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and the flowers of loveall of which you describe so graphically；
that I might be watching some first…rate acting at the theatremine
is as monotonous and regular as though it were passed in a convent。
We always go to bed at nine and get up with daybreak。 Our meals are
served with a maddening punctuality。 Nothing ever happens。 I have
accustomed myself without much difficulty to this mapping out of the
day； which perhaps is； after all； in the nature of things。 Where would
the life of the universe be but for that subjection to fixed laws
which； according to the astronomers； so Louis tells me； rule the
spheres！ It is not order of which we weary。
Then I have laid upon myself certain rules of dress； and these occupy
my time in the mornings。 I hold it part of my duty as a wife to look
as charming as possible。 I feel a certain satisfaction in it； and it
causes lively pleasure to the good old man and to Louis。 After lunch；
we walk。 When the newspapers arrive； I disappear to look after my
household affairs or to readfor I read a great dealor to write to
you。 I come back to the others an hour before dinner； and after dinner
we play cards； or receive visits； or pay them。 Thus my days pass
between a contented old man； who has done with passions； and the man
who owes his happiness to me。 Louis' happiness is so radiant that it
has at last warmed my heart。
For women； happiness no doubt cannot consist in the mere satisfaction
of desire。 Sometimes； in the evening； when I am not required to take a
hand in the game； and can sink back in my armchair； imagination bears
me on its strong wings into the very heart of your life。 Then； its
riches； its changeful tints； its surging passions become my own； and I
ask myself to what end such a stormy preface can lead。 May I not
swallow up the book itself？ For you； my darling； the illusions of love
are possible； for me； only the facts of homely life remain。 Yes； your
love seems to me a dream！
Therefore I find it hard to understand why you are determined to throw
so much romance over it。 Your ideal man must have more soul than fire；
more nobility and self…command than passion。 You persist in trying to
clothe in living form the dream ideal of a girl on the threshold of
life； you demand sacrifices for the pleasure of rewarding them； you
submit your Felipe to tests in order to ascertain whether desire；
hope； and curiosity are enduring in their nature。 But； child； behind
all your fantastic stage scenery rises the altar； where everlasting
bonds are forged。 The very morrow of your marriage the graceful
structure raised by your subtle strategy may fall before that terrible
reality which makes of a girl a woman； of a gallant a husband。
Remember that there is not exemption for lovers。 For them； as for
ordinary folk like Louis and me； there lurks beneath the wedding
rejoicings the great 〃Perhaps〃 of Rabelais。
I do not blame you； though； of course； it was rash； for talking with
Felipe in the garden； or for spending a night with him； you on your
balcony； he on his wall； but you make a plaything of life； and I am
afraid that life may some day turn the tables。 I dare not give you the
counsel which my own experience would suggest； but let me repeat once
more from the seclusion of my valley that the viaticum of married life
lies in these wordsresignation and self…sacrifice。 For； spite of all
your tests； your coyness； and your vigilance； I can see that marriage
will mean to you what it has been to me。 The greater the passion； the
steeper the precipice we have hewn for our fallthat is the only
difference。
Oh！ what I would give to see the Baron de Macumer and talk with him
for an hour or two！ Your happiness lies so near my heart。
XXVI
LOUISE DE MACUMER TO RENEE DE L'ESTORADE
March。
As Felipe has carried out； with a truly Saracenic generosity； the
wishes of my father and mother in acknowledging the fortune he has not
received from me； the Duchess has become even more friendly to me than
before。 She calls me little sly…boots； little woman of the world； and
says I know how to use my tongue。
〃But； dear mamma；〃 I said to her the evening before the contract was
signed； 〃you attribute to cunning and smartness on my part what is
really the outcome of the truest； simplest； most unselfish； most
devoted love that ever was！ I assure you that I am not at all the
'woman of the world' you do me the honor of believing me to be。〃
〃Come； come； Armande；〃 she said； putting her arm on my neck and
drawing me to her； in order to kiss my forehead； 〃you did not want to
go back to the convent； you did not want to die an old maid； and； like
a fine； noble…hearted Chaulieu； as you are； you recognized the
necessity of building up your father's family。 （The Duke was
listening。 If you knew； Renee； what flattery lies for him in these
words。） I have watched you during the whole winter； poking your little
nose into all that goes on； forming very sensible opinions about men
and the present state of society in France。 And you have picked out
the one Spaniard capable of giving you the splendid position of a
woman who reigns supreme in her own house。 My little girl； you treated
him exactly as Tullia treats your brother。〃
〃What lessons they give in my sister's convent！〃 exclaimed my father。
A glance at my father cut him short at once； then； turning to the
Duchess； I said：
〃Madame； I love my future husband； Felipe de Soria； with all the
strength of my soul。 Although this love sprang up without my
knowledge； and though I fought it stoutly when it first made itself
felt； I swear to you that I never gave way to it till I had recognized
in the Baron de Macumer a character worthy of mine； a heart of which
the delicacy； the generosity； the devotion； and the temper are suited
to my own。〃
〃But； my dear；〃 she began； interrupting me； 〃he is as ugly as 。 。 。〃
〃As anything you like；〃 I retorted quickly； 〃but I love his ugliness。〃
〃If you love him； Armande；〃 said my father； 〃and have the strength to
master your love； you must not risk your happiness。 Now； happiness in
marriage depends largely on the first days〃
〃Days only？〃 interrupted my mother。 Then； with a glance at my father；
she continued； 〃You had better leave us； my dear； to have our talk
together。〃
〃You are to be married； dear child；〃 the Duchess then began in a low
voice； 〃in three days。 It becomes my duty； therefore； without silly
whimpering； which would be unfitting our rank in life； to give you the
serious advice which every mother owes to her daughter。 You are
marrying a man whom you love； and there is no reason why I should pity
you or myself。 I have only known you for a year； and if this period
has been long enough for me to learn to love you； it is hardly
sufficient to justify floods of tears at the idea of losing you。 Your
mental gifts are even more remarkable than those of your person； you
have gratified maternal pride； and have shown yourself a sweet and
loving daughter。 I； in my turn； can promise you that you will always
find a staunch friend in your mother。 You smile？ Alas！ it too often
happens that a mother who has lived on excellent terms with her
daughter； as l