Heisahandsomeyoungfellow，butmelancholy，andgiventomoods。I
　　havedivinedhissecret，thoughneithertheDukenorDuchesshasaninklingofit。Inspiteofhisyouthandhistitle，heisjealousofhisfather。HehasnopositionintheState，nopostatCourt，heneverhastosay，“IamgoingtotheChamber。“Ialoneinthehousehavesixteenhoursformeditation。Myfatherisabsorbedinpublicbusinessandhisownamusements；mymother，too，isneveratleisure；
　　nomemberofthehouseholdpractisesself-examination，theyareconstantlyincompany，andhavehardlytimetolive。
　　Ishouldimmenselyliketoknowwhatisthepotentcharmwieldedbysocietytokeeppeopleprisonerfromnineeveryeveningtilltwoorthreeinthemorning，andforcethemtobesolavishalikeofstrengthandmoney。WhenIlongedforit，Ihadnoideaoftheseparationsitbroughtabout，oritsovermasteringspell。But，then，Iforget，itisPariswhichdoesitall。
　　Itispossible，itseems，formembersofonefamilytolivesidebysideandknowabsolutelynothingofeachother。Ahalf-fledgednunarrives，andinacoupleofweekshasgraspeddomesticdetails，ofwhichthemasterdiplomatistattheheadofthehouseisquiteignorant。Orperhapshe/does/see，andshutshiseyesdeliberately，aspartofthefather’s/role/。ThereisamysteryherewhichImustplumb。
　　Yesterday，attwoo’clock，IwenttodriveintheChamps-ElyseesandtheBoisdeBoulogne。ItwasoneofthoseautumndayswhichweusedtofindsobeautifulonthebanksoftheLoire。SoIhaveseenParisatlast!ThePlaceLouisXV。iscertainlyveryfine，butthebeautyisthatofman’shandiwork。
　　Iwasdressedtoperfection，pensive，withsetfacethoughinwardlymuchtemptedtolaugh，underalovelyhat，myarmscrossed。Wouldyoubelieveit？Notasinglesmilewasthrownatme，notonepooryouthwasstruckmotionlessasIpassed，notasoulturnedtolookagain；
　　andyetthecarriageproceededwithadeliberationworthyofmypose。
　　No，Iamwrong，therewasone——aduke，andacharmingman——whosuddenlyreinedinaswewentby。Theindividualwhothussavedappearancesformewasmyfather，andheproclaimedhimselfhighlygratifiedbywhathesaw。Imetmymotheralso，whosentmeabutterflykissfromthetipsofherfingers。TheworthyGriffith，whofearsnoman，castherglanceshitherandthitherwithoutdiscrimination。Inmyjudgment，ayoungwomanshouldalwaysknowexactlywhathereyeisrestingon。
　　Iwasmadwithrage。Onemanactuallyinspectedmycarriagewithoutnoticingme。Thisflatteringhomageprobablycamefromacarriage-
　　maker。Ihavebeenquiteoutinthereckoningofmyforces。Plainly，beauty，thatraregiftwhichcomesfromheaven，iscommonerinParisthanIthought。Isawhatsdoffedwithdeferencetosimperingfools；apurplefacecalledforthmurmursof，“Itisshe!“Mymotherreceivedanimmenseamountofadmiration。Thereisananswertothisproblem，andImeantofindit。
　　Themen，mydear，seemedtomegenerallyveryugly。Theveryfewexceptionsarebadcopiesofus。Heavenknowswhatevilgeniushasinspiredtheircostume；itisamazinglyinelegantcomparedwiththoseofformergenerations。Ithasnodistinction，nobeautyofcolororromance；itappealsneithertothesenses，northemind，northeeye，anditmustbeveryuncomfortable。Itismeagreandstunted。Thehat，aboveall，struckme；itisasortoftruncatedcolumn，anddoesnotadaptitselfintheleasttotheshapeofthehead；butIamtolditiseasiertobringaboutarevolutionthantoinventagracefulhat。
　　CourageinParisrecoilsbeforethethoughtofappearinginaroundfelt；andforlackofoneday’sdaring，menstickalltheirlivestothisridiculousheadpiece。AndyetFrenchmenaresaidtobefickle!
　　Themenarehideousanyway，whatevertheyputontheirheads。Ihaveseennothingbutworn，hardfaces，withnocalmnorpeaceintheexpression；theharshlinesandfurrowsspeakoffoiledambitionandsmartingvanity。Afineforeheadisrarelyseen。
　　“AndthesearetheproductofParis!“IsaidtoMissGriffith。
　　“Mostcultivatedandpleasantmen，“shereplied。
　　Iwassilent。Theheartofaspinsterofthirty-sixisawelloftolerance。
　　IntheeveningIwenttotheball，whereIkeptclosetomymother’sside。Shegavemeherarmwithadevotionwhichdidnotmissitsreward。Allthehonorswereforher；Iwasmadethepretextforcharmingcompliments。Shewascleverenoughtofindmefoolsformypartners，whooneandallexpatiatedontheheatandthebeautyoftheball，tillyoumightsupposeIwasfreezingandblind。Notonefailedtoenlargeonthestrange，unheard-of，extraordinary，odd，remarkablefact——thathesawmeforthefirsttime。
　　Mydress，whichdazzledmeasIparadedaloneinmywhite-and-golddrawing-room，wasbarelynoticeableamidstthegorgeousfineryofmostofthemarriedwomen。Eachhadherbandoffaithfulfollowers，andtheyallwatchedeachotheraskance。Afewwereradiantintriumphantbeauty，andamongstthesewasmymother。Agirlataballisameredancing-machine——athingofnoconsequencewhatever。
　　Themen，withrareexceptions，didnotimpressmemorefavorablyherethanattheChamps-Elysees。Theyhaveaused-uplook；theirfeaturesaremeaningless，orrathertheyhaveallthesamemeaning。Theproud，stalwartbearingwhichwefindintheportraitsofourancestors——menwhojoinedmoraltophysicalvigor——hasdisappeared。Yetinthisgatheringtherewasonemanofremarkableability，whostoodoutfromtherestbythebeautyofhisface。ButevenhedidnotrouseinmethefeelingwhichIshouldhaveexpected。Idonotknowhisworks，andheisamanofnofamily。Whateverthegeniusandthemeritsofaplebeianoracommoner，hecouldneverstirmyblood。Besides，thismanwasobviouslysomuchmoretakenupwithhimselfthanwithanybodyelse，thatIcouldnotbutthinkthesegreatbrain-workersmustlookonusasthingsratherthanpersons。Whenmenofintellectualpowerlove，theyoughttogiveupwriting，otherwisetheirloveisnottherealthing。Theladyoftheirheartdoesnotcomefirstinalltheirthoughts。IseemedtoreadallthisinthebearingofthemanIspeakof。Iamtoldheisaprofessor，orator，andauthor，whoseambitionmakeshimtheslaveofeverybigwig。
　　Mymindwasmadeuponthespot。Itwasunworthyofme，Idetermined，toquarrelwithsocietyfornotbeingimpressedbymymerits，andI
　　gavemyselfuptothesimplepleasureofdancing，whichIthoroughlyenjoyed。IheardagreatdealofineptgossipaboutpeopleofwhomI
　　knownothing；butperhapsitismyignoranceonmanysubjectswhichpreventsmefromappreciatingit，asIsawthatmostmenandwomentookalivelypleasureincertainremarks，whetherfallingfromtheirownlipsorthoseofothers。Societybristleswithenigmaswhichlookhardtosolve。Itisaperfectmazeofintrigue。YetIamfairlyquickofsightandhearing，andastomywits，Mlle。deMaucombedoesnotneedtobetold!
　　Ireturnedhometiredwithapleasantsortoftiredness，andinallinnocencebegandescribingmysensationstomymother，whowaswithme。ShecheckedmewiththewarningthatImustneversaysuchthingstoanyonebuther。
　　“Mydearchild，“sheadded，“itneedsasmuchtacttoknowwhentobesilentaswhentospeak。“
　　Thisadvicebroughthometomethenatureofthesensationswhichoughttobeconcealedfromeveryone，notexceptingperhapsevenamother。AtaglanceImeasuredthevastfieldoffeminineduplicity。I
　　canassureyou，sweetheart，thatwe，inourunabashedsimplicity，wouldpassfortwoverywide-awakelittlescandal-mongers。Whatlessonsmaybeconveyedinafingeronthelips，inaword，alook!
　　AllinamomentIwasseizedwithexcessiveshyness。What!mayIneveragainspeakofthenaturalpleasureIfeelintheexerciseofdancing？
　　“Howthen，“Isaidtomyself，“aboutthedeeperfeelings？“
　　Iwenttobedsorrowful，andIstillsufferfromtheshockproducedbythisfirstcollisionofmyfrank，joyousnaturewiththeharshlawsofsociety。Alreadythehighwayhedgesarefleckedwithmywhitewool!
　　Farewell，beloved。
　　RENEEDEMAUCOMBETOLOUISEDECHAULIEU
　　October。
　　Howdeeplyyourlettermovedme；aboveall，whenIcompareourwidelydifferentdestinies!Howbrilliantistheworldyouareentering，howpeacefultheretreatwhereIshallendmymodestcareer!
　　IntheCastleofMaucombe，whichissowellknowntoyoubydescriptionthatIshallsaynomoreofit，IfoundmyroomalmostexactlyasIleftit；onlynowIcanenjoythesplendidviewitgivesoftheGemenosvalley，whichmychildisheyesusedtoseewithoutcomprehending。Afortnightaftermyarrival，myfatherandmothertookme，alongwithmytwobrothers，todinewithoneofourneighbors，M。
　　del’Estorade，anoldgentlemanofgoodfamily，whohasmadehimselfrich，aftertheprovincialfashion，byscrapingandparing。
　　M。del’EstoradewasunabletosavehisonlysonfromtheclutchesofBonaparte；aftersuccessfullyeludingtheconscription，hewasforcedtosendhimtothearmyin1813，tojointheEmperor’sbodyguard。
　　AfterLeipsicnomorewasheardofhim。M。deMontriveau，whomthefatherinterviewedin1814，declaredthathehadseenhimtakenbytheRussians。Mme。del’EstoradediedofgriefwhilstavainsearchwasbeingmadeinRussia。TheBaron，averypiousoldman，practisedthatfinetheologicalvirtuewhichweusedtocultivateatBlois——Hope!
　　Hopemadehimseehissonindreams。Hehoardedhisincomeforhim，andguardedcarefullytheportionofinheritancewhichfelltohimfromthefamilyofthelateMme。del’Estorade，nooneventuringtoridiculetheoldman。
　　Atlastitdawneduponmethattheunexpectedreturnofthissonwasthecauseofmyown。Whocouldhaveimagined，whilstfancywasleadingusagiddydance，thatmydestinedhusbandwasslowlytravelingonfootthroughRussia，Poland，andGermany？HisbadluckonlyforsookhimatBerlin，wheretheFrenchMinisterhelpedhisreturntohisnativecountry。M。del’Estorade，thefather，whoisasmalllandedproprietorinProvence，withanincomeofabouttenthousandlivres，hasnotsufficientEuropeanfametointeresttheworldinthewanderingKnightdel’Estorade，whosenamesmacksofhisadventures。
　　TheaccumulatedincomeoftwelvethousandlivresfromthepropertyofMme。del’Estorade，withtheadditionofthefather’ssavings，providesthepoorguardofhonorwithsomethingliketwohundredandfiftythousandlivres，notcountinghouseandlands——quiteaconsiderablefortuneinProvence。Hisworthyfatherhadbought，ontheveryeveoftheChevalier’sreturn，afinebutbadly-managedestate，wherehedesignstoplanttenthousandmulberry-trees，raisedinhisnurserywithaspecialviewtothisacquisition。TheBaron，havingfoundhislong-lostson，hasnowbutonethought，tomarryhim，andmarryhimtoagirlofgoodfamily。
　　Myfatherandmotherenteredintotheirneighbor’sideawithaneyetomyinterestssosoonastheydiscoveredthatReneedeMaucombewouldbeacceptablewithoutadowry，andthatthemoneythesaidReneeoughttoinheritfromherparentswouldbedulyacknowledgedashersinthecontract。Inasimilarway，myyoungerbrother，JeandeMaucombe，assoonashecameofage，signedadocumentstatingthathehadreceivedfromhisparentsanadvanceupontheestateequalinamounttoone-
　　thirdofwhole。ThisisthedevicebywhichthenoblesofProvenceeludetheinfamousCivilCodeofM。deBonaparte，acodewhichwilldriveasmanygirlsofgoodfamilyintoconventsasitwillfindhusbandsfor。TheFrenchnobility，fromthelittleIhavebeenabletogather，seemtobedividedonthesematters。
　　Thedinner，darling，wasafirstmeetingbetweenyoursweetheartandtheexile。TheComtedeMaucombe’sservantsdonnedtheiroldlacedliveriesandhats，thecoachmanhisgreattop-boots；wesatfiveintheantiquatedcarriage，andarrivedinstateabouttwoo’clock——thedinnerwasforthree——atthegrange，whichisthedwellingoftheBarondel’Estorade。
　　Myfather-in-lawtobehas，yousee，nocastle，onlyasimplecountryhouse，standingbeneathoneofourhills，attheentranceofthatnoblevalley，theprideofwhichisundoubtedlytheCastleofMaucombe。Thebuildingisquiteunpretentious：fourpebblewallscoveredwithayellowishwash，androofedwithhollowtilesofagoodred，constitutethegrange。Theraftersbendundertheweightofthisbrick-kiln。Thewindows，insertedcasually，withoutanyattemptatsymmetry，haveenormousshutters，paintedyellow。ThegardeninwhichitstandsisaProvencalgarden，enclosedbylowwalls，builtofbigroundpebblessetinlayers，alternatelyslopingorupright，accordingtotheartistictasteofthemason，whichfindshereitsonlyoutlet。
　　Themudinwhichtheyaresetisfallingawayinplaces。
　　Thankstoanironrailingattheentrancefacingtheroad，thissimplefarmhasacertainairofbeingacountry-seat。Therailing，longsoughtwithtears，issoemaciatedthatitrecalledSisterAngeliquetome。Aflightofstonestepsleadstothedoor，whichisprotectedbyapent-houseroof，suchasnopeasantontheLoirewouldtolerateforhiscoquettishwhitestonehouse，withitsblueroof，glitteringinthesun。Thegardenandsurroundingwalksarehorriblydusty，andthetreesseemburntup。ItiseasytoseethatforyearstheBaron’slifehasbeenamererisingupandgoingtobedagain，dayafterday，withoutathoughtbeyondthatofpilingupcoppers。Heeatsthesamefoodashistwoservants，aProvencalladandtheoldwomanwhousedtowaitonhiswife。Theroomsarescantilyfurnished。
　　Nevertheless，thehouseofl’Estoradehaddoneitsbest；thecupboardshadbeenransacked，anditslastmanbeatenupforthedinner，whichwasservedtousonoldsilverdishes，blackenedandbattered。Theexile，mydarlingpet，isliketherailing，emaciated!Heispaleandsilent，andbearstracesofsuffering。Atthirty-sevenhemightbefifty。Theoncebeautifulebonlocksofyoutharestreakedwithwhitelikealark’swing。Hisfineblueeyesarecavernous；heisalittledeaf，whichsuggeststheKnightoftheSorrowfulCountenance。
　　Spiteofallthis，IhavegraciouslyconsentedtobecomeMme。del’Estoradeandtoreceiveadowryoftwohundredandfiftythousandlivres，butonlyontheexpressconditionofbeingallowedtoworkmywilluponthegrangeandmakeaparkthere。Ihavedemandedfrommyfather，insetterms，agrantofwater，whichcanbebroughtthitherfromMaucombe。InamonthIshallbeMme。del’Estorade；for，dear，I
　　havemadeagoodimpression。AfterthesnowsofSiberiaamanisreadyenoughtoseemeritinthoseblackeyes，whichaccordingtoyou，usedtoripenfruitwithalook。Louisdel’Estoradeseemswellcontenttomarrythe/fairReneedeMaucombe/——suchisyourfriend’ssplendidtitle。
　　Whilstyouarepreparingtoreapthejoysofthatmany-sidedexistencewhichawaitsayoungladyoftheChaulieufamily，andtoqueenitinParis，yourpoorlittlesweetheart，Renee，thatchildofthedesert，hasfallenfromtheempyrean，whithertogetherwehadsoared，intothevulgarrealitiesofalifeashomelyasadaisy’s。Ihavevowedtomyselftocomfortthisyoungman，whohasneverknownyouth，butpassedstraightfromhismother’sarmstotheembraceofwar，andfromthejoysofhiscountryhometothefrostsandforcedlaborofSiberia。