triumphofthiskindislikestrongwinetovanity，self-love，andalltheself-regardingfeelings。Toposeperpetuallyasadivinityisadraughtsopotentinitsintoxicatingeffects，thatIamnolongersurprisedtoseewomengrowselfish，callous，andfrivolousintheheartofthisadoration。Thefumesofsocietymounttothehead。Youlavishthewealthofyoursoulandspirit，thetreasuresofyourtime，thenoblesteffortsofyourwill，uponacrowdofpeoplewhorepayyouinsmilesandjealousy。Thefalsecoinoftheirprettyspeeches，compliments，andflatteryistheonlyreturntheygiveforthesolidgoldofyourcourageandsacrifices，andallthethoughtthatmustgotokeepupwithoutflaggingthestandardofbeauty，dress，sparklingtalk，andgeneralaffability。Youareperfectlyawarehowmuchitcosts，andthatthewholethingisafraud，butyoucannotkeepoutofthevortex。
Ah!mysweetheart，howonecravesforarealfriend!HowprecioustomearetheloveanddevotionofFelipe，andhowmyheartgoesouttoyou!JoyfullyindeedarewepreparingforourmovetoChantepleurs，wherewecanrestfromthecomedyoftheRuedeBacandoftheParisdrawing-rooms。Havingjustreadyourletteragain，IfeelthatI
cannotbetterdescribethisdemoniacparadisethanbysayingthatnowomanoffashioninPariscanpossiblybeagoodmother。
Good-bye，then，forashorttime，dearone。WeshallstayatChantepleursonlyaweekatmost，andshallbewithyouaboutMay10th。Soweareactuallytomeetagainaftermorethantwoyears!Whatchangessincethen!Hereweare，bothmatrons，bothinourpromisedland——Ioflove，youofmotherhood。
IfIhavenotwritten，mysweetest，itisnotbecauseIhaveforgottenyou。Andwhatofthemonkeygodson？Ishestillprettyandacredittome？Hemustbemorethanninemonths’oldnow。Ishoulddearlyliketobepresentwhenhemakeshisfirststepsuponthisearth；butMacumertellsmethatevenprecociousinfantshardlywalkattenmonths。
Weshallhavesomegoodgossipsthere，and“cutpinafores，“astheBloisfolksay。Ishallseewhetherachild，asthesayinggoes，spoilsthepattern。
P。S——Ifyoudeigntoreplyfromyourmaternalheights，addresstoChantepleurs。Iamjustoff。
MME。DEL’ESTORADETOMME。DEMACUMER
Mychild，——Ifeveryoubecomeamother，youwillfindoutthatitisimpossibletowritelettersduringthefirsttwomonthsofyournursing。Mary，myEnglishnurse，andIarebothquiteknockedup。ItistrueIhadnottoldyouthatIwasdeterminedtodoeverythingmyself。BeforetheeventIhadwithmyownfingerssewnthebabyclothesandembroideredandedgedwithlacethelittlecaps。Iamaslave，mypet，aslavedayandnight。
Tobeginwith，MasterArmand-Louistakeshismealswhenitpleaseshim，andthatisalways；thenhehasoftentobechanged，washed，anddressed。Hismotherissofondofwatchinghimsleep，ofsingingsongstohim，ofwalkinghimaboutinherarmsonafineday，thatshehaslittletimelefttoattendtoherself。Inshort，whatsocietyhasbeentoyou，mychild——ourchild——hasbeentome!
Icannottellyouhowfullandrichmylifehasbecome，andIlongforyourcomingthatyoumayseeforyourself。Theonlythingis，Iamafraidhewillsoonbeteething，andthatyouwillfindapeevish，cryingbaby。Sofarhehasnotcriedmuch，forIamalwaysathand。
Babiesonlycrywhentheirwantsarenotunderstood，andIamconstantlyonthelookoutforhis。Oh!mysweet，myhearthasopenedupsowide，whileyouallowyourstoshrinkandshrivelatthebiddingofsociety!Ilookforyourcomingwithallahermit’slonging。Iwantsomuchtoknowwhatyouthinkofl’Estorade，justasyounodoubtarecuriousformyopinionofMacumer。
Writetomefromyourlastresting-place。Thegentlemenwanttogoandmeetourdistinguishedguests。Come，QueenofParis，cometoourhumblegrange，where
MME。DEMACUMERTOTHEVICOMTESSEDEL’ESTORADE
Thenameonthisaddresswilltellyou，dear，thatmypetitionhasbeengranted。Yourfather-in-lawisnowComtedel’Estorade。IwouldnotleaveParistillIhadobtainedthegratificationofyourwishes，andIamwritinginthepresenceoftheKeeperoftheSeals，whohascometotellmethatthepatentissigned。
Good-byeforashorttime!
THESAMETOTHESAME
MARSEILLES，July。
Iamashamedtothinkhowmysuddenflightwillhavetakenyoubysurprise。ButsinceIamaboveallhonest，andsinceIloveyounotonebittheless，Ishalltellyouthetruthinfourwords：Iamhorriblyjealous!
Felipe’seyesweretoooftenonyou。Youusedtohavelittletalkstogetheratthefootofyourrock，whichwereatorturetome；andI
wasfastbecomingirritableandunlikemyself。YourtrulySpanishbeautycouldnotfailtorecalltohimhisnativeland，andalongwithitMarieHeredia，andIcanbejealousofthepasttoo。Yourmagnificentblackhair，yourlovelydarkeyes，yourbrow，wherethepeacefuljoyofmotherhoodstandsoutradiantagainsttheshadowswhichtellofpastsuffering，thefreshnessofyoursouthernskin，farfairerthanthatofablondelikeme，thesplendidlinesofyourfigure，thebreasts，onwhichmygodsonhangs，peepingthroughthelacelikesomelusciousfruit，——allthisstabbedmeintheeyesandintheheart。InvaindidIstickcornflowersinmycurls，invainsetoffwithcherry-coloredribbonsthetamenessofmypalelocks，everythinglookedwashedoutwhenReneeappeared——aReneesounliketheoneIexpectedtofindinyouroasis。
ThenFelipemadetoomuchofthechild，whomIfoundmyselfbeginningtohate。Yes，Iconfessit，thatexuberanceoflifewhichfillsyourhouse，makingitgaywithshoutsandlaughter——Iwanteditformyself。
IreadaregretinMacumer’seyes，and，unknowntohim，Icriedoverittwowholenights。Iwasmiserableinyourhouse。Youaretoobeautifulasawoman，tootriumphantasamother，formetoendureyourcompany。
Ah!youcomplainedofyourlot。Hypocrite!Whatwouldyouhave？
L’Estoradeismostpresentable；hetalkswell；hehasfineeyes；andhisblackhair，dashedwithwhite，isverybecoming；hissouthernmanners，too，havesomethingattractiveaboutthem。AsfarasIcanmakeout，hewill，soonerorlater，beelecteddeputyfortheBouches-
du-Rhone；intheChamberheissuretocometothefront，foryoucanalwayscountonmetopromoteyourinterests。Thesufferingsofhisexilehavegivenhimthatcalmanddignifiedairwhichgoeshalf-way，inmyopinion，tomakeapolitician。Forthewholeartofpolitics，dear，seemstometoconsistinlookingserious。Atthisrate，Macumer，asItoldhim，oughtcertainlytohaveahighpositioninthestate。
Andso，havingcompletelysatisfiedmyselfofyourhappiness，IflyoffcontentedtomydearChantepleurs，whereFelipemustreallyachievehisaspirations。Ihavemadeupmymindnottoreceiveyoutherewithoutafinebabyatmybreasttomatchyours。
Oh!IknowverywellIdeservealltheepithetsyoucanhurlatme。I
amafool，awretch，anidiot。Alas!thatisjustwhatjealousymeans。
Iamnotvexedwithyou，butIwasmiserable，andyouwillforgivemeforescapingfrommymisery。Twodaysmore，andIshouldhavemadeanexhibitionofmyself；yes，therewouldhavebeenanoutbreakofvulgarity。
Butinspiteoftheragegnawingatmyheart，Iamgladtohavecome，gladtohaveseenyouintheprideofyourbeautifulmotherhood，myfriendstill，asIremainyoursinalltheabsorptionofmylove。Why，evenhereatMarseilles，onlyastepfromyourdoor，Ibegintofeelproudofyouandofthesplendidmotherthatyouwillmake。
Howwellyoujudgedyourvocation!Youseemtomebornforthepartofmotherratherthanoflover，exactlyasthereverseistrueofme。
Therearewomencapableofneither，hard-favoredorsillywomen。A
goodmotherandapassionatelylovingwifehavethisincommon，thattheybothneedintelligenceanddiscretioneverathand，andanunfailingcommandofeverywomanlyartandgrace。Oh!Iwatchedyouwell；needIadd，slypuss，thatIadmiredyoutoo!Yourchildrenwillbehappy，butnotspoilt，withyourtendernesslappingthemroundandtheclearlightofyourreasonplayingsoftlyonthem。
TellLouisthetruthaboutmygoingaway，butfindsomedecentexcuseforyourfather-in-law，whoseemstoactasstewardfortheestablishment；andbecarefultodothesameforyourfamily——atrueProvencalversionoftheHarlowefamily。FelipedoesnotknowwhyI
left，andhewillneverknow。Ifheasks，Ishallcontrivetofindsomecolorablepretext，probablythatyouwerejealousofme!Forgivemethislittleconventionalfib。
Good-bye。Iwriteinhaste，asIwantyoutogetthisatlunch-time；
andthepostilion，whohasundertakentoconveyittoyou，ishere，refreshinghimselfwhilehewaits。
Manykissestomydearlittlegodson。BesureyoucometoChantepleursinOctober。IshallbealonethereallthetimethatMacumerisawayinSardinia，whereheisdesigninggreatimprovementsinhisestate。
Atleastthatishisplanforthemoment，andhispetvanityconsistsinhavingaplan。Thenhefeelsthathehasawillofhisown，andthismakeshimveryuneasywhenheunfoldsittome。Good-bye!
THEVICOMTESSEDEL’ESTORADETOTHEBARONNEDEMACUMER
Dear，——nowordscanexpresstheastonishmentofallourpartywhen，atluncheon，weweretoldthatyouhadbothgone，and，aboveall，whenthepostilionwhotookyoutoMarseilleshandedmeyourmadletter。
Why，naughtychild，itwasofyourhappiness，andnothingelse，thatmadethethemeofthosetalksbelowtherock，onthe“Louise“seat，andyouhadnotthefaintestjustificationforobjectingtothem。
/Ingrata!/Mysentenceonyouisthatyoureturnhereatmyfirstsummons。Inthathorridletter，scribbledontheinnpaper，youdidnottellmewhatwouldbeyournextstoppingplace；soImustaddressthistoChantepleurs。
Listentome，dearsisterofmyheart。Knowfirst，thatmymindissetonyourhappiness。Yourhusband，dearLouise，commandsrespect，notonlybyhisnaturalgravityanddignifiedexpression，butalsobecausehesomehowimpressesonewiththesplendidpowerrevealedinhispiquantplainnessandinthefireofhisvelveteyes；andyouwillunderstandthatitwassomelittletimebeforeIcouldmeethimonthoseeasytermswhicharealmostnecessaryforintimateconversation。
Further，thismanhasbeenPrimeMinister，andheidolizesyou；whenceitfollowsthathemustbeaprofounddissembler。Tofishupsecrets，therefore，fromtherockycavernsofthisdiplomaticsoulisaworkdemandingaskilfulhandnolessthanareadybrain。Nevertheless，I
succeededatlast，withoutrousingmyvictim’ssuspicions，indiscoveringmanythingsofwhichyou，mypet，havenoconception。
Youknowthat，betweenustwo，mypartisratherthatofreason，yoursofimagination：Ipersonifysoberduty，yourecklesslove。Ithaspleasedfatetocontinueinourlivesthiscontrastincharacterwhichwasimperceptibletoallexceptourselves。Iamasimplecountryvicountess，veryambitious，andmakingithertasktoleadherfamilyontheroadtoprosperity。Ontheotherhand，Macumer，lateDucdeSoria，hasanameintheworld，andyou，aduchessbyright，reigninParis，wherereigningisnoeasymatterevenforkings。Youhaveaconsiderablefortune，whichwillbedoubledifMacumercarriesouthisprojectsfordevelopinghisgreatestatesinSardinia，theresourcesofwhicharematterofcommontalkatMarseilles。Deny，ifyoucan，thatifeitherhastherighttobejealous，itisnotyou。But，thankGod，wehavebothheartsgenerousenoughtoplaceourfriendshipbeyondreachofsuchvulgarpettiness。
Iknowyou，dear；Iknowthat，erenow，youareashamedofhavingfled。Butdon’tsupposethatyourflightwillsaveyoufromasinglewordofdiscoursewhichIhadpreparedforyourbenefitto-daybeneaththerock。Readcarefullythen，Ibegofyou，whatIsay，foritconcernsyouevenmorecloselythanMacumer，thoughhealsoenterslargelyintomysermon。
Firstly，mydear，youdonotlovehim。Beforetwoyearsareover，youwillbesickofadoration。YouwillneverlookonFelipeasahusband；
toyouhewillalwaysbetheloverwhomyoucanplaywith，forthatishowallwomentreattheirlovers。Youdonotlookuptohim，orreverence，orworshiphimasawomanshouldthegodofheridolatry。
Yousee，Ihavemadeastudyoflove，mysweet，andmorethanoncehaveItakensoundingsinthedepthofmyownheart。Now，astheresultofacarefuldiagnosisofyourcase，Icansaywithconfidence，thisisnotlove。
Yes，dearQueenofParis，youcannotescapethedestinyofallqueens。
Thedaywillcomewhenyoulongtobetreatedasalight-o’-love，tobemasteredandsweptoffyourfeetbyastrongman，onewhowillnotprostratehimselfinadorationbeforeyou，butwillseizeyourarmroughlyinafitofjealousy。Macumerlovesyoutoofondlyevertobeableeithertoresistyouorfindfaultwithyou。Asingleglancefromyou，asinglecoaxingword，wouldmelthissternestresolution。Soonerorlater，youwilllearntoscornthisexcessivedevotion。Hespoilsyou，alas!justasIusedtospoilyouattheconvent，foryouareamostbewitchingwoman，andthereisnoescapingyoursiren-likecharms。
Worsethanall，youarecandid，anditoftenhappensthatourhappinessdependsoncertainsocialhypocrisiestowhichyouwillneverstoop。Forinstance，societywillnottolerateafrankdisplayofthewife’spoweroverherhusband。Theconventionisthatamanmustnomoreshowhimselftheloverofhiswife，howeverpassionatelyheadoresher，thanamarriedwomanmayplaythepartofamistress。
Thisruleyoubothdisregard。
Inthefirstplace，mychild，fromwhatyouhaveyourselftoldme，itisclearthattheoneunpardonablesininsocietyistobehappy。Ifhappinessexists，noonemustknowofit。Butthisisasmallpoint。
Whatseemstomeimportantisthattheperfectequalitywhichreignsbetweenloversoughtnevertoappearinthecaseofhusbandandwife，underpainofunderminingthewholefabricofsocietyandentailingterribledisasters。Ifitispainfultoseeamanwhomnaturehasmadeanonentity，howmuchworseisthespectacleofamanofpartsbroughttothatposition？BeforeverylongyouwillhavereducedMacumertothemereshadowofaman。Hewillceasetohaveawillandcharacterofhisown，andbecomemereclayinyourhands。Youwillhavesocompletelymouldedhimtoyourlikeness，thatyourhouseholdwillconsistofonlyonepersoninsteadoftwo，andthatonenecessarilyimperfect。Youwillregretitbitterly；butwhenatlastyoudeigntoopenyoureyes，theevilwillbepastcure。Dowhatwewill，womendonot，andneverwill，possessthequalitieswhicharecharacteristicofmen，andthesequalitiesareabsolutelyindispensabletofamilylife。
AlreadyMacumer，blindedthoughheis，hasadimforeshadowingofthisfuture；hefeelshimselflessamanthroughhislove。HisvisittoSardiniaisaprooftomethathehopesbythistemporaryseparationtosucceedinrecoveringhisoldself。