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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 adolescence during which period it suffices unto itself。 I made
several stupid replies induced by the tumults of passion； but no one
perceived their cause； not even SHE； who knew nothing of love。 The
rest of my visit was a dream； a dream which did not cease until by
moonlight on that warm and balmy night I recrossed the Indre； watching
the white visions that embellished meadows； shores； and hills； and
listening to the clear song； the matchless note； full of deep
melancholy and uttered only in still weather； of a tree…frog whose
scientific name is unknown to me。 Since that solemn evening I have
never heard it without infinite delight。 A sense came to me then of
the marble wall against which my feelings had hitherto dashed
themselves。 Would it be always so？ I fancied myself under some fatal
spell； the unhappy events of my past life rose up and struggled with
the purely personal pleasure I had just enjoyed。 Before reaching
Frapesle I turned to look at Clochegourde and saw beneath its windows
a little boat； called in Touraine a punt； fastened to an ash…tree and
swaying on the water。 This punt belonged to Monsieur de Mortsauf； who
used it for fishing。
〃Well；〃 said Monsieur de Chessel； when we were out of ear…shot。 〃I
needn't ask if you found those shoulders； I must； however；
congratulate you on the reception Monsieur de Mortsauf gave you。 The
devil！ you stepped into his heart at once。〃
These words followed by those I have already quoted to you raised my
spirits。 I had not as yet said a word； and Monsieur de Chessel may
have attributed my silence to happiness。
〃How do you mean？〃 I asked。
〃He never； to my knowledge； received any one so well。〃
〃I will admit that I am rather surprised myself；〃 I said； conscious of
a certain bitterness underlying my companion's speech。
Though I was too inexpert in social matters to understand its cause； I
was much struck by the feeling Monsieur de Chessel betrayed。 His real
name was Durand； but he had had the weakness to discard the name of a
worthy father； a merchant who had made a large fortune under the
Revolution。 His wife was sole heiress of the Chessels； an old
parliamentary family under Henry IV。； belonging to the middle classes；
as did most of the Parisian magistrates。 Ambitious of higher flights
Monsieur de Chessel endeavored to smother the original Durand。 He
first called himself Durand de Chessel； then D。 de Chessel； and that
made him Monsieur de Chessel。 Under the Restoration he entailed an
estate with the title of count in virtue of letters…patent from Louis
XVIII。 His children reaped the fruits of his audacity without knowing
what it cost him in sarcastic comments。 Parvenus are like monkeys；
whose cleverness they possess； we watch them cl