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right； and beneath them in fact。 The carelessness of country life had
made him neglect his external appearance。 His dress was that of a
country…man whom peasants and neighbors no longer considered except
for his territorial worth。 His brown and wiry hands showed that he
wore no gloves unless he mounted a horse； or went to church； and his
shoes were thick and common。
Though ten years of emigration and ten years more of farm…life had
changed his physical condition； he still retained certain vestiges of
nobility。 The bitterest liberal （a term not then in circulation） would
readily have admitted his chivalric loyalty and the imperishable
convictions of one who puts his faith to the 〃Quotidienne〃； he would
have felt respect for the man religiously devoted to a cause； honest
in his political antipathies； incapable of serving his party but very
capable of injuring it； and without the slightest real knowledge of
the affairs of France。 The count was in fact one of those upright men
who are available for nothing； but stand obstinately in the way of
all； ready to die under arms at the post assigned to them； but
preferring to give their life rather than to give their money。
During dinner I detected； in the hanging of his flaccid cheeks and the
covert glances he cast now and then upon his children； the traces of
some wearing thought which showed for a moment upon the surface。
Watching him； who could fail to understand him？ Who would not have
seen that he had fatally transmitted to his children those weakly
bodies in which the principle of life was lacking。 But if he blamed
himself he denied to others the right to judge him。 Harsh as one who
knows himself in fault； yet without greatness of soul or charm to
compensate for the weight of misery he had thrown into the balance；
his private life was no doubt the scene of irascibilities that were
plainly revealed in his angular features and by the incessant
restlessness of his eye。 When his wife returned； followed by the
children who seemed fastened to her side； I felt the presence of
unhappiness； just as in walking over the roof of a vault the feet
become in some way conscious of the depths below。 Seeing these four
human beings together； holding them all as it were in one glance；
letting my eye pass from one to the other； studying their countenances
and their respective attitudes； thoughts steeped in sadness fell upon
my heart as a fine gray rain dims a charming landscape after the sun
has risen clear。
When the immediate subject of conversation was exhausted the count
told his wife who I was； and related certain circumstances connected
with my family that were wholly unknown to me。 He asked me my age。
When I told it； the countess echoed my own exclamation of surprise at
her daughter's age。 Perhaps she had thought me fifteen。 Later on； I
discovered that this was still another tie which bound her strongly to
me。 Even then I read her soul。 Her motherhood quivered with a tardy
ray of hope。 Seeing me at over twenty years of age so slight and
delicate and yet so nervously strong； a voice cried to her； 〃They too
will live！〃 She looked at me searchingly； and in that moment I felt
the barriers of ice melting between us。 She seemed to have many
questions to ask； but uttered none。
〃If study has made you ill；〃 she said； 〃the air of our valley will
soon restore you。〃
〃Modern education is fatal to children；〃 remarked the count。 〃We stuff
them with mathematics and ruin their health with sciences； and make
them old before their time。 You must stay and rest here；〃 he added；
turning to me。 〃You are crushed by the avalanche of ideas that have
rolled down upon you。 What sort of future will this universal
education bring upon us unless we prevent its evils by replacing
public education in the hands of the religious bodies？〃
These words were in harmony with a speech he afterwards made at the
elections when he refused his support to a man whose gifts would have
done good service to the royalist cause。 〃I shall always distrust men
of talent；〃 he said。
Presently the count proposed that we should make the tour of the
gardens。
〃Monsieur〃 said his wife。
〃Well； what； my dear？〃 he said； turning to her with an arrogant
harshness which showed plainly enough how absolute he chose to be in
his own home。
〃Monsieur de Vandenesse walked from Tours this morning and Monsieur de
Chessel； not aware of it； has already taken him on foot over
Frapesle。〃
〃Very imprudent of you；〃 the count said； turning to me； 〃but at your
age〃 and he shook his head in sign of regret。
The conversation was resumed。 I soon saw how intractable his royalism
was； and how much care was needed to swim safely in his waters。 The
man…servant； who had now put on his livery； announced dinner。 Monsieur
de Chessel gave his arm to Madame de Mortsauf； and the count gaily
seized mine to lead me into the dining…room； which was on the ground…
floor facing the salon。
This room； floored with white tiles made in Touraine； and wainscoted
to the height of three feet； was hung with a varnished paper divided
into wide panels by wreaths of flowers and fruit； the windows had
cambric curtains trimmed with red； the buffets were old pieces by
Boulle himself； and the woodwork of the chairs； which were covered by
hand…made tapestry； was carved oak。 The dinner； plentifully supplied；
was not luxurious； family silver without uniformity； Dresden china
which was not then in fashion； octagonal decanters； knives with agate
handles； and lacquered trays beneath the wine…bottles； were the chief
features of the table； but flowers adorned the porcelain vases and
overhung the gilding of their fluted edges。 I delighted in these
quaint old things。 I thought the Reveillon paper with its flowery
garlands beautiful。 The sweet content that filled my sails hindered me
from perceiving the obstacles which a life so uniform； so unvarying in
solitude of the country placed between her and me。 I was near her；
sitting at her right hand； serving her with wine。 Yes； unhoped…for
joy！ I touched her dress； I ate her bread。 At the end of three hours
my life had mingled with her life！ That terrible kiss had bound us to
each other in a secret which inspired us with mutual shame。 A glorious
self…abasement took possession of me。 I studied to please the count； I
fondled the dogs； I would gladly have gratified every desire of the
children； I would have brought them hoops and marbles and played horse
with them； I was even provoked that they did not already fasten upon
me as a thing of their own。 Love has intuitions like those of genius；
and I dimly perceived that gloom； discontent； hostility would destroy
my footing in that household。
The dinner passed with inward happiness on my part。 Feeling that I was
there； under her roof； I gave no heed to her obvious coldness； nor to
the count's indifference masked by his politeness。 Love； like life；
has an adolescen