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joy。 Madame； may I be allowed to express the hope that this joy； so
vivid and intense； which has brought fresh life into our house； and
has changed the face of existence for my dear wife； may ere long be
yours？
Renee has had a suite of rooms prepared； and I only wish I could make
them worthy of our guests。 But the cordial friendliness of the
reception which awaits you may perhaps atone for any lack of splendor。
I have heard from Renee； madame； of your kind thought in regard to us；
and I take this opportunity of thanking you for it； the more gladly
because nothing could now be more appropriate。 The birth of a grandson
has reconciled my father to sacrifices which bear hardly on an old
man。 He has just bought two estates； and La Crampade is now a property
with an annual rental of thirty thousand francs。 My father intends
asking the King's permission to form an entailed estate of it； and if
you are good enough to get for him the title of which you spoke in
your last letter； you will have already done much for your godson。
For my part； I shall carry out your suggestions solely with the object
of bringing you and Renee together during the sessions of the Chamber。
I am working hard with the view of becoming what is called a
specialist。 But nothing could give me greater encouragement in my
labors than the thought that you will take an interest in my little
Armand。 Come； then； we beg of you； and with your beauty and your
grace； your playful fancy and your noble soul； enact the part of good
fairy to my son and heir。 You will thus； madame； add undying gratitude
to the respectful regard of
Your very humble； obedient servant；
LOUIS DE L'ESTORADE。
XXX
LOUISE DE MACUMER TO RENEE DE L'ESTORADE
January 1826。
Macumer has just wakened me； darling； with your husband's letter。
First and foremostYes。 We shall be going to Chantepleurs about the
end of April。 To me it will be a piling up of pleasure to travel； to
see you； and to be the godmother of your first child。 I must； please；
have Macumer for godfather。 To take part in a ceremony of the Church
with another as my partner would be hateful to me。 Ah！ if you could
see the look he gave me as I said this； you would know what store this
sweetest of lovers sets on his wife！
〃I am the more bent on our visiting La Crampade together； Felipe；〃 I
went on； 〃because I might have a child there。 I too； you know； would
be a mother！ 。 。 。 And yet； can you fancy me torn in two between you
and the infant？ To begin with； if I saw any creaturewere it even my
own sontaking my place in your heart； I couldn't answer for the
consequences。 Medea may have been right after all。 The Greeks had some
good notions！〃
And he laughed。
So； my sweetheart； you have the fruit without the flowers； I the
flowers without the fruit。 The contrast in our lives still holds good。
Between the two of us we have surely enough philosophy to find the
moral of it some day。 Bah！ only ten months married！ Too soon； you will
admit； to give up hope。
We are leading a gay； yet far from empty life； as is the way with
happy people。 The days are never long enough for us。 Society； seeing
me in the trappings of a married woman； pronounces the Baronne de
Macumer much prettier than Louise de Chaulieu： a happy love is a most
becoming cosmetic。 When Felipe and I drive along the Champs…Elysees in
the bright sunshine of a crisp January day； beneath the trees； frosted
with clusters of white stars； and face all Paris on the spot where
last year we met with a gulf between us； the contrast calls up a
thousand fancies。 Suppose； after all； your last letter should be right
in its forecast； and we are too presumptuous！
If I am ignorant of a mother's joys； you shall tell me about them； I
will learn by sympathy。 But my imagination can picture nothing to
equal the rapture of love。 You will laugh at my extravagance； but； I
assure you； that a dozen times in as many months the longing has
seized me to die at thirty； while life was still untarnished； amidst
the roses of love； in the embrace of passion。 To bid farewell to the
feast at its brightest； before disappointment has come； having lived
in this sunshine and celestial air； and well…nigh spent myself in
love； not a leaf dropped from my crown； not an illusion perished in my
heart； what a dream is there！ Think what it would be to bear about a
young heart in an aged body； to see only cold； dumb faces around me；
where even strangers used to smile； to be a worthy matron！ Can Hell
have a worse torture？
On this very subject； in fact； Felipe and I have had our first
quarrel。 I contended that he ought to have sufficient moral strength
to kill me in my sleep when I have reached thirty； so that I might
pass from one dream to another。 The wretch declined。 I threatened to
leave him alone in the world； and； poor child； he turned white as a
sheet。 My dear； this distinguished statesman is neither more nor less
than a baby。 It is incredible what youth and simplicity he contrived
to hide away。 Now that I allow myself to think aloud with him； as I do
with you； and have no secrets from him； we are always giving each
other surprises。
Dear Renee； Felipe and Louise； the pair of lovers； want to send a
present to the young mother。 We would like to get something that would
give you pleasure； and we don't share the popular taste for surprises；
so tell me quite frankly； please； what you would like。 It ought to be
something which would recall us to you in a pleasant way； something
which you will use every day； and which won't wear out with use。 The
meal which with us is most cheerful and friendly is lunch； and
therefore the idea occurred to me of a special luncheon service；
ornamented with figures of babies。 If you approve of this； let me know
at once； for it will have to be ordered immediately if we are to bring
it。 Paris artists are gentlemen of far too much importance to be
hurried。 This will be my offering to Lucina。
Farewell； dear nursing mother。 May all a mother's delights be yours！ I
await with impatience your first letter； which will tell me all about
it； I hope。 Some of the details in your husband's letter went to my
heart。 Poor Renee； a mother has a heavy price to pay。 I will tell my
godson how dearly he must love you。 No end of love； my sweet one。
XXXI
RENEE DE L'ESTORADE TO LOUISE DE MACUMER
It is nearly five months now since baby was born； and not once； dear
heart； have I found a single moment for writing to you。 When you are a
mother yourself； you will be more ready to excuse me； than you are
now； for you have punished me a little bit in making your own letters
so few and far between。 Do write； my darling！ Tell me of your
pleasures； lay on the blue as brightly as you please。 It will not hurt
me； for I am happy now； happier than you can imagine。
I went in state to the parish church to hear the Mass for recovery
from childbirth； as is the custom in the old families of Provence。 I
was supported on either side by the two grandfathersLouis' father
and my own。 Never had I knelt before God with such a flood of
gratitude in my heart。 I have so much to tell you of； so many feelings
to describe； tha