\"Youhavecome，monsieur，frommyfriendMongenod？\"hesaid。
\"Yes，\"repliedErnest，growingtimidwhenhesawbeforehimafaceassombreasOthello’s。\"MynameisErnestdeLaBriere，relatedtothefamilyofthelatecabinetminister，andhisprivatesecretaryduringhistermofoffice。Onhisdismissal，hisExcellencyputmeintheCourtofClaims，towhichIamlegalcounsel，andwhereImaypossiblysucceedaschief——\"
\"AndhowdoesallthisconcernMademoiselledeLaBastie？\"askedthecount。
\"Monsieur，Iloveher;andIhavetheunhoped—forhappinessofbeinglovedbyher。Hearme，monsieur，\"criedErnest，checkingaviolentmovementonthepartoftheangryfather。\"Ihavethestrangestconfessiontomaketoyou，ashamefuloneforamanofhonor;buttheworstpunishmentofmyconduct，naturalenoughinitself，isnotthetellingofittoyou;no，Ifearthedaughterevenmorethanthefather。\"
Ernestthenrelatedsimply，andwiththenoblenessthatcomesofsincerity，allthefactsofhislittledrama，notomittingthetwentyormoreletters，whichhehadbroughtwithhim，northeinterviewwhichhehadjusthadwithCanalis。WhenMonsieurMignonhadfinishedreadingtheletters，theunfortunatelover，paleandsuppliant，actuallytrembledunderthefieryglanceoftheProvencal。
\"Monsieur，\"saidthelatter，\"inthiswholematterthereisbutoneerror，butthatiscardinal。Mydaughterwillnothavesixmillions;
attheutmost，shewillhaveamarriageportionoftwohundredthousandfrancs，andverydoubtfulexpectations。\"
\"Ah，monsieur！\"criedErnest，risingandgraspingMonsieurMignon’shand;\"youtakealoadfrommybreast。Nothingcannowhindermyhappiness。Ihavefriends，influence;IshallcertainlybechiefoftheCourtofClaims。HadMademoiselleMignonnomorethantenthousandfrancs，ifIhadeventomakeasettlementonher，sheshouldstillbemywife;andtomakeherhappyasyou，monsieur，havemadeyourwifehappy，tobetoyouarealson（forIhavenofather），arethedeepestdesiresofmyheart。\"
CharlesMignonsteppedbackthreepacesandfixeduponLaBrierealookwhichenteredtheeyesoftheyoungmanasadaggerentersitssheath;hestoodsilentamoment，recognizingtheabsolutecandor，thepuretruthfulnessofthatopennatureinthelightoftheyoungman’sinspiredeyes。\"Isfateatlastwearyofpursuingme？\"heaskedhimself。\"AmItofindinthisyoungmanthepearlofsons—in—law？\"Hewalkedupanddowntheroominstrongagitation。
\"Monsieur，\"hesaidatlast，\"youareboundtosubmitwhollytothejudgmentwhichyouhavecomeheretoseek，otherwiseyouarenowplayingafarce。\"
\"Oh，monsieur！\"
\"Listentome，\"saidthefather，nailingLaBrierewherehestoodwithaglance。\"Ishallbeneitherharsh，norhard，norunjust。Youshallhavetheadvantagesandthedisadvantagesofthefalsepositioninwhichyouhaveplacedyourself。Mydaughterbelievesthatshelovesoneofthegreatpoetsoftheday，whosefameisreallythatwhichhasattractedher。Well，I，herfather，intendtogivehertheopportunitytochoosebetweenthecelebritywhichhasbeenabeacontoher，andthepoorrealitywhichtheironyoffatehasflungatherfeet。OughtshenottochoosebetweenCanalisandyourself？IrelyuponyourhonornottorepeatwhatIhavetoldyouastothestateofmyaffairs。Youmayeachcome，ImeanyouandyourfriendtheBarondeCanalis，toHavreforthelasttwoweeksofOctober。Myhousewillbeopentobothofyou，andmydaughtermusthaveanopportunitytostudyyou。Youmustyourselfbringyourrival，andnotdisabusehimastothefoolishtaleshewillhearaboutthewealthoftheComtedeLaBastie。IgotoHavreto—morrow，andIshallexpectyouthreedayslater。Adieu，monsieur。\"
PoorLaBrierewentbacktoCanaliswithadraggingstep。Thepoet，meantime，lefttohimself，hadgivenwaytoacurrentofthoughtoutofwhichhadcomethatsecondaryimpulsewhichMonsieurdeTalleyrandvaluedsomuch。Thefirstimpulseisthevoiceofnature，thesecondthatofsociety。
\"Agirlworthsixmillions，\"hethoughttohimself，\"andmyeyeswerenotabletoseethatgoldshininginthedarkness！WithsuchafortuneIcouldbepeerofFrance，count，marquis，ambassador。I’verepliedtomiddle—classwomenandsillywomen，andcraftycreatureswhowantedautographs;I’vetiredmyselftodeathwithmasked—ballintrigues，——attheverymomentwhenGodwassendingmeasoulofprice，anangelwithgoldenwings！Bah！I’llmakeapoemonit，andperhapsthechancewillcomeagain。Heavens！theluckofthatlittleLaBriere，——struttingaboutinmylustre——plagiarism！I’mthecastandhe’stobethestatue，ishe？ItistheoldfableofBertrandandRaton。Sixmillions，abeauty，aMignondeLaBastie，anaristocraticdivinitylovingpoetryandthepoet！AndI，whoshowedmymuscleasmanoftheworld，whodidthoseAlcideexercisestosilencebymoralforcethechampionofphysicalforce，thatoldsoldierwithaheart，thatfriendofthisveryyounggirl，whomhe’llnowgoandtellthatIhaveaheartofiron！——I，toplayNapoleonwhenIoughttohavebeenseraphic！Goodheavens！True，Ishallhavemyfriend。Friendshipisabeautifulthing。Ihavekepthim，butatwhataprice！Sixmillions，that’sthecostofit;wecan’thavemanyfriendsifwepayallthatforthem。\"
LaBriereenteredtheroomasCanalisreachedthispointinhismeditations。Hewasgloompersonified。
\"Well，what’sthematter？\"saidCanalis。
\"ThefatherexactsthathisdaughtershallchoosebetweenthetwoCanalis——\"
\"Poorboy！\"criedthepoet，laughing，\"he’sacleverfellow，thatfather。\"
\"IhavepledgedmyhonorthatIwilltakeyoutoHavre，\"saidLaBriere，piteously。
\"Mydearfellow，\"saidCanalis，\"ifitisaquestionofyourhonoryoumaycountonme。I’llaskforleaveofabsenceforamonth。\"
\"Modesteissobeautiful！\"exclaimedLaBriere，inadespairingtone。
\"Youwillcrushmeoutofsight。Iwonderedallalongthatfateshouldbesokindtome;Iknewitwasallamistake。\"
\"Bah！wewillseeaboutthat，\"saidCanaliswithinhumangaiety。
Thatevening，afterdinner，CharlesMignonandDumay，wereflying，byvirtueofthreefrancstoeachpostilion，fromParistoHavre。Thefatherhadeasedthewatch—dog’smindastoModesteandherloveaffairs;theguardwasrelieved，andButscha’sinnocenceestablished。
\"Itisallforthebest，myoldDumay，\"saidthecount，whohadbeenmakingcertaininquiriesofMongenodrespectingCanalisandLaBriere。
\"Wearegoingtohavetwoactorsforonepart！\"hecriedgaily。
Nevertheless，herequestedhisoldcomradetobeabsolutelysilentaboutthecomedywhichwasnowtobeplayedattheChalet，——acomedyitmightbe，butalsoagentlepunishment，or，ifyoupreferit，alessongivenbythefathertothedaughter。
ThetwofriendskeptupalongconversationallthewayfromParistoHavre，whichputthecolonelinpossessionofthefactsrelatingtohisfamilyduringthepastfouryears，andinformingDumaythatDesplein，thegreatsurgeon，wascomingtoHavreattheendofthepresentmonthtoexaminethecataractonMadameMignon’seyes，anddecideifitwerepossibletorestorehersight。
Afewmomentsbeforethebreakfast—hourattheChalet，theclackingofapostilion’swhipapprisedthefamilythatthetwosoldierswerearriving;onlyafather’sjoyatreturningafterlongabsencecouldbeheraldedwithsuchclatter，anditbroughtallthewomentothegardengate。Thereismanyafatherandmanyachild——perhapsmorefathersthanchildren——whowillunderstandthedelightsofsuchanarrival，andthathappyfactshowsthatliteraturehasnoneedtodepictit。
Perhapsallgentleandtenderemotionsarebeyondtherangeofliterature。
Notawordthatcouldtroublethepeaceofthefamilywasutteredonthisjoyfulday。Trucewastacitlyestablishedbetweenfather，mother，andchildastotheso—calledmysteriouslovewhichhadpaledModeste’scheeks，——forthiswasthefirstdayshehadleftherbedsinceDumay’sdepartureforParis。Thecolonel，withthecharmingdelicacyofatruesoldier，neverlefthiswife’ssidenorreleasedherhand;buthewatchedModestewithdelight，andwasneverwearyofnotingherrefined，elegant，andpoeticbeauty。Isitnotbysuchseemingtriflesthatwerecognizeamanoffeeling？Modeste，whofearedtointerruptthesubduedjoyofthehusbandandwifekeptatalittledistance，comingfromtimetotimetokissherfather’sforehead，andwhenshekisseditovermuchsheseemedtomeanthatshewaskissingitfortwo，——forBettinaandherself。
\"Oh，mydarling，Iunderstandyou，\"saidthecolonel，pressingherhandassheassailedhimwithkisses。
\"Hush！\"whisperedtheyounggirl，glancingathermother。
Dumay’sratherslyandpregnantsilencemadeModestesomewhatuneasyastotheupshotofhisjourneytoParis。Shelookedathimfurtivelyeverynowandthen，withoutbeingabletogetbeneathhisepidermis。
Thecolonel，likeaprudentfather，wantedtostudythecharacterofhisonlydaughter，andaboveallconsulthiswife，beforeenteringonaconferenceuponwhichthehappinessofthewholefamilydepended。
\"To—morrow，mypreciouschild，\"hesaidastheypartedforthenight，\"getupearly，andwewillgoandtakeawalkontheseashore。Wehavetotalkaboutyourpoems，MademoiselledeLaBastie。\"
Hislastwords，accompaniedbyasmile，whichreappearedlikeanechoonDumay’slips，wereallthatgaveModesteanyclewtowhatwascoming;butitwasenoughtocalmheruneasinessandkeepherawakefarintothenightwithherheadfullofsuppositions;this，however，didnotpreventherfrombeingdressedandreadyinthemorninglongbeforethecolonel。
\"Youknowall，mykindpapa？\"shesaidassoonastheywereontheroadtothebeach。
\"Iknowall，andagooddealmorethanyoudo，\"hereplied。
Afterthatremarkfatheranddaughterwentsomelittlewayinsilence。
\"Explaintome，mychild，howithappensthatagirlwhomhermotheridolizescouldhavetakensuchanimportantstepastowritetoastrangerwithoutconsultingher。\"
\"Oh，papa！becausemammawouldneverhaveallowedit。\"
\"Anddoyouthink，mydaughter，thatthatwasproper？Thoughyouhavebeeneducatingyourmindinthisfatalway，howisitthatyourgoodsenseandyourintellectdidnot，indefaultofmodesty，stepinandshowyouthatbyactingasyoudidyouwerethrowingyourselfataman’shead。Tothinkthatmydaughter，myonlyremainingchild，shouldlackprideanddelicacy！Oh，Modeste，youmadeyourfatherpasstwohoursinhellwhenheheardofit;for，afterall，yourconducthasbeenthesameasBettina’swithouttheexcuseofaheart’sseduction;
youwereacoquetteincoldblood，andthatsortofcoquetryishead—
love，theworstviceofFrenchwomen。\"
\"I，withoutpride！\"saidModeste，weeping;\"butHEhasnotyetseenme。\"
\"HEknowsyourname。\"
\"Ididnottellittohimtillmyeyeshadvindicatedthecorrespondence，lastingthreemonths，duringwhichoursoulshadspokentoeachother。\"
\"Oh，mydearmisguidedangel，youhavemixedupaspeciesofreasonwithafollythathascompromisedyourownhappinessandthatofyourfamily。\"
\"But，afterall，papa，happinessistheabsolutionofmytemerity，\"
shesaid，pouting。
\"Oh！yourconductistemerity，isit？\"
\"Atemeritythatmymotherpractisedbeforeme，\"sheretortedquickly。
\"Rebelliouschild！yourmotherafterseeingmeataballtoldherfather，whoadoredher，thatshethoughtshecouldbehappywithme。
Behonest，Modeste;isthereanylikenessbetweenalovehastilyconceived，Iadmit，butundertheeyesofafather，andyourmadactionofwritingtoastranger？\"
\"Astranger，papa？sayratheroneofourgreatestpoets，whosecharacterandwhoselifeareexposedtothestrongestlightofday，todetraction，tocalumny，——amanrobedinfame，andtowhom，mydearfather，Iwasamereliteraryanddramaticpersonage，oneofShakespeare’swomen，untilthemomentwhenIwishedtoknowifthemanhimselfwereasbeautifulashissoul。\"
\"GoodGod！mypoorchild，youareturningmarriageintopoetry。Butif，fromtimeimmemorial，girlshavebeencloisteredinthebosomoftheirfamilies，ifGod，ifsociallawsputthemunderthesternyokeofparentalsanction，itis，markmywords，tosparethemthemisfortunesthatthisverypoetrywhichcharmsanddazzlesyou，andwhichyouarethereforeunabletojudgeof，wouldentailuponthem。
Poetryisindeedoneofthepleasuresoflife，butitisnotlifeitself。\"
\"Papa，thatisasuitstillpendingbeforetheCourtofFacts;thestruggleisforevergoingonbetweenourheartsandtheclaimsoffamily。\"
\"Alasforthechildthatfindsherhappinessinresistingthem，\"saidthecolonel，gravely。\"In1813Isawoneofmycomrades，theMarquisd’Aiglemont，marryhiscousinagainstthewishesofherfather，andthepairhavesincepaiddearfortheobstinacywhichtheyounggirltookforlove。Thefamilymustbesovereigninmarriage。\"
\"Mypoethastoldmeallthat，\"sheanswered。\"HeplayedOrgonforsometime;andhewasbraveenoughtodisparagethepersonallivesofpoets。\"
\"Ihavereadyourletters，\"saidCharlesMignon，withtheflickerofamalicioussmileonhislipsthatmadeModesteveryuneasy，\"andI
oughttoremarkthatyourlastepistlewasscarcelypermissibleinanywoman，evenaJulied’Etanges。GoodGod！whatharmnovelsdo！\"
\"Weshouldlivethem，mydearfather，whetherpeoplewrotethemornot;Ithinkitisbettertoreadthem。TherearenotsomanyadventuresinthesedaysastherewereunderLouisXIV。andLouisXV。，andsotheypublishfewernovels。Besides，ifyouhavereadthoseletters，youmustknowthatIhavechosenthemostangelicsoul，themoststernlyuprightmanforyourson—in—law，andyoumusthaveseenthatweloveoneanotheratleastasmuchasyouandmammaloveeachother。Well，Iadmitthatitwasnotallexactlyconventional;Idid，ifyouWILLhavemesayso，wrong——\"
\"Ihavereadyourletters，\"saidherfather，interruptingher，\"andI
knowexactlyhowfaryourloverjustifiedyouinyourowneyesforaproceedingwhichmightbepermissibleinsomewomanwhounderstoodlife，andwhowasledawaybystrongpassion，butwhichinayounggirloftwentywasamonstrouspieceofwrong—doing。\"
\"Yes，wrong—doingforcommonplacepeople，forthenarrow—mindedGobenheims，whomeasurelifewithasquarerule。Pleaseletuskeeptotheartisticandpoeticlife，papa。Weyounggirlshaveonlytwowaystoact;wemustletamanknowwelovehimbymincingandsimpering，orwemustgotohimfrankly。Isn’tthelastwaygrandandnoble？WeFrenchgirlsaredeliveredoverbyourfamilieslikesomuchmerchandise，atsixtydays’sight，sometimesthirty，likeMademoiselleVilquin;butinEngland，andSwitzerland，andGermany，theyfollowverymuchtheplanIhaveadopted。Nowwhathaveyougottosaytothat？AmInothalfGerman？\"
\"Child！\"criedthecolonel，lookingather;\"thesupremacyofFrancecomesfromhersoundcommon—sense，fromthelogictowhichhernoblelanguageconstrainshermind。Franceisthereasonofthewholeworld。
EnglandandGermanyareromanticintheirmarriagecustoms，——thougheventherenoblefamiliesfollowourcustoms。Youcertainlydonotmeantodenythatyourparents，whoknowlife，whoareresponsibleforyoursoulandforyourhappiness，havenorighttoguardyoufromthestumbling—blocksthatareinyourway？Goodheavens！\"hecontinued，speakinghalftohimself，\"isittheirfault，orisitours？Oughtwetoholdourchildrenunderanironyoke？Mustwebepunishedforthetendernessthatleadsustomakethemhappy，andteachesourheartshowtodoso？\"
Modestewatchedherfatheroutofthecornerofhereyeasshelistenedtothisspeciesofinvocation，utteredinabrokenvoice。
\"Wasitwrong，\"shesaid，\"inagirlwhoseheartwasfree，tochooseforherhusbandnotonlyacharmingcompanion，butamanofnoblegenius，borntoanhonorableposition，agentleman;theequalofmyself，agentlewoman？\"
\"Youlovehim？\"askedherfather。
\"Father！\"shesaid，layingherheaduponhisbreast，\"wouldyouseemedie？\"
\"Enough！\"saidtheoldsoldier。\"Iseeyourloveisinextinguishable。\"
\"Yes，inextinguishable。\"
\"Cannothingchangeit？\"
\"Nothing。\"
\"Nocircumstances，notreachery，nobetrayal？Youmeanthatyouwilllovehiminspiteofeverything，becauseofhispersonalattractions？
EventhoughheprovedaD’Estourny，wouldyoulovehimstill？\"
\"Oh，myfather！youdonotknowyourdaughter。CouldIloveacoward，amanwithouthonor，withoutfaith？\"
\"Butsupposehehaddeceivedyou？\"
\"He？thathonest，candidsoul，halfmelancholy？Youarejoking，father，orelseyouhavenevermethim。\"
\"Butyouseenowthatyourloveisnotinextinguishable，asyouchosetocallit。Ihavealreadymadeyouadmitthatcircumstancescouldalteryourpoem;don’tyounowseethatfathersaregoodforsomething？\"
\"Youwanttogivemealecture，papa;itispositivelyl’AmidesEnfantsoveragain。\"
\"Poordeceivedgirl，\"saidherfather，sternly;\"itisnolectureofmine，Icountfornothinginit;indeed，Iamonlytryingtosoftentheblow。\"
\"Father，don’tplaytrickswithmylife，\"exclaimedModeste，turningpale。
\"Then，mydaughter，summonallyourcourage。Itisyouwhohavebeenplayingtrickswithyourlife，andlifeisnowtrickingyou。\"
Modestelookedatherfatherinstupidamazement。
\"Supposethatyoungmanwhomyoulove，whomyousawfourdaysagoatchurchinHavre，wasadeceiver？\"
\"Never！\"shecried;\"thatnoblehead，thatpalefacefullofpoetry——\"
\"——wasalie，\"saidthecolonelinterruptingher。\"HewasnomoreMonsieurdeCanalisthanIamthatsailoroverthereputtingouttosea。\"
\"Doyouknowwhatyouarekillinginme？\"shesaidinalowvoice。
\"Comfortyourself，mychild;thoughaccidenthasputthepunishmentofyourfaultintothefaultitself，theharmdoneisnotirreparable。
Theyoungmanwhomyouhaveseen，andwithwhomyouexchangedheartsbycorrespondence，isaloyalandhonorablefellow;hecametomeandconfidedeverything。Helovesyou，andIhavenoobjectiontohimasason—in—law。\"
\"IfheisnotCanalis，whoishethen？\"saidModesteinachangedvoice。
\"Thesecretary;hisnameisErnestdeLaBriere。Heisnotanobleman;
butheisoneofthoseplainmenwithfixedprinciplesandsoundmoralitywhosatisfyparents。However，thatisnotthepoint;youhaveseenhimandnothingcanchangeyourheart;youhavechosenhim，comprehendhissoul，itisasbeautifulashehimself。\"
ThecountwasinterruptedbyaheavysighfromModeste。Thepoorgirlsatwithhereyesfixedonthesea，paleandrigidasdeath，asifapistolshothadstruckherinthosefatalwords，APLAINMAN，WITH
FIXEDPRINCIPLESANDSOUNDMORALITY。
\"Deceived！\"shesaidatlast。
\"Likeyourpoorsister，butlessfatally。\"
\"Letusgohome，father，\"shesaid，risingfromthehillockonwhichtheyweresitting。\"Papa，hearme，IswearbeforeGodtoobeyyourwishes，whatevertheymaybe，intheAFFAIRofmymarriage。\"
\"Thenyoudon’tlovehimanylonger？\"askedherfather。
\"Ilovedanhonestman，withnofalsehoodonhisface，uprightasyourself，incapableofdisguisinghimselflikeanactor，withthepaintofanotherman’sgloryonhischeeks。\"
\"Yousaidnothingcouldchangeyou\";remarkedthecolonel，ironically。
\"Ah，donottriflewithme！\"sheexclaimed，claspingherhandsandlookingatherfatherindistressfulanxiety;\"don’tyouseethatyouarewringingmyheartanddestroyingmybeliefswithyourjokes。\"
\"Godforbid！Ihavetoldyoutheexacttruth。\"
\"Youareverykind，father，\"shesaidafterapause，andwithasortofsolemnity。
\"Hehaskeptyourletters，\"resumedthecolonel;\"nowsupposetherashcaressesofyoursoulhadfallenintothehandsofoneofthosepoetswho，asDumaysays，lighttheircigarswiththem？\"
\"Oh！——youaregoingtoofar。\"
\"Canalistoldhimso。\"
\"HasDumayseenCanalis？\"
\"Yes，\"answeredherfather。
Thetwowalkedalonginsilence。
\"SothatiswhythatGENTLEMAN，\"resumedModeste，\"toldmesomuchharmofpoetsandpoetry;nowonderthelittlesecretarysaid——Why，\"
sheadded，interruptingherself，\"hisvirtues，hisnoblequalities，hisfinesentimentsarenothingbutanepistolarytheft！Themanwhostealsgloryandanamemayverylikely——\"
\"——breaklocks，stealpurses，andcutpeople’sthroatsonthehighway，\"criedthecolonel。\"Ah，youyounggirls，that’sjustlikeyou，——withyourperemptoryopinionsandyourignoranceoflife。Amanwhooncedeceivesawomanwasbornunderthescaffoldonwhichheoughttodie。\"
ThisridiculestoppedModeste’seffervescenceforamomentandleast，andagaintherewassilence。
\"Mychild，\"saidthecolonel，presently，\"meninsociety，asinnatureeverywhere，aremadetowintheheartsofwomen，andwomenmustdefendthemselves。Youhavechosentoinverttheparts。Wasthatwise？
Everythingisfalseinafalseposition。Thefirstwrong—doingwasyours。No，amanisnotamonsterbecauseheseekstopleaseawoman;
itisourrighttowinherbyaggressionwithallitsconsequences，shortofcrimeandcowardice。Amanmayhavemanyvirtuesevenifhedoesdeceiveawoman;ifhedeceivesher，itisbecausehefindsherwantinginsomeofthetreasuresthathesoughtinher。Nonebutaqueen，anactress，orawomanplacedsofaraboveamanthatsheseemstohimaqueen，cangotohimofherselfwithoutincurringblame——andforayounggirltodoit！Why，sheisfalsetoallthatGodhasgivenherthatissacredandlovelyandnoble，——nomatterwithwhatgraceorwhatpoetryorwhatprecautionsshesurroundsherfault。\"
\"Toseekthemasterandfindtheservant！\"shesaidbitterly，\"oh！I
canneverrecoverfromit！\"
\"Nonsense！MonsieurErnestdeLaBriereis，tomythinking，fullytheequaloftheBarondeCanalis。Hewasprivatesecretaryofacabinetminister，andheisnowcounselfortheCourtofClaims;hehasaheart，andheadoresyou，but——heDOESNOTWRITEVERSES。No，Iadmit，heisnotapoet;butforallthathemayhaveaheartfullofpoetry。
Atanyrate，mydeargirl，\"addedherfather，asModestemadeagestureofdisgust，\"youaretoseebothofthem，theshamandthetrueCanalis——\"
\"Oh，papa！——\"
\"Didyounotswearjustnowtoobeymeineverything，evenintheAFFAIRofyourmarriage？Well，Iallowyoutochoosewhichofthetwoyoulikebestforahusband。Youhavebegunbyapoem，youshallfinishwithabucolic，andtryifyoucandiscovertherealcharacterofthesegentlemenhere，inthecountry，onafewhuntingorfishingexcursions。\"
Modestebowedherheadandwalkedhomewithherfather，listeningtowhathesaidbutreplyingonlyinmonosyllables。
CHAPTERXVI
DISENCHANTED
Thepoorgirlhadfallenhumiliatedfromthealpshehadscaledinsearchofhereagle’snest，intothemudoftheswampbelow，where（tousethepoeticlanguageofanauthorofourday）\"afterfeelingthesolesofherfeettootendertotreadthebrokenglassofreality，Imagination——whichinthatdelicatebosomunitedthewholeofwomanhood，fromtheviolet—hiddenreveriesofachasteyounggirltothepassionatedesiresofthesex——hadledherintoenchantedgardenswhere，oh，bittersight！shenowsaw，springingfromtheground，notthesublimeflowerofherfancy，butthehairy，twistedlimbsoftheblackmandragora。\"Modestesuddenlyfoundherselfbroughtdownfromthemysticheightsofherlovetoastraight，flatroadborderedwithditches，——inshortthework—daypathofcommonlife。Whatardent，aspiringsoulwouldnothavebeenbruisedandbrokenbysuchafall？
Whosefeetweretheseatwhichshehadshedherthoughts？TheModestewhore—enteredtheChaletwasnomoretheModestewhohadleftittwohoursearlierthananactressinthestreetislikeanactressontheboards。Shefellintoastateofnumbdepressionthatwaspitifultosee。Thesunwasdarkened，natureveileditself，eventheflowersnolongerspoketoher。Likeallyounggirlswithatendencytoextremes，shedranktoodeeplyofthecupofdisillusion。Shefoughtagainstreality，andwouldnotbendhernecktotheyokeoffamilyandconventions;itwas，shefelt，tooheavy，toohard，toocrushing。Shewouldnotlistentotheconsolationsofherfatherandmother，andtastedasortofsavagepleasureinlettinghersoulsuffertotheutmost。
\"PoorButschawasright，\"shesaidoneevening。
Thewordsindicatethedistanceshetravelledinashortspaceoftimeandingloomysadnessacrossthebarrenplainofreality。Sadness，whencausedbytheovergrowthofhope，isadisease，——sometimesafatalone。ItwouldbenomeanobjectforphysiologytosearchoutinwhatwaysandbywhatmeansThoughtproducesthesameinternaldisorganizationaspoison;andhowitisthatdespairaffectstheappetite，destroysthepylorus，andchangesallthephysicalconditionsofthestrongestlife。SuchwasthecasewithModeste。Inthreeshortdaysshebecametheimageofmorbidmelancholy;shedidnotsing，shecouldnotbemadetosmile。CharlesMignon，becominguneasyatthenon—arrivalofthetwofriends，thoughtofgoingtofetchthem，when，ontheeveningofthefifthday，hereceivednewsoftheirmovementsthroughLatournelle。
