“But，asIlookuponthisportraitandlistentoyoursmilethatwhispersofrapture，theraysofahopewhichIhadsternlybanishedpiercedthegloom，likethelightofdawn，againtobeobscuredbyrisingmistsofdoubtandfearofyourdispleasure，ifthemorningshouldbreaktoday。No，itisimpossibleyoushouldlovemeyet——Ifeelit；butintime，asyoumakeproofofthestrength，theconstancy，anddepthofmyaffection，youmayyieldmesomefootholdinyourheart。Ifmydaringoffendsyou，tellmesowithoutanger，andIwillreturntomyformerpart。Butifyouconsenttotryandloveme，bemercifulandbreakitgentlytoonewhohasplacedthehappinessofhislifeinthesinglethoughtofservingyou。“
　　Mydear，asIreadtheselastwords，heseemedtorisebeforeme，paleasthenightwhenthecamelliastoldtheirstoryandheknewhisofferingwasaccepted。Thesewords，intheirhumility，wereclearlysomethingquitedifferentfromtheusualfloweryrhetoricoflovers，andawaveoffeelingbrokeoverme；itwasthebreathofhappiness。
　　Theweatherhasbeenatrocious；impossibletogototheBoiswithoutexcitingallsortsofsuspicions。Evenmymother，whooftengoesout，regardlessofrain，remainsathome，andalone。
　　Wednesdayevening。
　　Ihavejustseen/him/attheOpera，mydear；heisanotherman。Hecametoourbox，introducedbytheSardinianambassador。
　　Havingreadinmyeyesthatthisaudacitywastakeningoodpart，heseemedawkwardlyconsciousofhislimbs，andaddressedtheMarquised’Espardas“mademoiselle。“Alightfarbrighterthantheglareofthechandeliersflashedfromhiseyes。Atlasthewentoutwiththeairofamanwhodidn’tknowwhathemightdonext。
　　“TheBarondeMacumerisinlove!“exclaimedMme。deMaufrigneuse。
　　“Strange，isn’tit，forafallenminister？“repliedmymother。
　　IhadsufficientpresenceofmindmyselftoregardwithcuriosityMmes。deMaufrigneuseandd’Espardandmymother，asthoughtheyweretalkingaforeignlanguageandIwantedtoknowwhatitwasallabout，butinwardlymysoulsankinthewavesofanintoxicatingjoy。ThereisonlyonewordtoexpresswhatIfelt，andthatis：rapture。SuchloveasFelipe’ssurelymakeshimworthyofmine。Iamtheverybreathofhislife，myhandsholdthethreadthatguideshisthoughts。Tobequitefrank，Ihaveamadlongingtoseehimcleareveryobstacleandstandbeforeme，askingboldlyformyhand。ThenIshouldknowwhetherthisstormoflovewouldsinktoplacidcalmataglancefromme。
　　Ah!mydear，Istoppedhere，andIamstillallinatremble。AsI
　　wrote，Iheardaslightnoiseoutside，androsetoseewhatitwas。
　　FrommywindowIcouldseehimcomingalongtheridgeofthewallattheriskofhislife。Iwenttothebedroomwindowandmadehimasign，itwasenough；heleapedfromthewall——tenfeet——andthenranalongtheroad，asfarasIcouldseehim，inordertoshowmethathewasnothurt。Thatheshouldthinkofmyfearatthemomentwhenhemusthavebeenstunnedbyhisfall，movedmesomuchthatIamstillcrying；Idon’tknowwhy。Poorungainlyman!whatwashecomingfor？
　　whathadhetosaytome？
　　Idarenotwritemythoughts，andshallgotobedjoyful，thinkingofallthatwewouldsayifweweretogether。Farewell，fairsilentone。
　　Ihavenottimetoscoldyoufornotwriting，butitismorethanamonthsinceIhaveheardfromyou!Doesthismeanthatyouareatlasthappy？Haveyoulostthe“completeindependence“whichyouweresoproudof，andwhichto-nighthassonearlyplayedmefalse？
　　Iflovebethelifeoftheworld，whydoausterephilosopherscountitfornothinginmarriage？WhyshouldSocietytakeforitsfirstlawthatthewomanmustbesacrificedtothefamily，introducingthusanoteofdiscordintotheveryheartofmarriage？Andthisdiscordwasforeseen，sinceitwastomeetthedangersarisingfromitthatmenwerearmedwithnew-foundpowersagainstus。Butforthese，weshouldhavebeenabletobringtheirwholetheorytonothing，whetherbytheforceofloveorofasecret，persistentaversion。
　　Iseeinmarriage，asitatpresentexists，twoopposingforceswhichitwasthetaskofthelawgivertoreconcile。“Whenwilltheybereconciled？“Isaidtomyself，asIreadyourletter。Oh!mydear，onesuchletteraloneisenoughtooverthrowthewholefabricconstructedbythesageofAveyron，underwhoseshelterIhadsocheerfullyensconcedmyself!Thelawsweremadebyoldmen——anywomancanseethat——andtheyhavebeenprudentenoughtodecreethatconjugallove，apartfrompassion，isnotdegrading，andthatawomaninyieldingherselfmaydispensewiththesanctionoflove，providedthemancanlegallycallherhis。IntheirexclusiveconcernforthefamilytheyhaveimitatedNature，whoseonecareistopropagatethespecies。
　　FormerlyIwasaperson，nowIamachattel。NotafewtearshaveI
　　gulpeddown，aloneandfarfromeveryone。HowgladlywouldIhaveexchangedthemforaconsolingsmile!Whyareourdestiniessounequal？Yoursoulexpandsintheatmosphereofalawfulpassion。Foryou，virtuewillcoincidewithpleasure。Ifyouencounterpain，itwillbeofyourownfreechoice。Yourduty，ifyoumarryFelipe，willbeonewiththesweetest，freestindulgenceoffeeling。Ourfutureisbigwiththeanswertomyquestion，andIlookforitwithrestlesseagerness。
　　Youloveandareadored。Oh!mydear，letthisnobleromance，theoldsubjectofourdreams，takefullpossessionofyoursoul。Womanlybeauty，refinedandspiritualizedinyou，wascreatedbyGod，forHisownpurposes，tocharmandtodelight。Yes，mysweet，guardwellthesecretofyourheart，andsubmitFelipetothoseingeniousdevicesofoursfortestingalover’smetal。Aboveall，maketrialofyourownlove，forthisisevenmoreimportant。Itissoeasytobemisledbythedeceptiveglamourofnoveltyandpassion，andbythevisionofhappiness。
　　Aloneofthetwofriends，youremaininyourmaidenindependence；andIbeseechyou，dearest，donotrisktheirrevocablestepofmarriagewithoutsomeguarantee。Ithappenssometimes，whentwoaretalkingtogether，apartfromtheworld，theirsoulsstrippedofsocialdisguise，thatagesture，aword，alooklightsup，asbyaflash，somedarkabyss。Youhavecourageandstrengthtotreadboldlyinpathswhereotherswouldbelost。
　　YouhavenoconceptioninwhatanxietyIwatchyou。AcrossallthisspaceIseeyou；myheartbeatswithyours。Besure，therefore，towriteandtellmeeverything。Yourletterscreateaninnerlifeofpassionwithinmyhomely，peacefulhousehold，whichremindsmeofalevelhighroadonagrayday。Theonlyeventhere，mysweet，isthatI
　　amplayingcross-purposeswithmyself。ButIdon’twanttotellyouaboutitjustnow；itmustwaitforanotherday。Withdoggedobstinacy，Ipassfromdespairtohope，nowyielding，nowholdingback。ItmaybethatIaskfromlifemorethanwehavearighttoclaim。Inyouthwearesoreadytobelievethattheidealandtherealwillharmonize!
　　Ihavebeenponderingalone，seatedbeneatharockinmypark，andthefruitofmyponderingisthatloveinmarriageisahappyaccidentonwhichitisimpossibletobaseauniversallaw。MyAveyronphilosopherisrightinlookingonthefamilyastheonlypossibleunitinsociety，andinplacingwomaninsubjectiontothefamily，asshehasbeeninallages。Thesolutionofthisgreat——forusalmostawful——
　　questionliesinourfirstchild。Forthisreason，Iwouldgladlybeamother，wereitonlytosupplyfoodfortheconsumingenergyofmysoul。
　　Louis’temperremainsasperfectasever；hisloveisoftheactive，mytendernessofthepassive，type。Heishappy，pluckingtheflowerswhichbloomforhim，withouttroublingaboutthelaboroftheearthwhichhasproducedthem。Blessedself-absorption!Atwhatevercosttomyself，Ifallinwithhisillusions，asamother，inmyideaofher，shouldbereadytospendherselftosatisfyafancyofherchild。Theintensityofhisjoyblindshim，andeventhrowsitsreflectionuponme。Thesmileorlookofsatisfactionwhichtheknowledgeofhiscontentbringstomyfaceisenoughtosatisfyhim。Andso，“mychild“
　　isthepetnamewhichIgivehimwhenwearealone。
　　AndIwaitforthefruitofallthesesacrificeswhichremainasecretbetweenGod，myself，andyou。OnmotherhoodIhavestakedenormously；
　　mycreditaccountisnowtoolarge，IfearIshallneverreceivefullpayment。ToitIlookforemploymentofmyenergy，expansionofmyheart，andthecompensationofaworldofjoys。PrayHeavenIbenotdeceived!Itisaquestionofallmyfutureand，horriblethought，ofmyvirtue。
　　Dearweddedsweetheart，——YourletterhasarrivedattheverymomenttoheartenmeforaboldstepwhichIhavebeenmeditatingnightandday。
　　Ifeelwithinmeastrangecravingfortheunknown，or，ifyouwill，theforbidden，whichmakesmeuneasyandrevealsaconflictinprogressinmysoulbetweenthelawsofsocietyandofnature。I
　　cannottellwhethernatureinmeisthestrongerofthetwo，butI
　　surprisemyselfintheactofmeditatingbetweenthehostilepowers。
　　Inplainwords，whatIwantedwastospeakwithFelipe，alone，atnight，underthelime-treesatthebottomofourgarden。Thereisnodenyingthatthisdesirebeseemsthegirlwhohasearnedtheepithetofan“up-to-dateyounglady，“bestowedonmebytheDuchessinjest，andwhichmyfatherhasapproved。
　　Yettomethereseemsamethodinthismadness。IshouldrecompenseFelipeforthelongnightshehaspassedundermywindow，atthesametimethatIshouldtesthim，byseeingwhathethinksofmyescapadeandhowhecomportshimselfatacriticalmoment。Lethimcastahaloroundmyfolly——beholdinhimmyhusband；lethimshowoneiotalessofthetremulousrespectwithwhichhebowstomeintheChamps-
　　Elysees——farewell，DonFelipe。
　　Asforsociety，IrunlessriskinmeetingmyloverthusthanwhenI
　　smiletohiminthedrawing-roomsofMme。deMaufrigneuseandtheoldMarquisedeBeauseant，wherespiesnowsurroundusoneveryside；andHeavenonlyknowshowpeoplestareatthegirl，suspectedofaweaknessforagrotesque，likeMacumer。
　　IcannottellyoutowhatastateofagitationIamreducedbydreamingofthisidea，andthetimeIhavegiventoplanningitsexecution。Iwantedyoubadly。Whathappyhoursweshouldhavechatteredaway，lostinthemazesofuncertainty，enjoyinginanticipationallthedelightsandhorrorsofafirstmeetinginthesilenceofnight，underthenoblelime-treesoftheChaulieumansion，withthemoonlightdancingthroughtheleaves!AsIsatalone，everynervetingling，Icried，“Oh!Renee，whereareyou？“Thenyourlettercame，likeamatchtogunpowder，andmylastscrupleswentbytheboard。
　　ThroughthewindowItossedtomybewilderedadoreranexacttracingofthekeyofthelittlegateattheendofthegarden，togetherwiththisnote：
　　“Yourmadnessmustreallybeputastopto。Ifyoubrokeyourneck，youwouldruinthereputationofthewomanyouprofesstolove。Areyouworthyofanewproofofregard，anddoyoudeservethatIshouldtalkwithyouunderthelimesatthefootofthegardenatthehourwhenthemoonthrowsthemintoshadow？“
　　Yesterdayatoneo’clock，whenGriffithwasgoingtobed，Isaidtoher：
　　“Takeyourshawl，dear，andcomeoutwithme。Iwanttogotothebottomofthegardenwithoutanyoneknowing。“
　　Withoutaword，shefollowedme。Oh!myRenee，whatanawfulmomentwhen，afteralittlepausefullofdeliciousthrillsofagony，Isawhimglidingalonglikeashadow。Whenhehadreachedthegardensafely，IsaidtoGriffith：
　　“Don’tbeastonished，buttheBarondeMacumerishere，and，indeed，itisonthataccountIbroughtyouwithme。“
　　NoreplyfromGriffith。
　　“Whatwouldyouhavewithme？“saidFelipe，inatoneofsuchagitationthatitwaseasytoseehewasdrivenbesidehimselfbythenoise，slightasitwas，ofourdressesinthesilenceofthenightandofourstepsuponthegravel。
　　“IwanttosaytoyouwhatIcouldnotwrite，“Ireplied。
　　Griffithwithdrewafewsteps。Itwasoneofthosemildnights，whentheairisheavywiththescentofflowers。Myheadswamwiththeintoxicatingdelightoffindingmyselfallbutalonewithhiminthefriendlyshadeofthelime-trees，beyondwhichlaythegarden，shiningallthemorebrightlybecausethewhitefacadeofthehousereflectedthemoonlight。Thecontrastseemed，asitwere，anemblemofourclandestineloveleadinguptotheglaringpublicityofawedding。
　　Neitherofuscoulddomoreatfirstthandrinkinsilentlytheecstasyofamoment，asnewandmarvelousforhimasforme。AtlastI
　　foundtonguetosay，pointingtotheelm-tree：
　　“AlthoughIamnotafraidofscandal，youshallnotclimbthattreeagain。Wehavelongenoughplayedschoolboyandschoolgirl，letusrisenowtotheheightofourdestiny。Hadthatfallkilledyou，I
　　shouldhavedieddisgraced……“
　　Ilookedathim。Everyscrapofcolorhadlefthisface。
　　“Andifyouhadbeenfoundthere，suspicionwouldhaveattachedeithertomymotherortome……“
　　“Forgiveme，“hemurmured。