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suffering； is without a stain； all is noble； all is well with you。
Now； Felix； WILL！ Your future lies in that one word； that word of
great men。 My child； you will obey your Henriette； will you not？
You will permit her to tell you from time to time the thoughts
that are in her mind of you and of your relations to the world？ I
have an eye in my soul which sees the future for you as for my
children； suffer me to use that faculty for your benefit； it is a
faculty； a mysterious gift bestowed by my lonely life； far from
its growing weaker； I find it strengthened and exalted by solitude
and silence。
I ask you in return to bestow a happiness on me； I desire to see
you becoming more and more important among men； without one single
success that shall bring a line of shame upon my brow； I desire
that you may quickly bring your fortunes to the level of your
noble name； and be able to tell me I have contributed to your
advancement by something better than a wish。 This secret
co…operation in your future is the only pleasure I can allow
myself。 For it； I will wait and hope。
I do not say farewell。 We are separated； you cannot put my hand to
your lips； but you must surely know the place you hold in the
heart of your
Henriette。
As I read this letter I felt the maternal heart beating beneath my
fingers which held the paper while I was still cold from the harsh
greeting of my own mother。 I understood why the countess had forbidden
me to open it in Touraine； no doubt she feared that I would fall at
her feet and wet them with my tears。
I now made the acquaintance of my brother Charles； who up to this time
had been a stranger to me。 But in all our intercourse he showed a
haughtiness which kept us apart and prevented brotherly affection。
Kindly feelings depend on similarity of soul； and there was no point
of touch between us。 He preached to me dogmatically those social
trifles which head or heart can see without instruction； he seemed to
mistrust me。 If I had not had the inward support of my great love he
would have made me awkward and stupid by affecting to believe that I
knew nothing of life。 He presented me in society under the expectation
that my dulness would be a foil to his qualities。 Had I not remembered
the sorrows of my childhood I might have taken his protecting vanity
for brotherly affection； but inward solitude produces the same effects
as outward solitude； silence within our souls enables us to hear the
faintest sound； the habit of taking refuge within ourselves develops a
perception which discerns every quality of the affections about us。
Before I knew Madame de Mortsauf a hard look grieved me； a rough word
wounded me to the heart； I bewailed these things without as yet
knowing anything of a life of tenderness； whereas now； since my return
from Clochegourde； I could make comparisons which perfected my
instinctive perceptions。 All deductions derived only from sufferings
endured are incomplete。 Happiness has a light to cast。 I now allowed
myself the more willingly to be kept under the heel of primogeniture
because I was not my brother's dupe。
I always went alone to the Duchesse de Lenoncourt's； where Henriette's
name was never mentioned； no one； except the good old duke； who was
simplicity itself； ever spoke of her to me； but by the way he welcomed
me I guessed that his daughter had privately commended me to his care。
At the moment when I was beginning to overcome the foolish wonder and
shyness which besets a young man at his first entrance into the great
world； and to realize the pleasures it could give through the
resources it offers to ambition； just； too； as I was beginning to make
use of Henriette's maxims； admiring their wisdom； the events of the
20th of March took place。
My brother followed the court to Ghent； I； by Henriette's advice （for
I kept up a correspondence with her； active on my side only）； went
there also with the Duc de Lenoncourt。 The natural kindness of the old
duke turned to a hearty and sincere protection as soon as he saw me
attached； body and soul； to the Bourbons。 He himself presented me to
his Majesty。 Courtiers are not numerous when misfortunes are rife； but
youth is gifted with ingenuous admiration and uncalculating fidelity。
The king had the faculty of judging men； a devotion which might have
passed unobserved in Paris counted for much at Ghent； and I had the
happiness of pleasing Louis XVIII。
A letter from Madame de Mortsauf to her father； brought with
despatches by an emissary of the Vendeens； enclosed a note to me by
which I learned that Jacques was ill。 Monsieur de Mortsauf； in despair
at his son's ill…health； and also at the news of a second emigration；
added a few words which enabled me to guess the situation of my dear
one。 Worried by him； no doubt； when she passed all her time at
Jacques' bedside； allowed no rest either day or night； superior to
annoyance； yet unable always to control herself when her whole soul
was given to the care of her child； Henriette needed the support of a
friendship which might lighten the burden of her life； were it only by
diverting her husband's mind。 Though I was now most impatient to rival
the career of my brother； who had lately been sent to the Congress of
Vienna； and was anxious at any risk to justify Henriette's appeal and
become a man myself； freed from all vassalage； nevertheless my
ambition； my desire for independence； the great interest I had in not
leaving the king； all were of no account before the vision of Madame
de Mortsauf's sad face。 I resolved to leave the court at Ghent and
serve my true sovereign。 God rewarded me。 The emissary sent by the
Vendeens was unable to return。 The king wanted a messenger who would
faithfully carry back his instructions。 The Duc de Lenoncourt knew
that the king would never forget the man who undertook so perilous an
enterprise； he asked for the mission without consulting me； and I
gladly accepted it； happy indeed to be able to return to Clochegourde
employed in the good cause。
After an audience with the king I returned to France； where； both in
Paris and in Vendee； I was fortunate enough to carry out his Majesty's
instructions。 Towards the end of May； being tracked by the Bonapartist
authorities to whom I was denounced； I was obliged to fly from place
to place in the character of a man endeavoring to get back to his
estate。 I went on foot from park to park； from wood to wood； across
the whole of upper Vendee； the Bocage and Poitou； changing my
direction as danger threatened。
I reached Saumur； from Saumur I went to Chinon； and from Chinon I
reached； in a single night； the woods of Nueil； where I met the count
on horseback； he took me up behind him and we reached Clochegourde
without passing any one who recognized me。
〃Jacques is better；〃 were the first words he said to me。
I explained to him my position of diplomatic postma