Englandespeciallyhehadoftenvisited，andhespokethelanguagealmostwithoutaccent。IhadoncespentthreerainydayswithhiminthehouseofanEnglishfriendinthecountry。Hewasasharpobserver，andagooddealofagossip;heknewalittlesomethingabouteveryone，andaboutsomepeopleeverything。HisknowledgeonsocialmattersgenerallyhadthequalityofallGermanscience;itwascopious，minute，exhaustive。
　　"Dotellme，"Isaid，aswestoodlookingroundthehouse，"whoandwhatistheladyinwhite，withtheyoungmansittingbehindher。"
　　"Who？"heanswered，droppinghisglass。"MadameBlumenthal！What！
　　Itwouldtakelongtosay。Beintroduced;it’seasilydone;youwillfindhercharming。Then，afteraweek，youwilltellmewhatsheis。"
　　"PerhapsIshouldnot。Myfriendtherehasknownheraweek，andI
　　don’tthinkheisyetabletogiveacoherentaccountofher。"
　　Heraisedhisglassagain，andafterlookingawhile，"Iamafraidyourfriendisalittle——whatdoyoucallit？——alittle’soft。’Poorfellow！he’snotthefirst。Ihaveneverknownthisladythatshehasnothadsomeeligibleyouthhoveringaboutinsomesuchattitudeasthat，undergoingthesofteningprocess。Shelookswonderfullywell，fromhere。It’sextraordinaryhowthosewomenlast！"
　　"Youdon’tmean，Itakeit，whenyoutalkabout’thosewomen，’thatMadameBlumenthalisnotembalmed，forduration，inacertaininfusionofrespectability？"
　　"Yesandno。Theatmospherethatsurroundsherisentirelyofherownmaking。Thereisnoreasoninherantecedentsthatpeopleshoulddroptheirvoicewhentheyspeakofher。Butsomewomenareneverattheireasetilltheyhavegivensomedamnabletwistorothertotheirpositionbeforetheworld。Theattitudeofuprightvirtueisunbecoming，likesittingtoostraightinafauteuil。Don’taskmeforopinions，however;contentyourselfwithafewfactsandwithananecdote。MadameBlumenthalisPrussian，andverywellborn。I
　　rememberhermother，anoldWestphalianGrafin，withprinciplesmarshalledoutlikeFredericktheGreat’sgrenadiers。Shewaspoor，however，andherprincipleswereaninsufficientdowryforAnastasia，whowasmarriedveryyoungtoaviciousJew，twiceherownage。Hewassupposedtohavemoney，butIamafraidhehadlessthanwasnominatedinthebond，orelsethathisprettyyoungwifespentitveryfast。Shehasbeenawidowthesesixoreightyears，andhaslived，Iimagine，inratherahand—to—mouthfashion。Isupposesheissomesixoreightandthirtyyearsofage。InwinteronehearsofherinBerlin，givinglittlesupperstotheartisticrabblethere;insummeroneoftenseesheracrossthegreentableatEmsandWiesbaden。She’sveryclever，andherclevernesshasspoiledher。A
　　yearafterhermarriageshepublishedanovel，withherviewsonmatrimony，intheGeorgeSandmanner——beatingthedrumtoMadameSand’strumpet。Nodoubtshewasveryunhappy;Blumenthalwasanoldbeast。Sincethenshehaspublishedalotofliterature——novelsandpoemsandpamphletsoneveryconceivabletheme，fromtheconversionofLolaMonteztotheHegelianphilosophy。Hertalkismuchbetterthanherwriting。Herconjugophobia——Ican’tcallitbyanyothername——madepeoplethinklightlyofheratatimewhenherrebellionagainstmarriagewasprobablyonlytheoretic。Shehadatasteforspinningfinephrases，shedrovehershuttle，andwhenshecametotheendofheryarnshefoundthatsocietyhadturneditsback。Shetossedherhead，declaredthatatlastshecouldbreathethesacredairoffreedom，andformallyannouncedthatshehadembracedan’intellectual’life。Thismeantunlimitedcamaraderiewithscribblersanddaubers，HegelianphilosophersandHungarianpianists。
　　Butshehasbeenadmiredalsobyagreatmanyreallyclevermen;
　　therewasatime，infact，whensheturnedaheadaswellsetonitsshouldersasthisone！"AndNiedermeyertappedhisforehead。"Shehasagreatcharm，and，literally，Iknownoharmofher。Yetforallthat，Iamnotgoingtospeaktoher;Iamnotgoingnearherbox。Iamgoingtoleavehertosay，ifshedoesmethehonourtoobservetheomission，thatItoohavegoneovertothePhilistines。
　　It’snotthat;itisthatthereissomethingsinisteraboutthewoman。Iamtoooldforittofrightenme，butIamgood—naturedenoughforittopainme。Herquarrelwithsocietyhasbroughthernohappiness，andheroutwardcharmisonlythemaskofadangerousdiscontent。Herimaginationislodgedwhereherheartshouldbe！Solongasyouamuseit，wellandgood;she’sradiant。Butthemomentyouletitflag，sheiscapableofdroppingyouwithoutapang。Ifyoulandonyourfeetyouaresomuchthewiser，simply;buttherehavebeentwoorthree，Ibelieve，whohavealmostbrokentheirnecksinthefall。"
　　"Youarereversingyourpromise，"Isaid，"andgivingmeanopinion，butnotananecdote。"
　　"Thisismyanecdote。AyearagoafriendofminemadeheracquaintanceinBerlin，andthoughhewasnolongerayoungman，andhadneverbeenwhatiscalledasusceptibleone，hetookagreatfancytoMadameBlumenthal。He’samajorinthePrussianartillery——
　　grizzled，grave，atriflesevere，amaneverywayfirminthefaithofhisfathers。It’saproofofAnastasia’scharmthatsuchamanshouldhavegotintothehabitofgoingtoseehereverydayofhislife。Butthemajorwasinlove，ornextdoortoit！Everydaythathecalledhefoundherscribblingawayatalittleormolutableonalotofhalf—sheetsofnote—paper。Sheusedtobidhimsitdownandholdhistongueforaquarterofanhour，tillshehadfinishedherchapter;shewaswritinganovel，anditwaspromisedtoapublisher。
　　Clorinda，sheconfidedtohim，wasthenameoftheinjuredheroine。
　　Themajor，Iimagine，hadneverreadaworkoffictioninhislife，butheknewbyhearsaythatMadameBlumenthal’sliterature，whenputforthinpinkcovers，wassubversiveofseveralrespectableinstitutions。Besides，hedidn’tbelieveinwomenknowinghowtowriteatall，anditirritatedhimtoseethisinkygoddesscorrectingproof—sheetsunderhisnose——irritatedhimthemorethat，asIsay，hewasinlovewithherandthatheventuredtobelieveshehadakindnessforhisyearsandhishonours。Andyetshewasnotsuchawomanashecouldeasilyasktomarryhim。Theresultofallthiswasthathefellintothewayofrailingatherintellectualpursuitsandsayingheshouldliketorunhisswordthroughherpileofpapers。Awomanwascleverenoughwhenshecouldguessherhusband’swishes，andlearnedenoughwhenshecouldreadhimthenewspapers。Atlast，oneday，MadameBlumenthalflungdownherpenandannouncedintriumphthatshehadfinishedhernovel。Clorindahadexpiredinthearmsof——someoneelsethanherhusband。Themajor，bywayofcongratulatingher，declaredthathernovelwasimmoralrubbish，andthatherloveofviciousparadoxeswasonlyapeculiarlydepravedformofcoquetry。Headded，however，thathelovedherinspiteofherfollies，andthatifshewouldformallyabjurethemhewouldasformallyofferherhishand。Theysaythatwomenliketobesnubbedbymilitarymen。Idon’tknow，I’msure;I
　　don’tknowhowmuchpleasure，onthisoccasion，wasmingledwithAnastasia’swrath。Butherwrathwasveryquiet，andthemajorassuredmeitmadeherlookuncommonlypretty。’Ihavetoldyoubefore，’shesays，’thatIwritefromaninnerneed。Iwritetounburdenmyheart，tosatisfymyconscience。Youcallmypooreffortscoquetry，vanity，thedesiretoproduceasensation。IcanprovetoyouthatitisthequietlabouritselfIcarefor，andnottheworld’smoreorlessflatteringattentiontoit！’AndseizingthehistoryofClorindashethrustitintothefire。Themajorstandsstaring，andthefirstthingheknowssheissweepinghimagreatcurtseyandbiddinghimfarewellforever。Leftaloneandrecoveringhiswits，hefishesoutClorindafromtheembers，andthenproceedstothumpvigorouslyatthelady’sdoor。Butitneveropened，andfromthatdaytothedaythreemonthsagowhenhetoldmethetale，hehadnotbeheldheragain。"
　　"ByJove，it’sastrikingstory，"Isaid。"Butthequestionis，whatdoesitprove？"
　　"Severalthings。First（whatIwascarefulnottotellmyfriend），thatMadameBlumenthalcaredforhimatriflemorethanhesupposed;
　　second，thathecaresforhermorethanever;third，thattheperformancewasamaster—stroke，andthatherallowinghimtoforceaninterviewuponheragainisonlyaquestionoftime。"
　　"Andlast？"Iasked。
　　"Thisisanotheranecdote。Theotherday，UnterdenLinden，Isawonabookseller’scounteralittlepink—coveredromance——’Sophronia，’byMadameBlumenthal。Glancingthroughit，Iobservedanextraordinaryabuseofasterisks;everytwoorthreepagesthenarrativewasadornedwithaportentousblank，crossedwitharowofstars。"
　　"Well，butpoorClorinda？"Iobjected，asNiedermeyerpaused。
　　"Sophronia，mydearfellow，issimplyClorindarenamedbythebaptismoffire。Thefairauthorcameback，ofcourse，andfoundClorindatumbleduponthefloor，agooddealscorched，but，onthewhole，morefrightenedthanhurt。Shepicksherup，brushesheroff，andsendshertotheprinter。Wherevertheflameshadburntaholesheswingsaconstellation！ButifthemajorispreparedtodropapenitenttearovertheashesofClorinda，Ishallnotwhispertohimthattheurnisempty。"
　　EvenAdelinaPatti’ssinging，forthenexthalf—hour，buthalfavailedtodivertmefrommyquickenedcuriositytobeholdMadameBlumenthalfacetoface。AssoonasthecurtainhadfallenagainI
　　repairedtoherboxandwasusheredinbyPickeringwithzealoushospitality。Hisglowingsmileseemedtosaytome，"Ay，lookforyourself，andadore！"Nothingcouldhavebeenmoregraciousthanthelady’sgreeting，andIfound，somewhattomysurprise，thatherprettinesslostnothingonanearerview。HereyesindeedwerethefinestIhaveeverseen——thesoftest，thedeepest，themostintenselyresponsive。Inspiteofsomethingfadedandjadedinherphysiognomy，hermovements，hersmile，andthetoneofhervoice，especiallywhenshelaughed，hadanalmostgirlishfranknessandspontaneity。Shelookedatyouveryhardwithherradiantgrayeyes，andsheindulgedwhileshetalkedinasuperabundanceofrestless，ratheraffectedlittlegestures，asiftomakeyoutakehermeaninginacertainveryparticularandsuperfinesense。Iwonderedwhetherafterawhilethismightnotfatigueone’sattention;thenmeetinghercharmingeyes，Isaid，Notforalongtime。Shewasveryclever，and，asPickeringhadsaid，shespokeEnglishadmirably。Itoldher，asItookmyseatbesideher，ofthefinethingsIhadheardaboutherfrommyfriend，andshelistened，lettingmegoonsometime，andexaggeratealittle，withherfineeyesfixedfulluponme。
　　"Really？"shesuddenlysaid，turningshortrounduponPickering，whostoodbehindus，andlookingathiminthesameway。"Isthatthewayyoutalkaboutme？"
　　Heblushedtohiseyes，andIrepented。Shesuddenlybegantolaugh;
　　itwasthenIobservedhowsweethervoicewasinlaughter。Wetalkedafterthisofvariousmatters，andinalittlewhileI
　　complimentedheronherexcellentEnglish，andaskedifshehadlearntitinEngland。
　　"Heavenforbid！"shecried。"Ihaveneverbeenthereandwishnevertogo。Ishouldnevergetonwiththe——"Iwonderedwhatshewasgoingtosay;thefogs，thesmoke，orwhistwithsixpennystakes？——"I
　　shouldnevergeton，"shesaid，"withthearistocracy！Iamafiercedemocrat——Iamnotashamedofit。Iholdopinionswhichwouldmakemyancestorsturnintheirgraves。Iwasborninthelapoffeudalism。Iamadaughterofthecrusaders。ButIamarevolutionist！Ihaveapassionforfreedom——myideaofhappinessistodieonagreatbarricade！It’stoyourgreatcountryIshouldliketogo。Ishouldliketoseethewonderfulspectacleofagreatpeoplefreetodoeverythingitchooses，andyetneverdoinganythingwrong！"
　　Ireplied，modestly，that，afterall，bothourfreedomandourgoodconducthadtheirlimits，andsheturnedquicklyaboutandshookherfanwithadramaticgestureatPickering。"Nomatter，nomatter！"
　　shecried;"Ishouldliketoseethecountrywhichproducedthatwonderfulyoungman。IthinkofitasasortofArcadia——alandofthegoldenage。He’ssodelightfullyinnocent！InthisstupidoldGermany，ifayoungmanisinnocenthe’safool;hehasnobrains;
　　he’snotabitinteresting。ButMr。Pickeringsaysthefreshestthings，andafterIhavelaughedfiveminutesattheirfreshnessitsuddenlyoccurstomethattheyareverywise，andIthinkthemoverforaweek。"True！"shewenton，noddingathim。"Icalltheminspiredsolecisms，andItreasurethemup。RememberthatwhenI
　　nextlaughatyou！"
　　GlancingatPickering，IwaspromptedtobelievethathewasinastateofbeatificexaltationwhichweighedMadameBlumenthal’ssmilesandfrownsinanequalbalance。Theywereequallyhers;theywerelinksalikeinthegoldenchain。Helookedatmewitheyesthatseemedtosay，"Didyoueverhearsuchwit？Didyoueverseesuchgrace？"Itseemedtomethathewasbutvaguelyconsciousofthemeaningofherwords;hergestures，hervoiceandglance，madeanabsorbingharmony。Thereissomethingpainfulinthespectacleofabsoluteenthralment，eventoanexcellentcause。IgavenoresponsetoPickering’schallenge，butmadesomeremarkuponthecharmofAdelinaPatti’ssinging。MadameBlumenthal，asbecamea"revolutionist，"wasobligedtoconfessthatshecouldseenocharminit;itwasmeagre，itwastrivial，itlackedsoul。"Youmustknowthatinmusic，too，"shesaid，"Ithinkformyself！"Andshebeganwithagreatmanyflourishesofherfantoexplainwhatitwasshethought。Remarkablethings，doubtless;butIcannotanswerforit，forinthemidstoftheexplanationthecurtainroseagain。"Youcan’tbeagreatartistwithoutagreatpassion！"MadameBlumenthalwasaffirming。BeforeIhadtimetoassentMadamePatti’svoicerosewheelinglikeaskylark，andraineddownitssilvernotes。"Ah，givemethatart，"Iwhispered，"andIwillleaveyouyourpassion！"AndIdepartedformyownplaceintheorchestra。Iwonderedafterwardswhetherthespeechhadseemedrude，andinferredthatithadnotonreceivingafriendlynodfromthelady，inthelobby，asthetheatrewasemptyingitself。ShewasonPickering’sarm，andhewastakinghertohercarriage。DistancesareshortinHomburg，butthenightwasrainy，andMadameBlumenthalexhibitedaveryprettysatin—shodfootasareasonwhy，thoughbutapennilesswidow，sheshouldnotwalkhome。Pickeringleftustogetheramomentwhilehewenttohailthevehicle，andmycompanionseizedtheopportunity，asshesaid，tobegmetobesoverykindastocomeandseeher。Itwasforaparticularreason！Itwasreasonenoughforme，ofcourse，I
　　answered，thatshehadgivenmeleave。Shelookedatmeamomentwiththatextraordinarygazeofherswhichseemedsoabsolutelyaudaciousinitscandour，andrejoinedthatIpaidmorecomplimentsthanouryoungfriendthere，butthatshewassureIwasnothalfsosincere。"Butit’sabouthimIwanttotalk，"shesaid。"Iwanttoaskyoumanythings;Iwantyoutotellmeallabouthim。Heinterestsme;butyouseemysympathiesaresointense，myimaginationissolively，thatIdon’ttrustmyownimpressions。
　　Theyhavemisledmemorethanonce！"Andshegavealittletragicshudder。
　　Ipromisedtocomeandcomparenoteswithher，andwebadeherfarewellathercarriagedoor。PickeringandIremainedawhile，walkingupanddownthelongglazedgalleryoftheKursaal。IhadnottakenmanystepsbeforeIbecameawarethatIwasbesideamanintheveryextremityoflove。"Isn’tshewonderful？"heasked，withanimplicitconfidenceinmysympathywhichitcostmesomeingenuitytoelude。Ifhewerereallyinlove，wellandgood！Foralthough，nowthatIhadseenher，IstoodreadytoconfesstolargepossibilitiesoffascinationonMadameBlumenthal’spart，andeventocertainpossibilitiesofsincerityofwhichmyappreciationwasvague，yetitseemedtomelessominousthatheshouldbesimplysmittenthanthathisadmirationshouldpiqueitselfonbeingdiscriminating。ItwasonhisfundamentalsimplicitythatIcountedforahappyterminationofhisexperiment，andtheformerofthesealternativesseemedtomethesimpler。Iresolvedtoholdmytongueandlethimrunhiscourse。Hehadagreatdealtosayabouthishappiness，aboutthedayspassinglikehours，thehourslikeminutes，andaboutMadameBlumenthalbeinga"revelation。""Shewasnothingto—night，"hesaid;"nothingtowhatshesometimesisinthewayofbrilliancy——inthewayofrepartee。Ifyoucouldonlyhearherwhenshetellsheradventures！"
　　"Adventures？"Iinquired。"Hasshehadadventures？"
　　"Ofthemostwonderfulsort！"criedPickering，withrapture。"Shehasn’tvegetated，likeme！Shehaslivedinthetumultoflife。
　　WhenIlistentoherreminiscences，it’slikehearingtheopeningtumultofoneofBeethoven’ssymphoniesasitlosesitselfinatriumphantharmonyofbeautyandfaith！"
　　Icouldonlyliftmyeyebrows，butIdesiredtoknowbeforeweseparatedwhathehaddonewiththattroublesomeconscienceofhis。
　　"Isupposeyouknow，mydearfellow，"Isaid，"thatyouaresimplyinlove。That’swhattheyhappentocallyourstateofmind。"
　　Herepliedwithabrighteningeye，asifheweredelightedtohearit——"SoMadameBlumenthaltoldmeonlythismorning！"Andseeing，I
　　suppose，thatIwasslightlypuzzled，"Iwenttodrivewithher，"hecontinued;"wedrovetoKonigstein，toseetheoldcastle。Wescrambledupintotheheartoftheruinandsatforanhourinoneofthecrumblingoldcourts。Somethinginthesolemnstillnessoftheplaceunloosedmytongue;andwhileshesatonaniviedstone，ontheedgeoftheplungingwall，Istoodthereandmadeaspeech。Shelistenedtome，lookingatme，breakingofflittlebitsofstoneandlettingthemdropdownintothevalley。Atlastshegotupandnoddedatmetwoorthreetimessilently，withasmile，asifshewereapplaudingmeforasoloontheviolin。’Youareinlove，’shesaid。’It’saperfectcase！’Andforsometimeshesaidnothingmore。Butbeforewelefttheplaceshetoldmethatsheowedmeananswertomyspeech。Shethankedmeheartily，butshewasafraidthatifshetookmeatmywordshewouldbetakingadvantageofmyinexperience。Ihadknownfewwomen;Iwastooeasilypleased;I
　　thoughtherbetterthanshereallywas。Shehadgreatfaults;Imustknowherlongerandfindthemout;Imustcompareherwithotherwomen——womenyounger，simpler，moreinnocent，moreignorant;andthenifIstilldidherthehonourtothinkwellofher，shewouldlistentomeagain。ItoldherthatIwasnotafraidofpreferringanywomanintheworldtoher，andthensherepeated，’Happyman，happyman！youareinlove，youareinlove！’"
　　IcalleduponMadameBlumenthalacoupleofdayslater，insomeagitationofthought。Ithasbeenprovedthatthereare，hereandthere，intheworld，suchpeopleassincereimpostors;certaincharacterswhocultivatefictitiousemotionsinperfectgoodfaith。