THECOMTESSEDEL’ESTORADETOMME。MARIEGASTON
Whathascometoyou，mydear？Afterasilenceoftwoyears，surelyReneehasarighttofeelanxiousaboutLouise。Sothisislove!Itbrushesasideandscatterstothewindsafriendshipsuchasours!Youmustadmitthat，devotedasIamtomychildren——moreevenperhapsthanyoutoyourGaston——amother’slovehassomethingexpansiveaboutitwhichdoesnotallowittostealfromotheraffections，orinterferewiththeclaimsoffriendship。Imissyourletters，Ilongforasightofyourdear，sweetface。Oh!Louise，myhearthasonlyconjecturetofeedupon!
Asregardsourselves，Iwilltryandtellyoueverythingasbrieflyaspossible。
Onreadingyourlastletterbutone，Ifindsomestingingcommentsonourpoliticalsituation。YoumockedatusforkeepingthepostintheAuditDepartment，which，aswellasthetitleofCount，LouisowedtothefavorofCharlesX。ButIshouldliketoknow，please，howitwouldbepossibleoutofanincomeoffortythousandlivres，thirtythousandofwhichgowiththeentail，togiveasuitablestartinlifetoAthenaisandmypoorlittlebeggarRene。Wasitnotadutytoliveonoursalaryandprudentlyallowtheincomeoftheestatetoaccumulate？Inthiswayweshall，intwentyyears，haveputtogetheraboutsixhundredthousandfrancs，whichwillprovideportionsformydaughterandforRene，whomIdestineforthenavy。Thepoorlittlechapwillhaveanincomeoftenthousandlivres，andperhapswemaycontrivetoleavehimincashenoughtobringhisportionuptotheamountofhissister’s。
WhenheisCaptain，mybeggarwillbeabletomakeawealthymarriage，andtakeapositioninsocietyasgoodashiselderbrother’s。
Theseconsiderationsofprudencedeterminedtheacceptanceinourfamilyoftheneworderofthings。Thenewdynasty，aswasnatural，raisedLouistothePeerageandmadehimagrandofficeroftheLegionofHonor。Theoathoncetaken，l’Estoradecouldnotbehalf-heartedinhisservices，andhehassincethenmadehimselfveryusefulintheChamber。Thepositionhehasnowattainedisoneinwhichhecanrestuponhisoarstilltheendofhisdays。Hehasagooddealofadroitnessinbusinessmatters；andthoughhecanhardlybecalledanorator，speakspleasantlyandfluently，whichisallthatisnecessaryinpolitics。Hisshrewdnessandtheextentofhisinformationinallmattersofgovernmentandadministrationarefullyappreciated，andallpartiesconsiderhimindispensable。Imaytellyouthathewasrecentlyofferedanembassy，butIwouldnotlethimacceptit。IamtiedtoParisbytheeducationofArmandandAthenais——whoarenowrespectivelythirteenandnearlyeleven——andIdon’tintendleavingtilllittleRenehascompletedhis，whichisjustbeginning。
Wecouldnothaveremainedfaithfultotheelderbranchofthedynastyandreturnedtoourcountrylifewithoutallowingtheeducationandprospectsofthethreechildrentosuffer。Amother，mysweet，ishardlycalledontobeaDecius，especiallyatatimewhenthetypeisrare。Infifteenyearsfromnow，l’EstoradewillbeabletoretiretoLaCrampadeonagoodpension，havingfoundaplaceasreferendaryforArmandintheAuditDepartment。
AsforRene，thenavywilldoubtlessmakeadiplomatistofhim。Thelittlerogue，atsevenyearsold，hasallthecunningofanoldCardinal。
Oh!Louise，Iamindeedahappymother。Mychildrenareanendlesssourceofjoytome。
Senzabramasicuraricchezza。
ArmandisadayscholaratHenryIV。’sschool。Imadeupmymindheshouldhaveapublic-schooltraining，yetcouldnotreconcilemyselftothethoughtofpartingwithhim；soIcompromised，astheDucd’Orleansdidbeforehebecame——orinorderthathemightbecome——
LouisPhilippe。EverymorningLucas，theoldservantwhomyouwillremember，takesArmandtoschoolintimeforthefirstlesson，andbringshimhomeagainathalf-pastfour。Inthehousewehaveaprivatetutor，anadmirablescholar，whohelpsArmandwithhisworkintheevenings，andcallshiminthemorningattheschoolhour。Lucastakeshimsomelunchduringtheplayhouratmidday。InthiswayIamwithmyboyatdinneranduntilhegoestobedatnight，andIseehimoffinthemorning。
Armandisthesamecharminglittlefellow，fulloffeelingandunselfishimpulse，whomyouloved；andhistutorisquitepleasedwithhim。IstillhaveNaisandthebaby——tworestlesslittlemortals——butIamquiteasmuchachildastheyare。Icouldnotbringmyselftolosethedarlings’sweetcaresses。IcouldnotlivewithoutthefeelingthatatanymomentIcanflytoArmand’sbedsideandwatchhisslumbersorsnatchakiss。
Yethomeeducationisnotwithoutitsdrawbacks，towhichIamfullyalive。Society，likenature，isajealouspower，andwillhavenotherrightsencroachedon，orhersystemsetatnaught。Thus，childrenwhoarebroughtupathomeareexposedtooearlytothefireoftheworld；
theyseeitspassionsandbecomeathomewithitssubterfuges。Thefinerdistinctions，whichregulatetheconductofmaturedmenandwomen，eludetheirperceptions，andtheytakefeelingandpassionfortheirguideinsteadofsubordinatingthosetothecodeofsociety；
whilstthegaytrappingsandtinselwhichattractsomuchoftheworld’sfavorblindthemtotheimportanceofthemoresobervirtues。
Achildoffifteenwiththeassuranceofamanoftheworldisathingagainstallnature；attwenty-fivehewillbeprematurelyold，andhisprecociousknowledgeonlyunfitshimforthegenuinestudyonwhichallsolidabilitymustrest。Lifeinsocietyisonelongcomedy，andthosewhotakepartinit，likeotheractors，reflectbackimpressionswhichneverpenetratebelowthesurface。Amother，therefore，whowishesnottopartfromherchildren，mustresolutelydeterminethattheyshallnotenterthegayworld；shemusthavecouragetoresisttheirinclinations，aswellasherown，andkeeptheminthebackground。Corneliahadtokeepherjewelsunderlockandkey。ShallIdolessforthechildrenwhoarealltheworldtome？
NowthatIamthirty，theheatofthedayisover，thehardestbitoftheroadliesbehindme。InafewyearsIshallbeanoldwoman，andthesenseofdutydoneisanimmenseencouragement。Itwouldalmostseemasthoughmytriocanreadmythoughtsandshapethemselvesaccordingly。Amysteriousbondofsympathyunitesmetothesechildrenwhohaveneverleftmyside。Iftheyknewtheblankinmylifewhichtheyhavetofill，theycouldnotbemorelavishofthesolacetheybring。
Armand，whowasdullanddreamyduringhisfirstthreeyearsatschool，andcausedmesomeuneasiness，hasmadeasuddenstart。
Doubtlessherealized，inawaymostchildrenneverdo，theaimofallthispreparatorywork，whichistosharpentheintelligence，togetthemintohabitsofapplicationandaccustomthemtothatfundamentalprincipleofallsociety——obedience。Mydear，afewdaysagoIhadtheproudjoyofseeingArmandcrownedatthegreatinterscholasticcompetitioninthecrowdedSorbonne，whenyourgodsonreceivedthefirstprizefortranslation。Attheschooldistributionhegottwofirstprizes——oneforverse，andoneforanessay。Iwentquitewhitewhenhisnamewascalledout，andlongedtoshoutaloud，“Iamhismother!“LittleNaissqueezedmyhandtillithurt，ifatsuchamomentitwerepossibletofeelpain。Ah!Louise，adaylikethismightoutweighmanyadreamoflove!
Hisbrother’striumphshavespurredonlittleRene，whowantstogotoschooltoo。Sometimesthethreechildrenmakesucharacket，shoutingandrushingaboutthehouse，thatIwonderhowmyheadstandsit。Iamalwayswiththem；nooneelse，notevenMary，isallowedtotakecareofmychildren。Butthecallingofamother，iftaxing，hassomanycompensatingjoys!Toseeachildleaveitsplayandruntohugone，outofthefulnessofitsheart，whatcouldbesweeter？
Thenitisonlyinbeingconstantlywiththemthatonecanstudytheircharacters。Itisthedutyofamother，andonewhichshecandeputetonohiredteacher，todecipherthetastes，temper，andnaturalaptitudesofherchildrenfromtheirinfancy。Allhome-bredchildrenaredistinguishedbyeaseofmannerandtact，twoacquiredqualitieswhichmaygofartosupplythelackofnaturalability，whereasnonaturalabilitycanatoneforthelossofthisearlytraining。IhavealreadylearnedtodiscriminatethisdifferenceoftoneinthemenwhomImeetinsociety，andtotracethehandofawomanintheformationofayoungman’smanners。Howcouldanywomandefraudherchildrenofsuchapossession？Youseewhatrewardsattendtheperformanceofmytasks!
Armand，Ifeelcertain，willmakeanadmirablejudge，themostuprightofpublicservants，themostdevotedofdeputies。Andwherewouldyoufindasailorbolder，moreadventurous，moreastutethanmyRenewillbeafewyearshence？Thelittlerascalhasalreadyanironwill，whateverhewantshemanagestoget；hewilltryathousandcircuitouswaystoreachhisend，andifnotsuccessfulthen，willdeviseathousandandfirst。WheredearArmandquietlyresignshimselfandtriestogetatthereasonofthings，Renewillstorm，andstrive，andpuzzle，chatteringallthetime，tillatlasthefindssomechinkintheobstacle；ifthereisroomforthebladeofaknifetopass，hislittlecarriagewillridethroughintriumph。
AndNais？NaisissocompletelyasecondselfthatIcanhardlyrealizeherasdistinctfrommyownfleshandblood。Whatadarlingsheis，andhowIlovetomakealittleladyofher，todresshercurlyhair，tenderthoughtsminglingthewhilewitheverytouch!I
musthaveherhappy；Ishallonlygivehertothemanwholovesherandwhomsheloves。But，Heavens!whenIletherputonherlittleornaments，orpassacherry-coloredribbonthroughherhair，orfastentheshoesonhertinyfeet，asickeningthoughtcomesoverme。Howcanoneorderthedestinyofagirl？Whocansaythatshewillnotloveascoundrelorsomemanwhoisindifferenttoher？TearsoftenspringtomyeyesasIwatchher。Thislovelycreature，thisflower，thisrosebudwhichhasblossomedinone’sheart，tobehandedovertoamanwhowilltearitfromthestemandleaveitbare!Louise，itisyou——
you，whointwoyearshavenotwrittenthreewordstotellmeofyourwelfare——itisyouwhohaverecalledtomymindtheterriblepossibilitiesofmarriage，sofullofanguishforamotherwrappedup，asIam，inherchild。Farewellnow，forintruthyoudon’tdeservemyfriendship，andIhardlyknowhowtowrite。Oh!answerme，dearLouise。
So，afterasilenceoftwoyears，youareprickedbycuriosity，andwanttoknowwhyIhavenotwritten。MydearRenee，therearenowords，noimages，nolanguagetoexpressmyhappiness。ThatwehavestrengthtobearitsumsupallIcouldsay。Itcostsusnoeffort，forweareinperfectsympathy。Thewholetwoyearshaveknownnonoteofdiscordintheharmony，nojarringwordintheinterchangeoffeeling，noshadeofdifferenceinourlightestwish。Notoneinthislongsuccessionofdayshasfailedtobearitsownpeculiarfruit；notamomenthaspassedwithoutbeingenrichedbytheplayoffancy。Sofararewefromdreadingthecankerofmonotonyinourlife，thatouronlyfearislestitshouldnotbelongenoughtocontainallthepoeticcreationsofaloveasrichandvariedinitsdevelopmentasNatureherself。Ofdisappointmentnotatrace!Wefindmorepleasureinbeingtogetherthanonthefirstday，andeachhourasitgoesbydisclosesfreshreasonforourlove。Everydayaswetakeoureveningstrollafterdinner，wetelleachotherthatwereallymustgoandseewhatisdoinginParis，justasonemighttalkofgoingtoSwitzerland。
“Onlythink，“Gastonwillexclaim，“suchandsuchaboulevardisbeingmade，theMadeleineisfinished。Weoughttoseeit。Letusgoto-morrow。“
Andto-morrowcomes，andweareinnohurrytogetup，andwebreakfastinourbedroom。Thenmiddayisonus，anditistoohot；asiestaseemsappropriate。ThenGastonwishestolookatme，andhegazesonmyfaceasthoughitwereapicture，losinghimselfinthiscontemplation，which，asyoumaysuppose，isnotone-sided。Tearsrisetotheeyesofbothaswethinkofourloveandtremble。Iamstillthemistress，pretending，thatis，togivelessthanIreceive，andI
revelinthisdeception。Toawomanwhatcanbesweeterthantoseepassioneverheldincheckbytenderness，andthemanwhoishermasterstayed，likeatimidsuitor，byawordfromher，withinthelimitsthatshechooses？
Youaskedmetodescribehim；but，Renee，itisnotpossibletomakeaportraitofthemanwelove。Howcouldtheheartbekeptoutofthework？Besides，tobefrankbetweenourselves，wemayadmitthatoneofthedireeffectsofcivilizationonourmannersistomakeofmaninsocietyabeingsoutterlydifferentfromthenaturalmanofstrongfeeling，thatsometimesnotasinglepointoflikenesscanbefoundbetweenthesetwoaspectsofthesameperson。Themanwhofallsintothemostgracefuloperaticposes，ashepourssweetnothingsintoyourearbythefireatnight，maybeentirelydestituteofthosemoreintimatecharmswhichawomanvalues。Ontheotherhand，anugly，boorish，badly-dressedfiguremaymarkamanendowedwiththeverygeniusoflove，andwhohasaperfectmasteryoversituationswhichmightbaffleuswithoursuperficialgraces。Amanwhoseconventionalaspectaccordswithhisrealnature，who，intheintimacyofweddedlove，possessesthatinborngracewhichcanbeneithergivennoracquired，butwhichGreekarthasembodiedinstatuary，thatcarelessinnocenceoftheancientpoetswhich，eveninfrankundress，seemstoclothethesoulaswithaveilofmodesty——thisisourideal，bornofourownconceptions，andlinkedwiththeuniversalharmonywhichseemstobetherealityunderlyingallcreatedthings。Tofindthisidealinlifeistheproblemwhichhauntstheimaginationofeverywoman——inGastonIhavefoundit。