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Wednesdayfor receiving。 I have entered the lists with Mmes。 d'Espard
and de Maufrigneuse； and with the old Duchesse de Lenoncourt； and my
house has the reputation of being a very lively one。 I allowed myself
to become the fashion； because I saw how much pleasure my success gave
Felipe。 My mornings are his； from four in the afternoon till two in
the morning I belong to Paris。 Macumer makes an admirable host； witty
and dignified； perfect in courtesy； and with an air of real
distinction。 No woman could help loving such a husband even if she had
chosen him without consulting her heart。
My father and mother have left for Madrid。 Louis XVIII。 being out of
the way； the Duchess had no difficulty in obtaining from our good…
natured Charles X。 the appointment of her fascinating poet； so he is
carried off in the capacity of attache。
My brother； the Duc de Rhetore； deigns to recognize me as a person of
mark。 As for my younger brother； The Comte de Chaulieu； this buckram
warrior owes me everlasting gratitude。 Before my father left； he spent
my fortune in acquiring for the Count an estate of forty thousand
francs a year； entailed on the title； and his marriage with Mlle。 de
Mortsauf； an heiress from Touraine； is definitely arranged。 The King；
in order to preserve the name and titles of the de Lenoncourt and de
Givry families from extinction； is to confer these； together with the
armorial bearings； by patent on my brother。 Certainly it would never
have done to allow these two fine names and their splendid motto；
/Faciem semper monstramus/； to perish。 Mlle。 de Mortsauf； who is
granddaughter and sole heiress of the Duc de Lenoncourt…Givry； will；
it is said； inherit altogether more than one hundred thousand livres a
year。 The only stipulation my father has made is that the de Chaulieu
arms should appear in the centre of the de Lenoncourt escutcheon。 Thus
my brother will be Duc de Lenoncourt。 The young de Mortsauf； to whom
everything would otherwise go； is in the last stage of consumption；
his death is looked for every day。 The marriage will take place next
winter when the family are out of mourning。 I am told that I shall
have a charming sister…in…law in Mlle。 de Mortsauf。
So you see that my father's reasoning is justified。 The outcome of it
all has won me many compliments； and my marriage is explained to
everybody's satisfaction。 To complete our success； the Prince de
Talleyrand； out of affection for my grandmother； is showing himself a
warm friend to Macumer。 Society； which began by criticising me； has
now passed to cordial admiration。
In short； I now reign a queen where； barely two years ago； I was an
insignificant item。 Macumer finds himself the object of universal
envy； as the husband of 〃the most charming woman in Paris。〃 At least a
score of women； as you know； are always in that proud position。 Men
murmur sweet things in my ear； or content themselves with greedy
glances。 This chorus of longing and admiration is so soothing to one's
vanity； that I confess I begin to understand the unconscionable price
women are ready to pay for such frail and precarious privileges。 A
triumph of this kind is like strong wine to vanity； self…love； and all
the self…regarding feelings。 To pose perpetually as a divinity is a
draught so potent in its intoxicating effects； that I am no longer
surprised to see women grow selfish； callous； and frivolous in the
heart of this adoration。 The fumes of society mount to the head。 You
lavish the wealth of your soul and spirit； the treasures of your time；
the noblest efforts of your will； upon a crowd of people who repay you
in smiles and jealousy。 The false coin of their pretty speeches；
compliments； and flattery is the only return they give for the solid
gold of your courage and sacrifices； and all the thought that must go
to keep up without flagging the standard of beauty； dress； sparkling
talk； and general affability。 You are perfectly aware how much it
costs； and that the whole thing is a fraud； but you cannot keep out of
the vortex。
Ah！ my sweetheart； how one craves for a real friend！ How precious to
me are the love and devotion of Felipe； and how my heart goes out to
you！ Joyfully indeed are we preparing for our move to Chantepleurs；
where we can rest from the comedy of the Rue de Bac and of the Paris
drawing…rooms。 Having just read your letter again； I feel that I
cannot better describe this demoniac paradise than by saying that no
woman of fashion in Paris can possibly be a good mother。
Good…bye； then； for a short time； dear one。 We shall stay at
Chantepleurs only a week at most； and shall be with you about May
10th。 So we are actually to meet again after more than two years！ What
changes since then！ Here we are； both matrons； both in our promised
landI of love； you of motherhood。
If I have not written； my sweetest； it is not because I have forgotten
you。 And what of the monkey godson？ Is he still pretty and a credit to
me？ He must be more than nine months' old now。 I should dearly like to
be present when he makes his first steps upon this earth； but Macumer
tells me that even precocious infants hardly walk at ten months。
We shall have some good gossips there； and 〃cut pinafores；〃 as the
Blois folk say。 I shall see whether a child； as the saying goes；
spoils the pattern。
P。 S。If you deign to reply from your maternal heights； address to
Chantepleurs。 I am just off。
XXXIII
MME。 DE L'ESTORADE TO MME。 DE MACUMER
My child；If ever you become a mother； you will find out that it is
impossible to write letters during the first two months of your
nursing。 Mary； my English nurse； and I are both quite knocked up。 It
is true I had not told you that I was determined to do everything
myself。 Before the event I had with my own fingers sewn the baby
clothes and embroidered and edged with lace the little caps。 I am a
slave； my pet； a slave day and night。
To begin with； Master Armand…Louis takes his meals when it pleases
him； and that is always； then he has often to be changed； washed； and
dressed。 His mother is so fond of watching him sleep； of singing songs
to him； of walking him about in her arms on a fine day； that she has
little time left to attend to herself。 In short； what society has been
to you； my childour childhas been to me！
I cannot tell you how full and rich my life has become； and I long for
your coming that you may see for yourself。 The only thing is； I am
afraid he will soon be teething； and that you will find a peevish；
crying baby。 So far he has not cried much； for I am always at hand。
Babies only cry when their wants are not understood； and I am
constantly on the lookout for his。 Oh！ my sweet； my heart has opened
up so wide； while you allow yours to shrink and shrivel at the bidding
of society！ I look for your coming with all a hermit's longing。 I want
so much to know what you think of l'Estorade； just as you no doubt are
curious for my opinion of Macumer。
Write to me from your last resting…place。 The gentlemen want to go and
meet our distinguished guests。 Come； Queen of Paris； come to our
humble grange； where love at least will greet you！
XXXIV
MME。 DE MACUMER TO