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。