Sadnessorgladness，itallcomestomethroughyou。ThehopeofsuccessalwayscarriesmebacktothedayfollowingthatoneonwhichIsawyouforthefirsttime，whenmylifebecameonewithyoursastheearthturnstothelight。/Qualpianto/aretheseelevenyears，forthisisthe26thofDecember，theanniversaryofmyarrivalatyourvillaontheLakeofGeneva。ForelevenyearshaveIbeencryingtoyou，whileyoushinelikeastarsettoohighformantoreachit。
　　"27th。
　　"No，dearest，donotgotoMilan；stayatBelgirate。Milanterrifiesme。IdonotlikethatodiousMilanesefashionofchattingattheScalaeveryeveningwithadozenpersons，amongwhomitishardifnoonesayssomethingsweet。Tomesolitudeislikethelumpofamberinwhoseheartaninsectlivesforeverinunchangingbeauty。Thustheheartandsoulofawomanremainspureandunalteredintheformoftheirfirstyouth。Isitthe/Tedeschi/thatyouregret？
　　"28th。
　　"Isyourstatuenevertobefinished？Ishouldwishtohaveyouinmarble，inpainting，inminiature，ineverypossibleform，tobeguilemyimpatience。IstillamwaitingfortheviewofBelgiratefromthesouth，andthatofthebalcony；theseareallthatInowlack。Iamsoextremelybusythatto-dayIcanonlywriteyounothing——butthatnothingiseverything。WasitnotofnothingthatGodmadetheworld？Thatnothingisaword，God'sword:Iloveyou!
　　"30th。
　　"Ah!Ihavereceivedyourjournal。Thanksforyourpunctuality——
　　Soyoufoundgreatpleasureinseeingallthedetailsofourfirstacquaintancethussetdown？Alas!evenwhiledisguisingthemIwassorelyafraidofoffendingyou。Wehadnostories，anda/Review/
　　withoutstoriesisabeautywithouthair。Notbeinginventivebynature，andinsheerdespair，Itooktheonlypoetryinmysoul，theonlyadventureinmymemory，andpitcheditinthekeyinwhichitwouldbeartelling；nordidIeverceasetothinkofyouwhilewritingtheonlyliteraryproductionthatwillevercomefrommyheart，Icannotsayfrommypen。DidnotthetransformationofyourfierceSormanointoGinamakeyoulaugh？
　　"Youaskaftermyhealth。Well，itisbetterthaninParis。ThoughIworkenormously，thepeacefulnessofthesurroundingshasitseffectonthemind。Whatreallytriesandagesme，dearangel，istheanguishofmortifiedvanity，theperpetualfrictionofParislife，thestruggleofrivalambitions。Thispeaceisabalm。
　　"Ifyoucouldimaginethepleasureyourlettergivesme!——thelong，kindletterinwhichyoutellmethemosttrivialincidentsofyourlife。No!youwomencanneverknowtowhatadegreeatrueloverisinterestedinthesetrifles。Itwasanimmensepleasuretoseethepatternofyournewdress。Canitbeamatterofindifferencetometoknowwhatyouwear？Ifyourloftybrowisknit？Ifourwritersamuseyou？IfCanalis'songsdelightyou？I
　　readthebooksyouread。Eventoyourboatingonthelakeeveryincidenttouchedme。Yourletterisaslovely，assweetasyoursoul!Oh!flowerofheaven，perpetuallyadored，couldIhavelivedwithoutthosedearletters，whichforelevenyearshaveupheldmeinmydifficultpathlikealight，likeaperfume，likeasteadychant，likesomedivinenourishment，likeeverythingwhichcansootheandcomfortlife。
　　"Donotfailme!IfyouknewwhatanxietyIsufferthedaybeforetheyaredue，orthepainaday'sdelaycangiveme!Issheill？
　　Is/he/？Iammidwaybetweenhellandparadise。
　　"/Omiacaradiva/，keepupyourmusic，exerciseyourvoice，practise。Iamenchantedwiththecoincidenceofemploymentsandhoursbywhich，thoughseparatedbytheAlps，welivebypreciselythesamerule。Thethoughtcharmsmeandgivesmecourage。ThefirsttimeIundertooktopleadhere——Iforgettotellyouthis——I
　　fanciedthatyouwerelisteningtome，andIsuddenlyfelttheflashofinspirationwhichliftsthepoetabovemankind。IfIamreturnedtotheChamber——oh!youmustcometoParistobepresentatmyfirstappearancethere!
　　"30th，Evening。
　　"Goodheavens，howIloveyou!Alas!Ihaveintrustedtoomuchtomyloveandmyhopes。Anaccidentwhichshouldsinkthatoverloadedbarkwouldendmylife。ForthreeyearsnowIhavenotseenyou，andatthethoughtofgoingtoBelgiratemyheartbeatssowildlythatIamforcedtostop——Toseeyou，tohearthatgirlishcaressingvoice!Toembraceinmygazethativoryskin，glisteningunderthecandlelight，andthroughwhichIcanreadyournoblemind!Toadmireyourfingersplayingonthekeys，todrinkinyourwholesoulinalook，inthetoneofan/Oime/oran/Alberto/!Towalkbytheblossomingorange-trees，toliveafewmonthsinthebosomofthatgloriousscenery!——Thatislife。Whatfollyitistorunafterpower，aname，fortune!ButatBelgiratethereiseverything；thereispoetry，thereisglory!Ioughttohavemademyselfyoursteward，or，asthatdeartyrantwhomwecannothateproposedtome，livethereas/cavaliereservente/，onlyourpassionwastoofiercetoallowofit。
　　"Farewell，myangel，forgivememynextfitofsadnessinconsiderationofthischeerfulmood；ithascomeasabeamoflightfromthetorchofHope，whichhashithertoseemedtomeaWill-o'-the-wisp。"
　　"Howhelovesher!"criedRosalie，droppingtheletter，whichseemedheavyinherhand。"Afterelevenyearstowritelikethis!"
　　"Mariette，"saidMademoiselledeWattevilletohermaidnextmorning，"goandpostthisletter。TellJeromethatIknowallIwishtoknow，andthatheistoserveMonsieurAlbertfaithfully。Wewillconfessoursins，youandI，withoutsayingtowhomthelettersbelonged，nortowhomtheyweregoing。Iwasinthewrong；Ialoneamguilty。"
　　"Mademoisellehasbeencrying？"saidMariette。
　　"Yes，butIdonotwantthatmymothershouldperceiveit；givemesomeverycoldwater。"
　　InthemidstofthestormsofherpassionRosalieoftenlistenedtothevoiceofconscience。Touchedbythebeautifulfidelityofthesetwohearts，shehadjustsaidherprayers，tellingherselfthattherewasnothinglefttoherbuttoberesigned，andtorespectthehappinessoftwobeingsworthyofeachother，submissivetofate，lookingtoGodforeverything，withoutallowingthemselvesanycriminalactsorwishes。Shefeltabetterwoman，andhadacertainsenseofsatisfactionaftercomingtothisresolution，inspiredbythenaturalrectitudeofyouth。Andshewasconfirmedinitbyagirl'sidea:Shewassacrificingherselffor/him/。
　　"Shedoesnotknowhowtolove，"thoughtshe。"Ah!ifitwereI——I
　　wouldgiveupeverythingtoamanwholovedmeso——Tobeloved!——
　　When，bywhomshallIbeloved？ThatlittleMonsieurdeSoulasonlylovesmymoney；ifIwerepoor，hewouldnotevenlookatme。"
　　"Rosalie，mychild，whatareyouthinkingabout？Youareworkingbeyondtheoutline，"saidtheBaronesstoherdaughter，whowasmakingworsted-workslippersfortheBaron。
　　Rosaliespentthewinterof1834-35tornbysecrettumults；butinthespring，inthemonthofApril，whenshereachedtheageofnineteen，shesometimesthoughtthatitwouldbeafinethingtotriumphoveraDuchessed'Argaiolo。Insilenceandsolitudetheprospectofthisstrugglehadfannedherpassionandherevilthoughts。Sheencouragedherromanticdaringbymakingplanafterplan。Althoughsuchcharactersareanexception，thereare，unfortunately，toomanyRosaliesintheworld，andthisstorycontainsamoralthatoughttoservethemasawarning。
　　InthecourseofthiswinterAlbertdeSavarushadquietlymadeconsiderableprogressinBesancon。Confidentofsuccess，henowimpatientlyawaitedthedissolutionoftheChamber。AmongthemenofthemoderatepartyhehadwonthesuffragesofoneofthemakersofBesancon，arichcontractor，whohadverywideinfluence。
　　WherevertheysettledtheRomanstookimmensepains，andspentenormoussumstohaveanunlimitedsupplyofgoodwaterineverytownoftheirempire。AtBesancontheydrankthewaterfromArcier，ahillatsomeconsiderabledistancefromBesancon。ThetownstandsinahorseshoecircumscribedbytheriverDoubs。Thus，torestoreanaqueductinordertodrinkthesamewaterthattheRomansdrank，inatownwateredbytheDoubs，isoneofthoseabsurditieswhichonlysucceedinacountryplacewherethemostexemplarygravityprevails。
　　Ifthiswhimcouldbebroughthometotheheartsofthecitizens，itwouldleadtoconsiderableoutlay；andthisexpenditurewouldbenefittheinfluentialcontractor。
　　AlbertSavarondeSavarusopinedthatthewateroftheriverwasgoodfornothingbuttoflowunderthesuspensionbridge，andthattheonlydrinkablewaterwasthatfromArcier。Articleswereprintedinthe/Review/whichmerelyexpressedtheviewsofthecommercialinterestofBesancon。Thenobilityandthecitizens，themoderatesandthelegitimists，thegovernmentpartyandtheopposition，everybody，inshort，wasagreedthattheymustdrinkthesamewaterastheRomans，andboastofasuspensionbridge。ThequestionoftheArcierwaterwastheorderofthedayatBesancon。AtBesancon——asinthematterofthetworailwaystoVersailles——asforeverystandingabuse——therewereprivateinterestsunconfessedwhichgavevitalforcetothisidea。Thereasonablefolkinoppositiontothisscheme，whowereindeedbutfew，wereregardedasoldwomen。NoonetalkedofanythingbutofSavaron'stwoprojects。Andthus，aftereighteenmonthsofundergroundlabor，theambitiouslawyerhadsucceededinstirringtoitsdepthsthemoststagnanttowninFrance，themostunyieldingtoforeigninfluence，infindingthelengthofitsfoot，touseavulgarphrase，andexertingapreponderantinfluencewithoutstirringfromhisownroom。Hehadsolvedthesingularproblemofhowtobepowerfulwithoutbeingpopular。
　　InthecourseofthiswinterhewonsevenlawsuitsforvariouspriestsofBesancon。Atmomentshecouldbreathefreelyatthethoughtofhiscomingtriumph。Thisintensedesire，whichmadehimworksomanyinterestsanddevisesomanysprings，absorbedthelaststrengthofhisterriblyoverstrungsoul。Hisdisinterestednesswaslauded，andhetookhisclients'feeswithoutcomment。Butthisdisinterestednesswas，intruth，moralusury；hecountedonarewardfargreatertohimthanallthegoldintheworld。
　　InthemonthofOctober1834hehadbrought，ostensiblytoserveamerchantwhowasindifficulties，withmoneylenthimbyLeopoldHannequin，ahousewhichgavehimaqualificationforelection。Hehadnotseemedtoseekordesirethisadvantageousbargain。
　　"Youarereallyaremarkableman，"saidtheAbbedeGrancey，who，ofcourse，hadwatchedandunderstoodthelawyer。TheVicar-GeneralhadcometointroducetohimaCanonwhoneededhisprofessionaladvice。
　　"Youareapriestwhohastakenthewrongturning。"ThisobservationstruckSavarus。
　　Rosalie，onherpart，hadmadeuphermind，inherstronggirl'shead，togetMonsieurdeSavarusintothedrawing-roomandacquaintedwiththesocietyoftheHoteldeRupt。SofarshehadlimitedherdesirestoseeingandhearingAlbert。Shehadcompounded，sotospeak，andacompositionisoftennomorethanatruce。
　　LesRouxey，theinheritedestateoftheWattevilles，wasworthjusttenthousandfrancsayear；butinotherhandsitwouldhaveyieldedagreatdealmore。TheBaroninhisindifference——forhiswifewastohave，andinfacthad，fortythousandfrancsayear——leftthemanagementoflesRouxeytoasortoffactotum，anoldservantoftheWattevillesnamedModinier。Nevertheless，whenevertheBaronandhiswifewishedtogooutofthetown，theywenttolesRouxey，whichisverypicturesquelysituated。Thechateauandtheparkwere，infact，createdbythefamousWatteville，whoinhisactiveoldagewaspassionatelyattachedtothismagnificentspot。
　　Betweentwoprecipitoushills——littlepeakswithbaresummitsknownasthegreatandthelittleRouxey——intheheartofaravinewherethetorrentsfromtheheights，withtheDentdeVilardattheirhead，cometumblingtojointhelovelyupperwatersoftheDoubs，Wattevillehadahugedamconstructed，leavingtwocuttingsfortheoverflow。Abovethisdamhemadeabeautifullake，andbelowittwocascades；andthese，unitingafewyardsbelowthefalls，formedalovelylittlerivertoirrigatethebarren，uncultivatedvalley，andthesetwohillsheenclosedinaringfence，andbuilthimselfaretreatonthedam，whichhewidenedtotwoacresbyaccumulatingaboveitallthesoilwhichhadtoberemovedtomakeachannelfortheriverandtheirrigationcanals。
　　WhentheBarondeWattevillethusobtainedthelakeabovehisdamhewasownerofthetwohills，butnotoftheuppervalleythusflooded，throughwhichtherehadbeenatalltimesaright-of-waytowhereitendsinahorseshoeundertheDentdeVilard。Butthisferociousoldmanwassowidelydreaded，thatsolongashelivednoclaimwasurgedbytheinhabitantsofRiceys，thelittlevillageonthefurthersideoftheDentdeVilard。WhentheBarondied，helefttheslopesofthetwoRouxeyhillsjoinedbyastrongwall，toprotectfrominundationthetwolateralvalleysopeningintothevalleyofRouxey，totherightandleftatthefootoftheDentdeVilard。ThushediedthemasteroftheDentdeVilard。
　　HisheirsassertedtheirprotectorateofthevillageofRiceys，andsomaintainedtheusurpation。Theoldassassin，theoldrenegade，theoldAbbeWatteville，endedhiscareerbyplantingtreesandmakingafineroadovertheshoulderofoneoftheRouxeyhillstojointhehighroad。Theestatebelongingtothisparkandhousewasextensive，butbadlycultivated；therewerechaletsonbothhillsandneglectedforestsoftimber。Itwasallwildanddeserted，lefttothecareofnature，abandonedtochancegrowths，butfullofsublimeandunexpectedbeauty。YoumaynowimaginelesRouxey。
　　Itisunnecessarytocomplicatethisstorybyrelatingalltheprodigioustroubleandtheinventivenessstampedwithgenius，bywhichRosalieachievedherendwithoutallowingittobesuspected。ItisenoughtosaythatitwasinobediencetohermotherthatsheleftBesanconinthemonthofMay1835，inanantiquetravelingcarriagedrawnbyapairofsturdyhiredhorses，andaccompaniedherfathertolesRouxey。
　　Toayounggirllovelurksineverything。Whensherose，themorningafterherarrival，MademoiselledeWattevillesawfromherbedroomwindowthefineexpanseofwater，fromwhichthelightmistsroselikesmoke，andwerecaughtinthefirsandlarches，rollingupandalongthehillstilltheyreachedtheheights，andshegaveacryofadmiration。
　　"Theylovedbythelakes!/She/livesbyalake!Alakeiscertainlyfulloflove!"shethought。
　　Alakefedbysnowshasopalescentcolorsandatranslucencythatmakesitonehugediamond；butwhenitisshutinlikethatoflesRouxey，betweentwogranitemassescoveredwithpines，whensilencebroodsoveritlikethatoftheSavannasortheSteppes，theneveryonemustexclaimasRosaliedid。
　　"Weowethat，"saidherfather，"tothenotoriousWatteville。"
　　"Onmyword，"saidthegirl，"hedidhisbesttoearnforgiveness。Letusgoinaboattothefurtherend；itwillgiveusanappetiteforbreakfast。"
　　TheBaroncalledtwogardenerladswhoknewhowtorow，andtookwithhimhisprimeministerModinier。Thelakewasaboutsixacresinbreadth，insomeplacestenortwelve，andfourhundredinlength。
　　RosaliesoonfoundherselfattheupperendshutinbytheDentdeVilard，theJungfrauofthatlittleSwitzerland。
　　"Hereweare，MonsieurleBaron，"saidModinier，signingtothegardenerstotieuptheboat；"willyoucomeandlook？"
　　"Lookatwhat？"askedRosalie。
　　"Oh，nothing!"exclaimedtheBaron。"Butyouareasensiblegirl；wehavesomelittlesecretsbetweenus，andImaytellyouwhatrufflesmymind。Somedifficultieshavearisensince1830betweenthevillageauthoritiesofRiceysandme，onaccountofthisveryDentdeVilard，andIwanttosettlethematterwithoutyourmother'sknowinganythingaboutit，forsheisstubborn；sheiscapableofflingingfireandflamesbroadcast，particularlyifsheshouldhearthattheMayorofRiceys，arepublican，gotupthisactionasasoptohispeople。"
　　Rosaliehadpresenceofmindenoughtodisguiseherdelight，soastoworkmoreeffectuallyonherfather。
　　"Whataction？"saidshe。
　　"Mademoiselle，thepeopleofRiceys，"saidModinier，"havelongenjoyedtherightofgrazingandcuttingfodderontheirsideoftheDentdeVilard。NowMonsieurChantonnit，theMairesince1830，declaresthatthewholeDentbelongstohisdistrict，andmaintainsthatahundredyearsago，ormore，therewasawaythroughourgrounds。Youunderstandthatinthatcaseweshouldnolongerhavethemtoourselves。Thenthisbarbarianwouldendbysaying，whattheoldmeninthevillagesay，thatthegroundoccupiedbythelakewasappropriatedbytheAbbedeWatteville。ThatwouldbetheendoflesRouxey；whatnext？"
　　"Indeed，mychild，betweenourselves，itisthetruth，"saidMonsieurdeWattevillesimply。"Thelandisanusurpation，withnotitle-deedbutlapseoftime。And，therefore，toavoidallworry，IshouldwishtocometoafriendlyunderstandingastomyborderlineonthissideoftheDentdeVilard，andIwillthenraiseawall。"
　　"Ifyougivewaytothemunicipality，itwillswallowyouup。YououghttohavethreatenedRiceys。"
　　"ThatisjustwhatItoldthemasterlastevening，"saidModinier。
　　"ButinconfirmationofthatviewIproposedthatheshouldcometoseewhether，onthissideoftheDentorontheother，theremaynotbe，highorlow，sometracesofanenclosure。"
　　ForacenturytheDentdeVilardhadbeenusedbybothpartieswithoutcomingtoextremities；itstoodasasortofpartywallbetweenthecommunesofRiceysandlesRouxey，yieldinglittleprofit。Indeed，theobjectindispute，beingcoveredwithsnowforsixmonthsintheyear，wasofanaturetocooltheirardor。Thusitrequiredallthehotblastbywhichtherevolutionof1830inflamedtheadvocatesofthepeople，tostirupthismatter，bywhichMonsieurChantonnit，theMaireofRiceys，hopedtogiveadramaticturntohiscareeronthepeacefulfrontierofSwitzerland，andtoimmortalizehistermofoffice。Chantonnit，ashisnameshows，wasanativeofNeuchatel。
　　"Mydearfather，"saidRosalie，astheygotintotheboatagain，"I
　　agreewithModinier。IfyouwishtosecurethejointpossessionoftheDentdeVilard，youmustactwithdecision，andgetalegalopinionwhichwillprotectyouagainstthisenterprisingChantonnit。Whyshouldyoubeafraid？GetthefamouslawyerSavaron——engagehimatonce，lestChantonnitshouldplacetheinterestsofthevillageinhishands。ThemanwhowonthecasefortheChapteragainstthetowncancertainlywinthatofWatteville/versus/Riceys!Besides，"sheadded，"lesRouxeywillsomedaybemine——notforalongtimeyet，Itrust——
　　Well，thendonotleavemewithalawsuitonmyhands。Ilikethisplace，Ishalloftenlivehere，andaddtoitasmuchaspossible。Onthosebanks，"andshepointedtothefeetofthetwohills，"IshallcutflowerbedsandmaketheloveliestEnglishgardens。LetusgotoBesanconandbringbackwithustheAbbedeGrancey，MonsieurSavaron，andmymother，ifshecarestocome。Youcanthenmakeupyourmind；
　　butinyourplaceIshouldhavedonesoalready。YournameisWatteville，andyouareafraidofafight!Ifyoushouldloseyourcase——well，Iwillneverreproachyoubyaword!"
　　"Oh，ifthatisthewayyoutakeit，"saidtheBaron，"Iamquiteready；Iwillseethelawyer。"
　　"Besidesalawsuitisreallygreatfun。Itbringssomeinterestintolife，withcomingandgoingandragingoverit。Youwillhaveagreatdealtodobeforeyoucangetholdofthejudges——WedidnotseetheAbbedeGranceyforthreeweeks，hewassobusy!"
　　"ButtheveryexistenceoftheChapterwasinvolved，"saidMonsieurdeWatteville；"andthentheArchbishop'spride，hisconscience，everythingthatmakesupthelifeofthepriesthood，wasatstake。
　　ThatSavarondoesnotknowwhathedidfortheChapter!Hesavedit!"
　　"Listentome，"saidhisdaughterinhisear，"ifyousecureMonsieurdeSavaron，youwillgainyoursuit，won'tyou？Well，then，letmeadviseyou。YoucannotgetatMonsieurSavaronexceptingthroughMonsieurdeGrancey。Takemywordforit，andletustogethertalktothedearAbbewithoutmymother'spresenceattheinterview，forI
　　knowawayofpersuadinghimtobringthelawyertous。"
　　"Itwillbeverydifficulttoavoidmentioningittoyourmother!"
　　"TheAbbedeGranceywillsettlethatafterwards。ButjustmakeupyourmindtopromiseyourvotetoMonsieurSavaronatthenextelection，andyouwillsee!"
　　"Gototheelection!taketheoath？"criedtheBarondeWatteville。
　　"Whatthen!"saidshe。
　　"Andwhatwillyourmothersay？"
　　"Shemayevendesireyoutodoit，"repliedRosalie，knowingasshedidfromAlbert'slettertoLeopoldhowdeeplytheVicar-Generalhadpledgedhimself。
　　Fourdaysafter，theAbbedeGranceycalledveryearlyonemorningonAlbertdeSavarus，havingannouncedhisvisitthedaybefore。TheoldpriesthadcometowinoverthegreatlawyertothehouseoftheWattevilles，aproceedingwhichshowshowmuchtactandsubtletyRosaliemusthaveemployedinanunderhandway。
　　"WhatcanIdoforyou，MonsieurleVicaire-General？"askedSavarus。
　　TheAbbe，whotoldhisstorywithadmirablefrankness，wascoldlyheardbyAlbert。
　　"Monsieurl'Abbe，"saidhe，"itisoutofthequestionthatIshoulddefendtheinterestsoftheWattevilles，andyoushallunderstandwhy。
　　Mypartinthistownistoremainperfectlyneutral。Iwilldisplaynocolors；Imustremainamysterytilltheeveofmyelection。Now，topleadfortheWattevilleswouldmeannothinginParis，buthere!——
　　Here，whereeverythingisdiscussed，IshouldbesupposedbyeveryonetobeanallyofyourFaubourgSaint-Germain。"
　　"What!doyousupposethatyoucanremainunknownonthedayoftheelection，whenthecandidatesmustopposeeachother？ItmustthenbecomeknownthatyournameisSavarondeSavarus，thatyouhaveheldtheappointmentofMasterofAppeals，thatyouareamanoftheRestoration!"
　　"Onthedayoftheelection，"saidSavarus，"IwillbeallIamexpectedtobe；andIintendtospeakatthepreliminarymeetings。"
　　"IfyouhavethesupportofMonsieurdeWattevilleandhisparty，youwillgetahundredvotesinamass，andfarmoretobetrustedthanthoseonwhichyourely。Itisalwayspossibletoproducedivisionofinterests；convictionsareinseparable。"