theyhavemanydefects。Somearefrivolous，heedless，foppish，ambitious，dissipated;and，believeme，nomatterhowimposinginnocencemaybe，howchivalrousapoetis，youwillmeetwithmanyadegeneratetroubadourinParisreadytocultivateyouraffectiononlytobetrayit。Bysuchamanyourletterwouldbeinterpretedotherwisethanitisbyme。Hewouldseeathoughtthatisnotinit，whichyou，inyourinnocence，havenotsuspected。Thereareasmanynaturesastherearewriters。Iamdeeplyflatteredthatyouhavejudgedmecapableofunderstandingyou;buthadyou，perchance，fallenuponahypocrite，ascoffer，onewhosebooksmaybemelancholybutwhoselifeisaperpetualcarnival，youwouldhavefoundastheresultofyourgenerousimprudenceanevil—mindedman，thefrequenterofgreen—rooms，perhapsaheroofsomegayresort。Inthebowerofclematiswhereyoudreamofpoets，canyousmelltheodorofthecigarwhichdrivesallpoetryfromthemanuscript？
Butletuslookstillfurther。Howcouldthedreamy，solitarylifeyoulead，doubtlessbythesea—shore，interestapoet，whosemissionitistoimagineall，andtopaintall？Whatrealitycanequalimagination？TheyounggirlsofthepoetsaresoidealthatnolivingdaughterofEvecancompetewiththem。Andnowtellme，whatwillyougain，——you，ayounggirl，broughtuptobethevirtuousmotherofafamily，——ifyoulearntocomprehendtheterribleagitationsofapoet’slifeinthisdreadfulcapital，whichmaybedefinedbyonesentence，——thehellinwhichmenlove。
Ifthedesiretobrightenthemonotonousexistenceofayounggirlthirstingforknowledgehasledyoutotakeyourpeninhandandwritetome，hasnotthestepitselftheappearanceofdegradation？WhatmeaningamItogivetoyourletter？Areyouoneofarejectedcaste，anddoyouseekafriendfarawayfromyou？
Or，areyouafflictedwithpersonalugliness，yetfeelingwithinyouanoblesoulwhichcangiveandreceiveaconfidence？Alas，alas，theconclusiontobedrawnisgrievous。Youhavesaidtoomuch，ortoolittle;youhavegonetoofar，ornotfarenough。
Eitherletusdropthiscorrespondence，or，ifyoucontinueit，tellmemorethanintheletteryouhavenowwrittenme。
But，mademoiselle，ifyouareyoung，ifyouarebeautiful，ifyouhaveahome，afamily，ifinyourheartyouhavethepreciousointment，thespikenard，topourout，asdidMagdaleneonthefeetofJesus，letyourselfbewonbyamanworthyofyou;becomewhateverypureyounggirlshouldbe，——agoodwoman，thevirtuousmotherofafamily。Apoetisthesaddestconquestthatagirlcanmake;heisfullofvanity，fullofanglesthatwillsharplywoundawoman’sproperpride，andkillatendernesswhichhasnoexperienceoflife。Thewifeofapoetshouldlovehimlongbeforeshemarrieshim;shemusttrainherselftothecharityofangels，totheirforbearance，toallthevirtuesofmotherhood。Suchqualities，mademoiselle，arebutgermsinayounggirl。
Hearthewholetruth，——doInotoweittoyouinreturnforyourintoxicatingflattery？Ifitisagloriousthingtomarryagreatrenown，rememberalsothatyoumustsoondiscoverasuperiormantobe，inallthatmakesaman，likeothermen。Hethereforepoorlyrealizesthehopesthatattachtohimasaphoenix。Hebecomeslikeawomanwhosebeautyisover—praised，andofwhomwesay:\"Ithoughtherfarmorelovely。\"ShehasnotwarrantedtheportraitpaintedbythefairytowhomIoweyourletter，——thefairywhosenameisImagination。
Believeme，thequalitiesofthemindliveandthriveonlyinasphereinvisible，notindailylife;thewifeofapoetbearstheburden;sheseesthejewelsmanufactured，butsheneverwearsthem。Ifthegloryofthepositionfascinatesyou，hearmenowwhenItellyouthatitspleasuresaresoonatanend。Youwillsufferwhenyoufindsomanyasperitiesinanaturewhich，fromadistance，youthoughtequable，andsuchcoldnessattheshiningsummit。Moreover，aswomenneversettheirfeetwithintheworldofrealdifficulties，theyceasetoappreciatewhattheyonceadmiredassoonastheythinktheyseetheinnermechanismofit。
Iclosewithalastthought，inwhichthereisnodisguisedentreaty;itisthecounselofafriend。Theexchangeofsoulscantakeplaceonlybetweenpersonswhoareresolvedtohidenothingfromeachother。Wouldyoushowyourselfforsuchasyouaretoanunknownman？Idarenotfollowouttheconsequencesofthatidea。
Deigntoaccept，mademoiselle，thehomagewhichweowetoallwomen，eventhosewhoaredisguisedandmasked。
Sothiswasthelettershehadwornbetweenherfleshandhercorsetaboveherpalpitatingheartthroughoutonewholeday！Forthisshehadpostponedthereadinguntilthemidnighthourwhenthehouseholdslept，waitingforthesolemnsilencewiththeeageranxietyofanimaginationonfire！Forthisshehadblessedthepoetbyanticipation，readingathousandletterseresheopenedone，——fancyingallthings，exceptthisdropofcoldwaterfallinguponthevaporousformsofherillusion，anddissolvingthemasprussicaciddissolveslife。Whatcouldshedobuthideherselfinherbed，blowouthercandle，buryherfaceinthesheetsandweep？
AllthishappenedduringthefirstdaysofJuly。ButModestepresentlygotup，walkedacrosstheroomandopenedthewindow。Shewantedair。
Thefragranceoftheflowerscametoherwiththepeculiarfreshnessoftheodorsofthenight。Thesea，lightedbythemoon，sparkledlikeamirror。Anightingalewassinginginatree。\"Ah，thereisthepoet！\"thoughtModeste，whoseangersubsidedatonce。Bitterreflectionschasedeachotherthroughhermind。Shewascuttothequick;shewishedtore—readtheletter，andlitacandle;shestudiedthesentencessocarefullystudiedwhenwritten;andendedbyhearingthewheezingvoiceoftheouterworld。
\"Heisright，andIamwrong，\"shesaidtoherself。\"ButwhocouldeverbelievethatunderthestarrymantleofapoetIshouldfindnothingbutoneofMoliere’soldmen？\"
Whenawomanoryounggirlistakenintheact，\"flagrantedelicto，\"
sheconceivesadeadlyhatredtothewitness，theauthor，ortheobjectofherfault。Andsothetrue，thesingle—minded，theuntamedanduntamableModesteconceivedwithinhersoulanunquenchabledesiretogetthebetterofthatrighteousspirit，todrivehimintosomefatalinconsistency，andsoreturnhimblowforblow。Thisgirl，thischild，aswemaycallher，sopure，whoseheadalonehadbeenmisguided，——partlybyherreading，partlybyhersister’ssorrows，andmoreperhapsbythedangerousmeditationsofhersolitarylife，——wassuddenlycaughtbyarayofsunshineflickeringacrossherface。ShehadbeenstandingforthreehoursontheshoresofthevastseaofDoubt。Nightsliketheseareneverforgotten。ModestewalkedstraighttoherlittleChinesetable，agiftfromherfather，andwrotealetterdictatedbytheinfernalspiritofvengeancewhichpalpitatesintheheartsofyounggirls。
CHAPTERVIII
BLADETOBLADE
ToMonsieurdeCanalis:
Monsieur，——Youarecertainlyagreatpoet，andyouaresomethingmore，——anhonestman。Aftershowingsuchloyalfranknesstoayounggirlwhowassteppingtothevergeofanabyss，haveyouenoughlefttoanswerwithouthypocrisyorevasionthefollowingquestion？
WouldyouhavewrittentheletterInowholdinanswertomine，——
wouldyourideas，yourlanguagehavebeenthesame，——hadsomeonewhisperedinyourear（whatmayprovetrue），MademoiselleO。
d’EsteM。hassixmillionsanddoesintendtohaveadunceforamaster？
Admitthesuppositionforamoment。Bewithmewhatyouarewithyourself;fearnothing。Iamwiserthanmytwentyyears;nothingthatisfrankcanhurtyouinmymind。WhenIhavereadyourconfidence，ifyoudeigntomakeit，youshallreceivefrommeananswertoyourfirstletter。
Havingadmiredyourtalent，oftensosublime，permitmetodohomagetoyourdelicacyandyourintegrity，whichforcemetoremainalways，Yourhumbleservant，O。d’EsteM。
WhenErnestdeLaBrierehadheldthisletterinhishandsforsomelittletimehewenttowalkalongtheboulevards，tossedinmindlikeatinyvesselbyatempestwhenthewindisblowingfromallpointsofthecompass。Mostyoungmen，speciallytrueParisians，wouldhavesettledthematterinasinglephrase，\"Thegirlisalittlehussy。\"
Butforayouthwhosesoulwasnobleandtrue，thisattempttoputhim，asitwere，uponhisoath，thisappealtotruth，hadthepowertoawakenthethreejudgeshiddenintheconscienceofeveryman。Honor，Truth，andJustice，gettingontheirfeet，criedoutintheirseveralwaysenergetically。
\"Ah，mydearErnest，\"saidTruth，\"youneverwouldhavereadthatlessontoarichheiress。No，myboy;youwouldhavegoneinhothastetoHavretofindoutifthegirlwerehandsome，andyouwouldhavebeenveryunhappyindeedatherpreferenceforgenius;andifyoucouldhavetrippedupyourfriendandsupplantedhiminheraffections，Mademoiselled’Estewouldhavebeenadivinity。\"
\"What？\"criedJustice，\"areyounotalwaysbemoaningyourselves，youpennilessmenofwitandcapacity，thatrichgirlsmarrybeingswhomyouwouldn’ttakeasyourservants？Yourailagainstthematerialismofthecenturywhichhastenstojoinwealthtowealth，andnevermarriessomefineyoungmanwithbrainsandnomoneytoarichgirl。
Whatanoutcryyoumakeaboutit;andyethereisayoungwomanwhorevoltsagainstthatveryspiritoftheage，andbehold！thepoetreplieswithablowatherheart！\"
\"Richorpoor，youngorold，uglyorhandsome，thegirlisright;shehassenseandjudgment，shehastrippedyouoverintothesloughofself—interestandletsyouknowit，\"criedHonor。\"Shedeservesananswer，asincereandloyalandfrankanswer，and，aboveall，thehonestexpressionofyourthought。Examineyourself！soundyourheartandpurgeitofitsmeannesses。WhatwouldMoliere’sAlcestesay？\"
AndLaBriere，havingstartedfromtheboulevardPoissoniere，walkedsoslowly，absorbedinthesereflections，thathewasmorethananhourinreachingtheboulevarddesCapucines。Thenhefollowedthequays，whichledhimtotheCourdesComptes，situatedinthattimeclosetotheSaint—Chapelle。Insteadofbeginningontheaccountsasheshouldhavedone，heremainedatthemercyofhisperplexities。
\"Onethingisevident，\"hesaidtohimself;\"shehasn’tsixmillions;
butthat’snotthepoint——\"
Sixdayslater，Modestereceivedthefollowingletter:
Mademoiselle，——YouarenotaD’Este。Thenameisafeignedonetoconcealyourown。DoIowetherevelationswhichyousolicittoapersonwhoisuntruthfulaboutherself？Questionforquestion:Areyouofanillustriousfamily？oranoblefamily？oramiddle—classfamily？Undoubtedlyethicsandmoralitycannotchange;theyareone:butobligationsvaryinthedifferentstatesoflife。Justasthesunlightsupascenediverselyandproducesdifferenceswhichweadmire，somoralityconformssocialdutytorank，toposition。
Thepeccadilloofasoldierisacrimeinageneral，andvice—
versa。Observancesarenotalikeinallcases。Theyarenotthesameforthegleanerinthefield，forthegirlwhosewsatfifteensousaday，forthedaughterofapettyshopkeeper，fortheyoungbourgoise，forthechildofarichmerchant，fortheheiressofanoblefamily，foradaughterofthehouseofEste。A
kingmustnotstooptopickupapieceofgold，butalaboreroughttoretracehisstepstofindtensous;thoughbothareequallyboundtoobeythelawsofeconomy。AdaughterofEste，whoisworthsixmillions，hastherighttowearabroad—brimmedhatandplume，toflourishherwhip，presstheflanksofherbarb，andridelikeanamazondeckedingoldlace，withalackeybehindher，intothepresenceofapoetandsay:\"Ilovepoetry;andIwouldfainexpiateLeonora’scrueltytoTasso！\"butadaughterofthepeoplewouldcoverherselfwithridiculebyimitatingher。Towhatclassdoyoubelong？Answersincerely，andIwillanswerthequestionyouhaveputtome。
AsIhavenotthehonorofknowingyoupersonally，andyetamboundtoyou，inameasure，bythetiesofpoeticcommunion，Iamunwillingtoofferanycommonplacecompliments。Perhapsyouhavealreadywonamaliciousvictorybythusembarrassingamakerofbooks。
Theyoungmanwascertainlynotwantinginthesortofshrewdnesswhichispermissibletoamanofhonor。Byreturncourierhereceivedananswer:——
ToMonsieurdeCanalis，——Yougrowmoreandmoresensible，mydearpoet。Myfatherisacount。Thechiefgloryofourhousewasacardinal，inthedayswhencardinalswalkedtheearthbythesideofkings。Iamthelastofourfamily，whichendsinme;butI
havethenecessaryquarteringstomakemyentryintoanycourtorchapter—houseinEurope。WearequitetheequalsoftheCanalis。
Youwillbesokindastoexcusemefromsendingyouourarms。
EndeavortoanswermeastruthfullyasIhavenowansweredyou。I
awaityourresponsetoknowifIcanthensignmyselfasIdonow，Yourservant，O。d’EsteM。
\"Thelittlemischief！howsheabusesherprivileges，\"criedLaBriere;
\"butisn’tshefrank！\"
Noyoungmancanbefouryearsprivatesecretarytoacabinetminister，andliveinParisandobservethecarryingonofmanyintrigues，withperfectimpunity;infact，thepurestsoulismoreorlessintoxicatedbytheheadyatmosphereoftheimperialcity。HappyinthethoughtthathewasnotCanalis，ouryoungsecretaryengagedaplaceinthemail—coachforHavre，afterwritingaletterinwhichheannouncedthatthepromisedanswerwouldbesentafewdayslater，——
excusingthedelayonthegroundoftheimportanceoftheconfessionandthepressureofhisdutiesattheministry。
Hetookcaretogetfromthedirector—generalofthepost—officeanotetothepostmasteratHavre，requestingsecrecyandattentiontohiswishes。ErnestwasthusenabledtoseeFrancoiseCochetwhenshecamefortheletters，andtofollowherwithoutexcitingobservation。
Guidedbyher，hereachedIngouvilleandsawModesteMignonatthewindowoftheChalet。
\"Well，Francoise？\"heheardtheyounggirlsay，towhichthemaidresponded，——
\"Yes，mademoiselle，Ihaveone。\"
Struckbythegirl’sgreatbeauty，Ernestretracedhisstepsandaskedamanonthestreetthenameoftheownerofthatmagnificentestate。
\"That？\"saidtheman，noddingtothevilla。
\"Yes，myfriend。\"
\"Oh，thatbelongstoMonsieurVilquin，therichestshippingmerchantinHavre，sorichhedoesn’tknowwhatheisworth。\"
\"ThereisnoCardinalVilquinthatIknowofinhistory，\"thoughtErnest，ashewalkedbacktoHavreforthenightmailtoParis。
NaturallyhequestionedthepostmasterabouttheVilquinfamily，andlearnedthatitpossessedanenormousfortune。MonsieurVilquinhadasonandtwodaughters，oneofwhomwasmarriedtoMonsieurAlthor，junior。PrudencekeptLaBrierefromseeminganxiousabouttheVilquins;thepostmasterwasalreadylookingathimslyly。
\"Istherethereanyonestayingwiththematthepresentmoment，\"heasked，\"besidesthefamily？\"
\"Thed’Herouvillefamilyistherejustnow。TheydotalkofamarriagebetweentheyoungdukeandtheremainingMademoiselleVilquin。\"
\"Ha！\"thoughtErnest;\"therewasacelebratedCardinald’HerouvilleundertheValois，andaterriblemarshalwhomtheymadeadukeinthetimeofHenriIV。\"
ErnestreturnedtoParishavingseenenoughofModestetodreamofher，andtothinkthat，whethershewererichorwhethershewerepoor，ifshehadanoblesoulhewouldliketomakeherMadamedeLaBriere;andsothinking，heresolvedtocontinuethecorrespondence。
Ah！youpoorwomenofFrance，trytoremainhiddenifyoucan;trytoweavetheleastlittleromanceaboutyourlivesinthemidstofacivilizationwhichpostsinthepublicstreetsthehourswhenthecoachesarriveanddepart;whichcountsalllettersandstampsthemtwiceover，firstwiththehourwhentheyarethrownintotheboxes，andnextwiththatoftheirdelivery;whichnumbersthehouses，printsthetaxofeverytenantonametalregisteratthedoors（afterverifyingitsparticulars），andwillsoonpossessonevastregisterofeveryinchofitsterritorydowntothesmallestparcelofland，andthemostinsignificantfeaturesofit，——agiantworkordainedbyagiant。Try，imprudentyoungladies，toescapenotonlytheeyeofthepolice，buttheincessantchatterwhichtakesplaceinacountrytownabouttheveriesttrifles，——howmanydishestheprefecthasathisdessert，howmanyslicesofmelonareleftatthedoorofsomesmallhouseholder，——whichstrainsitseartocatchthechinkofthegoldathriftymanlaysby，andspendsitseveningsincalculatingtheincomesofthevillageandthetownandthedepartment。ItwasmerechancethatenabledModestetoescapediscoverythroughErnest’sreconnoitringexpedition，——astepwhichhealreadyregretted;butwhatParisiancanallowhimselftobethedupeofalittlecountrygirl？
Incapableofbeingduped！thathorridmaximisthedissolventofallnoblesentimentsinman。
Wecanreadilyguessthestruggleoffeelingtowhichthishonestyoungfellowfellapreywhenwereadtheletterthathenowindited，inwhicheverystrokeoftheflailwhichscourgedhisconsciencewillbefoundtohaveleftitstrace。
ThisiswhatModestereadafewdayslater，asshesatbyherwindowonafinesummer’sday:——
Mademoiselle，——Withouthypocrisyorevasion，YES，ifIhadbeencertainthatyoupossessedanimmensefortuneIshouldhaveacteddifferently。Why？Ihavesearchedforthereason;hereitis。Wehavewithinusaninbornfeeling，inordinatelydevelopedbysociallife，whichdrivesustothepursuitandtothepossessionofhappiness。Mostmenconfoundhappinesswiththemeansthatleadtoit;moneyintheireyesisthechiefelementofhappiness。I
should，therefore，haveendeavoredtowinyou，promptedbythatsocialsentimentwhichhasinallagesmadewealthareligion。Atleast，IthinkIshould。Itisnottobeexpectedofamanstillyoungthathecanhavethewisdomtosubstitutesoundsenseforthepleasureofthesenses;withinsightofapreythebrutalinstinctshiddenintheheartofmandrivehimon。Insteadofthatlesson，Ishouldhavesentyoucomplimentsandflatteries。ShouldIhavekeptmyownesteeminsodoing？Idoubtit。Mademoiselle，insuchacasesuccessbringsabsolution;buthappiness？Thatisanotherthing。ShouldIhavedistrustedmywifehadIwonherinthatway？MostassuredlyIshould。Youradvanceonmewouldsoonerorlaterhavecomebetweenus。Yourhusband，howevergrandyourfancymaymakehim，wouldhaveendedbyreproachingyouforhavingabasedhim。You，yourself，mighthavecome，soonerorlater，todespisehim。Thestrongmanforgives，butthepoetwhines。Such，mademoiselle，istheanswerwhichmyhonestycompelsmetomaketoyou。
Andnow，listentome。Youhavethetriumphofforcingmetoreflectdeeply，——firstonyou，whomIdonotsufficientlyknow;
next，onmyself，ofwhomIknewtoolittle。Youhavehadthepowertostirupmanyoftheevilthoughtswhichcrouchedinmyheart，asinallhearts;butfromthemsomethinggoodandgeneroushascomeforth，andIsaluteyouwithmymostferventbenedictions，justasatseawesalutethelighthousewhichshowstherocksonwhichwewereabouttoperish。Hereismyconfession，forIwouldnotloseyouresteemnormyownforallthetreasuresofearth。
Iwishedtoknowwhoyouare。IhavejustreturnedfromHavre，whereIsawFrancoiseCochet，andfollowedhertoIngouville。Youareasbeautifulasthewomanofapoet’sdream;butIdonotknowifyouareMademoiselleVilquinconcealedunderMademoiselled’Herouville，orMademoiselled’HerouvillehiddenunderMademoiselleVilquin。Thoughallisfairinwar，Iblushedatsuchspyingandstoppedshortinmyinquiries。Youhaverousedmycuriosity;forgivemeforbeingsomewhatofawoman;itis，I
believe，theprivilegeofapoet。
NowthatIhavelaidbaremyheartandallowedyoutoreadit，youwillbelieveinthesincerityofwhatIamabouttoadd。ThoughtheglimpseIhadofyouwasalltoorapid，ithassufficedtomodifymyopinionofyourconduct。Youareapoetandapoem，evenmorethanyouareawoman。Yes，thereisinyousomethingmorepreciousthanbeauty;youarethebeautifulIdealofart，offancy。Thestepyoutook，blamableasitwouldbeinanordinaryyounggirl，allottedtoanevery—daydestiny，hasanotheraspectifendowedwiththenaturewhichInowattributetoyou。Amongthecrowdofbeingsflungbyfateintothesociallifeofthisplanettomakeupagenerationthereareexceptionalsouls。Ifyourletteristheoutcomeoflongpoeticreveriesonthefatewhichconventionsbringtowomen，if，constrainedbytheimpulseofaloftyandintelligentmind，youhavewishedtounderstandthelifeofamantowhomyouattributethegiftofgenius，totheendthatyoumaycreateafriendshipwithdrawnfromtheordinaryrelationsoflife，withasoulincommunionwithyourown，disregardingthustheordinarytrammelsofyoursex，——then，assuredly，youareanexception。Thelawwhichrightlylimitstheactionsofthecrowdistoolimitedforyou。Butinthatcase，theremarkinmyfirstletterreturnsingreaterforce，——youhavedonetoomuchornotenough。
Acceptoncemoremythanksfortheserviceyouhaverenderedme，thatofcompellingmetosoundmyheart。Youhavecorrectedinmethefalseidea，onlytoocommoninFrance，thatmarriageshouldbeameansoffortune。WhileIstruggledwithmyconscienceasacredvoicespoketome。Isworesolemnlytomakemyfortunemyself，andnotbeledbymotivesofcupidityinchoosingthecompanionofmylife。Ihavealsoreproachedmyselffortheblamablecuriosityyouhaveexcitedinme。Youhavenotsixmillions。ThereisnoconcealmentpossibleinHavreforayoungladywhopossessessuchafortune;youwouldbediscoveredatoncebythepackofhoundsofgreatfamilieswhomIseeinParisonthehuntafterheiresses，andwhohavealreadysentone，thegrandequerry，theyoungduke，amongtheVilquins。Therefore，believeme，thesentimentsIhavenowexpressedarefixedinmymindasaruleoflife，fromwhichI
haveabstractedallinfluencesofromanceorofactualfact。Provetome，therefore，thatyouhaveoneofthosesoulswhichmaybeforgivenforitsdisobediencetothecommonlaw，byperceivingandcomprehendingthespiritofthisletterasyoudidthatofmyfirstletter。Ifyouaredestinedtoamiddle—classlife，obeytheironlawwhichholdssocietytogether。Liftedinmindaboveotherwomen，Iadmireyou;butifyouseektoobeyanimpulsewhichyououghttorepress，Ipityyou。Theall—wisemoralofthatgreatdomesticepic\"ClarissaHarlowe\"isthatlegitimateandhonorableloveledthepoorvictimtoherruinbecauseitwasconceived，developed，andpursuedbeyondtheboundariesoffamilyrestraint。
Thefamily，howevercruelandevenfoolishitmaybe，isintherightagainsttheLovelaces。ThefamilyisSociety。Believeme，thegloryofayounggirl，ofawoman，mustalwaysbethatofrepressinghermostardentimpulseswithinthenarrowsphereofconventions。IfIhadadaughterabletobecomeaMadamedeStaelIshouldwishherdeadatfifteen。Canyouimagineadaughterofyoursflauntingonthestageoffame，exhibitingherselftowintheplauditsofacrowd，andnotsufferanguishatthethought？Nomattertowhatheightsawomancanrisebytheinwardpoetryofhersoul，shemustsacrificetheoutersignsofsuperiorityonthealtarofherhome。Herimpulse，hergenius，heraspirationstowardGood，thewholepoemofayounggirl’sbeing，shouldbelongtothemansheacceptsandthechildrenwhomshebringsintotheworld。I
thinkIperceiveinyouasecretdesiretowidenthenarrowcircleofthelifetowhichallwomenarecondemned，andtoputloveandpassionintomarriage。Ah！itisalovelydream！itisnotimpossible;itisdifficult，butifrealized，mayitnotbetothedespairofsouls——forgivemethehackneyedword——\"incompris\"？
Ifyouseekaplatonicfriendshipitwillbetoyoursorrowinafteryears。Ifyourletterwasajest，discontinueit。Perhapsthislittleromanceistoendhere——isit？Ithasnotbeenwithoutfruit。Mysenseofdutyisaroused，andyou，onyourside，willhavelearnedsomethingofSociety。Turnyourthoughtstoreallife;throwtheenthusiasmsyouhaveculledfromliteratureintothevirtuesofyoursex。
Adieu，mademoiselle。Domethehonortograntmeyouresteem。
Havingseenyou，oronewhomIbelievetobeyou，Ihaveknownthatyourletterwassimplynatural;aflowersolovelyturnstothesun——ofpoetry。Yes，lovepoetryasyouloveflowers，music，thegrandeurofthesea，thebeautiesofnature;lovethemasanadornmentofthesoul，butrememberwhatIhavehadthehonoroftellingyouastothenatureofpoets。Becautiousnottomarry，asyousay，adunce，butseekthepartnerwhomGodhasmadeforyou。Therearesouls，believeme，whoarefittoappreciateyou，andtomakeyouhappy。IfIwererich，ifyouwerepoor，Iwouldlaymyheartandmyfortunesatyourfeet;forIbelieveyoursoultobefullofrichesandofloyalty;toyouIcouldconfidemylifeandmyhonorinabsolutesecurity。
Oncemore，adieu，adieu，fairestdaughterofEvethefair。
Thereadingofthisletter，swallowedlikeadropofwaterinthedesert，liftedthemountainwhichweighedheavilyonModeste’sheart:
thenshesawthemistakeshehadmadeinarrangingherplan，andrepaireditbygivingFrancoisesomeenvelopesdirectedtoherself，inwhichthemaidcouldputtheletterswhichcamefromParisanddropthemagainintothebox。ModesteresolvedtoreceivethepostmanherselfonthestepsoftheChaletatthehourwhenhemadehisdelivery。
Astothefeelingsthatthisreply，inwhichthenobleheartofpoorLaBrierebeatbeneaththebrilliantphantomofCanalis，excitedinModeste，theywereasmultifariousandconfusedasthewaveswhichrushedtodiealongtheshorewhilewithhereyesfixedonthewideoceanshegaveherselfuptothejoyofhaving（ifwedaresayso）
harpoonedanangelicsoulintheParisianGulf，ofhavingdivinedthatheartsofpricemightstillbefoundinharmonywithgenius，and，aboveall，forhavingfollowedthemagicvoiceofintuition。
Avastinterestwasnowabouttoanimateherlife。Thewiresofhercagewerebroken:theboltsandbarsoftheprettyChalet——wherewerethey？Herthoughtstookwings。
\"Oh，father！\"shecried，lookingouttothehorizon。\"Comebackandmakeusrichandhappy。\"
TheanswerwhichErnestdeLaBrierereceivedsomefivedayslaterwilltellthereadermorethananyelaboratedisquisitionofours。
CHAPTERIX
THEPOWEROFTHEUNSEEN
ToMonsieurdeCanalis:
Myfriend，——Suffermetogiveyouthatname，——youhavedelightedme;Iwouldnothaveyouotherthanyouareinthisletter，thefirst——oh，mayitnotbethelast！Whobutapoetcouldhaveexcusedandunderstoodayounggirlsodelicately？
Iwishtospeakwiththesinceritythatdictatedthefirstlinesofyourletter。Andfirst，letmesaythatmostfortunatelyyoudonotknowme。IcanjoyfullyassureyouthanIamneitherthathideousMademoiselleVilquinnortheverynobleandwitheredMademoiselled’Herouvillewhofloatsbetweentwentyandfortyyearsofage，unabletodecideonasatisfactorydate。TheCardinald’HerouvilleflourishedinthehistoryoftheChurchatleastacenturybeforethecardinalofwhomweboastasouronlyfamilyglory，——forItakenoaccountoflieutenant—generals，andabbeswhowritetrumperylittleverses。
Moreover，IdonotliveinthemagnificentvillaVilquin;thereisnotinmyveins，thankGod，theten—millionthofadropofthatchillybloodwhichflowsbehindacounter。IcomeononesidefromGermany，ontheotherfromthesouthofFrance;mymindhasaTeutonicloveofreverie，mybloodthevivacityofProvence。Iamnobleonmyfather’sandonmymother’sside。Onmymother’sI
derivefromeverypageoftheAlmanachdeGotha。Inshort，myprecautionsarewelltaken。Itisnotinanyman’spower，noreveninthepowerofthelaw，tounmaskmyincognito。Ishallremainveiled，unknown。
Astomypersonandastomy\"belongings，\"astheNormanssay，makeyourselfeasy。Iamatleastashandsomeasthelittlegirl（ignorantlyhappy）onwhomyoureyeschancedtolightduringyourvisittoHavre;andIdonotcallmyselfpoverty—stricken，althoughtensonsofpeersmaynotaccompanymeonmywalks。I
haveseenthehumiliatingcomedyoftheheiresssoughtforhermillionsplayedonmyaccount。Inshort，makenoattempt，evenonawager，toreachme。Alas！thoughfreeasair，Iamwatchedandguarded，——bymyself，inthefirstplace，andsecondly，bypeopleofnerveandcouragewhowouldnothesitatetoputaknifeinyourheartifyoutriedtopenetratemyretreat。Idonotsaythistoexciteyourcourageorstimulateyourcuriosity;IbelieveIhavenoneedofsuchincentivestointerestyouandattachyoutome。
Iwillnowreplytothesecondedition，considerablyenlarged，ofyourfirstsermon。
Willyouhaveaconfession？IsaidtomyselfwhenIsawyousodistrustful，andmistakingmeforCorinne（whoseimprovisationsboremedreadfully），thatinallprobabilitydozesofMuseshadalreadyledyou，rashlycurious，intotheirvalleys，andbeggedyoutotastethefruitsoftheirboarding—schoolParnassus。Oh！
youareperfectlysafewithme，myfriend;Imaylovepoetry，butIhavenolittleversesinmypocket—book，andmystockingsare，andwillremain，immaculatelywhite。Youshallnotbepesteredwiththe\"FlowersofmyHeart\"inoneormorevolumes。And，finally，shoulditeverhappenthatIsaytoyoutheword\"Come！\"
youwillnotfind——youknowitnow——anoldmaid，no，norapooranduglyone。
Ah！myfriend，ifyouonlyknewhowIregretthatyoucametoHavre！Youhaveloweredthecharmofwhatyoucallmyromance。GodaloneknewthetreasureIwasreservingforthemannobleenough，andtrustingenough，andperspicaciousenoughtocome——havingfaithinmyletters，havingpenetratedstepbystepintothedepthsofmyheart——tocometoourfirstmeetingwiththesimplicityofachild:forthatwaswhatIdreamedtobetheinnocenceofamanofgenius。Andnowyouhavespoiledmytreasure！ButIforgiveyou;youliveinParisand，asyousay，thereisalwaysamanwithinapoet。
