MydearLouise，——Isendthisletterbyanexpressbeforehasteningtothechaletmyself。Takecourage。Yourlastletterseemedtomesofrantic，thatIthoughtmyselfjustified，underthecircumstances，inconfidingalltoLouis；itwasaquestionofsavingyoufromyourself。
　　Ifthemeanswehaveemployedhavebeen，likeyours，repulsive，yettheresultissosatisfactorythatIamcertainyouwillapprove。I
　　wentsofarastosetthepolicetowork，butthewholethingremainsasecretbetweentheprefect，ourselvesandyou。
　　Inoneword，Gastonisajewel!Butherearethefacts。Hisbrother，LouisGaston，diedatCalcutta，whileintheserviceofamercantilecompany，whenhewasontheverypointofreturningtoFrance，arich，prosperous，marriedman，havingreceivedaverylargefortunewithhiswife，whowasthewidowofanEnglishmerchant。Fortenyearshehadworkedhardthathemightbeabletosendhomeenoughtosupporthisbrother，towhomhewasdevotedlyattached，andfromwhomhislettersgenerouslyconcealedallhistrialsanddisappointments。
　　ThencamethefailureofthegreatHalmerhouse；thewidowwasruined，andthesuddenshockaffectedLouisGaston’sbrain。Hehadnomentalenergylefttoresistthediseasewhichattackedhim，andhediedinBengal，whitherhehadgonetotryandrealizetheremnantsofhiswife’sproperty。Thedear，goodfellowhaddepositedwithabankerafirstsumofthreehundredthousandfrancs，whichwastogotohisbrother，butthebankerwasinvolvedintheHalmercrash，andthustheirlastresourcefailedthem。
　　Louis’widow，thehandsomewomanwhomyoutookforyourrival，arrivedinPariswithtwochildren——yournephews——andanemptypurse，hermother’sjewelshavingbarelysufficedtopayforbringingthemover。
　　TheinstructionswhichLouisGastonhadgiventhebankerforsendingthemoneytohisbrotherenabledthewidowtofindyourhusband’sformerhome。AsGastonhaddisappearedwithoutleavinganyaddress，Mme。LouisGastonwasdirectedtod’Arthez，theonlypersonwhocouldgiveanyinformationabouthim。
　　D’Arthezwasthemorereadytorelievetheyoungwoman’spressingneeds，becauseLouisGaston，atthetimeofhismarriagefouryearsbefore，hadwrittentomakeinquiriesabouthisbrotherfromthefamousauthor，whomheknewtobeoneofhisfriends。TheCaptainhadconsultedd’ArthezastothebestmeansofgettingthemoneysafelytransferredtoMarie，andd’Arthezhadreplied，tellinghimthatGastonwasnowarichmanthroughhismarriagewiththeBaronnedeMacumer。Thepersonalbeauty，whichwasthemother’srichheritagetohersons，hadsavedthemboth——oneinIndia，theotherinParis——fromdestitution。Atouchingstory，isitnot？
　　D’Artheznaturallywrote，afteratime，totellyourhusbandoftheconditionofhissister-in-lawandherchildren，informinghim，atthesametime，ofthegenerousintentionsoftheIndianGastontowardshisParisbrother，whichanunhappychancehadfrustrated。Gaston，asyoumayimagine，hurriedofftoParis。Hereisthefirstrideaccountedfor。Duringthelastfiveyearshehadsavedfiftythousandfrancsoutoftheincomeyouforcedhimtoaccept，andthissumheinvestedinthepublicfundsunderthenamesofhistwonephews，securingthemeach，inthisway，anincomeoftwelvehundredfrancs。Nexthefurnishedhissister-in-law’srooms，andpromisedheraquarterlyallowanceofthreethousandfrancs。Hereyouseethemeaningofhisdramaticlaborsandthepleasurecausedhimbythesuccessofhisfirstplay。
　　Mme。Gaston，therefore，isnorivalofyours，andhaseveryrighttoyourname。AmanofGaston’ssensitivedelicacywasboundtokeeptheaffairsecretfromyou，knowingashedid，yourgenerousnature。Nordoeshelookonwhatyougivehimashisown。D’Arthezreadmetheletterhehadfromyourhusband，askinghimtobeoneofthewitnessesathismarriage。Gastoninthisdeclaresthathishappinesswouldhavebeenperfectbutfortheonedrawbackofhispovertyandindebtednesstoyou。Avirginsoulisatthemercyofsuchscruples。Eithertheymakethemselvesfeltortheydonot；andwhentheydo，itiseasytoimaginetheconflictoffeelingandembarrassmenttowhichtheygiverise。NothingismorenaturalthanGaston’swishtoprovideinsecretasuitablemaintenanceforthewomanwhoishisbrother’swidow，andwhohadherselfsetasideonehundredthousandfrancsforhimfromherownfortune。Sheisahandsomewoman，warm-hearted，andextremelywell-bred，butnotclever。Sheisamother；and，youmaybesure，I
　　lostmyhearttoheratfirstsightwhenIfoundherwithonechildinherarms，andtheotherdressedlikealittlelord。Thechildrenfirst!iswrittenineverydetailofherhouse。
　　Farfrombeingangry，therefore，withyourbelovedhusband，youshouldfindinallthisfreshreasonforlovinghim。Ihavemethim，andthinkhimthemostdelightfulyoungfellowinParis。Yes!dearchild，whenIsawhim，Ihadnodifficultyinunderstandingthatawomanmightloseherheadabouthim；hissoulismirroredinhiscountenance。IfIwereyou，Ishouldsettlethewidowandherchildrenatthechalet，inaprettylittlecottagewhichyoucouldhavebuiltforthem，andadopttheboys!
　　Beatpeace，then，dearsoul，andplanthislittlesurprise，inyourturn，forGaston。
　　MME。GASTONTOTHECOMTESSEDEL’ESTORADE
　　Ah!mydearfriend，whatcanIsayinanswerexceptthecruel/“Itistoolate“/ofthatfoolLafayettetohisroyalmaster？Oh!mylife，mysweetlife，whatphysicianwillgiveitbacktome。Myownhandhasdealtthedeathblow。Alas!haveInotbeenamerewill-o’-the-wisp，whosetwinklingsparkwasfatedtoperishbeforeitreachedaflame？
　　Myeyesraintorrentsoftears——andyettheymustnotfallwhenIamwithhim。Iflytohim，andheseeksme。Mydespairisallwithin。
　　ThistortureDanteforgottoplaceinhis/Inferno。/Cometoseemedie!
　　Mylove，——TakethechildrenawaytoProvencewithoutme；IremainwithLouise，whohasonlyafewdaysyettolive。Icannotleaveeitherherorherhusband，forwhosereasonIfear。
　　YouknowthescrapofletterwhichsentmeflyingtoVilled’Avray，pickingupthedoctorsonmyway。SincethenIhavenotleftmydarlingfriend，andithasbeenimpossibletowritetoyou，forIhavesatupeverynightforafortnight。
　　WhenIarrived，IfoundherwithGaston，infulldress，beautiful，laughing，happy。Itwasaheroicfalsehood!Theywereliketwolovelychildrentogetherintheirrestoredconfidence。ForamomentIwasdeceived，likeGaston，bytheeffontery；butLouisepressedmyhand，whispering：
　　“Hemustnotknow；Iamdying。“
　　AnicychillfellovermeasIfeltherburninghandandsawtheredspotsonhercheeks。Icongratulatedmyselfonmyprudenceinleavingthedoctorsinthewoodtilltheyshouldbesentfor。
　　“Leaveusforalittle，“shesaidtoGaston。“Twowomenwhohavenotmetforfiveyearshaveplentyofsecretstotalkover，andRenee，I
　　havenodoubt，hasthingstoconfideinme。“
　　Directlywewerealone，sheflungherselfintomyarms，unablelongertorestrainhertears。
　　“Tellmeaboutit，“Isaid。“Ihavebroughtwithme，incaseofneed，thebestsurgeonandthebestphysicianfromthehospital，andBianchonaswell；therearefouraltogether。“
　　“Ah!“shecried，“havetheminatonceiftheycansaveme，ifthereisstilltime。Thepassionwhichhurriedmetodeathnowcriesforlife!“
　　“Butwhathaveyoudonetoyourself？“
　　“Ihaveinafewdaysbroughtmyselftothelaststageofconsumption。“
　　“Buthow？“
　　“Igotmyselfintoaprofuseperspirationinthenight，andthenranoutandlaydownbythesideofthelakeinthedew。GastonthinksI
　　haveacold，andIamdying!“
　　“SendhimtoParis；Iwillfetchthedoctorsmyself，“Isaid，asI
　　rushedoutwildlytothespotwhereIhadleftthem。
　　Alas!mylove，aftertheconsultationwasover，notoneofthedoctorsgavemetheleasthope；theyallbelievethatLouisewilldiewiththefalloftheleaves。Thedearchild’sconstitutionhaswonderfullyhelpedthesuccessofherplan。Itseemsshehasapredispositiontothiscomplaint；andthough，intheordinarycourse，shemighthavelivedalongtime，afewdays’follyhasmadethecasedesperate。
　　IcannottellyouwhatIfeltonhearingthissentence，basedonsuchclearexplanations。YouknowthatIhavelivedinLouiseasmuchasinmyownlife。Iwassimplycrushed，andcouldnotstirtoescorttothedoortheseharbingersofevil。Idon’tknowhowlongIremainedlostinbitterthoughts，thetearsrunningdownmycheeks，whenIwasrousedfrommystuporbythewords：
　　“Sothereisnohopeforme!“inaclear，angelicvoice。
　　ItwasLouise，withherhandonmyshoulder。Shemademegetup，andcarriedmeofftohersmalldrawing-room。Withabeseechingglance，shewenton：
　　“Staywithmetotheend；Iwon’thavedolefulfacesroundme。Aboveall，Imustkeepthetruthfrom/him/。IknowthatIhavethestrengthtodoit。Iamfullofyouthandspirit，andcandiestanding!Formyself，Ihavenoregrets。IamdyingasIwishedtodie，stillyoungandbeautiful，intheperfectionofmywomanhood。
　　“Asforhim，IcanseeverywellnowthatIshouldhavemadehislifemiserable。Passionhasmeinitsgrips，likeastrugglingfawn，impatientofthetoils。Mygroundlessjealousyhasalreadywoundedhimsorely。Whenthedaycamethatmysuspicionsmetonlyindifference——
　　whichinthelongrunistherightfulmeedofalljealousy——well，thatwouldhavebeenmydeath。Ihavehadmyshareoflife。Therearepeoplewhosenamesonthemuster-rolloftheworldshowsixtyyearsofservice，andyetinallthattimetheyhavenothadtwoyearsofreallife，whilstmyrecordofthirtyisdoubledbytheintensityofmylove。
　　“Thusforhim，aswellasforme，thecloseisahappyone。Butbetweenus，dearRenee，itisdifferent。Youlosealovingsister，andthatisalosswhichnothingcanrepair。Youaloneherehavetherighttomournmydeath。“
　　Afteralongpause，duringwhichIcouldonlyseeherthroughamistoftears，shecontinued：
　　“Themoralofmydeathisacruelone。Mydeardoctorinpetticoatswasright；marriagecannotrestuponpassionasitsfoundation，norevenuponlove。Howfineandnobleisyourlife!keepingalwaystotheonesaferoad，yougiveyourhusbandanever-growingaffection；whilethepassionateeagernesswithwhichIthrewmyselfintoweddedlifewasboundinnaturetodiminish。TwicehaveIgoneastray，andtwicehasDeathstretchedforthhisbonyhandtostrikemyhappiness。Thefirsttime，herobbedmeofthenoblestandmostdevotedofmen；nowitismyturn，thegrinningmonstertearsmefromthearmsofmypoethusband，withallhisbeautyandhisgrace。
　　“YetIwouldnotcomplain。HaveInotknowninturntwomen，eachtheverypatternofnobility——oneinmind，theotherinoutwardform？InFelipe，thesouldominatedandtransformedthebody；inGaston，onecouldnotsaywhichwassupreme——heart，mind，orgraceofform。Idieadored——whatmorecouldIwishfor？Time，perhaps，inwhichtodrawneartheGodofwhomImayhavetoolittlethought。MyspiritwilltakeitsflighttowardsHim，fulloflove，andwiththeprayerthatsomeday，intheworldabove，Hewillunitemeoncemoretothetwowhomadeaheavenofmylifebelow。Withoutthem，paradisewouldbeadeserttome。
　　“Toothers，myexamplewouldbefatal，forminewasnocommonlot。TomeetaFelipeoraGastonismorethanmortalscanexpect，andthereforethedoctrineofsocietyinregardtomarriageaccordswiththenaturallaw。Womanisweak，andinmarryingsheoughttomakeanentiresacrificeofherwilltothemanwho，inreturn，shouldlayhisselfishnessatherfeet。Thestirwhichwomenoflateyearshavecreatedbytheirwhiningandinsubordinationisridiculous，andonlyshowshowwellwedeservetheepithetofchildren，bestowedbyphilosophersonoursex。“
　　Shecontinuedtalkingthusinthegentlevoiceyouknowsowell，utteringthegravesttruthsintheprettiestmanner，untilGastonentered，bringingwithhimhissister-in-law，thetwochildren，andtheEnglishnurse，whom，atLouise’srequest，hehadbeentofetchfromParis。
　　“Herearetheprettyinstrumentsofmytorture，“shesaid，ashernephewsapproached。“Wasnotthemistakeexcusable？Whatawonderfullikenesstotheiruncle!“
　　ShewasmostfriendlytoMme。Gastontheelderandbeggedthatshewouldlookuponthechaletasherhome；inshort，sheplayedthehostesstoherinherbestdeChaulieumanner，inwhichnoonecanrivalher。
　　IwroteatoncetotheDucandDuchessedeChaulieu，theDucdeRhetore，andtheDucdeLenoncourt-Givry，aswellastoMadeleine。Itwastime。Nextday，Louise，wornoutwithsomuchexertion，wasunabletogoout；indeed，sheonlygotupfordinner。Inthecourseoftheevening，MadeleinedeLenoncourt，hertwobrothers，andhermotherarrived。ThecoolnesswhichLouise’ssecondmarriagehadcausedbetweenherselfandherfamilydisappeared。Everydaysincethatevening，Louise’sfatherandbothherbrothershaveriddenoverinthemorning，andthetwoduchessesspendalltheireveningsatthechalet。
　　Deathunitesaswellasseparates；itsilencesallpaltryfeeling。
　　Louiseisperfectioninhercharm，hergrace，hergoodsense，herwit，andhertenderness。Shehasretainedtothelastthatperfecttactforwhichshehasbeensofamous，andshelavishesonusthetreasuresofherbrilliantmind，whichmadeheroneofthequeensofParis。
　　“Ishouldliketolookwelleveninmycoffin，“shesaidwithhermatchlesssmile，asshelaydownonthebedwhereshewastolingerforafortnight。
　　Herroomhasnothingofthesick-chamberinit；medicines，ointments，thewholeapparatusofnursing，iscarefullyconcealed。
　　“Isnotmydeathbedpretty!“shesaidtotheSevrespriestwhocametoconfessher。
　　Wegloatedoverherlikemisers。Allthisanxiety，andtheterribletruthswhichdawnedonhim，havepreparedGastonfortheworst。Heisfullofcourage，buttheblowhasgonehome。Itwouldnotsurprisemetoseehimfollowhiswifeinthenaturalcourse。Yesterday，aswewerewalkingroundthelake，hesaidtome：
　　“Imustbeafathertothosetwochildren，“andhepointedtohissister-in-law，whowastakingtheboysforawalk。“ButthoughIshalldonothingtohastenmyend，Iwantyourpromisethatyouwillbeasecondmothertothem，andwillpersuadeyourhusbandtoaccepttheofficeofguardian，whichIshalldeputetohiminconjunctionwithmysister-in-law。“
　　Hesaidthisquitesimply，likeamanwhoknowsheisnotlongforthisworld。HehassmilesonhisfacetomeetLouise’s，anditisonlyIwhomhedoesnotdeceive。Heisamateforherincourage。
　　Louisehasexpressedawishtoseehergodson，butIamnotsorryheshouldbeinProvence；shemightwanttorememberhimgenerously，andIshouldbeinagreatdifficulty。
　　Good-bye，mylove。
　　August25thherbirthday。
　　YesterdayeveningLouisewasdeliriousforashorttime；butherdeliriumwastheprettiestbabbling，whichshowsthateventhemadnessofgiftedpeopleisnotthatoffoolsornobodies。InamerethreadofavoiceshesangsomeItalianairsfrom/IPuritani，LaSonnambula，Moise/，whilewestoodroundthebedinsilence。Notoneofus，noteventheDucdeRhetore，haddryeyes，soclearwasittousallthathersoulwasinthisfashionpassingfromus。Shecouldnolongerseeus!Yetshewastherestillinthecharmofthefaintmelody，withitssweetnessnotofthisearth。
　　Duringthenightthedeathagonybegan。Itisnowseveninthemorning，andIhavejustmyselfraisedherfrombed。Someflickerofstrengthrevived；shewishedtositbyherwindow，andaskedforGaston’shand。Andthen，mylove，thesweetestspiritwhomweshalleverseeonthisearthdeparted，leavingustheemptyshell。
　　Thelastsacramenthadbeenadministeredtheeveningbefore，unknowntoGaston，whowastakingasnatchofsleepduringthisagonizingceremony；andaftershewasmovedtothewindow，sheaskedmetoreadherthe/DeProfundis/inFrench，whileshewasthusfacetofacewiththelovelyscene，whichwasherhandiwork。Sherepeatedthewordsaftermetoherself，andpressedthehandsofherhusband，whokneltontheothersideofthechair。
　　August26th。
　　Myheartisbroken。Ihavejustseenherinherwinding-sheet；herfaceisquitepalenowwithpurpleshadows。Oh!Iwantmychildren!mychildren!Bringmemychildren!
　　THEEND