Thechalet，adornedwithawildvinewhichcoverstheroof，isliterallyembeddedinclimbingplantsofallkinds——hops，clematis，jasmine，azalea，copaea。Itwillbeasharpeyewhichcandescryourwindows!
Thechalet，mydear，isagood，solidhouse，withitsheatingsystemandalltheconveniencesofmodernarchitecture，whichcanraiseapalaceinthecompassofahundredsquarefeet。ItcontainsasuiteofroomsforGastonandanotherforme。Theground-floorisoccupiedbyanante-room，aparlor，andadiningroom。Aboveourflooragainarethreeroomsdestinedforthenurseries。Ihavefivefirst-ratehorses，asmalllightcoupe，andatwo-horsecabriolet。Weareonlyforty-
minutes’drivefromParis；sothat，whenthespiritmovesustohearanoperaorseeanewplay，wecanstartafterdinnerandreturnthesamenighttoourbower。Theroadisagoodone，andpassesundertheshadeofourgreendividingwall。
Myservants——cook，coachman，groom，andgardeners，inadditiontomymaid——areallveryrespectablepeople，whomIhavespentthelastsixmonthsinpickingup，andtheywillbesuperintendedbymyoldPhilippe。Althoughconfidentoftheirloyaltyandgoodfaith，Ihavenotneglectedtocultivateself-interest；theirwagesaresmall，butwillreceiveanannualadditionintheshapeofaNewYear’sDaypresent。Theyareallawarethattheslightestfault，orameresuspicionofgossiping，mightlosethemacapitalplace。Loversarenevertroublesometotheirservants；theyareindulgentbydisposition，andthereforeIfeelthatIcanreckononmyhousehold。
Allthatischoice，pretty，ordecorativeinmyhouseintheRueduBachasbeentransportedtothechalet。TheRembrandthangsonthestaircase，asthoughitwereameredaub；theHobbemafacestheRubensin/his/study；theTitian，whichmysister-in-lawMarysentmefromMadrid，adornstheboudoir。ThebeautifulfurniturepickedupbyFelipelooksverywellintheparlor，whichthearchitecthasdecoratedmosttastefully。Everythingatthechaletischarminglysimple，withthesimplicitywhichcan’tbegotunderahundredthousandfrancs。Ourground-floorrestsoncellars，whicharebuiltofmillstoneandembeddedinconcrete；itisalmostcompletelyburiedinflowersandshrubs，andisdeliciouslycoolwithoutavestigeofdamp。
Tocompletethepicture，afleetofwhiteswanssailovermylake!
Oh!Renee，thesilencewhichreignsinthisvalleywouldbringjoytothedead!Oneisawakenedbythebirdssingingorthebreezerustlinginthepoplars。Alittlespring，discoveredbythearchitectindiggingthefoundationsofthewall，tricklesdownthehillsideoversilverysandtothelake，betweentwobanksofwater-cress，huggingtheedgeofthewoods。Iknownothingthatmoneycanbuytoequalit。
MaynotGastoncometoloathethistooperfectbliss？Ishuddertothinkhowcompleteitis，fortheripestfruitsharbortheworms，themostgorgeousflowersattracttheinsects。Isitnoteverthemonarchoftheforestwhichiseatenawaybythefatalbrowngrub，greedyasdeath？Ihavelearnedbeforenowthatanunseenandjealouspowerattackshappinesswhichhasreachedperfection。Besides，thisisthemoralofallyourpreaching，andyouhavebeenprovedaprophet。
WhenIwent，thedaybeforeyesterday，toseewhethermylastwhimhadbeencarriedout，tearsrosetomyeyes；and，tothegreatsurpriseofmyarchitect，Iatoncepassedhisaccountforpayment。
“But，madame，“heexclaimed，“yourmanofbusinesswillrefusetopaythis；itisamatterofthreehundredthousandfrancs。“Myonlyreplywastoaddthewords，“Tobepaidwithoutquestion，“withthebearingofaseventeenth-centuryChaulieu。
“But，“Isaid，“thereisoneconditiontomygratitude。Nohumanbeingmusthearfromyouoftheparkandbuildings。Promiseme，onyourhonor，toobservethisarticleinourcontract——nottobreathetoasoultheproprietor’sname。“
Now，canyouunderstandthemeaningofmysuddenjourneys，mymysteriouscomingsandgoings？Now，doyouknowwhitherthosebeautifulthings，whichtheworldsupposestobesold，haveflown？Doyouperceivetheultimatemotiveofmychangeofinvestment？Love，mydear，isavastbusiness，andtheywhowouldsucceedinitshouldhavenoother。HenceforthIshallhavenomoretroublefrommoneymatters；
Ihavetakenallthethornsoutofmylife，anddonemyhousekeepingworkonceforallwithavengeance，soasnevertobetroubledwithitagain，exceptduringthedailytenminuteswhichIshalldevotetomyoldmajor-domoPhilippe。Ihavemadeastudyoflifeanditssharpcurves；therecameadaywhendeathalsogavemeharshlessons。NowI
wanttoturnallthistoaccount。Myoneoccupationwillbetoplease/him/andlove/him/，tobrightenwithvarietywhattocommonmortalsismonotonouslydull。
Gastonisstillincompleteignorance。Atmyrequesthehas，likemyself，takenuphisquartersatVilled’Avray；to-morrowwestartforthechalet。Ourlifetherewillcostbutlittle；butifItoldyouthesumIamsettingasideformytoilet，youwouldexclaimatmymadness，andwithreason。Iintendtotakeasmuchtroubletomakemyselfbeautifulforhimeverydayasotherwomendoforsociety。Mydressinthecountry，yearin，yearout，willcosttwenty-fourthousandfrancs，andthelargerportionofthiswillnotgoindaycostumes。Asforhim，hecanwearablouseifhepleases!Don’tsupposethatIamgoingtoturnourlifeintoanamorousduelandwearmyselfoutindevicesforfeedingpassion；allthatIwantistohaveaconsciencefreefromreproach。Thirteenyearsstillliebeforemeasaprettywoman，andI
amdeterminedtobelovedonthelastdayofthethirteenthevenmorefondlythanonthemorrowofourmysteriousnuptials。Thistimenocuttingwordsshallmarmylowly，gratefulcontent。Iwilltakethepartofservant，sincethatofmistressthrovesoillwithmebefore。
Ah!Renee，ifGastonhassounded，asIhave，theheightsanddepthsoflove，myhappinessisassured!Natureatthechaletwearsherfairestface。Thewoodsarecharming；eachstepopensuptoyousomefreshvistaofcoolgreenery，whichdelightsthesoulbythesweetthoughtsitwakens。Theybreatheoflove。Ifonlythisbenotthegorgeoustheatredressedbymyhandformyownmartyrdom!
IntwodaysfromnowIshallbeMme。Gaston。MyGod!isitfittingaChristiansotolovemortalman？
“Well，atleastyouhavethelawwithyou，“wasthecommentofmymanofbusiness，whoistobeoneofmywitnesses，andwhoexclaimed，ondiscoveringwhymypropertywastoberealized，“Iamlosingaclient!“
Andyou，mysweetheartwhomIdarenolongercallmylovedone，mayyounotcry，“Iamlosingasister？“
Mysweet，addresswhenyouwriteinfuturetoMme。Gaston，PosteRestante，Versailles。Weshallsendthereeverydayforletters。I
don’twanttobeknowntothecountrypeople，andweshallgetourprovisionsfromParis。InthiswayIhopewemayguardthesecretofourlives。Nobodyhasbeenseenintheplaceduringtheyearsspentinpreparingourretreat；andthepurchasewasmadeinthetroubledperiodwhichfollowedtherevolutionofJuly。Theonlypersonwhohasshownhimselfhereisthearchitect；healoneisknown，andhewillnotreturn。
Farewell。AsIwritethisword，Iknownotwhethermyheartisfullerofgrieforjoy。Thatproves，doesitnot，thatthepainoflosingyouequalsmyloveforGaston？
MARIEGASTONTODANIELD’ARTHEZ
MyDearDaniel，——Ineedtwowitnessesformymarriage。Ibegofyoutocometo-morroweveningforthispurpose，bringingwithyouourworthyandhonoredfriend，JosephBridau。Shewhoistobemywife，withaninstinctivedivinationofmydearestwishes，hasdeclaredherintentionoflivingfarfromtheworldincompleteretirement。You，whohavedonesomuchtolightenmypenury，havebeenleftinignoranceofmylove；butyouwillunderstandthatabsolutesecrecywasessential。
Thiswillexplaintoyouwhyitisthat，forthelastyear，wehaveseensolittleofeachother。Onthemorrowofmyweddingweshallbepartedforalongtime；but，Daniel，youareofstufftounderstandme。Friendshipcansubsistintheabsenceofthefriend。TheremaybetimeswhenIshallwantyoubadly，butIshallnotseeyou，atleastnotinmyownhouse。Hereagain/she/hasforestalledourwishes。Shehassacrificedtomeherintimacywithafriendofherchildhood，whohasbeenasistertoher。Forhersake，then，Ialsomustrelinquishmycomrade!
Fromthisfactaloneyouwilldivinethatoursisnomerepassingfancy，butlove，absolute，perfect，godlike；lovebaseduponthefullestknowledgethatcanbindtwoheartsinsympathy。Tomeitisaperpetualspringofpurestdelight。
Yetnatureallowsofnohappinesswithoutalloy；anddeepdown，intheinnermostrecessofmyheart，Iamconsciousofalurkingthought，notsharedwithher，thepangofwhichisformealone。Youhavetoooftencometothehelpofmyinveteratepovertytobeignoranthowdesperatematterswerewithme。WhereshouldIhavefoundcouragetokeepupthestruggleoflife，afterseeingmyhopessooftenblighted，butforyourcheeringwords，yourtactfulaid，andtheknowledgeofwhatyouhadcomethrough？Briefly，then，myfriend，shefreedmefromthatcrushingloadofdebt，whichwasnosecrettoyou。Sheiswealthy，I
ampenniless。ManyatimehaveIexclaimed，inoneofmyfitsofidleness，“Ohforsomegreatheiresstocasthereyeonme!“Andnow，inpresenceofthisreality，theboy’scarelessjest，theunscrupulouscynicismoftheoutcast，havealikevanished，leavingintheirplaceonlyabittersenseofhumiliation，whichnotthemostconsideratetendernessonherpart，normyownassuranceofhernoblenature，canremove。Nay，whatbetterproofofmylovecouldthereexist，forherorformyself，thanthisshame，fromwhichIhavenotrecoiled，evenwhenpowerlesstoovercomeit？Thefactremainsthatthereisapointwhere，farfromprotecting，Iamtheprotected。
ThisismypainwhichIconfidetoyou。
Exceptinthisoneparticular，dearDaniel，myfondestdreamsaremorethanrealized。Fairestandnoblestamongwomen，suchabridemightindeedraiseamantogiddyheightsofbliss。Hergentlewaysareseasonedwithwit，herlovecomeswithanever-freshgraceandcharm；
hermindiswellinformedandquicktounderstand；inperson，sheisfairandlovely，witharoundedslimness，asthoughRaphaelandRubenshadconspiredtocreateawoman!IdonotknowwhetherIcouldhaveworshipedwithsuchfervorattheshrineofadarkbeauty；abrunettealwaysstrikesmeasanunfinishedboy。Sheisawidow，childless，andtwenty-sevenyearsofage。Thoughbrimfuloflifeandenergy，shehashermoodsalsoofdreamymelancholy。Theseraregiftsgowithaproudaristocraticbearing；shehasafinepresence。
Shebelongstooneofthoseoldfamilieswhomakeafetichofrank，yetlovesmeenoughtoignorethemisfortuneofmybirth。Oursecretpassionisnowoflongstanding；wehavemadetrial，eachoftheother，andfindthatinthematterofjealousywearetwinspirits；
ourthoughtsarethereverberationofthesamethunderclap。Webothloveforthefirsttime，andthisbewitchingspringtimehasfilleditsdaysforuswithalltheimagesofdelightthatfancycanpaintinlaughing，sweet，ormusingmood。Ourpathhasbeenstrewnwiththeflowersoftenderimaginings。Eachhourbroughtitsownwealth，andwhenweparted，itwastoputourthoughtsinverse。NotforamomentdidIharbortheideaofsullyingthebrightnessofsuchatimebygivingthereintosensualpassion，howeveritmightchafewithin。Shewasawidowandfree；intuitively，sherealizedallthehomageimpliedinthisconstantself-restraint，whichoftenmovedhertotears。Canyounotreadinthis，myfriend，asoulofnobletemper？Inmutualfearweshunnedeventhefirstkissoflove。
“Wehaveeachawrongtoreproachourselveswith，“shesaidoneday。
“Whereisyours？“Iasked。
“Mymarriage，“washerreply。
Daniel，youareagiantamongusandyouloveoneofthemostgiftedwomenofthearistocracy，whichhasproducedmyArmande；whatneedtotellyoumore？Suchananswerlaysbaretoyouawoman’sheartandallthehappinesswhichisinstoreforyourfriend，MARIEGASTON。
MME。DEL’ESTORADETOMME。DEMACUMER
Louise，canitbethat，withallyourknowledgeofthedeep-seatedmischiefwroughtbytheindulgenceofpassion，evenwithintheheartofmarriage，youareplanningalifeofweddedsolitude？Havingsacrificedyourfirsthusbandinthecourseofafashionablecareer，wouldyounowflytothedeserttoconsumeasecond？Whatstoresofmiseryyouarelayingupforyourself!
ButIseefromthewayyouhavesetaboutitthatthereisnogoingback。Themanwhohasovercomeyouraversiontoasecondmarriagemustindeedpossesssomemagicofmindandheart；andyoucanonlybelefttoyourillusions。Buthaveyouforgottenyourformercriticismonyoungmen？Notone，youwouldsay，buthasvisitedhauntsofshame，andhasbesmirchedhispuritywiththefilthofthestreets。Whereisthechange，pray——inthemorinyou？
Youarealuckywomantobeabletobelieveinhappiness。Ihavenotthecouragetoblameyouforit，thoughtheinstinctofaffectionurgesmetodissuadeyoufromthismarriage。Yes，athousandtimes，yes，itistruethatnatureandsocietyareatoneinmakingwaronabsolutehappiness，becausesuchaconditionisopposedtothelawsofboth；possibly，also，becauseHeavenisjealousofitsprivileges。Myloveforyouforebodessomedisastertowhichallmypenetrationcangivenodefiniteform。Iknowneitherwhencenorfromwhomitwillarise；butoneneedbenoprophettoforetellthatthemereweightofaboundlesshappinesswilloverpoweryou。Excessofjoyishardertobearthananyamountofsorrow。
AgainsthimIhavenotawordtosay。Youlovehim，andinallprobabilityIhaveneverseenhim；butsomeidledayIhopeyouwillsendmeasketch，howeverslight，ofthisrare，fineanimal。
Ifyouseemesoresignedandcheerful，itisbecauseIamconvincedthat，oncethehoneymoonisoveryouwillbothwithoneaccord，fallbackintothecommontrack。Someday，twoyearshence，whenwearewalkingalongthisfamousroad，youwillexclaim，“Why，thereisthechaletwhichwastobemyhomeforever!“Andyouwilllaughyourdearoldlaugh，whichshowsallyourprettyteeth!
IhavesaidnothingyettoLouis；itwouldbetoogoodanopeningforhisridicule。Ishalltellhimsimplythatyouaregoingtobemarried，andthatyouwishitkeptsecret。Unluckily，youneedneithermothernorsisterforyourbridalevening。WeareinOctobernow；likeabravewoman，youaregrapplingwithwinterfirst。Ifitwerenotaquestionofmarriage，Ishouldsayyouweretakingthebullbythehorns。Inanycase，youwillhaveinmethemostdiscreetandintelligentoffriends。Thatmysteriousregion，knownasthecentreofAfrica，hasswallowedupmanytravelers，andyouseemtometobelaunchingonanexpeditionwhich，inthedomainofsentiment，correspondstothosewheresomanyexplorershaveperished，whetherinthesandsoratthehandsofnatives。Yourdesertis，happily，onlytwoleaguesfromParis，soIcanwishyouquitecheerfully，“Asafejourneyandspeedyreturn。“