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orator； speaks pleasantly and fluently； which is all that is necessary
in politics。 His shrewdness and the extent of his information in all
matters of government and administration are fully appreciated； and
all parties consider him indispensable。 I may tell you that he was
recently offered an embassy； but I would not let him accept it。 I am
tied to Paris by the education of Armand and Athenaiswho are now
respectively thirteen and nearly elevenand I don't intend leaving
till little Rene has completed his； which is just beginning。
We could not have remained faithful to the elder branch of the dynasty
and returned to our country life without allowing the education and
prospects of the three children to suffer。 A mother； my sweet； is
hardly called on to be a Decius； especially at a time when the type is
rare。 In fifteen years from now； l'Estorade will be able to retire to
La Crampade on a good pension； having found a place as referendary for
Armand in the Audit Department。
As for Rene； the navy will doubtless make a diplomatist of him。 The
little rogue； at seven years old； has all the cunning of an old
Cardinal。
Oh！ Louise； I am indeed a happy mother。 My children are an endless
source of joy to me。
Senza brama sicura ricchezza。
Armand is a day scholar at Henry IV。's school。 I made up my mind he
should have a public…school training； yet could not reconcile myself
to the thought of parting with him； so I compromised； as the Duc
d'Orleans did before he becameor in order that he might become
Louis Philippe。 Every morning Lucas； the old servant whom you will
remember； takes Armand to school in time for the first lesson； and
brings him home again at half…past four。 In the house we have a
private tutor； an admirable scholar； who helps Armand with his work in
the evenings； and calls him in the morning at the school hour。 Lucas
takes him some lunch during the play hour at midday。 In this way I am
with my boy at dinner and until he goes to bed at night； and I see him
off in the morning。
Armand is the same charming little fellow； full of feeling and
unselfish impulse； whom you loved； and his tutor is quite pleased with
him。 I still have Nais and the babytwo restless little mortalsbut
I am quite as much a child as they are。 I could not bring myself to
lose the darlings' sweet caresses。 I could not live without the
feeling that at any moment I can fly to Armand's bedside and watch his
slumbers or snatch a kiss。
Yet home education is not without its drawbacks； to which I am fully
alive。 Society； like nature； is a jealous power； and will have not her
rights encroached on； or her system set at naught。 Thus； children who
are brought up at home are exposed too early to the fire of the world；
they see its passions and become at home with its subterfuges。 The
finer distinctions； which regulate the conduct of matured men and
women； elude their perceptions； and they take feeling and passion for
their guide instead of subordinating those to the code of society；
whilst the gay trappings and tinsel which attract so much of the
world's favor blind them to the importance of the more sober virtues。
A child of fifteen with the assurance of a man of the world is a thing
against all nature； at twenty…five he will be prematurely old； and his
precocious knowledge only unfits him for the genuine study on which
all solid ability must rest。 Life in society is one long comedy； and
those who take part in it； like other actors； reflect back impressions
which never penetrate below the surface。 A mother； therefore； who
wishes not to part from her children； must resolutely determine that
they shall not enter the gay world； she must have courage to resist
their inclinations； as well as her own； and keep them in the
background。 Cornelia had to keep her jewels under lock and key。 Shall
I do less for the children who are all the world to me？
Now that I am thirty； the heat of the day is over； the hardest bit of
the road lies behind me。 In a few years I shall be an old woman； and
the sense of duty done is an immense encouragement。 It would almost
seem as though my trio can read my thoughts and shape themselves
accordingly。 A mysterious bond of sympathy unites me to these children
who have never left my side。 If they knew the blank in my life which
they have to fill； they could not be more lavish of the solace they
bring。
Armand； who was dull and dreamy during his first three years at
school； and caused me some uneasiness； has made a sudden start。
Doubtless he realized； in a way most children never do； the aim of all
this preparatory work； which is to sharpen the intelligence； to get
them into habits of application and accustom them to that fundamental
principle of all societyobedience。 My dear； a few days ago I had the
proud joy of seeing Armand crowned at the great interscholastic
competition in the crowded Sorbonne； when your godson received the
first prize for translation。 At the school distribution he got two
first prizesone for verse； and one for an essay。 I went quite white
when his name was called out； and longed to shout aloud； 〃I am his
mother！〃 Little Nais squeezed my hand till it hurt； if at such a
moment it were possible to feel pain。 Ah！ Louise； a day like this
might outweigh many a dream of love！
His brother's triumphs have spurred on little Rene； who wants to go to
school too。 Sometimes the three children make such a racket； shouting
and rushing about the house； that I wonder how my head stands it。 I am
always with them； no one else； not even Mary； is allowed to take care
of my children。 But the calling of a mother； if taxing； has so many
compensating joys！ To see a child leave its play and run to hug one；
out of the fulness of its heart； what could be sweeter？
Then it is only in being constantly with them that one can study their
characters。 It is the duty of a mother； and one which she can depute
to no hired teacher； to decipher the tastes； temper； and natural
aptitudes of her children from their infancy。 All home…bred children
are distinguished by ease of manner and tact； two acquired qualities
which may go far to supply the lack of natural ability； whereas no
natural ability can atone for the loss of this early training。 I have
already learned to discriminate this difference of tone in the men
whom I meet in society； and to trace the hand of a woman in the
formation of a young man's manners。 How could any woman defraud her
children of such a possession？ You see what rewards attend the
performance of my tasks！
Armand； I feel certain； will make an admirable judge； the most upright
of public servants； the most devoted of deputies。 And where would you
find a sailor bolder； more adventurous； more astute than my Rene will
be a few years hence？ The little rascal has already an iron will；
whatever he wants he manages to get； he will try a thousand circuitous
ways to reach his end； and if not successful then； will devise a
thousand and first。 Where dear Armand quietly resigns himself and
tries to get at the reason of things； Rene will storm； and strive； and
puzzle； chattering all the time； till at last he finds some chink in
the obstacl