"Youhavecome，monsieur，frommyfriendMongenod？"hesaid。
　　"Yes，"repliedErnest，growingtimidwhenhesawbeforehimafaceassombreasOthello’s。"MynameisErnestdeLaBriere，relatedtothefamilyofthelatecabinetminister，andhisprivatesecretaryduringhistermofoffice。Onhisdismissal，hisExcellencyputmeintheCourtofClaims，towhichIamlegalcounsel，andwhereImaypossiblysucceedaschief——"
　　"AndhowdoesallthisconcernMademoiselledeLaBastie？"askedthecount。
　　"Monsieur，Iloveher;andIhavetheunhoped—forhappinessofbeinglovedbyher。Hearme，monsieur，"criedErnest，checkingaviolentmovementonthepartoftheangryfather。"Ihavethestrangestconfessiontomaketoyou，ashamefuloneforamanofhonor;buttheworstpunishmentofmyconduct，naturalenoughinitself，isnotthetellingofittoyou;no，Ifearthedaughterevenmorethanthefather。"
　　Ernestthenrelatedsimply，andwiththenoblenessthatcomesofsincerity，allthefactsofhislittledrama，notomittingthetwentyormoreletters，whichhehadbroughtwithhim，northeinterviewwhichhehadjusthadwithCanalis。WhenMonsieurMignonhadfinishedreadingtheletters，theunfortunatelover，paleandsuppliant，actuallytrembledunderthefieryglanceoftheProvencal。
　　"Monsieur，"saidthelatter，"inthiswholematterthereisbutoneerror，butthatiscardinal。Mydaughterwillnothavesixmillions;
　　attheutmost，shewillhaveamarriageportionoftwohundredthousandfrancs，andverydoubtfulexpectations。"
　　"Ah，monsieur！"criedErnest，risingandgraspingMonsieurMignon’shand;"youtakealoadfrommybreast。Nothingcannowhindermyhappiness。Ihavefriends，influence;IshallcertainlybechiefoftheCourtofClaims。HadMademoiselleMignonnomorethantenthousandfrancs，ifIhadeventomakeasettlementonher，sheshouldstillbemywife;andtomakeherhappyasyou，monsieur，havemadeyourwifehappy，tobetoyouarealson（forIhavenofather），arethedeepestdesiresofmyheart。"
　　CharlesMignonsteppedbackthreepacesandfixeduponLaBrierealookwhichenteredtheeyesoftheyoungmanasadaggerentersitssheath;hestoodsilentamoment，recognizingtheabsolutecandor，thepuretruthfulnessofthatopennatureinthelightoftheyoungman’sinspiredeyes。"Isfateatlastwearyofpursuingme？"heaskedhimself。"AmItofindinthisyoungmanthepearlofsons—in—law？"Hewalkedupanddowntheroominstrongagitation。
　　"Monsieur，"hesaidatlast，"youareboundtosubmitwhollytothejudgmentwhichyouhavecomeheretoseek，otherwiseyouarenowplayingafarce。"
　　"Oh，monsieur！"
　　"Listentome，"saidthefather，nailingLaBrierewherehestoodwithaglance。"Ishallbeneitherharsh，norhard，norunjust。Youshallhavetheadvantagesandthedisadvantagesofthefalsepositioninwhichyouhaveplacedyourself。Mydaughterbelievesthatshelovesoneofthegreatpoetsoftheday，whosefameisreallythatwhichhasattractedher。Well，I，herfather，intendtogivehertheopportunitytochoosebetweenthecelebritywhichhasbeenabeacontoher，andthepoorrealitywhichtheironyoffatehasflungatherfeet。OughtshenottochoosebetweenCanalisandyourself？IrelyuponyourhonornottorepeatwhatIhavetoldyouastothestateofmyaffairs。Youmayeachcome，ImeanyouandyourfriendtheBarondeCanalis，toHavreforthelasttwoweeksofOctober。Myhousewillbeopentobothofyou，andmydaughtermusthaveanopportunitytostudyyou。Youmustyourselfbringyourrival，andnotdisabusehimastothefoolishtaleshewillhearaboutthewealthoftheComtedeLaBastie。IgotoHavreto—morrow，andIshallexpectyouthreedayslater。Adieu，monsieur。"
　　PoorLaBrierewentbacktoCanaliswithadraggingstep。Thepoet，meantime，lefttohimself，hadgivenwaytoacurrentofthoughtoutofwhichhadcomethatsecondaryimpulsewhichMonsieurdeTalleyrandvaluedsomuch。Thefirstimpulseisthevoiceofnature，thesecondthatofsociety。
　　"Agirlworthsixmillions，"hethoughttohimself，"andmyeyeswerenotabletoseethatgoldshininginthedarkness！WithsuchafortuneIcouldbepeerofFrance，count，marquis，ambassador。I’verepliedtomiddle—classwomenandsillywomen，andcraftycreatureswhowantedautographs;I’vetiredmyselftodeathwithmasked—ballintrigues，——attheverymomentwhenGodwassendingmeasoulofprice，anangelwithgoldenwings！Bah！I’llmakeapoemonit，andperhapsthechancewillcomeagain。Heavens！theluckofthatlittleLaBriere，——struttingaboutinmylustre——plagiarism！I’mthecastandhe’stobethestatue，ishe？ItistheoldfableofBertrandandRaton。Sixmillions，abeauty，aMignondeLaBastie，anaristocraticdivinitylovingpoetryandthepoet！AndI，whoshowedmymuscleasmanoftheworld，whodidthoseAlcideexercisestosilencebymoralforcethechampionofphysicalforce，thatoldsoldierwithaheart，thatfriendofthisveryyounggirl，whomhe’llnowgoandtellthatIhaveaheartofiron！——I，toplayNapoleonwhenIoughttohavebeenseraphic！Goodheavens！True，Ishallhavemyfriend。Friendshipisabeautifulthing。Ihavekepthim，butatwhataprice！Sixmillions，that’sthecostofit;wecan’thavemanyfriendsifwepayallthatforthem。"
　　LaBriereenteredtheroomasCanalisreachedthispointinhismeditations。Hewasgloompersonified。
　　"Well，what’sthematter？"saidCanalis。
　　"ThefatherexactsthathisdaughtershallchoosebetweenthetwoCanalis——"
　　"Poorboy！"criedthepoet，laughing，"he’sacleverfellow，thatfather。"
　　"IhavepledgedmyhonorthatIwilltakeyoutoHavre，"saidLaBriere，piteously。
　　"Mydearfellow，"saidCanalis，"ifitisaquestionofyourhonoryoumaycountonme。I’llaskforleaveofabsenceforamonth。"
　　"Modesteissobeautiful！"exclaimedLaBriere，inadespairingtone。
　　"Youwillcrushmeoutofsight。Iwonderedallalongthatfateshouldbesokindtome;Iknewitwasallamistake。"
　　"Bah！wewillseeaboutthat，"saidCanaliswithinhumangaiety。
　　Thatevening，afterdinner，CharlesMignonandDumay，wereflying，byvirtueofthreefrancstoeachpostilion，fromParistoHavre。Thefatherhadeasedthewatch—dog’smindastoModesteandherloveaffairs;theguardwasrelieved，andButscha’sinnocenceestablished。
　　"Itisallforthebest，myoldDumay，"saidthecount，whohadbeenmakingcertaininquiriesofMongenodrespectingCanalisandLaBriere。
　　"Wearegoingtohavetwoactorsforonepart！"hecriedgaily。
　　Nevertheless，herequestedhisoldcomradetobeabsolutelysilentaboutthecomedywhichwasnowtobeplayedattheChalet，——acomedyitmightbe，butalsoagentlepunishment，or，ifyoupreferit，alessongivenbythefathertothedaughter。
　　ThetwofriendskeptupalongconversationallthewayfromParistoHavre，whichputthecolonelinpossessionofthefactsrelatingtohisfamilyduringthepastfouryears，andinformingDumaythatDesplein，thegreatsurgeon，wascomingtoHavreattheendofthepresentmonthtoexaminethecataractonMadameMignon’seyes，anddecideifitwerepossibletorestorehersight。
　　Afewmomentsbeforethebreakfast—hourattheChalet，theclackingofapostilion’swhipapprisedthefamilythatthetwosoldierswerearriving;onlyafather’sjoyatreturningafterlongabsencecouldbeheraldedwithsuchclatter，anditbroughtallthewomentothegardengate。Thereismanyafatherandmanyachild——perhapsmorefathersthanchildren——whowillunderstandthedelightsofsuchanarrival，andthathappyfactshowsthatliteraturehasnoneedtodepictit。
　　Perhapsallgentleandtenderemotionsarebeyondtherangeofliterature。
　　Notawordthatcouldtroublethepeaceofthefamilywasutteredonthisjoyfulday。Trucewastacitlyestablishedbetweenfather，mother，andchildastotheso—calledmysteriouslovewhichhadpaledModeste’scheeks，——forthiswasthefirstdayshehadleftherbedsinceDumay’sdepartureforParis。Thecolonel，withthecharmingdelicacyofatruesoldier，neverlefthiswife’ssidenorreleasedherhand;buthewatchedModestewithdelight，andwasneverwearyofnotingherrefined，elegant，andpoeticbeauty。Isitnotbysuchseemingtriflesthatwerecognizeamanoffeeling？Modeste，whofearedtointerruptthesubduedjoyofthehusbandandwifekeptatalittledistance，comingfromtimetotimetokissherfather’sforehead，andwhenshekisseditovermuchsheseemedtomeanthatshewaskissingitfortwo，——forBettinaandherself。
　　"Oh，mydarling，Iunderstandyou，"saidthecolonel，pressingherhandassheassailedhimwithkisses。
　　"Hush！"whisperedtheyounggirl，glancingathermother。
　　Dumay’sratherslyandpregnantsilencemadeModestesomewhatuneasyastotheupshotofhisjourneytoParis。Shelookedathimfurtivelyeverynowandthen，withoutbeingabletogetbeneathhisepidermis。
　　Thecolonel，likeaprudentfather，wantedtostudythecharacterofhisonlydaughter，andaboveallconsulthiswife，beforeenteringonaconferenceuponwhichthehappinessofthewholefamilydepended。
　　"To—morrow，mypreciouschild，"hesaidastheypartedforthenight，"getupearly，andwewillgoandtakeawalkontheseashore。Wehavetotalkaboutyourpoems，MademoiselledeLaBastie。"
　　Hislastwords，accompaniedbyasmile，whichreappearedlikeanechoonDumay’slips，wereallthatgaveModesteanyclewtowhatwascoming;butitwasenoughtocalmheruneasinessandkeepherawakefarintothenightwithherheadfullofsuppositions;this，however，didnotpreventherfrombeingdressedandreadyinthemorninglongbeforethecolonel。
　　"Youknowall，mykindpapa？"shesaidassoonastheywereontheroadtothebeach。
　　"Iknowall，andagooddealmorethanyoudo，"hereplied。
　　Afterthatremarkfatheranddaughterwentsomelittlewayinsilence。
　　"Explaintome，mychild，howithappensthatagirlwhomhermotheridolizescouldhavetakensuchanimportantstepastowritetoastrangerwithoutconsultingher。"
　　"Oh，papa！becausemammawouldneverhaveallowedit。"
　　"Anddoyouthink，mydaughter，thatthatwasproper？Thoughyouhavebeeneducatingyourmindinthisfatalway，howisitthatyourgoodsenseandyourintellectdidnot，indefaultofmodesty，stepinandshowyouthatbyactingasyoudidyouwerethrowingyourselfataman’shead。Tothinkthatmydaughter，myonlyremainingchild，shouldlackprideanddelicacy！Oh，Modeste，youmadeyourfatherpasstwohoursinhellwhenheheardofit;for，afterall，yourconducthasbeenthesameasBettina’swithouttheexcuseofaheart’sseduction;
　　youwereacoquetteincoldblood，andthatsortofcoquetryishead—
　　love，theworstviceofFrenchwomen。"
　　"I，withoutpride！"saidModeste，weeping;"butHEhasnotyetseenme。"
　　"HEknowsyourname。"
　　"Ididnottellittohimtillmyeyeshadvindicatedthecorrespondence，lastingthreemonths，duringwhichoursoulshadspokentoeachother。"
　　"Oh，mydearmisguidedangel，youhavemixedupaspeciesofreasonwithafollythathascompromisedyourownhappinessandthatofyourfamily。"
　　"But，afterall，papa，happinessistheabsolutionofmytemerity，"
　　shesaid，pouting。
　　"Oh！yourconductistemerity，isit？"
　　"Atemeritythatmymotherpractisedbeforeme，"sheretortedquickly。
　　"Rebelliouschild！yourmotherafterseeingmeataballtoldherfather，whoadoredher，thatshethoughtshecouldbehappywithme。
　　Behonest，Modeste;isthereanylikenessbetweenalovehastilyconceived，Iadmit，butundertheeyesofafather，andyourmadactionofwritingtoastranger？"
　　"Astranger，papa？sayratheroneofourgreatestpoets，whosecharacterandwhoselifeareexposedtothestrongestlightofday，todetraction，tocalumny，——amanrobedinfame，andtowhom，mydearfather，Iwasamereliteraryanddramaticpersonage，oneofShakespeare’swomen，untilthemomentwhenIwishedtoknowifthemanhimselfwereasbeautifulashissoul。"
　　"GoodGod！mypoorchild，youareturningmarriageintopoetry。Butif，fromtimeimmemorial，girlshavebeencloisteredinthebosomoftheirfamilies，ifGod，ifsociallawsputthemunderthesternyokeofparentalsanction，itis，markmywords，tosparethemthemisfortunesthatthisverypoetrywhichcharmsanddazzlesyou，andwhichyouarethereforeunabletojudgeof，wouldentailuponthem。
　　Poetryisindeedoneofthepleasuresoflife，butitisnotlifeitself。"
　　"Papa，thatisasuitstillpendingbeforetheCourtofFacts;thestruggleisforevergoingonbetweenourheartsandtheclaimsoffamily。"
　　"Alasforthechildthatfindsherhappinessinresistingthem，"saidthecolonel，gravely。"In1813Isawoneofmycomrades，theMarquisd’Aiglemont，marryhiscousinagainstthewishesofherfather，andthepairhavesincepaiddearfortheobstinacywhichtheyounggirltookforlove。Thefamilymustbesovereigninmarriage。"
　　"Mypoethastoldmeallthat，"sheanswered。"HeplayedOrgonforsometime;andhewasbraveenoughtodisparagethepersonallivesofpoets。"
　　"Ihavereadyourletters，"saidCharlesMignon，withtheflickerofamalicioussmileonhislipsthatmadeModesteveryuneasy，"andI
　　oughttoremarkthatyourlastepistlewasscarcelypermissibleinanywoman，evenaJulied’Etanges。GoodGod！whatharmnovelsdo！"
　　"Weshouldlivethem，mydearfather，whetherpeoplewrotethemornot;Ithinkitisbettertoreadthem。TherearenotsomanyadventuresinthesedaysastherewereunderLouisXIV。andLouisXV。，andsotheypublishfewernovels。Besides，ifyouhavereadthoseletters，youmustknowthatIhavechosenthemostangelicsoul，themoststernlyuprightmanforyourson—in—law，andyoumusthaveseenthatweloveoneanotheratleastasmuchasyouandmammaloveeachother。Well，Iadmitthatitwasnotallexactlyconventional;Idid，ifyouWILLhavemesayso，wrong——"
　　"Ihavereadyourletters，"saidherfather，interruptingher，"andI
　　knowexactlyhowfaryourloverjustifiedyouinyourowneyesforaproceedingwhichmightbepermissibleinsomewomanwhounderstoodlife，andwhowasledawaybystrongpassion，butwhichinayounggirloftwentywasamonstrouspieceofwrong—doing。"
　　"Yes，wrong—doingforcommonplacepeople，forthenarrow—mindedGobenheims，whomeasurelifewithasquarerule。Pleaseletuskeeptotheartisticandpoeticlife，papa。Weyounggirlshaveonlytwowaystoact;wemustletamanknowwelovehimbymincingandsimpering，orwemustgotohimfrankly。Isn’tthelastwaygrandandnoble？WeFrenchgirlsaredeliveredoverbyourfamilieslikesomuchmerchandise，atsixtydays’sight，sometimesthirty，likeMademoiselleVilquin;butinEngland，andSwitzerland，andGermany，theyfollowverymuchtheplanIhaveadopted。Nowwhathaveyougottosaytothat？AmInothalfGerman？"
　　"Child！"criedthecolonel，lookingather;"thesupremacyofFrancecomesfromhersoundcommon—sense，fromthelogictowhichhernoblelanguageconstrainshermind。Franceisthereasonofthewholeworld。
　　EnglandandGermanyareromanticintheirmarriagecustoms，——thougheventherenoblefamiliesfollowourcustoms。Youcertainlydonotmeantodenythatyourparents，whoknowlife，whoareresponsibleforyoursoulandforyourhappiness，havenorighttoguardyoufromthestumbling—blocksthatareinyourway？Goodheavens！"hecontinued，speakinghalftohimself，"isittheirfault，orisitours？Oughtwetoholdourchildrenunderanironyoke？Mustwebepunishedforthetendernessthatleadsustomakethemhappy，andteachesourheartshowtodoso？"
　　Modestewatchedherfatheroutofthecornerofhereyeasshelistenedtothisspeciesofinvocation，utteredinabrokenvoice。
　　"Wasitwrong，"shesaid，"inagirlwhoseheartwasfree，tochooseforherhusbandnotonlyacharmingcompanion，butamanofnoblegenius，borntoanhonorableposition，agentleman;theequalofmyself，agentlewoman？"
　　"Youlovehim？"askedherfather。
　　"Father！"shesaid，layingherheaduponhisbreast，"wouldyouseemedie？"
　　"Enough！"saidtheoldsoldier。"Iseeyourloveisinextinguishable。"
　　"Yes，inextinguishable。"
　　"Cannothingchangeit？"
　　"Nothing。"
　　"Nocircumstances，notreachery，nobetrayal？Youmeanthatyouwilllovehiminspiteofeverything，becauseofhispersonalattractions？
　　EventhoughheprovedaD’Estourny，wouldyoulovehimstill？"
　　"Oh，myfather！youdonotknowyourdaughter。CouldIloveacoward，amanwithouthonor，withoutfaith？"
　　"Butsupposehehaddeceivedyou？"
　　"He？thathonest，candidsoul，halfmelancholy？Youarejoking，father，orelseyouhavenevermethim。"
　　"Butyouseenowthatyourloveisnotinextinguishable，asyouchosetocallit。Ihavealreadymadeyouadmitthatcircumstancescouldalteryourpoem;don’tyounowseethatfathersaregoodforsomething？"
　　"Youwanttogivemealecture，papa;itispositivelyl’AmidesEnfantsoveragain。"
　　"Poordeceivedgirl，"saidherfather，sternly;"itisnolectureofmine，Icountfornothinginit;indeed，Iamonlytryingtosoftentheblow。"
　　"Father，don’tplaytrickswithmylife，"exclaimedModeste，turningpale。
　　"Then，mydaughter，summonallyourcourage。Itisyouwhohavebeenplayingtrickswithyourlife，andlifeisnowtrickingyou。"
　　Modestelookedatherfatherinstupidamazement。
　　"Supposethatyoungmanwhomyoulove，whomyousawfourdaysagoatchurchinHavre，wasadeceiver？"
　　"Never！"shecried;"thatnoblehead，thatpalefacefullofpoetry——"
　　"——wasalie，"saidthecolonelinterruptingher。"HewasnomoreMonsieurdeCanalisthanIamthatsailoroverthereputtingouttosea。"
　　"Doyouknowwhatyouarekillinginme？"shesaidinalowvoice。
　　"Comfortyourself，mychild;thoughaccidenthasputthepunishmentofyourfaultintothefaultitself，theharmdoneisnotirreparable。
　　Theyoungmanwhomyouhaveseen，andwithwhomyouexchangedheartsbycorrespondence，isaloyalandhonorablefellow;hecametomeandconfidedeverything。Helovesyou，andIhavenoobjectiontohimasason—in—law。"
　　"IfheisnotCanalis，whoishethen？"saidModesteinachangedvoice。
　　"Thesecretary;hisnameisErnestdeLaBriere。Heisnotanobleman;
　　butheisoneofthoseplainmenwithfixedprinciplesandsoundmoralitywhosatisfyparents。However，thatisnotthepoint;youhaveseenhimandnothingcanchangeyourheart;youhavechosenhim，comprehendhissoul，itisasbeautifulashehimself。"
　　ThecountwasinterruptedbyaheavysighfromModeste。Thepoorgirlsatwithhereyesfixedonthesea，paleandrigidasdeath，asifapistolshothadstruckherinthosefatalwords，APLAINMAN，WITH
　　FIXEDPRINCIPLESANDSOUNDMORALITY。
　　"Deceived！"shesaidatlast。
　　"Likeyourpoorsister，butlessfatally。"
　　"Letusgohome，father，"shesaid，risingfromthehillockonwhichtheyweresitting。"Papa，hearme，IswearbeforeGodtoobeyyourwishes，whatevertheymaybe，intheAFFAIRofmymarriage。"
　　"Thenyoudon’tlovehimanylonger？"askedherfather。
　　"Ilovedanhonestman，withnofalsehoodonhisface，uprightasyourself，incapableofdisguisinghimselflikeanactor，withthepaintofanotherman’sgloryonhischeeks。"
　　"Yousaidnothingcouldchangeyou";remarkedthecolonel，ironically。
　　"Ah，donottriflewithme！"sheexclaimed，claspingherhandsandlookingatherfatherindistressfulanxiety;"don’tyouseethatyouarewringingmyheartanddestroyingmybeliefswithyourjokes。"
　　"Godforbid！Ihavetoldyoutheexacttruth。"
　　"Youareverykind，father，"shesaidafterapause，andwithasortofsolemnity。
　　"Hehaskeptyourletters，"resumedthecolonel;"nowsupposetherashcaressesofyoursoulhadfallenintothehandsofoneofthosepoetswho，asDumaysays，lighttheircigarswiththem？"
　　"Oh！——youaregoingtoofar。"
　　"Canalistoldhimso。"
　　"HasDumayseenCanalis？"
　　"Yes，"answeredherfather。
　　Thetwowalkedalonginsilence。
　　"SothatiswhythatGENTLEMAN，"resumedModeste，"toldmesomuchharmofpoetsandpoetry;nowonderthelittlesecretarysaid——Why，"
　　sheadded，interruptingherself，"hisvirtues，hisnoblequalities，hisfinesentimentsarenothingbutanepistolarytheft！Themanwhostealsgloryandanamemayverylikely——"
　　"——breaklocks，stealpurses，andcutpeople’sthroatsonthehighway，"criedthecolonel。"Ah，youyounggirls，that’sjustlikeyou，——withyourperemptoryopinionsandyourignoranceoflife。Amanwhooncedeceivesawomanwasbornunderthescaffoldonwhichheoughttodie。"
　　ThisridiculestoppedModeste’seffervescenceforamomentandleast，andagaintherewassilence。
　　"Mychild，"saidthecolonel，presently，"meninsociety，asinnatureeverywhere，aremadetowintheheartsofwomen，andwomenmustdefendthemselves。Youhavechosentoinverttheparts。Wasthatwise？
　　Everythingisfalseinafalseposition。Thefirstwrong—doingwasyours。No，amanisnotamonsterbecauseheseekstopleaseawoman;
　　itisourrighttowinherbyaggressionwithallitsconsequences，shortofcrimeandcowardice。Amanmayhavemanyvirtuesevenifhedoesdeceiveawoman;ifhedeceivesher，itisbecausehefindsherwantinginsomeofthetreasuresthathesoughtinher。Nonebutaqueen，anactress，orawomanplacedsofaraboveamanthatsheseemstohimaqueen，cangotohimofherselfwithoutincurringblame——andforayounggirltodoit！Why，sheisfalsetoallthatGodhasgivenherthatissacredandlovelyandnoble，——nomatterwithwhatgraceorwhatpoetryorwhatprecautionsshesurroundsherfault。"
　　"Toseekthemasterandfindtheservant！"shesaidbitterly，"oh！I
　　canneverrecoverfromit！"
　　"Nonsense！MonsieurErnestdeLaBriereis，tomythinking，fullytheequaloftheBarondeCanalis。Hewasprivatesecretaryofacabinetminister，andheisnowcounselfortheCourtofClaims;hehasaheart，andheadoresyou，but——heDOESNOTWRITEVERSES。No，Iadmit，heisnotapoet;butforallthathemayhaveaheartfullofpoetry。
　　Atanyrate，mydeargirl，"addedherfather，asModestemadeagestureofdisgust，"youaretoseebothofthem，theshamandthetrueCanalis——"
　　"Oh，papa！——"
　　"Didyounotswearjustnowtoobeymeineverything，evenintheAFFAIRofyourmarriage？Well，Iallowyoutochoosewhichofthetwoyoulikebestforahusband。Youhavebegunbyapoem，youshallfinishwithabucolic，andtryifyoucandiscovertherealcharacterofthesegentlemenhere，inthecountry，onafewhuntingorfishingexcursions。"
　　Modestebowedherheadandwalkedhomewithherfather，listeningtowhathesaidbutreplyingonlyinmonosyllables。
　　CHAPTERXVI
　　DISENCHANTED
　　Thepoorgirlhadfallenhumiliatedfromthealpshehadscaledinsearchofhereagle’snest，intothemudoftheswampbelow，where（tousethepoeticlanguageofanauthorofourday）"afterfeelingthesolesofherfeettootendertotreadthebrokenglassofreality，Imagination——whichinthatdelicatebosomunitedthewholeofwomanhood，fromtheviolet—hiddenreveriesofachasteyounggirltothepassionatedesiresofthesex——hadledherintoenchantedgardenswhere，oh，bittersight！shenowsaw，springingfromtheground，notthesublimeflowerofherfancy，butthehairy，twistedlimbsoftheblackmandragora。"Modestesuddenlyfoundherselfbroughtdownfromthemysticheightsofherlovetoastraight，flatroadborderedwithditches，——inshortthework—daypathofcommonlife。Whatardent，aspiringsoulwouldnothavebeenbruisedandbrokenbysuchafall？
　　Whosefeetweretheseatwhichshehadshedherthoughts？TheModestewhore—enteredtheChaletwasnomoretheModestewhohadleftittwohoursearlierthananactressinthestreetislikeanactressontheboards。Shefellintoastateofnumbdepressionthatwaspitifultosee。Thesunwasdarkened，natureveileditself，eventheflowersnolongerspoketoher。Likeallyounggirlswithatendencytoextremes，shedranktoodeeplyofthecupofdisillusion。Shefoughtagainstreality，andwouldnotbendhernecktotheyokeoffamilyandconventions;itwas，shefelt，tooheavy，toohard，toocrushing。Shewouldnotlistentotheconsolationsofherfatherandmother，andtastedasortofsavagepleasureinlettinghersoulsuffertotheutmost。
　　"PoorButschawasright，"shesaidoneevening。
　　Thewordsindicatethedistanceshetravelledinashortspaceoftimeandingloomysadnessacrossthebarrenplainofreality。Sadness，whencausedbytheovergrowthofhope，isadisease，——sometimesafatalone。ItwouldbenomeanobjectforphysiologytosearchoutinwhatwaysandbywhatmeansThoughtproducesthesameinternaldisorganizationaspoison;andhowitisthatdespairaffectstheappetite，destroysthepylorus，andchangesallthephysicalconditionsofthestrongestlife。SuchwasthecasewithModeste。Inthreeshortdaysshebecametheimageofmorbidmelancholy;shedidnotsing，shecouldnotbemadetosmile。CharlesMignon，becominguneasyatthenon—arrivalofthetwofriends，thoughtofgoingtofetchthem，when，ontheeveningofthefifthday，hereceivednewsoftheirmovementsthroughLatournelle。