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Yet； in spite of all this enchantment； I once more stood out for my
complete independence。 I can't tell you all my reasons for this。 To
you alone shall I confide even as much as this。 I believe that women；
whether passionately loved or not； lose much in their relation with
their husbands by not concealing their feelings about marriage and the
way they look at it。
My one joy； and it is supreme； springs from the certainty of having
brought new life to my husband before I have borne him any children。
Louis has regained his youth； strength； and spirits。 He is not the
same man。 With magic touch I have effaced the very memory of his
sufferings。 It is a complete metamorphosis。 Louis is really very
attractive now。 Feeling sure of my affection； he throws off his
reserve and displays unsuspected gifts。
To be the unceasing spring of happiness for a man who knows it and
adds gratitude to love； ah！ dear one； this is a conviction which
fortifies the soul； even more than the most passionate love can do。
The force thus developedat once impetuous and enduring； simple and
diversifiedbrings forth ultimately the family； that noble product of
womanhood； which I realize now in all its animating beauty。
The old father has ceased to be a miser。 He gives blindly whatever I
wish for。 The servants are content； it seems as though the bliss of
Louis had let a flood of sunshine into the household； where love has
made me queen。 Even the old man would not be a blot upon my pretty
home； and has brought himself into line with all my improvements； to
please me he has adopted the dress； and with the dress； the manners of
the day。
We have English horses； a coupe； a barouche； and a tilbury。 The livery
of our servants is simple but in good taste。 Of course we are looked
on as spendthrifts。 I apply all my intellect （I am speaking quite
seriously） to managing my household with economy； and obtaining for it
the maximum of pleasure with the minimum of cost。
I have already convinced Louis of the necessity of getting roads made；
in order that he may earn the reputation of a man interested in the
welfare of his district。 I insist too on his studying a great deal。
Before long I hope to see him a member of the Council General of the
Department； through the influence of my family and his mother's。 I
have told him plainly that I am ambitious； and that I was very well
pleased his father should continue to look after the estate and
practise economies； because I wished him to devote himself exclusively
to politics。 If we had children； I should like to see them all
prosperous and with good State appointments。 Under penalty； therefore；
of forfeiting my esteem and affection； he must get himself chosen
deputy for the department at the coming elections； my family would
support his candidature； and we should then have the delight of
spending all our winters in Paris。 Ah！ my love； by the ardor with
which he embraced my plans； I can gauge the depth of his affection。
To conclude here is a letter he wrote me yesterday from Marseilles；
where he had gone to spend a few hours：
〃MY SWEET RENEE；When you gave me permission to love you； I began
to believe in happiness； now； I see it unfolding endlessly before
me。 The past is merely a dim memory； a shadowy background； without
which my present bliss would show less radiant。 When I am with
you； love so transports me that I am powerless to express the
depth of my affection； I can but worship and admire。 Only at a
distance does the power of speech return。 You are supremely
beautiful； Renee； and your beauty is of the statuesque and regal
type； on which time leaves but little impression。 No doubt the
love of husband and wife depends less on outward beauty than on
graces of character； which are yours also in perfection； still；
let me say that the certainty of having your unchanging beauty； on
which to feast my eyes； gives me a joy that grows with every
glance。 There is a grace and dignity in the lines of your face；
expressive of the noble soul within； and breathing of purity
beneath the vivid coloring。 The brilliance of your dark eyes； the
bold sweep of your forehead； declare a spirit of no common
elevation； sound and trustworthy in every relation； and well
braced to meet the storms of life； should such arise。 The keynote
of your character is its freedom from all pettiness。 You do not
need to be told all this； but I write it because I would have you
know that I appreciate the treasure I possess。 Your favors to me；
however slight； will always make my happiness in the far…distant
future as now； for I am sensible how much dignity there is in our
promise to respect each other's liberty。 Our own impulse shall
with us alone dictate the expression of feeling。 We shall be free
even in our fetters。 I shall have the more pride in wooing you
again now that I know the reward you place on victory。 You cannot
speak； breathe； act； or think； without adding to the admiration I
feel for your charm both of body and mind。 There is in you a rare
combination of the ideal； the practical； and the bewitching which
satisfies alike judgment； a husband's pride； desire； and hope； and
which extends the boundaries of love beyond those of life itself。
Oh！ my loved one； may the genius of love remain faithful to me；
and the future be full of those delights by means of which you
have glorified all that surrounds me！ I long for the day which
shall make you a mother； that I may see you content with the
fulness of your life； may hear you； in the sweet voice I love and
with the thoughts； bless the love which has refreshed my soul and
given new vigor to my powers； the love which is my pride； and
whence I have drawn； as from a magic fountain； fresh life。 Yes； I
shall be all that you would have me。 I shall take a leading part
in the public life of the district； and on you shall fall the rays
of a glory which will owe its existence to the desire of pleasing
you。〃
So much for my pupil； dear！ Do you suppose he could have written like
this before？ A year hence his style will have still further improved。
Louis is now in his first transport； what I look forward to is the
uniform and continuous sensation of content which ought to be the
fruit of a happy marriage； when a man and woman； in perfect trust and
mutual knowledge； have solved the problem of giving variety to the
infinite。 This is the task set before every true wife； the answer
begins to dawn on me； and I shall not rest till I have made it mine。
You see that he fancies himselfvanity of men！the chosen of my
heart； just as though there were no legal bonds。 Nevertheless； I have
not yet got beyond that external attraction which gives us strength to
put up with a good deal。 Yet Louis is lovable； his temper is
wonderfully even； and he performs； as a matter of course； acts on
which most men would plume themselves。 In short； if I do not love him；
I shall find no difficulty in being good to him。
So here are my black hair and my black eyeswhose lashes act；
according to you； like Venetian blindsmy commanding air； and my
whole person； raised