dulleddiamondsintheirgoldenmount，Twinklednomorenorshedtheirwarmth。
Themoon，washedofhersilverradiancelily-white，Hungmourningoverthegloomyplain，forthouhastrobbedTheheavensofallthatmadethembright。
Thesnowysparkleofthemoonisonthylovelybrow，Heaven’sazurecentresinthineeyes，Thylashesfalllikestarryrays。
Whatmoregraciouswayofsayingtoayounggirlthatshefillsyourlife？Tellmewhatyouthinkofthislove，whichexpendsitselfinlavishingthetreasuresalikeoftheearthandofthesoul。OnlywithinthelasttendayshaveIgraspedthemeaningofthatSpanishgallantry，sofamousinolddays。
Ahme!dear，whatisgoingonnowatLaCrampade？HowoftendoItakeastrollthere，inspectingthegrowthofourcrops!Haveyounonewstogiveofourmulberrytrees，ourlastwinter’splantations？Doeseverythingprosperasyouwish？Andwhilethebudsareopeningonourshrubs——Iwillnotventuretospeakofthebedding-outplants——havetheyalsoblossomedinthebosomofthewife？DoesLouiscontinuehispolicyofmadrigals？Doyouenterintoeachother’sthoughts？Iwonderwhetheryourlittlerunletofweddingpeaceisbetterthantheragingtorrentofmylove!Hasmysweetladyprofessortakenoffence？I
cannotbelieveit；andifitwereso，IshouldsendFelipeoffatonce，post-haste，toflinghimselfatherkneesandbringbacktomemypardonorherhead。Sweetlove，mylifehereisasplendidsuccess，andIwanttoknowhowitfareswithlifeinProvence。WehavejustincreasedourfamilybytheadditionofaSpaniardwiththecomplexionofaHavanacigar，andyourcongratulationsstilltarry。
Seriously，mysweetRenee，Iamanxious。Iamafraidlestyoushouldbeeatingyourheartoutinsilence，forfearofcastingagloomovermysunshine。Writetomeatonce，naughtychild!andtellmeyourlifeinitseveryminutestdetail；tellmewhetheryoustillholdback，whetheryour“independence“stillstandserect，orhasfallenonitsknees，orissittingdowncomfortably，whichwouldindeedbeserious。
Canyousupposethattheincidentsofyourmarriedlifearewithoutinterestforme？Imuseattimesoverallthatyouhavesaidtome。
Oftenwhen，attheOpera，Iseemabsorbedinwatchingthepirouettingdancers，Iamsayingtomyself，“Itishalf-pastnine，perhapssheisinbed。Whatissheabout？Isshehappy？Isshealonewithherindependence？orhasherindependencegonethewayofotherdeadandcastoffindependences？“
Athousandloves。
XXV
RENEEDEL’ESTORADETOLOUISEDECHAULIEU
Saucygirl!WhyshouldIwrite？WhatcouldIsay？Whilstyourlifeisvariedbysocialfestivities，aswellasbytheanguish，thetempers，andtheflowersoflove——allofwhichyoudescribesographically，thatImightbewatchingsomefirst-rateactingatthetheatre——mineisasmonotonousandregularasthoughitwerepassedinaconvent。
Wealwaysgotobedatnineandgetupwithdaybreak。Ourmealsareservedwithamaddeningpunctuality。Nothingeverhappens。Ihaveaccustomedmyselfwithoutmuchdifficultytothismappingoutoftheday，whichperhapsis，afterall，inthenatureofthings。Wherewouldthelifeoftheuniversebebutforthatsubjectiontofixedlawswhich，accordingtotheastronomers，soLouistellsme，rulethespheres!Itisnotorderofwhichweweary。
ThenIhavelaiduponmyselfcertainrulesofdress，andtheseoccupymytimeinthemornings。Iholditpartofmydutyasawifetolookascharmingaspossible。Ifeelacertainsatisfactioninit，anditcauseslivelypleasuretothegoodoldmanandtoLouis。Afterlunch，wewalk。Whenthenewspapersarrive，Idisappeartolookaftermyhouseholdaffairsortoread——forIreadagreatdeal——ortowritetoyou。Icomebacktotheothersanhourbeforedinner；andafterdinnerweplaycards，orreceivevisits，orpaythem。Thusmydayspassbetweenacontentedoldman，whohasdonewithpassions，andthemanwhooweshishappinesstome。Louis’happinessissoradiantthatithasatlastwarmedmyheart。
Forwomen，happinessnodoubtcannotconsistinthemeresatisfactionofdesire。Sometimes，intheevening，whenIamnotrequiredtotakeahandinthegame，andcansinkbackinmyarmchair，imaginationbearsmeonitsstrongwingsintotheveryheartofyourlife。Then，itsriches，itschangefultints，itssurgingpassionsbecomemyown，andI
askmyselftowhatendsuchastormyprefacecanlead。MayInotswallowupthebookitself？Foryou，mydarling，theillusionsoflovearepossible；forme，onlythefactsofhomelyliferemain。Yes，yourloveseemstomeadream!
ThereforeIfindithardtounderstandwhyyouaredeterminedtothrowsomuchromanceoverit。Youridealmanmusthavemoresoulthanfire，morenobilityandself-commandthanpassion。Youpersistintryingtoclotheinlivingformthedreamidealofagirlonthethresholdoflife；youdemandsacrificesforthepleasureofrewardingthem；yousubmityourFelipetotestsinordertoascertainwhetherdesire，hope，andcuriosityareenduringintheirnature。But，child，behindallyourfantasticstagesceneryrisesthealtar，whereeverlastingbondsareforged。Theverymorrowofyourmarriagethegracefulstructureraisedbyyoursubtlestrategymayfallbeforethatterriblerealitywhichmakesofagirlawoman，ofagallantahusband。
Rememberthatthereisnotexemptionforlovers。Forthem，asforordinaryfolklikeLouisandme，therelurksbeneaththeweddingrejoicingsthegreat“Perhaps“ofRabelais。
Idonotblameyou，though，ofcourse，itwasrash，fortalkingwithFelipeinthegarden，orforspendinganightwithhim，youonyourbalcony，heonhiswall；butyoumakeaplaythingoflife，andIamafraidthatlifemaysomedayturnthetables。Idarenotgiveyouthecounselwhichmyownexperiencewouldsuggest；butletmerepeatoncemorefromtheseclusionofmyvalleythattheviaticumofmarriedlifeliesinthesewords——resignationandself-sacrifice。For，spiteofallyourtests，yourcoyness，andyourvigilance，Icanseethatmarriagewillmeantoyouwhatithasbeentome。Thegreaterthepassion，thesteepertheprecipicewehavehewnforourfall——thatistheonlydifference。
Oh!whatIwouldgivetoseetheBarondeMacumerandtalkwithhimforanhourortwo!Yourhappinessliessonearmyheart。
AsFelipehascarriedout，withatrulySaracenicgenerosity，thewishesofmyfatherandmotherinacknowledgingthefortunehehasnotreceivedfromme，theDuchesshasbecomeevenmorefriendlytomethanbefore。Shecallsmelittlesly-boots，littlewomanoftheworld，andsaysIknowhowtousemytongue。
“But，dearmamma，“Isaidtohertheeveningbeforethecontractwassigned，“youattributetocunningandsmartnessonmypartwhatisreallytheoutcomeofthetruest，simplest，mostunselfish，mostdevotedlovethateverwas!IassureyouthatIamnotatallthe’womanoftheworld’youdomethehonorofbelievingmetobe。“
“Come，come，Armande，“shesaid，puttingherarmonmyneckanddrawingmetoher，inordertokissmyforehead，“youdidnotwanttogobacktotheconvent，youdidnotwanttodieanoldmaid，and，likeafine，noble-heartedChaulieu，asyouare，yourecognizedthenecessityofbuildingupyourfather’sfamily。TheDukewaslistening。Ifyouknew，Renee，whatflatteryliesforhiminthesewords。Ihavewatchedyouduringthewholewinter，pokingyourlittlenoseintoallthatgoeson，formingverysensibleopinionsaboutmenandthepresentstateofsocietyinFrance。AndyouhavepickedouttheoneSpaniardcapableofgivingyouthesplendidpositionofawomanwhoreignssupremeinherownhouse。Mylittlegirl，youtreatedhimexactlyasTulliatreatsyourbrother。“
“Whatlessonstheygiveinmysister’sconvent!“exclaimedmyfather。
Aglanceatmyfathercuthimshortatonce；then，turningtotheDuchess，Isaid：
“Madame，Ilovemyfuturehusband，FelipedeSoria，withallthestrengthofmysoul。Althoughthislovesprangupwithoutmyknowledge，andthoughIfoughtitstoutlywhenitfirstmadeitselffelt，IsweartoyouthatInevergavewaytoittillIhadrecognizedintheBarondeMacumeracharacterworthyofmine，aheartofwhichthedelicacy，thegenerosity，thedevotion，andthetemperaresuitedtomyown。“
“But，mydear，“shebegan，interruptingme，“heisasuglyas……“
“Asanythingyoulike，“Iretortedquickly，“butIlovehisugliness。“
“Ifyoulovehim，Armande，“saidmyfather，“andhavethestrengthtomasteryourlove，youmustnotriskyourhappiness。Now，happinessinmarriagedependslargelyonthefirstdays——“