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Jan Diaz； waited for information from Sancerre； and learned that Jan
Diaz was a pseudonym assumed by a woman。
Then； in and around Sancerre； Madame de la Baudraye became the rage；
she was the future rival of George Sand。 From Sancerre to Bourges a
poem was praised which； at any other time； would certainly have been
hooted。 The provincial publiclike every French public； perhapsdoes
not share the love of the King of the French for the happy medium： it
lifts you to the skies or drags you in the mud。
By this time the good Abbe； Madame de la Baudraye's counselor； was
dead； he would certainly have prevented her rushing into public life。
But three years of work without recognition weighed on Dinah's soul；
and she accepted the clatter of fame as a substitute for her
disappointed ambitions。 Poetry and dreams of celebrity； which had
lulled her grief since her meeting with Anna Grossetete； no longer
sufficed to exhaust the activity of her morbid heart。 The Abbe Duret；
who had talked of the world when the voice of religion was impotent；
who understood Dinah； and promised her a happy future by assuring her
that God would compensate her for her sufferings bravely endured；
this good old man could no longer stand between the opening to sin and
the handsome young woman he had called his daughter。
The wise old priest had more than once endeavored to enlighten Dinah
as to her husband's character； telling her that the man could hate；
but women are not ready to believe in such force in weak natures； and
hatred is too constantly in action not to be a vital force。 Dinah；
finding her husband incapable of love； denied him the power to hate。
〃Do not confound hatred and vengeance；〃 said the Abbe。 〃They are two
different sentiments。 One is the instinct of small minds； the other is
the outcome of law which great souls obey。 God is avenged； but He does
not hate。 Hatred is a vice of narrow souls； they feed it with all
their meanness； and make it a pretext for sordid tyranny。 So beware of
offending Monsieur de la Baudraye； he would forgive an infidelity；
because he could make capital of it； but he would be doubly implacable
if you should touch him on the spot so cruelly wounded by Monsieur
Milaud of Nevers； and would make your life unendurable。〃
Now； at the time when the whole countrysideNevers and Sancerre； Le
Morvan and Le Berrywas priding itself on Madame de la Baudraye； and
lauding her under the name of Jan Diaz； 〃little La Baudraye〃 felt her
glory a mortal blow。 He alone knew the secret source of /Paquita la
Sevillane/。 When this terrible work was spoken of； everybody said of
Dinah〃Poor woman！ Poor soul！〃
The women rejoiced in being able to pity her who had so long oppressed
them； never had Dinah seemed to stand higher in the eyes of the
neighborhood。
The shriveled old man； more wrinkled； yellower； feebler than ever；
gave no sign； but Dinah sometimes detected in his eyes； as he looked
at her； a sort of icy venom which gave the lie to his increased
politeness and gentleness。 She understood at last that this was not；
as she had supposed； a mere domestic squabble； but when she forced an
explanation with her 〃insect；〃 as Monsieur Gravier called him； she
found the cold； hard impassibility of steel。 She flew into a passion；
she reproached him for her life these eleven years past； she made
intentionallywhat women call a scene。 But 〃little La Baudraye〃 sat
in an armchair with his eyes shut； and listened phlegmatically to the
storm。 And； as usual； the dwarf got the better of his wife。 Dinah saw
that she had done wrong in writing； she vowed never to write another
line； and she kept her vow。
Then was there desolation in the Sancerrois。
〃Why did not Madame de la Baudraye compose any more verses？〃 was the
universal cry。
At this time Madame de la Baudraye had no enemies； every one rushed to
see her； not a week passed without fresh introductions。 The wife of
the presiding judge； an august /bourgeoise/； /nee/ Popinot…Chandier；
desired her son； a youth of two…and…twenty； to pay his humble respects
to La Baudraye； and flattered herself that she might see her Gatien in
the good graces of this Superior Woman。The words Superior Woman had
superseded the absurd nickname of /The Sappho of Saint…Satur/。This
lady； who for nine years had led the opposition； was so delighted at
the good reception accorded to her son； that she became loud in her
praises of the Muse of Sancerre。
〃After all；〃 she exclaimed； in reply to a tirade from Madame de
Clagny； who hated her husband's supposed mistress； 〃she is the
handsomest and cleverest woman in the whole province！〃
After scrambling through so many brambles and setting off on so many
different roads； after dreaming of love in splendor and scenting the
darkest dramas； thinking such terrible joys would be cheaply purchased
so weary was she of her dreary existence； one day Dinah fell into the
pit she had sworn to avoid。 Seeing Monsieur de Clagny always
sacrificing himself； and at last refusing a high appointment in Paris；
where his family wanted to see him； she said to herself； 〃He loves
me！〃 She vanquished her repulsion； and seemed willing to reward so
much constancy。
It was to this impulse of generosity on her part that a coalition was
due； formed in Sancerre to secure the return of Monsieur de Clagny at
the next elections。 Madame de la Baudraye had dreamed of going to
Paris in the wake of the new deputy。
But； in spite of the most solemn promises； the hundred and fifty votes
to be recorded in favor of this adorer of the lovely Dinahwho hoped
to see this defender of the widow and the orphan wearing the gown of
the Keeper of the Sealsfigured as an imposing minority of fifty
votes。 The jealousy of the President de Boirouge； and Monsieur
Gravier's hatred； for he believed in the candidate's supremacy in
Dinah's heart； had been worked upon by a young Sous…prefet； and for
this worthy deed the allies got the young man made a prefet elsewhere。
〃I shall never cease to regret；〃 said he； as he quitted Sancerre；
〃that I did not succeed in pleasing Madame de la Baudraye； that would
have made my triumph complete！〃
The household that was thus racked by domestic troubles was calm on
the surface； here were two ill…assorted but resigned beings； and the
indescribable propriety； the lie that society insists on； and which to
Dinah was an unendurable yoke。 Why did she long to throw off the mask
she had worn for twelve years？ Whence this weariness which； every day；
increased her hope of finding herself a widow？
The reader who has noted all the phases of her existence will have
understood the various illusions by which Dinah； like many another
woman； had been deceived。 After an attempt to master Monsieur de la
Baudraye； she had indulged the hope of becoming a mother。 Between
those miserable disputes over household matters and the melancholy
conviction as to her fate； quite a long time had elapsed。 Then； when
she had looked for consolation； the consoler； Monsieur de Chargeboeuf
had left her。 Thus； the overwhelming temptation which commonly causes
women to sin had hitherto been absent。 For if there are； after all；
some women who ma