Mydarling，——Whenyouholdthisletterinyourhands，Ishallbealreadynear，forIamstartingafewminutesafterit。Weshallbealonetogether。LouisisobligedtoremaininProvencebecauseoftheapproachingelections。Hewantstobeelectedagain，andtheLiberalsarealreadyplottingagainsthisreturn。
Idon’tcometocomfortyou；Ionlybringyoumyhearttobeatinsympathywithyours，andhelpyoutobearwithlife。Icometobidyouweep，foronlywithtearscanyoupurchasethejoyofmeetinghimagain。Remember，heistravelingtowardsHeaven，andeverystepforwardwhichyoutakebringsyounearertohim。Everydutydonebreaksalinkinthechainthatkeepsyouapart。
Louise，inmyarmsyouwilloncemoreraiseyourheadandgoonyourwaytohim，pure，noble，washedofallthoseerrors，whichhadnorootinyourheart，andbearingwithyoutheharvestofgooddeedswhich，inhisname，youwillaccomplishhere。
Iscribblethesehastylinesinallthebustleofpreparation，andinterruptedbythebabiesandbyArmand，whokeepssaying，“Godmother，godmother!Iwanttoseeher，“tillIamalmostjealous。Hemightbeyourchild!
SECONDPART
THEBARONNEDEMACUMERTOTHECOMTESSEDEL’ESTORADE
Yes，Renee，itisquitetrue；youhavebeencorrectlyinformed。Ihavesoldmyhouse，IhavesoldChantepleurs，andthefarmsinSeine-et-
Marne，butnomore，please!Iamneithermadnorruined，Iassureyou。
Letusgointothematter。Wheneverythingwaswoundup，thereremainedtomeofmypoorMacumer’sfortuneabouttwelvehundredthousandfrancs。Iwillaccount，astoapracticalsister，foreverypennyofthis。
IputamillionintheThreeperCentswhentheywereatfifty，andsoIhavegotanincomeformyselfofsixtythousandfrancs，insteadofthethirtythousandwhichthepropertyyielded。Then，onlythinkwhatmylifewas。Sixmonthsoftheyearinthecountry，renewingleases，listeningtothegrumblesofthefarmers，whopaywhenitpleasesthem，andgettingasboredasasportsmaninwetweather。Therewasproducetosell，andIalwayssolditataloss。Then，inParis，myhouserepresentedarentaloftenthousandfrancs；Ihadtoinvestmymoneyatthenotaries；Iwaskeptwaitingfortheinterest，andcouldonlygetthemoneybackbyprosecuting；inadditionIhadtostudythelawofmortgage。Inshort，therewasbusinessinNivernais，inSeine-
et-Marne，inParis——andwhataburden，whatanuisance，whatavexingandlosinggameforawidowoftwenty-seven!
WhereasnowmyfortuneissecuredontheBudget。InplaceofpayingtaxestotheState，Ireceivefromit，everyhalf-year，inmyownperson，andfreefromcost，thirtythousandfrancsinthirtynotes，handedoverthecountertomebyadapperlittleclerkattheTreasury，whosmileswhenheseesmecoming!
Supposingthenationwentbankrupt？Well，tobeginwith：
’Tisnotminetoseetroublesofarfrommydoor。
Attheworst，too，thenationwouldnotdockmeofmorethanhalfmyincome，soIshouldstillbeaswelloffasbeforemyinvestment，andinthemeantimeIshallbedrawingadoubleincomeuntilthecatastrophearrives。Anationdoesn’tbecomebankruptmorethanonceinacentury，soIshallhaveplentyoftimetoamassalittlecapitaloutofmysavings。
Andfinally，isnottheComtedel’EstoradeapeerofthisJulysemi-
republic？Ishenotoneofthosepillarsofroyaltyofferedbythe“people“totheKingoftheFrench？HowcanIhavequalmswithafriendatCourt，agreatfinancier，headoftheAuditDepartment？I
defyyoutoarraignmysanity!Iamalmostasgoodatsumsasyourcitizenking。
Doyouknowwhatinspiresawomanwithallthisarithmetic？Love，mydear!
Alas!themomenthascomeforunfoldingtoyouthemysteriesofmyconduct，themotivesofwhichhavebaffledevenyourkeensight，yourpryingaffection，andyoursubtlety。IamtobemarriedinacountryvillagenearParis。Iloveandamloved。Iloveasmuchasawomancanwhoknowslovewell。Iamlovedasmuchasawomanoughttobebythemansheadores。
Forgiveme，Renee，forkeepingthisasecretfromyouandfromeveryone。Ifyourfriendevadesallspiesandputscuriosityonafalsetrack，youmustadmitthatmyfeelingforpoorMacumerjustifiedsomedissimulation。Besides，del’Estoradeandyouwouldhavedeafenedmewithremonstrances，andplaguedmetodeathwithyourmisgivings，towhichthefactsmighthavelentsomecolor。Youknow，ifnooneelsedoes，towhatpitchmyjealousycango，andallthiswouldonlyhavebeenuselesstorturetome。Iwasdeterminedtocarryout，onmyownresponsibility，whatyou，Renee，willcallmyinsaneproject，andI
wouldtakecounselonlywithmyownheadandheart，foralltheworldlikeaschoolgirlgivingthesliptoherwatchfulparents。
ThemanIlovepossessesnothingbutthirtythousandfrancs’worthofdebts，whichIhavepaid。Whatathemeforcommenthere!YouwouldhavetriedtomakeGastonoutanadventurer；yourhusbandwouldhavesetdetectivesonthedearboy。Ipreferredtosifthimformyself。Hehasbeenwooingmenowcloseontwoyears。Iamtwenty-seven，heistwenty-three。Thedifference，Iadmit，ishugewhenitisonthewrongside。Anothersourceoflamentation!
Lastly，heisapoet，andhaslivedbyhistrade——thatistosay，onnexttonothing，asyouwillreadilyunderstand。Beingapoet，hehasspentmoretimeweavingday-dreams，andbasking，lizard-like，inthesun，thanscribinginhisdingygarret。Now，practicalpeoplehaveawayoftarringwiththesamebrushofinconstancyauthors，artists，andingeneralallmenwholivebytheirbrains。Theirnimbleandfertilewitlaysthemopentothechargeofalikeagilityinmattersoftheheart。
Spiteofthedebts，spiteofthedifferenceinage，spiteofthepoetry，anendistobeplacedinafewdaystoaheroicresistanceofmorethanninemonths，duringwhichhehasnotbeenallowedeventokissmyhand，andsoalsoendstheseasonofoursweet，purelove-
making。Thisisnotthemeresurrenderofaraw，ignorant，andcuriousgirl，asitwaseightyearsago；thegiftisdeliberate，andmyloverawaitsitwithsuchloyalpatiencethat，ifIpleased，Icouldpostponethemarriageforayear。Thereisnoservilityinthis；
love’sslavehemaybe，buttheheartisnotslavish。NeverhaveI
seenamanofnoblerfeeling，oronewhosetendernesswasmorerichinfancy，whoseloveboremoretheimpressofhissoul。Alas!mysweetone，theartofloveishisbyheritage。Afewwordswilltellhisstory。
MyfriendhasnoothernamethanMarieGaston。HeistheillegitimatesonofthebeautifulLadyBrandon，whosefamemusthavereachedyou，andwhodiedbroken-hearted，avictimtothevengeanceofLadyDudley——aghastlystoryofwhichthedearboyknowsnothing。MarieGastonwasplacedbyhisbrotherLouisinaboarding-schoolatTours，whereheremainedtill1827。Louis，aftersettlinghisbrotheratschool，sailedafewdayslaterforforeignparts“toseekhisfortune，“tousethewordsofanoldwomanwhohadplayedthepartofProvidencetohim。Thisbrotherturnedsailorusedtowritehim，atlongintervals，lettersquitefatherlyintone，andbreathinganoblespirit；butastrugglinglifeneverallowedhimtoreturnhome。HislastlettertoldMariethathehadbeenappointedCaptaininthenavyofsomeAmericanrepublic，andexhortedhimtohopeforbetterdays。
Alas!sincethenthreeyearshavepassed，andmypoorpoethasneverheardagain。Sodearlydidhelovehisbrother，thathewouldhavestartedtolookforhimbutforDanield’Arthez，thewell-knownauthor，whotookagenerousinterestinMarieGaston，andpreventedhimcarryingouthismadimpulse。Norwasthisall；oftenwouldhegivehimacrustandacorner，asthepoetputsitinhisgraphicwords。
For，intruth，thepoorladwasinterriblestraits；hewasactuallyinnocentenoughtobelieve——incredibleasitseems——thatgeniuswastheshortestroadtofortune，andfrom1828to1833hisoneaimhasbeentomakeanameforhimselfinletters。Naturallyhislifewasafrightfultissueoftoilandhardships，alternatingbetweenhopeanddespair。Thegoodadviceofd’Arthezcouldnotprevailagainsttheallurementsofambition，andhisdebtswentongrowinglikeasnowball。StillhewasbeginningtocomeintonoticewhenIhappenedtomeethimatMme。d’Espard’s。Atfirstsightheinspiredme，unconsciouslytohimself，withthemostvividsympathy。Howdiditcomeaboutthatthisvirginhearthasbeenleftforme？Thefactisthatmypoetcombinesgeniusandcleverness，passionandpride，andwomenarealwaysafraidofgreatnesswhichhasnoweaksidetoit。HowmanyvictorieswereneededbeforeJosephinecouldseethegreatNapoleoninthelittleBonapartewhomshehadmarried。
PoorGastonisinnocentenoughtothinkheknowsthemeasureofmylove!Hesimplyhasnotanideaofit，buttoyouImustmakeitclear；forthisletter，Renee，issomethinginthenatureofalastwillandtestament。WeighwellwhatIamgoingtosay，Ibegofyou。
AtthismomentIamconfidentofbeinglovedasperhapsnotanotherwomenonthisearth，norhaveIashadowofdoubtastotheperfecthappinessofourweddedlife，towhichIbringafeelinghithertounknowntome。Yes，forthefirsttimeinmylife，Iknowthedelightofbeingswayedbypassion。Thatwhicheverywomanseeksinlovewillbemineinmarriage。AspoorFelipeonceadoredme，sodoInowadoreGaston。Ihavelostcontrolofmyself，ItremblebeforethisboyastheArabherousedtotremblebeforeme。Inaword，thebalanceofloveisnowonmyside，andthismakesmetimid。Iamfullofthemostabsurdterrors。Iamafraidofbeingdeserted，afraidofbecomingoldanduglywhileGastonstillretainshisyouthandbeauty，afraidofcomingshortofhishopes!
AndyetIbelieveIhaveitinme，IbelieveIhavesufficientdevotionandability，notonlytokeepalivetheflameofhisloveinoursolitarylife，farfromtheworld，buteventomakeitburnstrongerandbrighter。IfIammistaken，ifthissplendididylofloveinhidingmustcometoanend——anend!whatamIsaying？——ifIfindGaston’slovelessintenseanydaythanitwastheeveningbefore，besureofthis，Renee，Ishouldvisitmyfailureonlyonmyself；noblameshouldattachtohim。Itellyounowitwouldmeanmydeath。NotevenifIhadchildrencouldIliveontheseterms，forIknowmyself，Renee，Iknowthatmynatureisthelover’sratherthanthemother’s。
Thereforebeforetakingthisvowuponmysoul，Iimploreyou，myRenee，ifthisdisasterbefallme，totaketheplaceofmothertomychildren；letthembemylegacytoyou!AllthatIknowofyou，yourblindattachmenttoduty，yourraregifts，yourloveofchildren，youraffectionforme，wouldhelptomakemydeath——Idarenotsayeasy——
butatleastlessbitter。
ThecompactIhavethusmadewithmyselfaddsavagueterrortothesolemnityofmymarriageceremony。ForthisreasonIwishtohavenoonewhomIknowpresent，anditwillbeperformedinsecret。Letmyheartfailmeifitwill，atleastIshallnotreadanxietyinyourdeareyes，andIaloneshallknowthatthisnewmarriage-contractwhichIsignmaybemydeathwarrant。
IshallnotreferagaintothisagreemententeredintobetweenmypresentselfandtheselfIamtobe。Ihaveconfidedittoyouinorderthatyoumightknowthefullextentofyourresponsibilities。InmarryingIretainfullcontrolofmyproperty；andGaston，whileawarethatIhaveenoughtosecureacomfortablelifeforbothofus，isignorantofitsamount。Withintwenty-fourhoursIshalldisposeofitasIplease；andinordertosavehimfromahumiliatingposition，I
shallhavestock，bringingintwelvethousandfrancsayear，assignedtohim。Hewillfindthisinhisdeskontheeveofourwedding。Ifhedeclinedtoaccept，Ishouldbreakoffthewholething。Ihadtothreatenarupturetogethispermissiontopayhisdebts。
Thislongconfessionhastiredme。Ishallfinishitthedayafterto-morrow；Ihavetospendto-morrowinthecountry。
October20th。
IwilltellyounowthestepsIhavetakentoinsuresecrecy。Myobjecthasbeentowardoffeverypossibleincitementtomyever-
wakefuljealousy，inimitationoftheItalianprincess，who，likealionessrushingonherprey，carrieditofftosomeSwisstowntodevourinpeace。AndIconfidemyplanstoyoubecauseIhaveanotherfavortobeg；namely，thatyouwillrespectoursolitudeandnevercometoseeusuninvited。
TwoyearsagoIpurchasedasmallpropertyoverlookingthepondsofVilled’Avray，ontheroadtoVersailles。Itconsistsoftwentyacresofmeadowland，theskirtsofawood，andafinefruitgarden。Belowthemeadowsthelandhasbeenexcavatedsoastomakealakeletofaboutthreeacresinextent，withacharminglittleislandinthemiddle。Thesmallvalleyisshutinbytwograceful，thickly-woodedslopes，whererisedeliciousspringsthatwatermyparkbymeansofchannelscleverlydisposedbymyarchitect。Finally，theyfallintotheroyalponds，glimpsesofwhichcanbeseenhereandthere，gleaminginthedistance。Mylittleparkhasbeenadmirablylaidoutbythearchitect，whohassurroundeditbyhedges，walls，orha-has，accordingtothelieoftheland，sothatnopossiblepointofviewmaybelost。
Achalethasbeenbuiltformehalf-wayupthehillside，withacharmingexposure，havingthewoodsoftheRonceoneitherside，andinfrontagrassysloperunningdowntothelake。ExternallythechaletisanexactcopyofthosewhicharesomuchadmiredbytravelersontheroadfromSiontoBrieg，andwhichfascinatedmewhenIwasreturningfromItaly。Theinternaldecorationswillbearcomparisonwiththoseofthemostcelebratedbuildingsofthekind。
Ahundredpacesfromthisrusticdwellingstandsacharmingandornamentalhouse，communicatingwithitbyasubterraneanpassage。
Thiscontainsthekitchen，andotherservants’rooms，stables，andcoach-houses。Ofallthisseriesofbrickbuildings，thefacadealoneisseen，gracefulinitssimplicity，againstabackgroundofshrubbery。Anotherbuildingservestolodgethegardenersandmaskstheentrancetotheorchardsandkitchen-gardens。
Theentrancegatetothepropertyissohiddeninthewalldividingtheparkfromthewoodasalmosttodefydetection。Theplantations，alreadywellgrown，will，intwoorthreeyears，completelyhidethebuildings，sothat，exceptinwinter，whenthetreesarebare，notraceofhabitationwillappeartotheoutsideworld，saveonlythesmokevisiblefromtheneighboringhills。
ThesurroundingsofmychalethavebeenmodeledonwhatiscalledtheKing’sGardenatVersailles，butithasanoutlookonmylakeletandisland。Thehillsoneverysidedisplaytheirabundantfoliage——thosesplendidtreesforwhichyournewcivillisthassowellcared。Mygardenershaveorderstocultivatenewsweet-scentedflowerstoanyextent，andnoothers，sothatourhomewillbeafragrantemerald。