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with ambition to kill the rivals of the past； to conjure away all
outside griefs by a wife's gentleness； by her proud abnegation； to
take a lifelong care of the nest；such as birds can only take for
a few weeks。
Tell me； do you now think me to blame for my first letter？ The
mysterious wind of will drove me to you； as the tempest brings the
little rose…tree to the pollard window。 In your letter； which I
hold here upon my heart； you cried out； like your ancestor when he
departed for the Crusades； 〃God wills it。〃
Ah！ but you will cry out； 〃What a chatterbox！〃 All the people
round me say； on the contrary； 〃Mademoiselle is very taciturn。〃
O。 d'Este M。
CHAPTER XI
WHAT COMES OF CORRESPONDENCE
The foregoing letters seemed very original to the persons from whom
the author of the 〃Comedy of Human Life〃 obtained them； but their
interest in this duel； this crossing of pens between two minds； may
not be shared。 For every hundred readers； eighty might weary of the
battle。 The respect due to the majority in every nation under a
constitutional government； leads us； therefore； to suppress eleven
other letters exchanged between Ernest and Modeste during the month of
September。 If； later on； some flattering majority should arise to
claim them； let us hope that we can then find means to insert them in
their proper place。
Urged by a mind that seemed as aggressive as the heart was lovable；
the truly chivalrous feelings of the poor secretary gave themselves
free play in these suppressed letters； which seem； perhaps； more
beautiful than they really are； because the imagination is charmed by
a sense of the communion of two free souls。 Ernest's whole life was
now wrapped up in these sweet scraps of paper； they were to him what
banknotes are to a miser； while in Modeste's soul a deep love took the
place of her delight in agitating a glorious life； and being； in spite
of distance； its mainspring。 Ernest's heart was the complement of
Canalis's glory。 Alas！ it often takes two men to make a perfect lover；
just as in literature we compose a type by collecting the
peculiarities of several similar characters。 How many a time a woman
has been heard to say in her own salon after close and intimate
conversations：
〃Such a one is my ideal as to soul； and I love the other who is only a
dream of the senses。〃
The last letter written by Modeste； which here follows； gives us a
glimpse of the enchanted isle to which the meanderings of this
correspondence had led the two lovers。
To Monsieur de Canalis；Be at Havre next Sunday； go to church；
after the morning service； walk once or twice round the nave； and
go out without speaking to any one； but wear a white rose in your
button…hole。 Then return to Paris； where you shall receive an
answer。 I warn you that this answer will not be what you wish；
for； as I told you； the future is not yet mine。 But should I not
indeed be mad and foolish to say yes without having seen you？ When
I have seen you I can say no without wounding you； I can make sure
that you shall not see me。
This letter had been sent off the evening before the day when the
abortive struggle between Dumay and Modeste had taken place。 The happy
girl was impatiently awaiting Sunday； when her eyes were to vindicate
or condemn her heart and her actions；a solemn moment in the life of
any woman； and which three months of close communion of souls now
rendered as romantic as the most imaginative maiden could have wished。
Every one； except the mother； had taken this torpor of expectation for
the calm of innocence。 No matter how firmly family laws and religious
precepts may bind； there will always be the Clarissas and the Julies；
whose souls like flowing cups o'erlap the brim under some spiritual
pressure。 Modeste was glorious in the savage energy with which she
repressed her exuberant youthful happiness and remained demurely
quiet。 Let us say frankly that the memory of her sister was more
potent upon her than any social conventions； her will was iron in the
resolve to bring no grief upon her father and her mother。 But what
tumultuous heavings were within her breast！ no wonder that a mother
guessed them。
On the following day Modeste and Madame Dumay took Madame Mignon about
mid…day to a seat in the sun among the flowers。 The blind woman turned
her wan and blighted face toward the ocean； she inhaled the odors of
the sea and took the hand of her daughter who remained beside her。 The
mother hesitated between forgiveness and remonstrance ere she put the
important question； for she comprehended the girl's love and
recognized； as the pretended Canalis had done； that Modeste was
exceptional in nature。
〃God grant that your father return in time！ If he delays much longer
he will find none but you to love him。 Modeste； promise me once more
never to leave him；〃 she said in a fond maternal tone。
Modeste lifted her mother's hands to her lips and kissed them gently；
replying： 〃Need I say it again？〃
〃Ah； my child！ I did this thing myself。 I left my father to follow my
husband； and yet my father was all alone； I was all the child he had。
Is that why God has so punished me？ What I ask of you is to marry as
your father wishes； to cherish him in your heart； not to sacrifice him
to your own happiness； but to make him the centre of your home。 Before
losing my sight； I wrote him all my wishes； and I know he will execute
them。 I enjoined him to keep his property intact and in his own hands；
not that I distrust you； my Modeste； for a moment； but who can be sure
of a son…in…law？ Ah！ my daughter； look at me； was I reasonable？ One
glance of the eye decided my life。 Beauty； so often deceitful； in my
case spoke true； but even were it the same with you； my poor child；
swear to me that you will let your father inquire into the character；
the habits； the heart； and the previous life of the man you
distinguish with your loveif； by chance； there is such a man。〃
〃I will never marry without the consent of my father；〃 answered
Modeste。
〃You see； my darling；〃 said Madame Mignon after a long pause； 〃that if
I am dying by inches through Bettina's wrong…doing； your father would
not survive yours； no； not for a moment。 I know him； he would put a
pistol to his head；there could be no life； no happiness on earth for
him。〃
Modeste walked a few steps away from her mother； but immediately came
back。
〃Why did you leave me？〃 demanded Madame Mignon。
〃You made me cry； mamma；〃 answered Modeste。
〃Ah； my little darling； kiss me。 You love no one here？ you have no
lover； have you？〃 she asked； holding Modeste on her lap； heart to
heart。
〃No； my dear mamma；〃 said the little Jesuit。
〃Can you swear it？〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 cried Modeste。
Madame Mignon said no more； but she still doubted。
〃At least； if you do choose your husband； you will tell your father？〃
she r