Ifellbackonmyside，miserablydisappointedatmyfirstexperienceofmotherlyfeeling。
　　“Don’tworry，dear，“saidmymother，whohadinstalledherselfasnurse。“Why，you’vegotthefinestbabyintheworld。Youmustn’texciteyourself；butgiveyourwholemindnowtoturningyourselfasmuchaspossibleintoananimal，amilchcow，pasturinginthemeadow。“
　　Ifellasleepthen，fullyresolvedtoletnaturehaveherway。
　　Ah!mysweet，howheavenlyitwastowakenupfromallthepainandhazinessofthefirstdays，wheneverythingwasstilldim，uncomfortable，confused。Arayoflightpiercedthedarkness；myheartandsoul，myinnerself——aselfIhadneverknownbefore——renttheenvelopeofgloomysuffering，asaflowerburstsitssheathatthefirstwarmkissofthesun，atthemomentwhenthelittlewretchfastenedonmybreastandsucked。Noteventhesensationofthechild’sfirstcrywassoexquisiteasthis。Thisisthedawnofmotherhood，thisisthe/Fiatlux/!
　　Hereishappiness，joyineffable，thoughitcomesnotwithoutpangs。
　　Oh!mysweetjealoussoul，howyouwillrelishadelightwhichexistsonlyforourselves，thechild，andGod!Forthistinycreatureallknowledgeissummedupinitsmother’sbreast。Thisistheonebrightspotinitsworld，towardswhichitspunystrengthgoesforth。Itsthoughtsclusterroundthisspringoflife，whichitleavesonlytosleep，andwhitheritreturnsonwaking。Itslipshaveasweetnessbeyondwords，andtheirpressureisatonceapainandadelight，adelightwhichbyeveryexcessbecomespain，orapainwhichculminatesindelight。Thesensationwhichrisesfromit，andwhichpenetratestotheverycoreofmylife，bafflesalldescription。Itseemsasortofcentrewhenceamyriadjoy-bearingraysgladdentheheartandsoul。Tobearachildisnothing；tonourishitisbirthrenewedeveryhour。
　　Oh!Louise，thereisnocaressofloverwithhalfthepowerofthoselittlepinkhands，astheystrayabout，seekingwherebytolayholdonlife。Andtheinfantglances，nowturneduponthebreast，nowraisedtomeetourown!Whatdreamscometousaswewatchtheclingingnursling!Allourpowers，whetherofmindorbody，areatitsservice；
　　foritwebreatheandthink，initourlongingsaremorethansatisfied!Thesweetsensationofwarmthattheheart，whichthesoundofhisfirstcrybroughttome——likethefirstrayofsunshineontheearth——cameagainasIfeltthemilkflowintohismouth，againashiseyesmetmine，andatthismomentIhavefeltitoncemoreashisfirstsmilegavetokenofamindworkingwithin——forhehaslaughed，mydear!Alaugh，aglance，abite，acry——fourmiraclesofgladnesswhichgostraighttotheheartandstrikechordsthatrespondtonoothertouch。Achildistiedtoourheart-strings，asthespheresarelinkedtotheircreator；wecannotthinkofGodexceptasamother’sheartwritlarge。
　　Itisonlyintheactofnursingthatawomanrealizeshermotherhoodinvisibleandtangiblefashion；itisajoyofeverymoment。Themilkbecomesfleshbeforeoureyes；itblossomsintothetipsofthosedelicateflower-likefingers；itexpandsintender，transparentnails；
　　itspinsthesilkytresses；itkicksinthelittlefeet。Oh!thosebabyfeet，howplainlytheytalktous!Inthemthechildfindsitsfirstlanguage。
　　Yes，Louise，nursingisamiracleoftransformationgoingonbeforeone’sbewilderedeyes。Thosecries，theygotoyourheartandnotyourears；thosesmilingeyesandlips，thoseplungingfeet，theyspeakinwordswhichcouldnotbeplainerifGodtracedthembeforeyouinlettersoffire!Whatelseisthereintheworldtocareabout？Thefather？Why，youcouldkillhimifhedreamedofwakingthebaby!Justasthechildistheworldtous，sodowestandaloneintheworldforthechild。Thesweetconsciousnessofacommonlifeisamplerecompenseforallthetroubleandsuffering——forsufferingthereis。
　　Heavensaveyou，Louise，fromeverknowingthemaddeningagonyofawoundwhichgapesafreshwitheverypressureofrosylips，andissohardtoheal——theheaviesttaxperhapsimposedonbeauty。Forknow，Louise，andbeware!itvisitsonlyafairanddelicateskin。
　　Mylittleapehasinfivemonthsdevelopedintotheprettiestdarlingthatevermotherbathedintearsofjoy，washed，brushed，combed，andmadesmart；forGodknowswhatunweariedcarewelavishuponthosetenderblossoms!Somymonkeyhasceasedtoexist，andbeholdinhissteada/baby/，asmyEnglishnursesays，aregularpink-and-whitebaby。Hecriesverylittletoonow，forheisconsciousofthelovebestowedonhim；indeed，Ihardlyeverleavehim，andIstrivetowraphimroundintheatmosphereofmylove。
　　Dear，IhaveafeelingnowforLouiswhichisnotlove，butwhichoughttobethecrownofawoman’slovewhereitexists。Nay，Iamnotsurewhetherthistenderfondness，thisunselfishgratitude，isnotsuperiortolove。Fromallthatyouhavetoldmeofit，dearpet，I
　　gatherthatlovehassomethingterriblyearthlyaboutit，whilstastrainofholypietypurifiestheaffectionahappymotherfeelsfortheauthorofherfar-reachingandenduringjoys。Amother’shappinessislikeabeacon，lightingupthefuture，butreflectedalsoonthepastintheguiseoffondmemories。
　　Theoldl’Estoradeandhissonhavemoreoverredoubledtheirdevotiontome；Iamlikeanewpersontothem。Everytimetheyseemeandspeaktome，itiswithafreshholidayjoy，whichtouchesmedeeply。
　　Thegrandfatherhas，Iverilybelieve，turnedchildagain；helooksatmeadmiringly，andthefirsttimeIcamedowntolunchhewasmovedtotearstoseemeeatingandsucklingthechild。Themoistureinthesedryoldeyes，generallyexpressiveonlyofavarice，wasawonderfulcomforttome。Ifeltthatthegoodsoulenteredintomyjoy。
　　AsforLouis，hewouldshoutaloudtothetreesandstonesofthehighwaythathehasason；andhespendswholehourswatchingyoursleepinggodson。Hedoesnotknow，hesays，whenhewillgrowusedtoit。Theseextravagantexpressionsofdelightshowmehowgreatmusthavebeentheirfearsbeforehand。Louishasconfidedinmethathehadbelievedhimselfcondemnedtobechildless。Poorfellow!hehasallatoncedevelopedverymuch，andheworksevenharderthanhedid。Thefatherinhimhasquickenedhisambition。
　　Formyself，dearsoul，Igrowhappierandhappiereverymoment。Eachhourcreatesafreshtiebetweenthemotherandherinfant。Theverynatureofmyfeelingsprovestomethattheyarenormal，permanent，andindestructible；whereasIshrewdlysuspectlove，forinstance，ofbeingintermittent。Certainlyitisnotthesameatallmoments，theflowerswhichitweavesintotheweboflifearenotallofequalbrightness；love，inshort，canandmustdecline。Butamother’slovehasnoebb-tidetofear；ratheritgrowswiththegrowthofthechild’sneeds，andstrengthenswithitsstrength。Isitnotatonceapassion，anaturalcraving，afeeling，aduty，anecessity，ajoy？
　　Yes，darling，hereiswoman’struesphere。Herethepassionforself-
　　sacrificecanexpenditself，andnojealousyintrudes。
　　Here，too，isperhapsthesinglepointonwhichsocietyandnatureareatone。Society，inthismatter，enforcesthedictatesofnature，strengtheningthematernalinstinctbyaddingtoitfamilyspiritandthedesireofperpetuatinganame，arace，anestate。Howtenderlymustnotawomancherishthechildwhohasbeenthefirsttoopenuptoherthesejoys，thefirsttocallforththeenergiesofhernatureandtoinstructherinthegrandartofmotherhood!Therightoftheeldest，whichintheearliesttimesformedapartofthenaturalorderandwaslostintheoriginsofsociety，oughtnever，inmyopinion，tohavebeenquestioned。Ah!howmuchamotherlearnsfromherchild!Theconstantprotectionofahelplessbeingforcesustosostrictanalliancewithvirtue，thatawomannevershowstofulladvantageexceptasamother。Thenalonecanhercharacterexpandinthefulfilmentofalllife’sdutiesandtheenjoymentofallitspleasures。Awomanwhoisnotamotherismaimedandincomplete。
　　Hasten，then，mysweetest，tofulfilyourmission。Yourpresenthappinesswillthenbemultipliedbythewealthofmydelights。
　　23rd。
　　Ihadtotearmyselffromyoubecauseyourgodsonwascrying。Icanhearhiscryfromthebottomofthegarden。ButIwouldnotletthisgowithoutawordoffarewell。IhavejustbeenreadingoverwhatI
　　havesaid，andamhorrifiedtoseehowvulgararethefeelingsexpressed!WhatIfeel，everymother，alas!sincethebeginningmusthavefelt，Isuppose，inthesameway，andputintothesamewords。
　　Youwilllaughatme，aswedoatthenaivefatherwhodilatesonthebeautyandclevernessofhisofcoursequiteexceptionaloffspring。
　　Buttherefrainofmyletter，darling，isthis，andIrepeatit：IamashappynowasIusedtobemiserable。Thisgrange——andisitnotgoingtobeanestate，afamilyproperty？——hasbecomemylandofpromise。Thedesertispastandover。Athousandloves，darlingpet。
　　Writetome，fornowIcanreadwithoutatearthetaleofyourhappylove。Farewell。
　　Doyouknow，dear，thatitismorethanthreemonthssinceIhavewrittentoyouorheardfromyou？Iamthemoreguiltyofthetwo，forIdidnotreplytoyourlast，butyoudon’tstandonpunctiliosurely？
　　MacumerandIhavetakenyoursilenceforconsentasregardsthebaby-
　　wreathedluncheonservice，andthelittlecherubsarestartingthismorningforMarseilles。Ittooksixmonthstocarryoutthedesign。
　　AndsowhenFelipeaskedmetocomeandseetheservicebeforeitwaspacked，Isuddenlywakeduptothefactthatwehadnotinterchangedawordsincetheletterofyourswhichgavemeaninsightintoamother’sheart。
　　Mysweet，itisthisterribleParis——there’smyexcuse。What，pray，isyours？Oh!whatawhirlpoolissociety!Didn’tItellyouoncethatinParisonemustbeastheParisians？Societytheredrivesoutallsentiment；itlaysenembargoonyourtime；andunlessyouareverycareful，sooneatsawayyourheartaltogether。WhatanamazingmasterpieceisthecharacterofCelimeneinMoliere’s/LeMisanthrope/!Sheisthesocietywoman，notonlyofLouisXIV。’stime，butofourown，andofall，time。
　　WhereshouldIbebutformybreastplate——theloveIbearFelipe？ThisverymorningItoldhim，astheoutcomeofthesereflections，thathewasmysalvation。Ifmyeveningsareacontinuousroundofparties，balls，concerts，andtheatres，atnightmyheartexpandsagain，andishealedofthewoundsreceivedintheworldbythedelightsofthepassionatelovewhichawaitmyreturn。
　　Idineathomeonlywhenwehavefriends，so-called，withus，andspendtheafternoonthereonlyonmyday，forIhaveadaynow——
　　Wednesday——forreceiving。IhaveenteredthelistswithMmes。d’EspardanddeMaufrigneuse，andwiththeoldDuchessedeLenoncourt，andmyhousehasthereputationofbeingaverylivelyone。Iallowedmyselftobecomethefashion，becauseIsawhowmuchpleasuremysuccessgaveFelipe。Mymorningsarehis；fromfourintheafternoontilltwointhemorningIbelongtoParis。Macumermakesanadmirablehost，wittyanddignified，perfectincourtesy，andwithanairofrealdistinction。Nowomancouldhelplovingsuchahusbandevenifshehadchosenhimwithoutconsultingherheart。
　　MyfatherandmotherhaveleftforMadrid。LouisXVIII。beingoutoftheway，theDuchesshadnodifficultyinobtainingfromourgood-
　　naturedCharlesX。theappointmentofherfascinatingpoet；soheiscarriedoffinthecapacityofattache。
　　Mybrother，theDucdeRhetore，deignstorecognizemeasapersonofmark。Asformyyoungerbrother，TheComtedeChaulieu，thisbuckramwarriorowesmeeverlastinggratitude。Beforemyfatherleft，hespentmyfortuneinacquiringfortheCountanestateoffortythousandfrancsayear，entailedonthetitle，andhismarriagewithMlle。deMortsauf，anheiressfromTouraine，isdefinitelyarranged。TheKing，inordertopreservethenameandtitlesofthedeLenoncourtanddeGivryfamiliesfromextinction，istoconferthese，togetherwiththearmorialbearings，bypatentonmybrother。Certainlyitwouldneverhavedonetoallowthesetwofinenamesandtheirsplendidmotto，/Faciemsempermonstramus/，toperish。Mlle。deMortsauf，whoisgranddaughterandsoleheiressoftheDucdeLenoncourt-Givry，will，itissaid，inheritaltogethermorethanonehundredthousandlivresayear。TheonlystipulationmyfatherhasmadeisthatthedeChaulieuarmsshouldappearinthecentreofthedeLenoncourtescutcheon。ThusmybrotherwillbeDucdeLenoncourt。TheyoungdeMortsauf，towhomeverythingwouldotherwisego，isinthelaststageofconsumption；
　　hisdeathislookedforeveryday。Themarriagewilltakeplacenextwinterwhenthefamilyareoutofmourning。IamtoldthatIshallhaveacharmingsister-in-lawinMlle。deMortsauf。
　　Soyouseethatmyfather’sreasoningisjustified。Theoutcomeofitallhaswonmemanycompliments，andmymarriageisexplainedtoeverybody’ssatisfaction。Tocompleteoursuccess，thePrincedeTalleyrand，outofaffectionformygrandmother，isshowinghimselfawarmfriendtoMacumer。Society，whichbeganbycriticisingme，hasnowpassedtocordialadmiration。
　　Inshort，Inowreignaqueenwhere，barelytwoyearsago，Iwasaninsignificantitem。Macumerfindshimselftheobjectofuniversalenvy，asthehusbandof“themostcharmingwomaninParis。“Atleastascoreofwomen，asyouknow，arealwaysinthatproudposition。Menmurmursweetthingsinmyear，orcontentthemselveswithgreedyglances。Thischorusoflongingandadmirationissosoothingtoone’svanity，thatIconfessIbegintounderstandtheunconscionablepricewomenarereadytopayforsuchfrailandprecariousprivileges。A