Ah!dear，Ididnotknowwhatlovecouldbe，unitedtoyouth，talent，andbeauty。Gastonhasnoaffectations，hemoveswithaninstinctiveandunstudiedgrace。Whenwewalkalonetogetherinthewoods，hisarmroundmywaist，minerestingonhisshoulder，bodyfittingtobody，andheadtouchinghead，ourstepissoeven，uniform，andgentle，thatthosewhoseeuspassbynighttakethevisionforasinglefigureglidingoverthegraveledwalks，likeoneofHomer’simmortals。Alikeharmonyexistsinourdesires，ourthoughts，ourwords。Morethanonceonsomeeveningwhenapassingshowerhaslefttheleavesglisteningandthemoistgrassbrightwithamorevividgreen，ithaschancedthatweendedourwalkwithoututteringaword，aswelistenedtothepatteroffallingdropsandfeastedoureyesonthescarletsunset，flaringonthehilltopsordyeingwithawarmertonethegrayofthetreetrunks。
BeyondadoubtourthoughtsthenrosetoHeaveninsilentprayer，pleadingasitwere，forourhappiness。Attimesacrywouldescapeusatthemomentwhensomesuddenbendonthepathopenedupfreshbeauties。Whatwordscantellhowhoney-sweet，howfullofmeaning，isakisshalf-timidlyexchangedwithinthesanctuaryofnature——itisasthoughGodhadcreatedustoworshipinthisfashion。
Andwereturnhome，eachmoredeeplyinlovethanever。
AlovesopassionatebetweenoldmarriedpeoplewouldbeanoutrageonsocietyinParis；onlyintheheartofthewoods，likelovers，canwegivescopetoit。
Tocometoparticulars，Gastonisofmiddleheight——theheightpropertoallmenofpurpose。Neitherstoutnorthin，hisfigureisadmirablymade，withamplefulnessintheproportions，whileeverymotionisagile；heleapsaditchwiththeeasygraceofawildanimal。Whateverhisattitude，heseemstohaveaninstinctivesenseofbalance，andthisisveryrareinmenwhoaregiventothought。Thoughadarkman，hehasanextraordinarilyfaircomplexion；hisjet-blackhaircontrastsfinelywiththelustrelesstintsoftheneckandforehead。
HehasthetragicheadofLouisXIII。Hismoustacheandtufthavebeenallowedtogrow，butImadehimshavethewhiskersandbeard，whichweregettingtoocommon。Anhonorablepovertyhasbeenhissafeguard，andhandedhimovertome，unsoiledbythelooselifewhichruinssomanyyoungmen。Histeetharemagnificent，andhehasaconstitutionofiron。Hiskeenblueeyes，formefulloftenderness，willflashlikelightningatanyrousingthought。
Likeallmenofstrongcharacterandpowerfulmind，hehasanadmirabletemper；itsevennesswouldsurpriseyou，asitdidme。I
havelistenedtothetaleofmanyawoman’shometroubles；Ihaveheardofthemoodsanddepressionofmendissatisfiedwiththemselves，whoeitherwon’tgetoldorageungracefully，menwhocarryaboutthroughlifetheranklingmemoryofsomeyouthfulexcess，whoseveinsrunpoisonandwhoseeyesareneverfranklyhappy，menwhocloaksuspicionunderbadtemper，andmaketheirwomenpayforanhour’speacebyamorningofannoyance，whotakevengeanceonusforabeautywhichishatefultothembecausetheyhaveceasedthemselvestobeattractive，——allthesearehorrorsunknowntoyouth。Theyarethepenaltyofunequalunions。Oh!mydear，whateveryoudo，don’tmarryAthenaistoanoldman!
Buthissmile——howIfeastonit!Asmilewhichisalwaysthere，yetalwaysfreshthroughtheplayofsubtlefancy，aspeakingsmilewhichmakesofthelipsastorehouseforthoughtsofloveandunspokengratitude，asmilewhichlinkspresentjoystopast。Fornothingisallowedtodropoutofourcommonlife。Thesmallestworksofnaturehavebecomepartandparcelofourjoy。Inthesedelightfulwoodseverythingisaliveandeloquentofourselves。Anoldmoss-grownoak，nearthewoodsman’shouseontheroadside，remindsushowwesatthere，wearied，underitsshade，whileGastontaughtmeaboutthemossesatourfeetandtoldmetheirstory，till，graduallyascendingfromsciencetoscience，wetouchedtheveryconfinesofcreation。
Thereissomethingsokindredinourmindsthattheyseemtomeliketwoeditionsofthesamebook。YouseewhataliterarytendencyIhavedeveloped!Webothhavethehabit，orthegift，oflookingateverysubjectbroadly，oftakinginallitspointsofview，andtheproofweareconstantlygivingourselvesofthesinglenessofourinwardvisionisanever-newpleasure。Wehaveactuallycometolookonthiscommunityofmindasapledgeoflove；andifiteverfailedus，itwouldmeanasmuchtousaswouldabreachoffidelityinanordinaryhome。
Mylife，fullasitisofpleasures，wouldseemtoyou，nevertheless，extremelylaborious。Tobeginwith，mydear，youmustknowthatLouise-Armande-MariedeChaulieudoesherownroom。Icouldnotbearthatahiredmenial，somewomanorgirlfromtheoutside，shouldbecomeinitiated——literarytouchagain!——intothesecretsofmybedroom。Theveriesttriflesconnectedwiththeworshipofmyheartpartakeofitssacredcharacter。Thisisnotjealousy；itisself-
respect。Thusmyroomisdoneoutwithallthecareayounggirlinlovebestowsonherperson，andwiththeprecisionofanoldmaid。Mydressing-roomisnochaosoflitter；onthecontrary，itmakesacharmingboudoir。Mykeeneyehasforeseenallcontingencies。Atwhateverhourthelordandmasterenters，hewillfindnothingtodistress，surprise，orshockhim；heisgreetedbyflowers，scents，andeverythingthatcanpleasetheeye。
Igetupintheearlydawn，whileheisstillsleeping，and，withoutdisturbinghim，passintothedressing-room，where，profitingbymymother’sexperience，Iremovethetracesofsleepbybathingincoldwater。Forduringsleeptheskin，beinglessactive，doesnotperformitsfunctionsadequately；itbecomeswarmandcoveredwithasortofmistoratmosphereofstickymatter，visibletotheeye。Fromasponge-bathawomanissuestenyearsyounger，andthis，perhaps，istheinterpretationofthemythofVenusrisingfromthesea。Sothecoldwaterrestorestomethesaucycharmofdawn，and，havingcombedandscentedmyhairandmadeamostfastidioustoilet，Iglideback，snake-like，inorderthatmymastermayfindme，daintyasaspringmorning，athiswakening。Heischarmedwiththisfreshness，asofanewly-openedflower，withouthavingtheleastideahowitisproduced。
Theregulartoiletofthedayisamatterformymaid，andthistakesplacelaterinalargerroom，setasideforthepurpose。Asyoumaysuppose，thereisalsoatoiletforgoingtobed。Threetimesaday，yousee，oritmaybefour，doIarraymyselfforthedelightofmyhusband；which，again，dearone，issuggestiveofcertainancientmyths。
Butourworkisnotallplay。Wetakeagreatdealofinterestinourflowers，inthebeautiesofthehothouse，andinourtrees。Wegiveourselvesinallseriousnesstohorticulture，andembosomthechaletinflowers，ofwhichwearepassionatelyfond。Ourlawnsarealwaysgreen，ourshrubberiesaswelltendedasthoseofamillionaire。AndnothingIassureyou，canmatchthebeautyofourwalledgarden。Weareregulargluttonsoverourfruit，andwatchwithtenderinterestourMontreuilpeaches，ourhotbeds，ourladentrellises，andpyramidalpear-trees。
Butlesttheseruralpursuitsshouldfailtosatisfymybeloved’smind，Ihaveadvisedhimtofinish，inthequietofthisretreat，someplayswhichwerebeguninhisstarvationdays，andwhicharereallyveryfine。Thisistheonlykindofliteraryworkwhichcanbedoneinoddmoments，foritrequireslongintervalsofreflection，anddoesnotdemandtheelaboratepruningessentialtoafinishedstyle。Onecan’tmakeatask-workofdialogue；theremustbebitingtouches，summings-up，andflashesofwit，whicharetheblossomsofthemind，andcomeratherbyinspirationthanreflection。Thissortofintellectualsportisverymuchinmyline。IassistGastoninhiswork，andinthiswaymanagetoaccompanyhimevenintheboldestflightsofhisimagination。Doyouseenowhowitisthatmywintereveningsneverdrag？
Ourservantshavesuchaneasytime，thatneveroncesinceweweremarriedhavewehadtoreprimandanyofthem。Whenquestionedaboutus，theyhavehadwitenoughtodrawontheirimaginations，andhavegivenusoutasthecompanionandsecretaryofaladyandgentlemansupposedtobetraveling。Theynevergooutwithoutaskingpermission，whichtheyknowwillnotberefused；theyarecontentedtoo，andseeplainlythatitwillbetheirownfaultifthereisachangefortheworse。Thegardenersareallowedtosellthesurplusofourfruitsandvegetables。Thedairymaiddoesthesamewiththemilk，thecream，andthefreshbutter，onconditionthatthebestoftheproduceisreservedforus。Theyarewellpleasedwiththeirprofits，andwearedelightedwithanabundancewhichnomoneyandnoingenuitycanprocureinthatterribleParis，whereitcostsahundredfrancstoproduceasinglefinepeach。
Allthisisnotwithoutitsmeaning，mydear。Iwishtofilltheplaceofsocietytomyhusband；nowsocietyisamusing，andthereforehissolitudemustnotbeallowedtopallonhim。Ibelievedmyselfjealousintheolddays，whenImerelyallowedmyselftobeloved；nowIknowrealjealousy，thejealousyofthelover。Asingleindifferentglanceunnervesme。FromtimetotimeIsaytomyself，“Supposeheceasedtoloveme!“Andashuddergoesthroughme。Itremblebeforehim，astheChristianbeforehisGod。
Alas!Renee，Iamstillwithoutachild。Thetimewillsurelycome——itmustcome——whenourhermitagewillneedafather’sandamother’scaretobrightenit，whenweshallbothpinetoseethelittlefrocksandpelisses，thebrownorgoldenheads，leaping，runningthroughourshrubberiesandflowerypaths。Oh!itisacrueljestofNature’s，afloweringtreethatbearsnofruit。Thethoughtofyourlovelychildrengoesthroughmelikeaknife。Mylifehasgrownnarrower，whileyourshasexpandedandsheditsraysafar。Thepassionofloveisessentiallyselfish，whilemotherhoodwidensthecircleofourfeelings。HowwellIfeltthisdifferencewhenIreadyourkind，tenderletter!Toseeyouthuslivinginthreeheartsrousedmyenvy。
Yes，youarehappy；youhavehadwisdomtoobeythelawsofsociallife，whilstIstandoutside，analien。
Children，dearandlovingchildren，canaloneconsoleawomanforthelossofherbeauty。Ishallsoonbethirty，andatthatagethedirgewithinbegins。WhatthoughIamstillbeautiful，thelimitsofmywoman’sreignarenonethelessinsight。Whentheyarereached，whatthen？Ishallbefortybeforeheis；Ishallbeoldwhileheisstillyoung。Whenthisthoughtgoestomyheart，Ilieathisfeetforanhouratatime，makinghimsweartotellmeinstantlyifeverhefeelshislovediminishing。
Butheisachild。Heswears，asthoughthemeresuggestionwereanabsurdity，andheissobeautifulthat——Renee，youunderstand——I
believehim。
Good-bye，sweetone。Shallweeveragainletyearspasswithoutwriting？Happinessisamonotonoustheme，andthatis，perhaps，thereasonwhy，tosoulswholove，Danteappearsevengreaterinthe/Paradiso/thaninthe/Inferno/。IamnotDante；Iamonlyyourfriend，andIdon’twanttoboreyou。Youcanwrite，forinyourchildrenyouhaveanever-growing，every-varyingsourceofhappiness，whilemine……Nomoreofthis。Athousandloves。
MME。DEL’ESTORADETOMME。GASTON
MydearLouise，——Ihavereadandre-readyourletter，andthemoredeeplyIenterintoitsspirit，theclearerdoesitbecometomethatitistheletter，notofawoman，butofachild。YouarethesameoldLouise，andyouforget，whatIusedtorepeatoverandoveragaintoyou，thatthepassionoflovebelongsrightlytoastateofnature，andhasonlybeenpurloinedbycivilization。Sofleetingisitscharacter，thattheresourcesofsocietyarepowerlesstomodifyitsprimitivecondition，anditbecomestheeffortofallnoblemindstomakeamanoftheinfantCupid。But，asyouyourselfadmit，suchloveceasestobenatural。
Society，mydearabhorssterility；butsubstitutingalastingsentimentforthemerepassingfrenzyofnature，ithassucceededincreatingthatgreatestofallhumaninventions——thefamily，whichistheenduringbasisofallorganizedsociety。Totheaccomplishmentofthisend，ithassacrificedtheindividual，manaswellaswoman；forwemustnotshutoureyestothefactthatamarriedmandevoteshisenergy，hispower，andallhispossessiontohiswife。Isitnotshewhoreapsthebenefitofallhiscare？Forwhom，ifnotforher，aretheluxuryandwealth，thepositionanddistinction，thecomfortandthegaietyofthehome？
Oh!mysweet，onceagainyouhavetakenthewrongturninginlife。Tobeadoredisayounggirl’sdream，whichmaysurviveafewspringtimes；itcannotbethatofthematurewoman，thewifeandmother。Toawoman’svanityitis，perhaps，enoughtoknowthatshecancommandadorationifshelikes。Ifyouwouldlivethelifeofawifeandmother，return，Ibegofyou，toParis。Letmerepeatmywarning：Itisnotmisfortunewhichyouhavetodread，asothersdo——
itishappiness。
Listentome，mychild!Itisthesimplethingsoflife——bread，air，silence——ofwhichwedonottire；theyhavenopiquancywhichcancreatedistaste；itishighly-flavoreddisheswhichirritatethepalate，andintheendexhaustit。WereitpossiblethatIshouldto-daybelovedbyamanforwhomIcouldconceiveapassion，suchasyoursforGaston，Iwouldstillclingtothedutiesandthechildren，whoaresodeartome。Toawoman’sheartthefeelingsofamotherareamongthesimple，natural，fruitful，andinexhaustiblethingsoflife。