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humble grange； where love at least will greet you！
XXXIV
MME。 DE MACUMER TO THE VICOMTESSE DE L'ESTORADE
April 1826。
The name on this address will tell you； dear； that my petition has
been granted。 Your father…in…law is now Comte de l'Estorade。 I would
not leave Paris till I had obtained the gratification of your wishes；
and I am writing in the presence of the Keeper of the Seals； who has
come to tell me that the patent is signed。
Good…bye for a short time！
XXXV
THE SAME TO THE SAME
MARSEILLES； July。
I am ashamed to think how my sudden flight will have taken you by
surprise。 But since I am above all honest； and since I love you not
one bit the less； I shall tell you the truth in four words： I am
horribly jealous！
Felipe's eyes were too often on you。 You used to have little talks
together at the foot of your rock； which were a torture to me； and I
was fast becoming irritable and unlike myself。 Your truly Spanish
beauty could not fail to recall to him his native land； and along with
it Marie Heredia； and I can be jealous of the past too。 Your
magnificent black hair； your lovely dark eyes； your brow； where the
peaceful joy of motherhood stands out radiant against the shadows
which tell of past suffering； the freshness of your southern skin； far
fairer than that of a blonde like me； the splendid lines of your
figure； the breasts； on which my godson hangs； peeping through the
lace like some luscious fruit；all this stabbed me in the eyes and in
the heart。 In vain did I stick cornflowers in my curls； in vain set
off with cherry…colored ribbons the tameness of my pale locks；
everything looked washed out when Renee appeareda Renee so unlike
the one I expected to find in your oasis。
Then Felipe made too much of the child； whom I found myself beginning
to hate。 Yes； I confess it； that exuberance of life which fills your
house； making it gay with shouts and laughterI wanted it for myself。
I read a regret in Macumer's eyes； and； unknown to him； I cried over
it two whole nights。 I was miserable in your house。 You are too
beautiful as a woman； too triumphant as a mother； for me to endure
your company。
Ah！ you complained of your lot。 Hypocrite！ What would you have？
L'Estorade is most presentable； he talks well； he has fine eyes； and
his black hair； dashed with white； is very becoming； his southern
manners； too； have something attractive about them。 As far as I can
make out； he will； sooner or later； be elected deputy for the Bouches…
du…Rhone； in the Chamber he is sure to come to the front； for you can
always count on me to promote your interests。 The sufferings of his
exile have given him that calm and dignified air which goes half…way；
in my opinion； to make a politician。 For the whole art of politics；
dear； seems to me to consist in looking serious。 At this rate；
Macumer； as I told him； ought certainly to have a high position in the
state。
And so； having completely satisfied myself of your happiness； I fly
off contented to my dear Chantepleurs； where Felipe must really
achieve his aspirations。 I have made up my mind not to receive you
there without a fine baby at my breast to match yours。
Oh！ I know very well I deserve all the epithets you can hurl at me。 I
am a fool； a wretch； an idiot。 Alas！ that is just what jealousy means。
I am not vexed with you； but I was miserable； and you will forgive me
for escaping from my misery。 Two days more； and I should have made an
exhibition of myself； yes； there would have been an outbreak of
vulgarity。
But in spite of the rage gnawing at my heart； I am glad to have come；
glad to have seen you in the pride of your beautiful motherhood； my
friend still； as I remain yours in all the absorption of my love。 Why；
even here at Marseilles； only a step from your door； I begin to feel
proud of you and of the splendid mother that you will make。
How well you judged your vocation！ You seem to me born for the part of
mother rather than of lover； exactly as the reverse is true of me。
There are women capable of neither； hard…favored or silly women。 A
good mother and a passionately loving wife have this in common； that
they both need intelligence and discretion ever at hand； and an
unfailing command of every womanly art and grace。 Oh！ I watched you
well； need I add； sly puss； that I admired you too！ Your children will
be happy； but not spoilt； with your tenderness lapping them round and
the clear light of your reason playing softly on them。
Tell Louis the truth about my going away； but find some decent excuse
for your father…in…law； who seems to act as steward for the
establishment； and be careful to do the same for your familya true
Provencal version of the Harlowe family。 Felipe does not know why I
left； and he will never know。 If he asks； I shall contrive to find
some colorable pretext； probably that you were jealous of me！ Forgive
me this little conventional fib。
Good…bye。 I write in haste； as I want you to get this at lunch…time；
and the postilion； who has undertaken to convey it to you； is here；
refreshing himself while he waits。
Many kisses to my dear little godson。 Be sure you come to Chantepleurs
in October。 I shall be alone there all the time that Macumer is away
in Sardinia； where he is designing great improvements in his estate。
At least that is his plan for the moment； and his pet vanity consists
in having a plan。 Then he feels that he has a will of his own； and
this makes him very uneasy when he unfolds it to me。 Good…bye！
XXXVI
THE VICOMTESSE DE L'ESTORADE TO THE BARONNE DE MACUMER
Dear；no words can express the astonishment of all our party when； at
luncheon； we were told that you had both gone； and； above all； when
the postilion who took you to Marseilles handed me your mad letter。
Why； naughty child； it was of your happiness； and nothing else； that
made the theme of those talks below the rock； on the 〃Louise〃 seat；
and you had not the faintest justification for objecting to them。
/Ingrata！/ My sentence on you is that you return here at my first
summons。 In that horrid letter； scribbled on the inn paper； you did
not tell me what would be your next stopping place； so I must address
this to Chantepleurs。
Listen to me； dear sister of my heart。 Know first； that my mind is set
on your happiness。 Your husband； dear Louise； commands respect； not
only by his natural gravity and dignified expression； but also because
he somehow impresses one with the splendid power revealed in his
piquant plainness and in the fire of his velvet eyes； and you will
understand that it was some little time before I could meet him on
those easy terms which are almost necessary for intimate conversation。
Further； this man has been Prime Minister； and he idolizes you； whence
it follows that he must be a profound dissembler。 To fish up secrets；
therefore； from the rocky caverns of this diplomatic soul is a work
demanding a skilful hand no less than a ready brain。 Nevertheless； I
succeeded at last； without rousing my victim's suspicions； in
discovering many things of which you； my pet； have no conception。
You know that； between us two； my part is rather that of reason； yours