Myangel——oroughtInotrathertosaymyimpofevil？——youhave，withoutmeaningit，grievedmesorely。Iwouldsaywoundedwerewenotonesoul。Andyetitispossibletowoundoneself。
　　Howplainitisthatyouhaveneverrealizedtheforceoftheword/indissoluble/asappliedtothecontractbindingmanandwoman!I
　　havenowishtocontrovertwhathasbeenlaiddownbyphilosophersorlegislators——theyarequitecapableofdoingthisforthemselves——but，dearone，inmakingmarriageirrevocableandimposingonitarelentlessformula，whichadmitsofnoexceptions，theyhaverenderedeachunionathingasdistinctasoneindividualisfromanother。Eachhasitsowninnerlawswhichdifferfromthoseofothers。Thelawsregulatingmarriedlifeinthecountry，forinstance，cannotbethesameasthoseregulatingahouseholdintown，wherefrequentdistractionsgivevarietytolife。Orconversely，marriedlifeinParis，whereexistenceisoneperpetualwhirl，mustdemanddifferenttreatmentfromthemorepeacefulhomeintheprovinces。
　　Butifplacealterstheconditionsofmarriage，muchmoredoescharacter。Thewifeofamanborntobealeaderneedonlyresignherselftohisguidance；whereasthewifeofafool，consciousofsuperiorpower，isboundtotakethereinsinherownhandifshewouldavertcalamity。
　　Youspeakofvice；anditispossiblethat，afterall，reasonandreflectionproducearesultnotdissimilarfromwhatwecallbythatname。Forwhatdoesawomanmeanbyitbutperversionoffeelingthroughcalculation？Passionisviciouswhenitreasons，admirableonlywhenitspringsfromtheheartandspendsitselfinsublimeimpulsesthatsetatnaughtallselfishconsiderations。Soonerorlater，dearone，youtoowillsay，“Yes!dissimulationisthenecessaryarmorofawoman，ifbydissimulationbemeantcouragetobearinsilence，prudencetoforeseethefuture。“
　　Everymarriedwomanlearnstohercosttheexistenceofcertainsociallaws，which，inmanyrespects，conflictwiththelawsofnature。
　　Marryingatourage，itwouldbepossibletohaveadozenchildren。
　　Whatisthisbutanothernameforadozencrimes，adozenmisfortunes？
　　Itwouldbehandingovertopovertyanddespairtwelveinnocentdarlings；whereastwochildrenwouldmeanthehappinessofboth，adoubleblessing，twolivescapableofdevelopinginharmonywiththecustomsandlawsofourtime。Thenaturallawandthecodeareinhostility，andwearethebattleground。Wouldyougivethenameofvicetotheprudenceofthewifewhoguardsherfamilyfromdestructionthroughitsownacts？Onecalculationorathousand，whatmatter，ifthedecisionnolongerrestswiththeheart？
　　Andofthisterriblecalculationyouwillbeguiltysomeday，mynobleBaronnedeMacumer，whenyouaretheproudandhappywifeofthemanwhoadoresyou；orrather，beingamanofsense，hewillspareyoubymakingithimself。Yousee，deardreamer，thatIhavestudiedthecodeinitsbearingsonconjugalrelations。Andwhenatlastthatdaycomes，youwillunderstandthatweareanswerableonlytoGodandtoourselvesforthemeansweemploytokeephappinessalightintheheartofourhomes。Farbetteristhecalculationwhichsucceedsinthisthantherecklesspassionwhichintroducestrouble，heart-
　　burnings，anddissension。
　　Ihavereflectedpainfullyonthedutiesofawifeandmotherofafamily。Yes，sweetone，itisonlybyasublimehypocrisythatwecanattainthenoblestidealofaperfectwoman。YoutaxmewithinsinceritybecauseIdoleouttoLouis，fromdaytoday，themeasureofhisintimacywithme；butisitnottoocloseanintimacywhichprovokesrupture？Myaimistogivehim，intheveryinterestofhishappiness，manyoccupations，whichwillallserveasdistractionstohislove；andthisisnotthereasoningofpassion。Ifaffectionbeinexhaustible，itisnotsowithlove：thetask，therefore，ofawoman——trulynolightone——istospreaditoutthriftilyoveralifetime。
　　Attheriskofexcitingyourdisgust，ImusttellyouthatIpersistintheprinciplesIhaveadopted，andholdmyselfbothheroicandgenerousinsodoing。Virtue，mypet，isanabstractidea，varyinginitsmanifestationswiththesurroundings。VirtueinProvence，inConstantinople，inLondon，andinParisbearsverydifferentfruit，butisnonethelessvirtue。Eachhumanlifeisasubstancecompactedofwidelydissimilarelements，though，viewedfromacertainheight，thegeneraleffectisthesame。
　　IfIwishedtomakeLouisunhappyandtobringaboutaseparation，allIneeddoistoleavethehelminhishands。Ihavenothadyourgoodfortuneinmeetingwithamanofthehighestdistinction，butImayperhapshavethesatisfactionofhelpinghimontheroadtoit。FiveyearshenceletusmeetinParisandsee!Ibelieveweshallsucceedinmystifyingyou。YouwilltellmethenthatIwasquitemistaken，andthatM。del’Estoradeisamanofgreatnaturalgifts。
　　Asforthisbravelove，ofwhichIknowonlywhatyoutellme，thesetremorsandnightwatchesbystarlightonthebalcony，thisidolatrousworship，thisdeificationofwoman——Iknewitwasnotforme。Youcanenlargethebordersofyourbrilliantlifeasyouplease；mineishemmedintotheboundariesofLaCrampade。
　　Andyoureproachmeforthejealouscarewhichalonecannursethismodestandfragileshootintoawealthoflastingandmysterioushappiness!Ibelievedmyselftohavefoundouthowtoadaptthecharmofamistresstothepositionofawife，andyouhavealmostmademeblushformydevice。Whoshallsaywhichofusisright，whichiswrong？Perhapswearebothrightandbothwrong。Perhapsthisistheheavypricewhichsocietyexactsforourfurbelows，ourtitles，andourchildren。
　　Itoohavemyredcamellias，buttheybloomonmylipsinsmilesformydoublecharge——thefatherandtheson——whoseslaveandmistressI
　　am。But，mydear，yourlastlettersmademefeelwhatIhavelost!Youhavetaughtmeallawomansacrificesinmarrying。OnesingleglancedidItakeatthosebeautifulwildplateauswhereyourangeatyoursweetwill，andIwillnottellyouthetearsthatfellasIread。Butregretisnotremorse，thoughitmaybefirstcousintoit。
　　Yousay，“Marriagehasmadeyouaphilosopher!“Alas!bitterlydidI
　　feelhowfarthiswasfromthetruth，asIwepttothinkofyousweptawayonlove’storrent。Butmyfatherhasmademereadoneoftheprofoundestthinkersoftheseparts，themanonwhomthemantleofBoussuethasfallen，oneofthosehard-headedtheoristswhosewordsforceconviction。Whileyouwerereading/Corinne/，IconnedBonald；
　　andhereisthewholesecretofmyphilosophy。HerevealedtometheFamilyinitsstrengthandholiness。AccordingtoBonald，yourfatherwasrightinhishomily。
　　Farewell，mydearfancy，myfriend，mywildotherself。
　　LOUISEDECHAULIEUTOMME。DEL’ESTORADE
　　Well，myRenee，youarealoveofawoman，andIquiteagreenowthatwecanonlybevirtuousbycheating。Willthatsatisfyyou？Moreover，themanwholovesusisourproperty；wecanmakeafoolorageniusofhimasweplease；only，betweenourselves，theformerhappensmorecommonly。Youwillmakeyoursagenius，andyouwon’ttellthesecret——therearetwoheroicactions，ifyouwill!
　　Ah!iftherewerenofuturelife，hownicelyyouwouldbesold，forthisismartyrdomintowhichyouareplungingofyourownaccord。Youwanttomakehimambitiousandtokeephiminlove!Childthatyouare，surelythelastaloneissufficient。
　　Tellme，towhatpointiscalculationavirtue，orvirtuecalculation？
　　Youwon’tsay？Well，wewon’tquarreloverthat，sincewehaveBonaldtoreferto。Weare，andintendtoremain，virtuous；neverthelessatthismomentIbelievethatyou，withallyourprettylittleknavery，areabetterwomanthanIam。
　　Yes，Iamshockinglydeceitful。IloveFelipe，andIconcealitfromhimwithanodioushypocrisy。Ilongtoseehimleapfromhistreetothetopofthewall，andfromthewalltomybalcony——andifhedid，howIshouldwitherhimwithmyscorn!Yousee，Iamfrankenoughwithyou。
　　Whatrestrainsme？WhereisthemysteriouspowerwhichpreventsmefromtellingFelipe，dearfellow，howsupremelyhappyhehasmademebytheoutpouringofhislove——sopure，soabsolute，soboundless，sounobtrusive，andsooverflowing？
　　Mme。deMirbelispaintingmyportrait，andIintendtogiveittohim，mydear。Whatsurprisesmemoreandmoreeverydayistheanimationwhichloveputsintolife。Howfullofinterestiseveryhour，everyaction，everytrifle!andwhatamazingconfusionbetweenthepast，thefuture，andthepresent!Onelivesinthreetensesatonce。Isitstillsoaftertheheightsofhappinessarereached？Oh!
　　tellme，Iimploreyou，whatishappiness？Doesitsoothe，ordoesitexcite？Iamhorriblyrestless；Iseemtohavelostallmybearings；aforceinmyheartdragsmetohim，spiteofreasonandspiteofpropriety。Thereisthisgain，thatIambetterabletoenterintoyourfeelings。
　　Felipe’shappinessconsistsinfeelinghimselfmine；thealoofnessofhislove，hisstrictobedience，irritateme，justashisattitudeofprofoundrespectprovokedmewhenhewasonlymySpanishmaster。Iamtemptedtocryouttohimashepasses，“Fool，ifyoulovemesomuchasapicture，whatwillitbewhenyouknowtherealme？“
　　Oh!Renee，youburnmyletters，don’tyou？Iwillburnyours。Ifothereyesthanoursweretoreadthesethoughtswhichpassfromhearttoheart，IshouldsendFelipetoputthemout，andperhapstokilltheowners，bywayofadditionalsecurity。
　　Monday。
　　Oh!Renee，howisitpossibletofathomtheheartofman？MyfatheroughttointroducemetoM。Bonald，sinceheissolearned；Iwouldaskhim。IenvytheprivilegeofGod，whocanreadtheundercurrentsoftheheart。
　　Doeshestillworship？Thatisthewholequestion。
　　Ifever，ingesture，glance，ortone，IweretodetecttheslightestfallingoffintherespectheusedtoshowmeinthedayswhenhewasmyinstructorinSpanish，IfeelthatIshouldhavestrengthtoputthewholethingfromme。“Whythesefinewords，thesegrandresolutions？“youwillsay。Dear，Iwilltellyou。
　　Myfascinatingfather，whotreatsmewiththedevotionofanItalian/cavaliereservente/forhislady，hadmyportraitpainted，asItoldyou，byMme。deMirbel。Icontrivedtogetacopymade，goodenoughtodofortheDuke，andsenttheoriginaltoFelipe。Idespatchedityesterday，andtheselineswithit：
　　“DonFelipe，yoursingle-hearteddevotionismetbyablindconfidence。Timewillshowwhetherthisisnottotreatamanasmorethanhuman。“
　　Itwasabigreward。Itlookedlikeapromiseand——dreadfultosay——achallenge；but——whichwillseemtoyoustillmoredreadful——Iquiteintendedthatitshouldsuggestboththesethings，withoutgoingsofarasactuallytocommitme。Ifinhisreplythereis“DearLouise!“
　　oreven“Louise，“heisdonefor!
　　Tuesday。
　　No，heisnotdonefor。Theconstitutionalministerisperfectasalover。Hereishisletter：——
　　“Everymomentpassedawayfromyoursighthasbeenfilledbymewithidealpicturesofyou，myeyesclosedtotheoutsideworldandfixedinmeditationonyourimage，whichusedtoobeythesummonstooslowlyinthatdimpalaceofdreams，glorifiedbyyourpresence。Henceforthmygazewillrestuponthiswondrousivory——
　　thistalisman，mightInotsay？——sinceyourblueeyessparklewithlifeasIlook，andpaintpassesintofleshandblood。IfIhavedelayedwriting，itisbecauseIcouldnottearmyselfawayfromyourpresence，whichwrungfrommeallthatIwasboundtokeepmostsecret。
　　“Yes，closetedwithyoualllastnightandto-day，Ihave，forthefirsttimeinmylife，givenmyselfuptofull，complete，andboundlesshappiness。CouldyoubutseeyourselfwhereIhaveplacedyou，betweentheVirginandGod，youmighthavesomeideaoftheagonyinwhichthenighthaspassed。ButIwouldnotoffendyoubyspeakingofit；foroneglancefromyoureyes，robbedofthetendersweetnesswhichismylife，wouldbefulloftortureforme，andIimploreyourclemencythereforeinadvance。Queenofmylifeandofmysoul，oh!thatyoucouldgrantmebutone-
　　thousandthpartoftheloveIbearyou!
　　“Thiswastheburdenofmyprayer；doubtworkedhavocinmysoulasIoscillatedbetweenbeliefanddespair，betweenlifeanddeath，darknessandlight。AcriminalwhoseverdicthangsinthebalanceisnotmorerackedwithsuspensethanI，asIowntomytemerity。Thesmileimagedonyourlips，towhichmyeyesturnedeverandagain，andaloneabletocalmthestormrousedbythedreadofdispleasingyou。Frommybirthnoone，notevenmymother，hassmiledonme。Thebeautifulyounggirlwhowasdesignedformerejectedmyheartandgaveherstomybrother。
　　Again，inpoliticsallmyeffortshavebeendefeated。IntheeyesofmykingIhavereadonlythirstforvengeance；fromchildhoodhehasbeenmyenemy，andthevoteoftheCorteswhichplacedmeinpowerwasregardedbyhimasapersonalinsult。
　　“Lessthanthismightbreeddespondencyinthestoutestheart。
　　Besides，Ihavenoillusion；Iknowthegracelessnessofmyperson，andamwellawarehowdifficultitistodojusticetotheheartwithinsoruggedashell。TobelovedhadceasedtobemorethanadreamtomewhenImetyou。ThuswhenIboundmyselftoyourserviceIknewthatdevotionalonecouldexcusemypassion。