Itisspring—timeinVenice。Theoldbalconiesaregaywithflowers；
　　thenightingalesstopsingingtolistentotheserenades。
　　Therearesongstobeheardateverystreetcorner，musicinthewakeofeverygondola。Therearesweetperfumesandlove—sighsintheair。
　　ThedelightsoftheVenetiannightshadneverbeendescribedlikethis。
　　Theharmonyof"thethreeelements，water，skyandmarble，"
　　hadneverbeenbetterexpressed，andthecharmofVenicehadneverbeensuggestedinsosubtleand，penetratingamanner。
　　Thesecondlettertreatstooofthegondoliers，andoftheirhabitsandcustoms。
　　Thethirdletter，tellingusaboutthenobilityandthewomenofVenice，completestheimpression。JustasthePyreneeshadmovedGeorgeSand，soItalynowmovedher。Thiswasafreshacquisitionforherpalette。MorethanoncefromhenceforthVenicewastoserveherforthewonderfulsceneryofherstories。
　　Thisisbynomeansafreshnote，though，inGeorgeSand’swork。
　　Thereisnoessentialdifference，then，inherinspiration。
　　Shehadalwaysbeenimpressionable，buthertastewasnowgettingpurer。Musset，themostromanticofFrenchpoets，hadaneminentlyclassicaltaste。Inthe_LettresdeDupuisetCotonet_，hedefinedromanticismasanabuseofadjectives。
　　HewasofMadamedeLafayette’sopinion，thatawordtakenoutwasworthtwentypennies，andaphrasetakenouttwentyshillings。
　　Inacopyof_Indiana_hecrossedoutalltheuselessepithets。
　　Thismusthavemadeaconsiderabledifferencetothelengthofthebook。
　　GeorgeSandwastoobroad—mindedtobehurtbysuchcriticism，andshewasintelligentenoughtolearnalessonfromit。
　　Musset’stransformationwassingularlydeeper。WhenhestartedforVenice，hewastheyoungestandmostcharmingofpoets，fancifulandfulloffun。"Monsieurmongamind’Alfred，"
　　GeorgeSandcalledhimatthattime。Whenhereturnedfromthere，hewasthesaddestofpoets。Forsometimehewas，asitwere，stunned。Hisverysoulseemedtobeboweddownwithhisgrief。
　　Hewasastonishedatthechangehefeltinhimself，andhedidnotbyanymeanscourtanyfreshinspiration。
　　_J’aivu，letempsoumajeuxesse_
　　_Surmeslevresetaitsanscesse_
　　_Preteachantercommeunoiseau；_
　　_Maisj’aisouffertundurmartyre_
　　_Etlemoinsquej’enpourraisdire_，_Sijelessayaissuralyre_，_Labriseraitcommeunroseau_，hewrites。
　　Inthe_NuitdeMai_，theearliestofthesesongsofdespair，wehavethepoet’ssymbolofthepelicangivingitsentrailsasfoodtoitsstarvingyoung。Theonlysymbolsthatwegetinthispoetryaresymbolsofsadness，andtheseareattimesgiveninmagnificentfulnessofdetail。Wehavesolitudeinthe_Nuitdedecembre_，andthelabourerwhosehousehasbeenburntinthe_LettreaLamartine_。
　　The_Nuitd’aout_givesproofofawildefforttogivelifeanothertrial，butinthe_Auitd’octobre_angergetsthebetterofhimoncemore。
　　_Honteatoi，quilapremiereM’asapprislatrahison……！_
　　ThequestionhasoftenbeenaskedwhetherthepoetrefersheretothewomanhelovedinVenicebutitmatterslittlewhetherhedidornot。
　　Heonlysawherthroughthepersonagewhofromhenceforthsymbolized"woman"tohimandthesufferingwhichshemaycauseaman。Andyet，asthissufferingbecamelessintense，softenedasitwasbytime，hebegantodiscoverthebenefitofit。Hissoulhadexpanded，sothathewasnowincommunionwithallthatisgreatinNatureandinArt。Theharmonyofthesky，thesilenceofnight，themurmurofflowingwater，Petrarch，MichelAngelo，Shakespeare，allappealedtohim。Thedaycamewhenhecouldwrite：
　　_Unsouvenirheureuxestpeut—etresurterrePlusvraiquelebonheur_。
　　Thisistheonlyphilosophyforaconceptionoflifewhichtreatsloveaseverythingforman。Henotonlypardonsnow，butheisgrateful_Jeneveuxriensavoir，nisileschampsfleurissent，Nicequiladviendradi。，simulacrehumain，NisicesvastescieuxeclairerontdemainCequ’ilsensevelissent。heure，encelieu，Jemedisseulement：acetteUnjour，jefusaime，j’aimais，elleetaitbelle，JenfouiscetresordansmonameimmortelleEtjel’emporteaDieu。_
　　Thislovepoem，runningthroughallhewrotefromthe_NuitdeMai_
　　tothe_Souvenir_，isundoubtedlythemostbeautifulandthemostprofoundlyhumanofanythingintheFrenchlanguage。Thecharmingpoethadbecomeagreatpoet。Thatshockhadoccurredwithinhimwhichisfeltbythehumanbeingtotheverydepthsofhissoul，andmakesofhimanewcreature。Itisinthissensethatthetheoryoftheromanticists，withregardtotheeducativevirtuesofsuffering，istrue。Butitisnotonlysufferinginconnectionwithourloveaffairswhichhasthisspecialprivilege。Aftersomemisfortunewhichuproots，asitwere，ourlife，aftersomedisappointmentwhichdestroysourmoraledifice，theworldappearschangedtous。
　　Thewholenetworkofacceptedideasandofconventionalopinionsisbrokenasunder。Wefindourselvesindirectcontactwithreality，andtheshockmakesourtruenaturecometothefront……SuchwasthecrisisthroughwhichMussethadjustpassed。Themancameoutofitcrushedandbruised，butthepoetcamethroughittriumphant。
　　IthasbeeninsistedontoomuchthatGeorgeSandwasonlythereflectionofthemenwhohadapproachedher。InthecaseofMussetitwasthecontrary。Mussetowedhermorethansheowedtohim。
　　Shetransformedhimbytheforceofherstrongindividuality。
　　She，onthecontrary，onlyfoundinMussetachild，andwhatshewasseekingwasadominator。
　　Shethoughtshehaddiscoveredhimthisveryyear1835。
　　Thesixth_Lettred’unvoyageur_wasaddressedtoEverard。
　　ThisEverardwasconsideredbyhertobeasuperiorman。
　　HewassomuchabovetheaverageheightthatGeorgeSandadvisedhimtositdownwhenhewaswithothermen，aswhenstandinghewastoomuchabovethem。ShecompareshimtoAtlascarryingtheworld，andtoHerculesinalion’sskin。Butamongallhercomparisons，whensheisseekingtogivethemeasureofhissuperiority，withouteverreallysucceedinginthis，itisevidentthatthecomparisonsheprefersisthatofMariusatMinturnae。Hepersonifiesvirtuea_l’antique：_heistheRoman。
　　Letusnowconsidertowhomallthisflatterywasaddressed，andwhothisman，worthyofPlutarch’spen，was。HisnamewasMichel，andhewasanadvocateatBourges。Hewasonlythirty—
　　sevenyearsofage，buthelookedsixty。AfterSandeauandMusset，GeorgeSandhadhadenoughof"adolescents。"ShewasverymuchstruckwithMichel，ashelookedlikeanoldman。
　　Thesizeofhiscraniumwasremarkable，or，asshesaidofhiscraniums：
　　"Itseemedasthoughhehadtwocraniums，onejoinedtotheother。"
　　Shewrote："Thesignsofthesuperiorfacultiesofhismindwereasprominentattheprowofthisstrongvesselasthoseofhisgenerousinstinctsatthestern。"[21]Inordertounderstandthisdefinitionofthe"finephysique"byGeorgeSand，wemustrememberthatshewasverymuchtakenupwithphrenologyatthistime。
　　Oneofher_Lettresd’unvoyageur_wasentitledSur_LavateretsuruneMaisondeserte_。InalettertoMadamed’Agoult，GeorgeSandtellsthathergardenergavenoticetoleave，and，onaskinghimhisreason，thesimple—mindedmanreplied："Madamehassuchanuglyheadthatmywife，whoisexpecting，mightdieoffright。"
　　Theheadinquestionwasaskull，ananatomicalonewithcompartmentsallmarkedandnumbered，accordingtothesystemofGallandSpurzheim。
　　In1837，phrenologywasverymuchinfavour。In1910，itishypnotism，sowehavenorighttojudgetheinfatuationofanotherepoch。
　　[21]_Histoiredemavie_。
　　Michel’scraniumwasbald。Hewasshort，slight，hestooped，wasshort—sightedandworeglasses。ItisGeorgeSandwhogivesthesedetailsforhisportrait。Hewasbornofpeasantparents，andwasofJacobinsimplicity。Heworeathick，shapelessinvernessandsabots。Hefeltthecoldverymuch，andusedtoaskpermissiontoputonamufflerindoors。Hewouldthentakethreeorfouroutofhispocketsandputthemonhishead，oneovertheother。
　　Inthe_Lettred’unvoyageur_GeorgeSandmentionsthiscrownonEverard’shead。Sucharetheillusionsoflove。
　　ThefirsttimeshemetMichelwasatBourges。Shewentwithhertwofriends，PapetandFleury，tocallonhimatthehotel。
　　Fromseveno’clockuntilmidnightheneverceasedtalking。Itwasamagnificentnight，andheproposedawalkinthetownatmidnight。
　　Whentheycamebacktohisdoorheinsistedontakingthemhome，andsotheycontinuedwalkingbackwardsandforwardsuntilfourinthemorning。Hemusthavebeenaninveteratechatterertohaveclungtothispublicofthreepersonsatanhourwhenthegreatbuildings，withthemoonthrowingitswhitelightoverthemandeverythingaround，musthavesuggestedthemajestyofsilence。Topeoplewhowereamazedatthisirrepressibleeloquence，Michelansweredingenuously：
　　"Talkingisthinkingaloud。BythinkingaloudinthiswayIadvancemorequicklythanifIthoughtquietlybymyself。"ThiswasNumaRoumestan’sidea。"Asforme，"hesaid，"whenIamnottalking，Iamnotthinking。"Asamatteroffact，Michel，likeNuma，wasanativeofProvence。InParistherewasarepetitionofthisnocturnalandrovingscene。MichelandhisfriendshadcometoastandstillontheSaints—Peresbridge。TheycaughtsightoftheTuilerieslightedupforaball。Michelbecameexcited，and，strikingtheinnocentbridgeanditsparapetwithhisstick，heexclaimed："Itellyouthatifyouaretofreshenandrenewyourcorruptsociety，thisbeautifulriverwillfirsthavetoberedwithblood，thataccursedpalacewillhavetobereducedtoashes，andthehugecityyouarenowlookingatwillhavetobeabarestrandwherethefamilyofthepoormancanusetheploughandbuildacottagehome。"
　　Thiswasafinephraseforapublicmeeting，butperhapstoofineforaconversationbetweenfriendsontheSaints—Peresbridge。
　　Thiswasin1835，atthemostbrilliantmomentofMichel’scareer。
　　ItwaswhenhewastakingpartinthetrialoftheaccusedmenofApril。AftertheinsurrectionsoftheprecedingyearatLyonsandParis，agreattrialhadcommencedbeforetheChamberofPeers。
　　Wearetoldthat："TheRepublicanpartywasdeterminedtomakeuseofthecross—questioningoftheprisonersforaccusingtheGovernmentandforpreachingRepublicanismandSocialism。
　　TheideawastoinviteahundredandfiftynotedRepublicanstoParisfromallpartsofFrance。Intheirqualityofdefenders，theywouldbetheoratorsofthisgreatmanifestation。"
　　Barb’es，Blanqui，Flocon，Marie，Raspail，TrelatandMichelofBourgeswereamongtheseRepublicans。"Onthe11thofMay，therevolutionarynewspaperspublishedamanifestoinwhichthecommitteeforthedefencecongratulatedandencouragedtheaccusedmen。
　　Onehundredandtensignatureswereaffixedtothisdocument，whichwasaforgery。Ithadbeendrawnupbyafewoftheupholdersofthescheme，and，inordertomakeitappearmoreimportant，theyhadaffixedthenamesoftheircolleagueswithouttheirauthorization。
　　Thosewhohaddonethisthentookfright，andattemptedtogetoutofthedangerousadventurebyapublicavowal。Inordertosavethesituation，twooftheguiltyparty，TrelatandMichelofBourges，tooktheresponsibilityofthedrawingupofthemanifestoandtheappositionofthesignaturesuponthemselves。
　　TheyweresentencedbytheCourtofPeers，TrelattofouryearsofprisonandMicheltoamonth。"[22]Thiswasthemostshockinginequality，andMichelcouldnotforgiveTrelatforgettingsuchafinesentence。
　　[22]ThureauDangin，_HistoiredelaMonarchiedeJuillet_，II。297。
　　Whatgoodwasonemonthofprison？Michel’scareercertainlyhadbeenaveryordinaryone。Hehesitatedandtackedabout。
　　Inaword，hewasjustapolitician。GeorgeSandtellsusthathewasobliged"toaccept，intheory，whathecalledthenecessitiesofpurepolitics，ruse，charlatanismandevenuntruth，concessionsthatwerenotsincere，alliancesinwhichhedidnotbelieve，andvainpromises。"Weshouldsaythathewasaradicalopportunist。
　　Tobemerelyanopportunist，though，isnotenoughforensuringsuccess。
　　Therearedifferentwaysofbeinganopportunist。MichelhadbeenelectedaDeputy，buthehadno_role_toplay。In1848，hecouldnotcompetewiththebrilliancyofRaspail，norhadhetheprestigeofFlocon。Hewentintotheshadecompletelyafterthe_coupd’etat_。
　　Foralongtimehehadreallypreferredbusinesstopolitics，andachoicemustbemadewhenoneisnotamemberoftheGovernment。
　　ItiseasytoseewhatcharmedGeorgeSandinMichel。Hewasasectarian，andshetookhimforanapostle。Hewasbrutal，andshethoughthimenergetic。Hehadbeenbadlybroughtup，butshethoughthimsimplyaustere。Hewasatyrant，butsheonlysawinhimamaster。
　　Hehadtoldherthathewouldhaveherguillotinedatthefirstpossibleopportunity。Thiswasanincontestableproofofsuperiority。
　　Shewassincereherself，andwascon—
　　sequentlynotonherguardagainstvainboasting。Hehadalarmedher，andsheadmiredhimforthis，andatonceincarnatedinhimthatstoicalidealofwhichshehadbeendreamingforyearsandhadnotyetbeenabletoattributetoanyoneelse。
　　ThisishowsheexplainedtoMichelherreasonsforlovinghim。
　　"Iloveyou，"shesays，"becausewheneverIfiguretomyselfgrandeur，wisdom，strengthandbeauty，yourimagerisesupbeforeme。
　　Noothermanhaseverexercisedanymoralinfluenceoverme。
　　Mymind，whichhasalwaysbeenwildandunfettered，hasneveracceptedanyguidance……Youcame，andyouhavetaughtme。"
　　Thenagainshesays："ItisyouwhomIlove，whomIhavelovedeversinceIwasborn，andthroughallthephantomsinwhomIthought，foramoment，thatIhadfoundyou。"Accordingtothis，itwasMichelshelovedthroughMusset。Letushopethatshewasmistaken。
　　AwholecorrespondenceexistsbetweenGeorgeSandandMichelofBourges。
　　Partofitwaspublishednotlongagointhe_Revueillustree_underthetitleof_Lettresdelemmze_。NoneofGeorgeSand’sletterssurpasstheseepistlestoMichelforferventpassion，beautyofform，andakindofsuperb_impudeur_。Letustake，forinstance，thiscalltoherbeloved。GeorgeSand，afteranightofwork，complainsoffatigue，hungerandcold："Oh，mylover，"shecries，"appear，and，liketheearthonthereturnoftheMaysunshine，Ishouldbereanimated，andwouldflingoffmyshroudoficeandthrillwithlove。Thewrinklesofsufferingwoulddisappearfrommybrow，andIshouldseembeautifulandyoungtoyou，forIshouldleapwithjoyintoyourironstrongarms。Come，come，andIshallhavestrength，health，youth，gaiety，hope……Iwillgoforthtomeetyoulikethebrideofthesong，`toherwell—beloved。’"
　　TheWell—belovedtowhomthisShulamitewouldhastenwasabald—headedprovinciallawyerwhoworespectaclesandthreemufflers。Butitappearsthathis"beauty，veiledandunintelligibletothevulgar，revealeditself，likethatofJupiterhiddenunderhumanform，tothewomenwhomheloved。"
　　Wemustnotsmileatthesemythologicalcomparisons。GeorgeSandhad，asitwere，restoredforherselfthatconditionofsoultowhichtheancientmythsaredue。Agreatcurrentofnaturalistpoetrycirculatesthroughthesepages。InTheocritusandinRousardtherearecertaindescriptivepassages。ThereisananalogybetweenthemandthatimageofthehorsewhichcarriesGeorgeSandalongonherimpetuouscourse。
　　"Assoonashecatchessightofme，hebeginstopawthegroundandrearimpatiently。Ihavetrainedhimtoclearahundredfathomsasecond。Theskyandthegrounddisappearwhenhebearsmealongunderthoselongvaultsformedbytheapple—treesinblossom……
　　Theleastsoundofmyvoicemakeshimboundlikeaball；thesmallestbirdmakeshimshudderandhurryalonglikeachildwithnoexperience。
　　Heisscarcelyfiveyearsold，andheistimidandrestive。
　　Hisblackcruppershinesinthesunshinelikearaven’swing。"
　　Thisdescriptionhasallthereliefofanantiquefigure。
　　Anothertime，GeorgeSandtellshowshehasseenPhoebusthrowoffherrobeofcloudsandrushalongradiantintothepuresky。
　　Thefollowingdayshewrites："Shewaseatenbytheevilspirits。
　　ThedarkspritesfromErebus，ridingonsombre—lookingclouds，threwthemselvesonher，anditwasinvainthatshestruggled。"
　　WemightcomparethesepassageswithaletterofJuly10，1836，inwhichshetellshowshethrowsherself，alldressedassheis，intotheIndre，andthencontinueshercoursethroughthesunnymeadows，andwithwhatvoluptuousnesssherevelsinallthejoysofprimitivelife，andimaginesherselflivinginthebeautifultimesofancientGreece。TherearedaysandpageswhenGeorgeSand，undertheaffluxofphysicallife，ispagan。Hergeniusthenisthatofthegreenwooddivinities，who，atcertaintimesoftheyear，wereintoxicatedbytheodourofthemeadowsandthesapofthewoods。
　　Ifsomedayweweretohavehercompletecorrespondencegiventous，IshouldnotbesurprisedifmanypeoplepreferredittoherletterstoMusset。Inthefirstplace，itisnotspoiledbythatpreoccupationwhichtheVenicelovershad，ofwritingliterature。
　　Mingledwiththeaccentsofsincerepassion，wedonotfindextraordinaryconceptionsofparadoxicalmetaphysics。ItisNaturewhichspeaksintheseletters，andforthatveryreasontheyarenonethelesssorrowful。They，too，tellusofaveritablemartyrdom。
　　WecaneasilyimaginefromthemthatMichelwascoarse，despotic，faithlessandjealous。Weknow，too，thatmorethanonceGeorgeSandcameverynearlosingallpatiencewithhim，sothatwecansympathizewithherwhenshewrotetoMadamed’AgoultinJuly，1836：
　　"Ihavehad，myfillofgreatmen（excusetheexpression）……
　　IprefertoseethemallinPlutarch，astheywouldnotthencausemeanysufferingonthehumanside。Maytheyallbecarvedinmarbleorcastinbronze，butmayIhearnomoreaboutthem！"_Amen_。
　　WhatdisgustedGeorgeSandwithherMichelwashisvanityandhiscravingforadulation。InJuly，1837，shehadcometotheendofherpatience，asshewrotetoGirerd。Itwasoneofherpeculiaritiestoalwaystakeathirdpersonintoherconfidence。
　　AtthetimeofSandeau，thisthirdpersonwasEmileRegnault；
　　atthetimeofMusset，Sainte—Beuve，andnowitwasGirerd。
　　"Iamtiredoutwithmyowndevotion，andIhavefoughtagainstmypridewithallthestrengthofmylove。Ihavehadnothingbutingratitudeandhardnessasmyrecompense。Ihavefeltmylovedyingawayandmysoulbeingcrushed，butIamcuredatlast……"
　　Ifonlyshehadhadallthissufferingforthesakeofagreatman，butthistimeitwasonlyinimaginarygreatman。
　　Theinfluence，though，thathehadhadoverherthoughtwasreal，andinacertainwaybeneficial。
　　AtthebeginningshewasfarfromsharingMichel’sideas，andforsomeofthemshefeltanaversionwhichamountedtohorror。
　　Thedogmaofabsoluteequalityseemedanabsurditytoher。
　　TheRepublic，orratherthevariousrepublicstheningestation，appearedtoherasortofUtopia，andasshesaweachofherfriendsmaking"hisownlittleRepublic"forhimself，shehadnotmuchfaithinthevirtueofthatformofgovernmentforunitingallFrenchpeople。
　　OnepointshockedheraboveallothersinMichel’stheories。
　　Thispoliticiandidnotlikeartists。JustastheRevolutiondidnotfindchemistsnecessary，heconsideredthattheRepublicdidnotneedwriters，paintersandmusicians。Thesewerealluselessindividuals，andtheRepublicwouldgivethemalittlesurprisebyputtingalabourer’sspadeorashoemaker’sawlintotheirhands。GeorgeSandconsideredthisideanotonlybarbarous，butsilly。
　　Timeworkswonders，forwehaveanindisputableproofthatcertainofhisopinionssoonbecamehers。ThisproofistheRepublicancatechismcontainedinherletterstohersonMaurice，whowasthentwelveyearsofage。HewasattheLyceeHenriIV，inthesameclassastheprincesofOrleans。Itisinterestingtoreadwhathismothersaystohimconcerningthefatherofhisyoungschoolfriends。
　　Inaletter，writteninDecember，1835，shesays："ItiscertainlytruethatLouis—Philippeistheenemyofhumanity……"Nothinglessthanthat！Alittlelater，theenemyofhumanityinvitestheyoungfriendsofhissonMontpensiertohis_chateau_forthecarnivalholiday。
　　Mauriceisallowedtoaccepttheinvitation，ashewishesto，butheistoavoidshowingthatgratitudewhichdestroysindependence。
　　"TheentertainmentsthatMontpensieroffersyouarefavours，"
　　writesthismotheroftheGracchiquitegravely。Ifheisaskedabouthisopinions，thechildistoreplythatheisrathertooyoungtohaveopinionsyet，butnottooyoungtoknowwhatopinionshewillhavewhenheisfreetohavethem。"Youcanreply，"
　　sayshismother，"thatyouareRepublicanbyraceandbynature。"
　　Shethenaddsafewaphorisms。"Princesareournaturalenemies，"
　　shesays；andthenagain："Howevergood—heartedthechildofakingmaybe，heisdestinedtobeatyrant。"Allthisiscertainlyagreatcommotiontomakeaboutherlittlesonacceptingaglassoffruitsyrupandafewcakesatthehouseofaschoolfellow。
　　ButGeorgeSandwasthenunderthedominationof"Robespierreinperson。"
　　MichelhadbroughtGeorgeSandovertorepublicanism。Withoutwishingtoexaggeratetheservicehehadrenderedherbythis，itappearstomethatitcertainlywasone，ifwelookatitinoneway。
　　Rightlyorwrongly，GeorgeSandhadseeninMichelthemanwhodevoteshimselfentirelytoacauseofgeneralinterest。
　　Shehadlearntsomethinginhisschool，andperhapsallthemorethoroughlybecauseitwasinhisschool。Shehadlearntthatloveisinanycaseaselfishpassion。Shehadlearntthatanotherobjectmustbegiventotheforcesofsympathyofagenerousheart，andthatsuchanobjectmaybetheserviceofhumanity，devotiontoanidea。
　　Thiswasaturnintheroad，andledthewriterontoleavethepersonalstylefortheimpersonalstyle。
　　Therewasanotherservice，too，whichMichelhadrenderedtoGeorgeSand。Hehadpleadedforherinherpetitionforseparationfromherhusband，andshehadwonhercase。
　　EversinceGeorgeSandhadtakenbackherindependencein1831，herintercoursewithDudevanthadnotbeendisagreeable。Sheandherhusbandexchangedcordialletters。WhenhecametoParis，hemadenoattempttostaywithhiswife，lestheshouldinconvenienceher。
　　"IshallputupatHippolyte’s，"hesaysinhislettertoher。
　　"Idonotwanttoinconvenienceyouintheleast，nortobeinconveniencedmyself，whichisquitenatural。"Hecertainlywasamostdiscreethusband。WhenshestartedforItaly，hebegshertotakeadvantageofsogoodanopportunityforseeingsuchabeautifulcountry。Hewasalsoahusbandreadytogivegoodadvice。
　　Lateron，heinvitedPagellotospendalittletimeatNohant。
　　Thiswascertainlytheclimaxinthisstrangestory。
　　Duringthemonths，though，thatthehusbandandwifeweretogether，againatNohant，thescenesbeganoncemore。Dudevant’sirritabilitywasincreasedbythefactthathewasalwaysshortofmoney，andthathewasawareofhisowndeplorableshortcomingsasafinancialadministrator。Hehadmadespeculationswhichhadbeendisastrous。
　　Hewasverycredulous，assomanysuspiciouspeopleare，andhehadbeendupedbyaswindlerinanaffairofmaritimearmaments。
　　Hehadhadallthemorefaithinthisenterprisebecauseapictureoftheboathadbeenshownhimonpaper。Hehadspentninetythousandfrancsofthehundredthousandhehadhad，andwasnowlivingonhiswife’sincome。Somethinghadtobedecidedupon。
　　GeorgeSandpaidhisdebtsfirst，andthehusbandandwifethensignedanagreementtotheeffectthattheirrespectivepropertyshouldbeseparated。Dudevantregrettedhavingsignedthisafterwards，anditwastornupafteraviolentscenewhichtookplacebeforewitnessesinOctober，1835。ThepretextofthisscenehadbeenanordergiventoMaurice。Inaseriesofletters，whichhaveneverhithertobeenpublished，GeorgeSandrelatesthevariousincidentsofthisaffair。Wegivesomeofthemoreimportantpassages。
　　Thefollowingletteristoherhalf—brotherHippolyte，whousedtobeCasimir’sdrinkingcompanion。
　　_"ToHippolyteChatiron。_
　　"Myfriend，Iamabouttotellyousomenewswhichwillreachyouindirectly，andthatyouhadbetterhearfirstfromme。
　　Insteadofcarryingoutouragreementpleasantlyandloyally，Casimirisactingwiththemostinsaneanimositytowardsme。
　　Withoutmygivinghimanyreasonforsuchathing，eitherbymyconductormymanneroftreatinghim，heendeavouredtostrikeme。
　　Hewaspreventedbyfivepersons，oneofwhomwasDutheil，andhethenfetchedhisguntoshootme。Asyoucanimagine，hewasnotallowedtodothis。
　　"Onaccountofsuchtreatmentandofhishatred，whichamountstomadness，thereisnosafetyformeinahousetowhichhealwayshastherighttocome。Ihavenoguarantee，excepthisownwillandpleasure，thathewillkeepouragreement，andIcannotremainatthemercyofamanwhobehavessounreasonablyandindelicatelytome。
　　Ihavethereforedecidedtoaskforalegalseparation，andIshallnodoubtobtainthis。CasimirmadethisfrightfulscenetheeveningbeforeleavingforParis。Onhisreturnhere，hefoundthehouseempty，andmestayingatDutheil’s，bypermissionofthePresidentofLaChatre。Healsofoundasummonsawaitinghimonthemantelshelf。
　　Hehadtomakethebestofit，forheknewitwasnouseattemptingtofightagainsttheresultofhisownfolly，andthat，byholdingout，thescandalwouldallfallonhim。Hemadethefollowingstipulations，promisingtoadheretothem。Duthellwasourintermediary。
　　Iamtoallowhimapensionof3，800francs，which，withthe1，200
　　francsincomethathenowhas，willmake5，000francsayearforhim。
　　Ithinkthisisallstraightforward，asIampayingfortheeducationofthetwochildren。Mydaughterwillremainundermyguidance，asIunderstand。Mysonwillremainatthecollegewherehenowisuntilhehasfinishedhiseducation。Duringtheholidayshewillspendamonthwithhisfatherandamonthwithme。Inthisway，therewillbenocontest。DudevantwillreturntoParisverysoon，withoutmakinganyopposition，andtheCourtwillpronouncetheseparationindefault。"[23]
　　[23]CommunicatedbyM。S。Rocheblave。
　　ThefollowingamusingletteronthesamesubjectwaswrittenbyGeorgeSandtoAdolpheDuplombinthe_patois_peculiartoBerry：
　　"DEARHYDROGEN，"YouhavebeenmisinformedaboutwhattookplaceatLaChatre。
　　DuthellneverquarrelledwiththeBaronofNohant—Vic。Thisisthetruestory。Thebarontookitintohisheadtostrikeme。
　　Dutheilobjected。FleuryandPapetalsoobjected。Thebaronwenttosearchforhisguntokilleveryone。Everyonedidnotwanttobekilled，andsothebaronsaid：`Well，that’senoughthen，’
　　andbegantodrinkagain。Thatwashowitallhappened。Noonequarrelledwithhim。ButIhadhadenough。AsIdonotcaretoearnmylivingandthenleave_mysubstance_inthehandsofthe_diable_
　　andbebowedoutofthehouseeveryyear，whilethevillagehussiessleepinmybedsandbringtheirfleasintomyhouse，Ijustsaid：
　　`Iain’tgoingtohaveanymoreofthat，’andIwentandfoundthebigjudgeofLaChatre，andIsays，saysI：`That’showitis。’
　　Andthenhesays，sayshe：`Allright。’Andsoheunmarriedus。
　　AndIamnotsorry。Theysaythatthebaronwillmakeanappeal。
　　Iain’tknowin’。Weshallsee。Ifhedoes，he’llloseeverything。
　　Andthat’sthewholestory。"[24]
　　[24]CommunicatedbyM。CharlesDuplomb。
　　ThecasewaspleadedinMarch，1836，atLaChatre，andinJulyatBourges。TheCourtgrantedtheseparation，andthecareofthechildrenwasattributedtoGeorgeSand。
　　Thiswasnottheendoftheaffair，though。InSeptember，1837，GeorgeSandwaswarnedthatDudevantintendedtogetMauriceawayfromher。ShesentafriendonwhomshecouldcounttotakeherboytoFontainebleau，andthenwentherselftowatchoverhim。
　　Inthemeantime，Dudevant，notfindinghissonatNohant，tookSolangeawaywithhim，inspiteofthechild’stearsandtheresistanceofthegoverness。GeorgeSandgavenoticetothepolice，and，ondiscoveringthatherlittledaughterwassequesteredatGuillery，nearNerac，shewentherselfinapost—chaisetothesub—prefect，acharmingyoungman，whowasnootherthanBaronHauss—
　　mann。Onhearingthestory，hewenthimselfwithher，and，accompaniedbythelieutenantoftheconstabularyandthesheriff’sofficeronhorseback，laidsiegetothehouseatGuilleryinwhichtheyounggirlwasimprisoned。Dudevantbroughthisdaughtertothedoorandhandedherovertohermother，threateningatthesametimetotakeMauricefromherbylegalauthority。
　　Thehusbandandwifethenseparated……delightedwitheachother，accordingtoGeorgeSand。Theyveryrarelymetafterthisaffair。
　　Dudevantcertainlydidnotimpresspeopleveryfavourably。
　　Aftertheseparation，whenmatterswerebeingfinallysettled，heputinaclaimforfifteenpotsofjamandanironfrying—pan。
　　Allthisseemsverypetty。
　　ThefirstuseGeorgeSandmadeofthelibertygrantedtoherbythelaw，in1836，wastostartoffwithMauriceandSolangeforSwitzerlandtojoinherfriendsFranzLisztandtheComtessed’Agoult。GeorgeSandhadmadeLiszt’sacquaintancethroughMusset。
　　Lisztgavemusic—lessonstoAlfred’ssister，Herminie。Hewasbornin1811，sothathewassevenyearsyoungerthanGeorgeSand。
　　Hewastwenty—threeatthetimehefirstmether，andtheirfriendshipwasalwaysplatonc。Theyhadremarkableaffinitiesofnature。
　　Liszthadfirstthoughtofbecomingapriest。Hisreligiousfervourwasgraduallytransformedintoanardentloveofhumanity。
　　Hisearlyeducationhadbeenneglected，andhenowreadeagerly。
　　HeonceaskedMonsieurCremieux，theadvocate，toteachhim"thewholeofFrenchliterature。"Onrelatingthistosomeone，Cremieuxremarked："Greatconfusionseemstoreigninthisyoungman’smind。"Hehadbeenwildlyexcitedduringthemovementof1830，greatlyinfluencedbytheSaint—Simonideas，andwasrousedtoenthusiasmbyLamennals，whohadjustpublishedthe_Parolesd’unCroyant_。
　　AfterreadingLeoneLeoni，hebecameanadmirerofGeorgeSand。
　　LeoneLeoniisatranspositionofManonLescautintotheromanticstyle。
　　AyounggirlnamedJuliettehasbeenseducedbyayoungseigneur，andthendiscoversthatthismanisanabominableswindler。
　　Ifwetrytoimaginealltheinfamousthingsofwhichan_apache_
　　wouldbecapable，whoatthesametimeisdevotedtothewomenofthepavement，wethenhaveLeoneLeoni。Juliette，whoisnaturallyhonestandstraightforward，hasahorrorofalltheatrocitiesandshamefulthingsshesees。Andyet，inspiteofall，shecomesbacktoLeoneLeoni，andcannotloveanyoneelse。
　　Herloveisstrongerthansheis，andherpassionsweepsawayallscruplesandtriumphsoverallscruples。Thedifferencebetweenthenoveloftheeighteenthcentury，whichwassotruetolife，andthislyricalfantasyofthenineteenthcenturyisveryevident。
　　ManonandDesGrieuxalwaysremainedunitedtoeachother，fortheywereofequalvalue。Everythingtookplaceinthelowerdepthsofsociety，andinthemire，asitwere，oftheheart。YouhaveonlytomakeagoodmanofDesGrieux，oravirtuousgirlofManon，anditisallover。
　　ThetransposingofLeoneLeoniisjustthis，andtheromanticismofitdelightedLiszt。
　　Hehadjustgivenafineexampleofapplyingromanticismtolife。
　　Maried’Agoult，_nee_deFlavigny，haddecided，onefineday，toleaveherhusbandanddaughterforthesakeofthepassionthatwaseverythingtoher。SheaccordinglystartedforGeneva，andLisztjoinedherthere。
　　Betweenthesetwowomenafriendshipsprangup，whichwasduerathertoawishtolikeeachotherthantoarealattractionorrealfellow—feeling。TheComtessed’Agoult，withherblueeyes，herslenderfigure，andsomewhatetherealstyle，wasaveritableDiana，anaristocratandasocietywoman。GeorgeSandwasherexactopposite。
　　ButtheComtessed’Agoulthadjust"sacrificedallthevanitiesoftheworldforthesakeofanartist，"sothatshedeservedconsideration。
　　ThestayatGenevawasgayandanimated。The_Piffoels_（GeorgeSandandherchildren）andthe_Fellows_（Lisztandhispupil，HermannCohen）enjoyedscandalizingthewholehotelbytheirBohemianways。Theywentforanexcursiontothefrozenlake。
　　AtLausanneLisztplayedtheorgan。OnreturningtoParisthefriendsdidnotwanttoseparate。InOctober，1836，GeorgeSandtookupherabodeonthefirstflooroftheHoteldeFrance，intheRueLaffitte，andLisztandtheCorntessed’Agoulttookaroomonthefloorabove。Thetrioshared，adrawing—roombetweenthem，butinrealityitbecamemoretheComtessed’Agoult’s_salon_thanGeorgeSand’s。Lamennais，HenriHeine，Mickiewicz，MichelofBourgesandCharlesDidierwereamongtheirvisitors，andwearetoldthatthis_salon_，improvisedinahotelwas"areunionofthe_elite_，overwhichtheComtessed’Agoultpresidedwithexquisitegrace。"
　　Shewasatruesocietywoman，averitablemistressofherhome，oneofthosewhocouldtransformaroominahotel，atravellingcarriage，orevenaprisonintothatexquisitething，sodeartoFrenchpolitesocietyofyore——a_salon_。
　　Amongthe_habitues_ofMadamed’Agoult’s_salon_wasChopin。
　　ThisisanewchapterinGeorgeSand’slife，andalittlelateronweshallbeabletoconsider，asawhole，theimportanceofthisintercoursewithgreatartistsasregardsherintellectualdevelopment。
　　Beforefinishingourstudyofthisepochinherlife，wemustnoticehowmuchGeorgeSand’stalenthaddevelopedandblossomedout。
　　_Mauprat_waspublishedin1837，andisundoubtedlythefirstofher_chefs—d’oeuvre_。Inheruninterruptedliteraryproduction，whichcontinuedregularlyinspiteofandthroughallthestormsofherprivatelife，thereismuchthatisstrangeandsecond—rateandmuchthatisexcellent。_Jacques_isanextraordinarypieceofwork。ItwaswrittenatVenicewhenshewaswithPagello。
　　GeorgeSanddeclaredthatshehadneitherputherselfnorMussetintothisbook。Shewasneverthelessinspiredbytheircase，andshemerelytransposedtheiridealofrenunciation。
　　_Andre_maybeclassedamongthesecond—ratework。Itisthestoryofayoungnoblewhoseducesagirloftheworking—class。ItisasouvenirofBerry，writteninahome—sickmoodwhenGeorgeSandwasatVenice。_Simon_alsobelongstothesecond—ratecategory。
　　TheportraitofMichelofBourgescaneasilybetracedinit。
　　GeorgeSandhadintendeddoingmoreforMichelthanthis。
　　Shecomposedarevolutionarynovelinthreevolumes，inhishonour，entitled：_Engelwaldwiththehighforehead_。
　　Bulozneithercaredfor_Engelwald_norforhishighforehead，andthisnovelwasneverpublished。
　　AccordingtoGeorgeSand，whenshewrote_Mauprat_herideawastherehabilitationofmarriage。"Ihadjustbeenpetitioningforaseparation，"shesays。Ihad，untilthen，beenfightingagainsttheabusesofmarriage，and，asIhadneverdevelopedmyideassufficiently，IhadgiveneveryonethenotionthatI
　　despisedtheessentialprinciplesofit。Onthecontrary，marriagereallyappearedtomeinallthemoralbeautyofthoseprinciples，andinmybookImakemyhero，attheageofeighty，proclaimhisfaithfulnesstotheonlywomanhehaseverloved。"
　　"SheistheonlywomanIhaveeverloved，"saysBernarddeMauprat。
　　"Nootherwomanhaseverattractedmyattentionorbeenembracedbyme。Iamlikethat。WhenIlove，Iloveforever，inthepast，inthepresentandinthefuture。"
　　_Mauprat_，then，accordingtoGeorgeSand，wasanovelwithapurpose，justas_Indiana_was，althoughtheyeachhadanoppositepurpose。
　　Fortunatelyitisnothingofthekind。Thisisoneofthoseexplanationsarrangedafterwards，peculiarsometimestoauthors。
　　Therealityaboutallthisisquitedifferent。
　　InthisbookGeorgeSandhadjustgiventhereinstoherimagination，withoutallowingsociologicalpreoccupationstospoileverything。
　　DuringherexcursionsinBerry，shehadstoppedtogazeattheruinsofanoldfeudalcastle。Weallknowthepowerofsuggestioncontainedinthoseoldstones，andhowwonderfullytheytellstoriesofthepasttheyhavewitnessedtothosepersonswhoknowhowtoquestionthem。
　　Theremembranceofthe_chateau_ofRocheMaupratcametothemindofthenovelist。ShesawitjustasitstoodbeforetheRevolution，afortress，andatthesametimearefugeforthewildlordandhiseightsons，whousedtosallyforthandravagethecountry。
　　InFrenchnarrativeliteraturethereisnothingtosurpassthefirsthundredpagesinwhichGeorgeSandintroducesustotheburgravesofcentralFrance。SheisjustashappywhenshetakesustoPariswithBernarddeMauprat，toParisofthelastdaysoftheold_regime_。Sheintroducesustothesocietywhichshehadlearnttoknowthroughthetraditionsofhergrandmother。
　　ItisnotonlyNature，buthistory，whichsheusesasasettingforherstory。Howcleverly，too，shetreatstheanalysiswhichisthetruesubjectofthebook，thatofeducationthroughlove。
　　WeseetheuntamednatureofBernarddeMaupratgraduallygivingwayundertheinfluenceofthenobleanddeliciousEdmee。
　　Therearetypicalpeasants，too，in_Mauprat_。WehaveMarcasse，themole—catcher，andPatience，thegood—naturedPatience，therusticphilosopher，wellupinEpictetusandinJean—JacquesRousseau，whohasgoneintothewoodstolivehislifeaccordingtothelawsofNatureandtofindthewisdomoftheprimitivedaysoftheworld。
　　Wearetoldthat，duringtheRevolution，Patiencewasasortofintermediarybetweenthe_chateau_andthecottage，andthathehelpedinbringingaboutthereignofequityinhisdistrict。
　　Itistobehopedthiswasso。
　　Inanycase，itisverycertainthatwecomeacrossthisPatienceagaininRussiannovelswithanameendingin_ow_or_ew_。
　　Thisisaproofthatifthepersonageseemssomewhatimpossible，hewasatanyrateoriginal，newandentertaining。
　　WehearpeoplesaythatGeorgeSandisnolongerread。Itistobehopedthat_Mauprat_isstillread，otherwiseourmodernreadersmissoneofthefineststoriesinthehistoryofnovels。This，then，isthepointatwhichwehavearrivedintheevolutionofGeorgeSand’sgenius。Theremaystillbemodificationsinherstyle，andhertalentmaystillberefreshedundervariousinfluences，butwith_Mauprat_shetookherplaceinthefirstrankofgreatstorytellers。}
　　VI
　　ACASEOFMATERNALAFFECTIONINLOVE
　　CHOPIN
　　WehavepassedoverGeorgeSand’sintercoursewithLisztandMadamed’Agoultveryrapidly。OneofBalzac’snovelsgivesusanopportunityofsayingafewmorewordsaboutit。
　　BalzachadbeenintroducedtoGeorgeSandbyJulesSandeau。Atthetimeofherrupturewithhisfriend，Balzachadsidedentirelywithhim。
　　Inthe_Lettresal’Etrangere_，weseetheauthorofthe_Comediehumaine_pouringouthisindignationwiththebluestocking，whowassocruelinherlove，intermswhichwerenotextremelyelegant。
　　Gradually，andwhenheknewmoreabouttheadventure，hisangercooleddown。InMarch，1838，hegaveMadameZulmaCarraudanaccountofavisittoNohant。Hefoundhiscomrade，GeorgeSand，inherdressing—gown，smokingacigarbyherfiresideafterdinner。
　　"Shehadsomeprettyyellowslipperson，ornamentedwithfringe，somefancystockingsandredtrousers。Somuchforthemoralside。
　　Physically，shehaddoubledherchinlikeacanoness。Shehadnotasinglewhitehair，inspiteofallherfearfulmisfortunes；
　　herduskycomplexionhadnotchanged。Herbeautifuleyeswerejustasbright，andshelookedjustasstupidaseverwhenshewasthinking……"
　　ThisisGeorgeSandinherthirty—fifthyear，asshewasatthetimeofthefreshadventureweareabouttorelate。
　　Balzaccontinuesbygivingusafewdetailsaboutthelifeoftheauthoress。Itwasverymuchlikehisown，exceptthatBalzacwenttobedatsixo’clockandgotupatmidnight，andGeorgeSandwenttobedatsixinthemorningandgotupatnoon。
　　Headdsthefollowingremark，whichshowsusthestateofherfeelings：
　　"Sheisnowinaveryquietretreat，andcondemnsbothmarriageandlove，becauseshehashadnothingbutdisappointmentinbothherself。
　　Hermanwasarareone，thatwasreallyall。"
　　Inthecourseoftheirfriendlyconversation，GeorgeSandgavehimthesubjectforanovelwhichitwouldberatherawkwardforhertowrite。Thenovelwastobe_Galeriens_or_Amoursforces_。
　　These"galley—slaves"oflovewereLisztandtheComtessed’Agoult，whohadbeenwithGeorgeSandatChamonix，ParisandNohant。
　　Itwasveryevidentthatshecouldnotwritethenovelherself。
　　Balzacaccordinglywroteit，anditfiguresinthe_ComediehumaineasBeatrix_。BeatrixistheComtessed’Agoult，theinspirer，andLisztisthecomposerConti。
　　"Youhavenoideayetoftheawfulrightsthatalovewhichnolongerexistsgivestoamanoverawoman。Theconvictisalwaysunderthedominationofthecompanionchainedtohim。Iamlost，andmustreturntotheconvictprison，"writesBalzacinthisbook。
　　Then，too，thereisnomistakinghisportraitofBeatrix。
　　Thefairhairthatseemstogivelight，theforeheadwhichlookstransparent，thesweet，charmingface，thelong，wonderfullyshapedneck，and，aboveandbeyondall，thatairofaprincess，inallthiswecaneasilyrecognize"thefair，blue—eyedPeri。"
　　Notcontentwithbringingthisillustriouscoupleintohisnovel，Balzacintroducesothercontemporaries。ClaudeVignon（who，althoughhisspecialworkwascriticism，madeacertainplaceforhimselfinliterature）andGeorgeSandherselfappearinthisbook。
　　SheisFelicitedesTouches，andherpennameisCamilleMaupin。
　　"Camilleisanartist，"wearetold；"shehasgenius，andsheleadsanexceptionallifesuchascouldnotbejudgedinthesamewayasanordinaryexistence。"Someoneaskshowshewritesherbooks，andtheansweris："Justinthesamewayasyoudoyourwoman’swork，yournettingoryourtapestry。"Sheissaidtohavetheintelligenceofanangelandevenmoreheartthantalent。
　　Withherfixed，setgaze，herdarkcomplexionandhermasculineways，sheistheexactantithesisofthefairBeatrix。Sheisconstantlybeingcomparedtothelatter，andisevidentlypreferredtoher。
　　ItisveryevidentfromwhomBalzacgetshisinformation，anditisalsoevidentthatthefriendshipbetweenthetwowomenhascooleddown。
　　ThecauseofthecoolnessbetweenthemwasGeorgeSand’sinfatuationforChopin，whomshehadknownthroughLisztandMadamed’Agoult。GeorgeSandwrotetoLisztfromNohant，inMarch，1837：
　　"TellChopinthatIhopehewillcomewithyou。Mariecannotlivewithouthim，andIadorehim。"InAprilshewrotetoMadamed’Agoult："TellChopinthatIidolizehim。"WedonotknowwhetherMadamed’Agoultgavethemessage，butshecertainlyreplied：
　　"Chopincoughswithinfinitegrace。Heisanirresoluteman。
　　Theonlythingabouthimthatispermanentishiscough。"
　　Thisiscertainlyveryfeminineinitsferociousness。
　　AtthetimewhenhecameintoGeorgeSand’slife，Chopin，thecomposerandvirtuoso，wasthefavouriteofParisian_salons_，thepianistinvogue。Hewasbornin1810，sothathewasthentwenty—sevenyearsofage。Hissuccesswasdue，inthefirstplace，tohismeritsasanartist，andnowhereisanartist’ssuccesssogreatasinParis。Chopin’sdelicatestylewasadmirablysuitedtothedimensionsandtotheatmosphereofa_salon_。[25]
　　[25]AsregardsChopin，IhaveconsultedabiographybyLiszt，astudybyM。CamilleBellaigueandthevolumebyM。EliePoireeinthe_Collectiondesmusicienscelebres_，publishedbyH。Laurens。
　　HeconfessedtoLisztthatacrowdintimidatedhim，thathefeltsuffocatedbyallthequickbreathingandparalyzedbytheinquisitiveeyesturnedonhim。"Youwereintendedforallthis，"
　　headds，"as，ifyoudonotwinoveryourpublic，youcanatleastoverwhelmit。"
　　Chopinwasmademuchoftheninsociety。Hewasfragileanddelicate，andhadalwaysbeenwatchedoverandcaredfor。Hehadgrownupinapeaceful，unitedfamily，inoneofthosesimplehomesinwhichallthedetailsofeverydaylifebecomelessprosaic，thankstoaninnatedistinctionofsentimentandtoreligioushabits。
　　PrinceRadz’willhadwatchedoverChopin’seducation。Hehadbeenreceivedwhenquiteyounginthemostaristocraticcircles，and"themostcelebratedbeautieshadsmiledonhimasayouth。"
　　Sociallife，then，andfeminineinfluencehadthushelpedtomakehimultrarefined。Itwasveryevidenttoeveryonewhomethimthathewasawell—bredman，andthisisquicklyobserved，evenwithpianists。
　　Onarrivinghemadeagoodimpression，hewaswelldressed，hiswhitegloveswereimmaculate。Hewasreservedandsomewhatlanguid。
　　Everyoneknewthathewasdelicate，andtherewasarumourofanunhappyloveaffair。Itwassaidthathehadbeeninlovewithagirl，andthatherfamilyhadrefusedtoconsenttohermarriagewithhim。
　　Peoplesaidhewaslikehisownmusic，thedreamy，melancholythemesseemedtoaccordsowellwiththepaleyoungfaceofthecomposer。
　　Thefascinationofthelanguorwhichseemedtoemanatefromthemanandfromhisworkworkeditsway，inasubtlemanner，intotheheartsofhishearers。ChopindidnotcaretoknowLelia。
　　Hedidnotlikewomenwriters，andhewasratheralarmedatthisone。
　　ItwasLisztwhointroducedthem。InhisbiographyofChopin，hetellsusthattheextremelysensitiveartist，whowassoeasilyalarmed，dreaded"thiswomanaboveallwomen，as，likeapriestessofDelphi，shesaidsomanythingsthattheotherscouldnothavesaid。
　　Heavoidedherandpostponedtheintroduction。MadameSandhadnoideathatshewasfearedasasylph……"Shemadethefirstadvances。Itiseasytoseewhatcharmedherinhim。
　　Inthefirstplace，heappealedtoherashedidtoallwomen，andthen，too，therewastheabsolutecontrastoftheirtwooppositenatures。
　　Shewasallforce，ofanexpansive，exuberantnature。Hewasverydiscreet，reservedandmysterious。ItseemsthatthePolishcharacteristicistolendoneself，butnevertogiveoneselfaway，andoneofChopin’sfriendssaidofhimthathewas"morePolishthanPolanditself。"Suchacontrastmayproveastrongattraction，andthen，too，GeorgeSandwasverysensitivetothecharmofmusic。
　　ButwhatshesawaboveallinChopinwasthetypicalartist，justassheunderstoodtheartist，adreamer，lostintheclouds，incapableofanyactivitythatwaspractical，a"loveroftheimpossible。"
　　Andthen，too，hewasill。WhenMussetleftVenice，afteralltheatrociousnightsshehadspentathisbedside，shewrote："WhomshallIhavenowtolookafterandtend？"InChopinshefoundsomeonetotend。
　　Aboutthistime，shewasanxiousaboutthehealthofhersonMaurice，andshethoughtshewouldtakeherfamilytoMajorca。Thiswasalamentableexcursion，butitseemedsatisfactoryatfirst。
　　TheytravelledbywayofLyons，Avignon，VaucluseandNimes。
　　AtPerpignan，Chopinarrived，"asfreshasarose。""Ourjourney，"
　　wroteGeorgeSand，"seemstobeunderthemostfavourableconditions。"
　　TheythenwentontoBarcelonaandtoPalma。InNovember，1838，GeorgeSandwroteamostenthusiasticletter："Itispoetry，solitude，allthatismostartisticand_chique_onearth。Andwhatskies，whatacountry；wearedelighted。"[26]Thedisenchantmentwassoontobegin，though。Thefirstdifficultywastofindlodgings，andthesecondtogetfurniture。Therewasnowoodtoburnandtherewasnolinentobehad。Ittooktwomonthstohaveapairoftongsmade，anditcosttwenty—eightpoundsatthecustomsforapianotoenterthecountry。Withgreatdifficulty，theforlorntravellersfoundacountry—housebelongingtoamannamedGomez，whichtheywereabletorent。Itwascalledthe"WindyHouse。"
　　Thewinddidnotinconveniencethemliketherain，whichnowcommenced。
　　Chopincouldnotenduretheheatandtheodourofthefires。
　　Hisdiseaseincreased，andthiswastheoriginofthegreattribulationsthatweretofollow。
　　[26]ThefollowingisanunpublishedlettertoMadameBuloz：
　　_Monday13th。_
　　MYDEARCHRISTINE，"IhaveonlybeenatPalmafourdays。Myjourneyhasbeenverysatisfactory，butratherlonganddifficultuntilwewereoutofFrance。Itookupmypen（aspeoplesay）twentytimesovertowritethelastfiveorsixpagesforwhich_Spiridion_hasbeenwaitingforsixmonths。Itisnottheeasiestthingintheworld，Icanassureyou，togivetheconclusionofone’sownreligiousbelief，andwhentravellingitisimpossible。AttwentydifferentplacesIhaveresolvedtothinkitsolemnlyoverandtowritedownmyconclusion。
　　Butthesestoppageswerethemosttiringpartofourjourney。
　　Therewerevisits，dinners，walks，curiosities，ruins，theVauclusefountain，ReboulandtheNimesarena，theBarcelonacathedrals，dinnersonboardthewar—ships，theItaliantheatresofSpain（andwhattheatresandwhatItalians！），guitarsandHeavenknowswhatbeside。TherewasthemoonlightontheseaandaboveallValmaandMallorca，themostdelightfulplaceintheworld，andallthiskeptmeterriblyfarawayfromphilosophyandtheology。
　　FortunatelyIhavefoundsomesuperbconventshereallinruins，withpalm—trees，aloesandthecactusinthemidstofbrokenmosaicsandcrumblingcloisters，andthistakesmebackto_Spiridion_。
　　ForthelastthreedaysIhavehadarageforwork，whichIcannotsatisfyyet，aswehaveneitherfirenorlodging。ThereisnotaninninPalma，nohousetoletandnofurnituretobebought。
　　Onarrivingherepeoplefirsthavetobuysomeground，thenbuild，andafterwardssendforfurniture。Afterthis，permissiontolivesomewherehastobeobtainedfromGovernment，andafterfiveorsixyearsonecanthinkaboutopeningone’strunkandchangingone’schemise，whilstwaitingforpermissionfromtheCustomstohavesomeshoesandhandkerchiefspassed。Forthelastfourdaysthenwehavespentourtimegoingfromdoortodoor，aswedonotwanttosleepintheopenair。Wehopenowtobesettledinaboutthreedays，asamiraclehastakenplace。Forthefirsttimeinthememoryofman，thereisafurnishedhousetoletinMallorca，acharmingcountry—houseinadelightfuldesert……"{Theendoffootnote[26]}
　　AtthattimeSpainwastheverylastcountryinwhichtotravelwithaconsumptivepatient。Inaveryfinelecture，thesubjectofwhichwas_TheFightwithTubcrculosis_，[27]Dr。Landouzyprovestousthateversincethesixteenthcentury，inthedistrictsoftheMediterranean，inSpain，intheBalearicIslesandthroughoutthekingdomofNaples，tuberculosiswasheldtobecontagious，whilsttherestofEuropewasignorantofthiscontagion。
　　Extremelysevereruleshadbeenlaiddownwithregardtothemeasurestobetakenforavoidingthespreadofthisdisease。Aconsumptivepatientwasconsideredasakindofplague—strickenindividual。
　　ChateaubriandhadexperiencedtheinconveniencesofthisscareduringhisstayinRomewithMadamedeBeaumont，whodiedthereofconsumption，atthebeginningofthewinterof1803。
　　GeorgeSand，inherturn，wastohaveasimilarexperience。
　　WhenChopinwasconvictedofconsumption，"which，"asshewrites，"wasequivalenttotheplague，accordingtotheSpanishdoctors，withtheirforegoneconclusionsaboutcontagion，"theirlandlordsimplyturnedthemoutofhishouse。TheytookrefugeintheChartreusemonasteryofValdemosa，wheretheylivedinacell。Thesitewasverybeautiful。Byawoodedslopeaterracecouldbereached，fromwhichtherewasaviewoftheseaontwosides。
　　[27]L。LandouzyoftheAcademyofMedecine，_LaLuttecontrelatuberculose_，publishedbyL。Maretheux。
　　"Weareplantedbetweenheavenandearth，"wroteGeorgeSand。
　　"Thecloudscrossourgardenattheirownwillandpleasure，andtheeaglesclamouroverourheads。"
　　Acellinthismonasterywascomposedofthreerooms：theoneinthemiddlewasintendedforreading，prayerandmeditation，theothertwowerethebedroomandtheworkshop。Allthreeroomslookedontoagarden。Reading，restandmanuallabourmadeupthelifeofthesemen。Theylivedinalimitedspacecertainly，buttheviewstretchedoutinfinitely，andprayerwentupdirecttoGod。
　　Amongtheruinedbuildingsoftheenormousmonasterytherewasacloisterstillstanding，throughwhichthewindhowleddesperately。
　　Itwaslikethesceneryinthenuns’actin_RobertleDiable_。
　　Allthismadetheoldmonasterythemostromanticplaceintheworld。[28]
　　[28]GeorgeSandtoMadameBuloz。Postscripttotheletteralreadyquoted：
　　"IamleavingforthecountrywhereIhaveafurnishedhousewithagarden，magnificentlysituatedfor50francsamonth。
　　Ihavealsotakenacell，thatisthreeroomsandagardenfor35
　　francsayearintheChartreuseofValdemosa，amagnificent，immensemonasteryquitelonelyinthemidstofmountains。
　　Ourgardenisfulloforangesandlemons。Thetreesbreakunderthem。Wehavehedgesofcactustwentytothirtyfeethigh，theseaisaboutamileandahalfaway。Wehaveadonkeytotakeustothetown，roadsinaccessibletovisitors，immensecloistersandthemostbeautifularchitecture，acharmingchurch，acemeterywithapalm—treeandastonecrossliketheoneinthethirdactof_RobertleDiable_。Then，too，therearebedsofshrubscutinform。Allthiswehavetoourselveswithanoldwomantowaitonus，andthesacristanwhoiswarder，steward，majordomoandJack—of—all—trades。Ihopeweshallhaveghosts。Thedoorofmycellleadsintoanenormouscloister，andwhenthewindslamsthedooritislikeacannongoingoffthroughallthemonastery。
　　Iamdelightedwitheverything，andfancyIshallbemoreofteninthecellthaninthecountry—house，whichisaboutsixmilesaway。
　　YouseethatIhaveplentyofpoetryandsolitude，sothatifI
　　donotworkIshallbeastupidthing。"{Theendoffootnote[28]}
　　Theonlydrawbackwasthatitwasmostdifficulttolivethere。