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happens that a mother who has lived on excellent terms with her
daughter； as long as the daughter is a mere girl； comes to cross
purposes with her when they are both women together。
〃It is your happiness which I want； so listen to my words。 The love
which you now feel is that of a young girl； and is natural to us all；
for it is woman's destiny to cling to a man。 Unhappily； pretty one；
there is but one man in the world for a woman！ And sometimes this man；
whom fate has marked out for us； is not the one whom we； mistaking a
passing fancy for love； choose as husband。 Strange as what I say may
appear to you； it is worth noting。 If we cannot love the man we have
chosen； the fault is not exclusively ours； it lies with both； or
sometimes with circumstances over which we have no control。 Yet there
is no reason why the man chosen for us by our family； the man to whom
our fancy has gone out； should not be the man whom we can love。 The
barriers which arise later between husband and wife are often due to
lack of perseverance on both sides。 The task of transforming a husband
into a lover is not less delicate than that other task of making a
husband of the lover； in which you have just proved yourself
marvelously successful。
〃I repeat it； your happiness is my object。 Never allow yourself； then；
to forget that the first three months of your married life may work
your misery if you do not submit to the yoke with the same
forbearance； tenderness； and intelligence that you have shown during
the days of courtship。 For； my little rogue； you know very well that
you have indulged in all the innocent pleasures of a clandestine love
affair。 If the culmination of your love begins with disappointment；
dislike； nay； even with pain； well； come and tell me about it。 Don't
hope for too much from marriage at first； it will perhaps give you
more discomfort than joy。 The happiness of your life requires at least
as patient cherishing as the early shoots of love。
〃To conclude； if by chance you should lose the lover； you will find in
his place the father of your children。 In this； my dear child； lies
the whole secret of social life。 Sacrifice everything to the man whose
name you bear； the man whose honor and reputation cannot suffer in the
least degree without involving you in frightful consequences。 Such
sacrifice is thus not only an absolute duty for women of our rank； it
is also their wisest policy。 This； indeed； is the distinctive mark of
great moral principles； that they hold good and are expedient from
whatever aspect they are viewed。 But I need say no more to you on this
point。
〃I fancy you are of a jealous disposition； and； my dear； if you knew
how jealous I am！ But you must not be stupid over it。 To publish your
jealousy to the world is like playing at politics with your cards upon
the table； and those who let their own game be seen learn nothing of
their opponents'。 Whatever happens； we must know how to suffer in
silence。〃
She added that she intended having some plain talk about me with
Macumer the evening before the wedding。
Raising my mother's beautiful arm； I kissed her hand and dropped on it
a tear； which the tone of real feeling in her voice had brought to my
eyes。 In the advice she had given me； I read high principle worthy of
herself and of me； true wisdom； and a tenderness of heart unspoilt by
the narrow code of society。 Above all； I saw that she understood my
character。 These few simple words summed up the lessons which life and
experience had brought her； perhaps at a heavy price。 She was moved；
and said； as she looked at me：
〃Dear little girl； you've got a nasty crossing before you。 And most
women； in their ignorance or their disenchantment； are as wise as the
Earl of Westmoreland！〃
We both laughed； but I must explain the joke。 The evening before； a
Russian princess had told us an anecdote of this gentleman。 He had
suffered frightfully from sea…sickness in crossing the Channel； and
turned tail when he got near Italy； because he had heard some one
speak of 〃crossing〃 the Alps。 〃Thank you； I've had quite enough
crossings already；〃 he said。
You will understand； Renee； that your gloomy philosophy and my
mother's lecture were calculated to revive the fears which used to
disturb us at Blois。 The nearer marriage approached； the more did I
need to summon all my strength； my resolution； and my affection to
face this terrible passage from maidenhood to womanhood。 All our
conversations came back to my mind； I re…read your letters and
discerned in them a vague undertone of sadness。
This anxiety had one advantage at least； it helped me to the
regulation expression for a bride as commonly depicted。 The
consequence was that on the day of signing the contract everybody said
I looked charming and quite the right thing。 This morning； at the
Mairie； it was an informal business； and only the witnesses were
present。
I am writing this tail to my letter while they are putting out my
dress for dinner。 We shall be married at midnight at the Church of
Sainte…Valere； after a very gay evening。 I confess that my fears give
me a martyr…like and modest air to which I have no right； but which
will be admiredwhy； I cannot conceive。 I am delighted to see that
poor Felipe is every whit as timorous as I am； society grates on him；
he is like a bat in a glass shop。
〃Thank Heaven； the day won't last for ever！〃 he whispered to me in all
innocence。
In his bashfulness and timidity he would have liked to have no one
there。
The Sardinian ambassador； when he came to sign the contract； took me
aside in order to present me with a pearl necklace； linked together by
six splendid diamondsa gift from my sister…in…law； the Duchess de
Soria。 Along with the necklace was a sapphire bracelet； on the under
side of which were engraved the words； 〃/Though unknown； beloved/。〃
Two charming letters came with these presents； which； however； I could
not accept without consulting Felipe。
〃For；〃 I said； 〃I should not like to see you wearing ornaments that
came from any one but me。〃
He kissed my hand； quite moved； and replied：
〃Wear them for the sake of the inscription； and also for the kind
feeling； which is sincere。〃
Saturday evening。
Here； then； my poor Renee； are the last words of your girl friend。
After the midnight Mass； we set off for an estate which Felipe； with
kind thought for me； has bought in Nivernais； on the way to Provence。
Already my name is Louise de Macumer； but I leave Paris in a few hours
as Louise de Chaulieu。 However I am called； there will never be for
you but one Louise。
XXVII
THE SAME TO THE SAME
October。
I have not written to you； dear； since our marriage； nearly eight
months ago。 And not a line from you！ Madame； you are inexcusable。
To begin with； we set off in a post…chaise for the Castle of
Chantepleurs； the property which Macumer has bought in Nivernais。 It
stands on the banks of the Loire； sixty leagues from Paris。 Our
servants； with the exception of my maid； were there before us； and we
arrived； after a very rapid journey； the next evening。 I slept all the
way from Paris to beyond Montargis。 My lord and master put