Mydarling，——Whenyouholdthisletterinyourhands，Ishallbealreadynear，forIamstartingafewminutesafterit。Weshallbealonetogether。LouisisobligedtoremaininProvencebecauseoftheapproachingelections。Hewantstobeelectedagain，andtheLiberalsarealreadyplottingagainsthisreturn。
　　Idon’tcometocomfortyou；Ionlybringyoumyhearttobeatinsympathywithyours，andhelpyoutobearwithlife。Icometobidyouweep，foronlywithtearscanyoupurchasethejoyofmeetinghimagain。Remember，heistravelingtowardsHeaven，andeverystepforwardwhichyoutakebringsyounearertohim。Everydutydonebreaksalinkinthechainthatkeepsyouapart。
　　Louise，inmyarmsyouwilloncemoreraiseyourheadandgoonyourwaytohim，pure，noble，washedofallthoseerrors，whichhadnorootinyourheart，andbearingwithyoutheharvestofgooddeedswhich，inhisname，youwillaccomplishhere。
　　Iscribblethesehastylinesinallthebustleofpreparation，andinterruptedbythebabiesandbyArmand，whokeepssaying，“Godmother，godmother!Iwanttoseeher，“tillIamalmostjealous。Hemightbeyourchild!
　　SECONDPART
　　THEBARONNEDEMACUMERTOTHECOMTESSEDEL’ESTORADE
　　Yes，Renee，itisquitetrue；youhavebeencorrectlyinformed。Ihavesoldmyhouse，IhavesoldChantepleurs，andthefarmsinSeine-et-
　　Marne，butnomore，please!Iamneithermadnorruined，Iassureyou。
　　Letusgointothematter。Wheneverythingwaswoundup，thereremainedtomeofmypoorMacumer’sfortuneabouttwelvehundredthousandfrancs。Iwillaccount，astoapracticalsister，foreverypennyofthis。
　　IputamillionintheThreeperCentswhentheywereatfifty，andsoIhavegotanincomeformyselfofsixtythousandfrancs，insteadofthethirtythousandwhichthepropertyyielded。Then，onlythinkwhatmylifewas。Sixmonthsoftheyearinthecountry，renewingleases，listeningtothegrumblesofthefarmers，whopaywhenitpleasesthem，andgettingasboredasasportsmaninwetweather。Therewasproducetosell，andIalwayssolditataloss。Then，inParis，myhouserepresentedarentaloftenthousandfrancs；Ihadtoinvestmymoneyatthenotaries；Iwaskeptwaitingfortheinterest，andcouldonlygetthemoneybackbyprosecuting；inadditionIhadtostudythelawofmortgage。Inshort，therewasbusinessinNivernais，inSeine-
　　et-Marne，inParis——andwhataburden，whatanuisance，whatavexingandlosinggameforawidowoftwenty-seven!
　　WhereasnowmyfortuneissecuredontheBudget。InplaceofpayingtaxestotheState，Ireceivefromit，everyhalf-year，inmyownperson，andfreefromcost，thirtythousandfrancsinthirtynotes，handedoverthecountertomebyadapperlittleclerkattheTreasury，whosmileswhenheseesmecoming!
　　Supposingthenationwentbankrupt？Well，tobeginwith：
　　’Tisnotminetoseetroublesofarfrommydoor。
　　Attheworst，too，thenationwouldnotdockmeofmorethanhalfmyincome，soIshouldstillbeaswelloffasbeforemyinvestment，andinthemeantimeIshallbedrawingadoubleincomeuntilthecatastrophearrives。Anationdoesn’tbecomebankruptmorethanonceinacentury，soIshallhaveplentyoftimetoamassalittlecapitaloutofmysavings。
　　Andfinally，isnottheComtedel’EstoradeapeerofthisJulysemi-
　　republic？Ishenotoneofthosepillarsofroyaltyofferedbythe“people“totheKingoftheFrench？HowcanIhavequalmswithafriendatCourt，agreatfinancier，headoftheAuditDepartment？I
　　defyyoutoarraignmysanity!Iamalmostasgoodatsumsasyourcitizenking。
　　Doyouknowwhatinspiresawomanwithallthisarithmetic？Love，mydear!
　　Alas!themomenthascomeforunfoldingtoyouthemysteriesofmyconduct，themotivesofwhichhavebaffledevenyourkeensight，yourpryingaffection，andyoursubtlety。IamtobemarriedinacountryvillagenearParis。Iloveandamloved。Iloveasmuchasawomancanwhoknowslovewell。Iamlovedasmuchasawomanoughttobebythemansheadores。
　　Forgiveme，Renee，forkeepingthisasecretfromyouandfromeveryone。Ifyourfriendevadesallspiesandputscuriosityonafalsetrack，youmustadmitthatmyfeelingforpoorMacumerjustifiedsomedissimulation。Besides，del’Estoradeandyouwouldhavedeafenedmewithremonstrances，andplaguedmetodeathwithyourmisgivings，towhichthefactsmighthavelentsomecolor。Youknow，ifnooneelsedoes，towhatpitchmyjealousycango，andallthiswouldonlyhavebeenuselesstorturetome。Iwasdeterminedtocarryout，onmyownresponsibility，whatyou，Renee，willcallmyinsaneproject，andI
　　wouldtakecounselonlywithmyownheadandheart，foralltheworldlikeaschoolgirlgivingthesliptoherwatchfulparents。
　　ThemanIlovepossessesnothingbutthirtythousandfrancs’worthofdebts，whichIhavepaid。Whatathemeforcommenthere!YouwouldhavetriedtomakeGastonoutanadventurer；yourhusbandwouldhavesetdetectivesonthedearboy。Ipreferredtosifthimformyself。Hehasbeenwooingmenowcloseontwoyears。Iamtwenty-seven，heistwenty-three。Thedifference，Iadmit，ishugewhenitisonthewrongside。Anothersourceoflamentation!
　　Lastly，heisapoet，andhaslivedbyhistrade——thatistosay，onnexttonothing，asyouwillreadilyunderstand。Beingapoet，hehasspentmoretimeweavingday-dreams，andbasking，lizard-like，inthesun，thanscribinginhisdingygarret。Now，practicalpeoplehaveawayoftarringwiththesamebrushofinconstancyauthors，artists，andingeneralallmenwholivebytheirbrains。Theirnimbleandfertilewitlaysthemopentothechargeofalikeagilityinmattersoftheheart。
　　Spiteofthedebts，spiteofthedifferenceinage，spiteofthepoetry，anendistobeplacedinafewdaystoaheroicresistanceofmorethanninemonths，duringwhichhehasnotbeenallowedeventokissmyhand，andsoalsoendstheseasonofoursweet，purelove-
　　making。Thisisnotthemeresurrenderofaraw，ignorant，andcuriousgirl，asitwaseightyearsago；thegiftisdeliberate，andmyloverawaitsitwithsuchloyalpatiencethat，ifIpleased，Icouldpostponethemarriageforayear。Thereisnoservilityinthis；
　　love’sslavehemaybe，buttheheartisnotslavish。NeverhaveI
　　seenamanofnoblerfeeling，oronewhosetendernesswasmorerichinfancy，whoseloveboremoretheimpressofhissoul。Alas!mysweetone，theartofloveishisbyheritage。Afewwordswilltellhisstory。
　　MyfriendhasnoothernamethanMarieGaston。HeistheillegitimatesonofthebeautifulLadyBrandon，whosefamemusthavereachedyou，andwhodiedbroken-hearted，avictimtothevengeanceofLadyDudley——aghastlystoryofwhichthedearboyknowsnothing。MarieGastonwasplacedbyhisbrotherLouisinaboarding-schoolatTours，whereheremainedtill1827。Louis，aftersettlinghisbrotheratschool，sailedafewdayslaterforforeignparts“toseekhisfortune，“tousethewordsofanoldwomanwhohadplayedthepartofProvidencetohim。Thisbrotherturnedsailorusedtowritehim，atlongintervals，lettersquitefatherlyintone，andbreathinganoblespirit；butastrugglinglifeneverallowedhimtoreturnhome。HislastlettertoldMariethathehadbeenappointedCaptaininthenavyofsomeAmericanrepublic，andexhortedhimtohopeforbetterdays。
　　Alas!sincethenthreeyearshavepassed，andmypoorpoethasneverheardagain。Sodearlydidhelovehisbrother，thathewouldhavestartedtolookforhimbutforDanield’Arthez，thewell-knownauthor，whotookagenerousinterestinMarieGaston，andpreventedhimcarryingouthismadimpulse。Norwasthisall；oftenwouldhegivehimacrustandacorner，asthepoetputsitinhisgraphicwords。
　　For，intruth，thepoorladwasinterriblestraits；hewasactuallyinnocentenoughtobelieve——incredibleasitseems——thatgeniuswastheshortestroadtofortune，andfrom1828to1833hisoneaimhasbeentomakeanameforhimselfinletters。Naturallyhislifewasafrightfultissueoftoilandhardships，alternatingbetweenhopeanddespair。Thegoodadviceofd’Arthezcouldnotprevailagainsttheallurementsofambition，andhisdebtswentongrowinglikeasnowball。StillhewasbeginningtocomeintonoticewhenIhappenedtomeethimatMme。d’Espard’s。Atfirstsightheinspiredme，unconsciouslytohimself，withthemostvividsympathy。Howdiditcomeaboutthatthisvirginhearthasbeenleftforme？Thefactisthatmypoetcombinesgeniusandcleverness，passionandpride，andwomenarealwaysafraidofgreatnesswhichhasnoweaksidetoit。HowmanyvictorieswereneededbeforeJosephinecouldseethegreatNapoleoninthelittleBonapartewhomshehadmarried。
　　PoorGastonisinnocentenoughtothinkheknowsthemeasureofmylove!Hesimplyhasnotanideaofit，buttoyouImustmakeitclear；forthisletter，Renee，issomethinginthenatureofalastwillandtestament。WeighwellwhatIamgoingtosay，Ibegofyou。
　　AtthismomentIamconfidentofbeinglovedasperhapsnotanotherwomenonthisearth，norhaveIashadowofdoubtastotheperfecthappinessofourweddedlife，towhichIbringafeelinghithertounknowntome。Yes，forthefirsttimeinmylife，Iknowthedelightofbeingswayedbypassion。Thatwhicheverywomanseeksinlovewillbemineinmarriage。AspoorFelipeonceadoredme，sodoInowadoreGaston。Ihavelostcontrolofmyself，ItremblebeforethisboyastheArabherousedtotremblebeforeme。Inaword，thebalanceofloveisnowonmyside，andthismakesmetimid。Iamfullofthemostabsurdterrors。Iamafraidofbeingdeserted，afraidofbecomingoldanduglywhileGastonstillretainshisyouthandbeauty，afraidofcomingshortofhishopes!
　　AndyetIbelieveIhaveitinme，IbelieveIhavesufficientdevotionandability，notonlytokeepalivetheflameofhisloveinoursolitarylife，farfromtheworld，buteventomakeitburnstrongerandbrighter。IfIammistaken，ifthissplendididylofloveinhidingmustcometoanend——anend!whatamIsaying？——ifIfindGaston’slovelessintenseanydaythanitwastheeveningbefore，besureofthis，Renee，Ishouldvisitmyfailureonlyonmyself；noblameshouldattachtohim。Itellyounowitwouldmeanmydeath。NotevenifIhadchildrencouldIliveontheseterms，forIknowmyself，Renee，Iknowthatmynatureisthelover’sratherthanthemother’s。
　　Thereforebeforetakingthisvowuponmysoul，Iimploreyou，myRenee，ifthisdisasterbefallme，totaketheplaceofmothertomychildren；letthembemylegacytoyou!AllthatIknowofyou，yourblindattachmenttoduty，yourraregifts，yourloveofchildren，youraffectionforme，wouldhelptomakemydeath——Idarenotsayeasy——
　　butatleastlessbitter。
　　ThecompactIhavethusmadewithmyselfaddsavagueterrortothesolemnityofmymarriageceremony。ForthisreasonIwishtohavenoonewhomIknowpresent，anditwillbeperformedinsecret。Letmyheartfailmeifitwill，atleastIshallnotreadanxietyinyourdeareyes，andIaloneshallknowthatthisnewmarriage-contractwhichIsignmaybemydeathwarrant。
　　IshallnotreferagaintothisagreemententeredintobetweenmypresentselfandtheselfIamtobe。Ihaveconfidedittoyouinorderthatyoumightknowthefullextentofyourresponsibilities。InmarryingIretainfullcontrolofmyproperty；andGaston，whileawarethatIhaveenoughtosecureacomfortablelifeforbothofus，isignorantofitsamount。Withintwenty-fourhoursIshalldisposeofitasIplease；andinordertosavehimfromahumiliatingposition，I
　　shallhavestock，bringingintwelvethousandfrancsayear，assignedtohim。Hewillfindthisinhisdeskontheeveofourwedding。Ifhedeclinedtoaccept，Ishouldbreakoffthewholething。Ihadtothreatenarupturetogethispermissiontopayhisdebts。
　　Thislongconfessionhastiredme。Ishallfinishitthedayafterto-morrow；Ihavetospendto-morrowinthecountry。
　　October20th。
　　IwilltellyounowthestepsIhavetakentoinsuresecrecy。Myobjecthasbeentowardoffeverypossibleincitementtomyever-
　　wakefuljealousy，inimitationoftheItalianprincess，who，likealionessrushingonherprey，carrieditofftosomeSwisstowntodevourinpeace。AndIconfidemyplanstoyoubecauseIhaveanotherfavortobeg；namely，thatyouwillrespectoursolitudeandnevercometoseeusuninvited。
　　TwoyearsagoIpurchasedasmallpropertyoverlookingthepondsofVilled’Avray，ontheroadtoVersailles。Itconsistsoftwentyacresofmeadowland，theskirtsofawood，andafinefruitgarden。Belowthemeadowsthelandhasbeenexcavatedsoastomakealakeletofaboutthreeacresinextent，withacharminglittleislandinthemiddle。Thesmallvalleyisshutinbytwograceful，thickly-woodedslopes，whererisedeliciousspringsthatwatermyparkbymeansofchannelscleverlydisposedbymyarchitect。Finally，theyfallintotheroyalponds，glimpsesofwhichcanbeseenhereandthere，gleaminginthedistance。Mylittleparkhasbeenadmirablylaidoutbythearchitect，whohassurroundeditbyhedges，walls，orha-has，accordingtothelieoftheland，sothatnopossiblepointofviewmaybelost。
　　Achalethasbeenbuiltformehalf-wayupthehillside，withacharmingexposure，havingthewoodsoftheRonceoneitherside，andinfrontagrassysloperunningdowntothelake。ExternallythechaletisanexactcopyofthosewhicharesomuchadmiredbytravelersontheroadfromSiontoBrieg，andwhichfascinatedmewhenIwasreturningfromItaly。Theinternaldecorationswillbearcomparisonwiththoseofthemostcelebratedbuildingsofthekind。
　　Ahundredpacesfromthisrusticdwellingstandsacharmingandornamentalhouse，communicatingwithitbyasubterraneanpassage。
　　Thiscontainsthekitchen，andotherservants’rooms，stables，andcoach-houses。Ofallthisseriesofbrickbuildings，thefacadealoneisseen，gracefulinitssimplicity，againstabackgroundofshrubbery。Anotherbuildingservestolodgethegardenersandmaskstheentrancetotheorchardsandkitchen-gardens。
　　Theentrancegatetothepropertyissohiddeninthewalldividingtheparkfromthewoodasalmosttodefydetection。Theplantations，alreadywellgrown，will，intwoorthreeyears，completelyhidethebuildings，sothat，exceptinwinter，whenthetreesarebare，notraceofhabitationwillappeartotheoutsideworld，saveonlythesmokevisiblefromtheneighboringhills。
　　ThesurroundingsofmychalethavebeenmodeledonwhatiscalledtheKing’sGardenatVersailles，butithasanoutlookonmylakeletandisland。Thehillsoneverysidedisplaytheirabundantfoliage——thosesplendidtreesforwhichyournewcivillisthassowellcared。Mygardenershaveorderstocultivatenewsweet-scentedflowerstoanyextent，andnoothers，sothatourhomewillbeafragrantemerald。