I’msureIdon’tknowwheresuchpeople\"（VictorHugo，Lamartine，ByronbeingSUCHPEOPLEtotheMadameLatournellesofthebourgeoisie）
\"gettheirideas。ModestekepttalkingtomeofChildeHarold，andasIdidnotwishtogettheworstoftheargumentIwassillyenoughtotrytoreadthething。Perhapsitwasthefaultofthetranslator，butitactuallyturnedmystomach;Iwasdazed;Icouldn’tpossiblyfinishit。Why，themantalksaboutcomparisonsthathowl，rocksthatfaint，andwavesofwar！However，heisonlyatravellingEnglishman，andwemustexpectabsurdities，——thoughhisarereallyinexcusable。HetakesyoutoSpain，andsetsyouinthecloudsabovetheAlps，andmakesthetorrentstalk，andthestars;andhesaystherearetoomanyvirgins！
Didyoueverhearthelike？Then，afterNapoleon’scampaigns，thelinesarefullofsonorousbrassandflamingcannon—balls，rollingalongfrompagetopage。Modestetellsmethatallthatbathosisputinbythetranslator，andthatIoughttoreadthebookinEnglish。
ButIcertainlysha’n’tlearnEnglishtoreadLordByronwhenIdidn’tlearnittoteachExupere。ImuchpreferthenovelsofDucray—DumeniltoalltheseEnglishromances。I’mtoogoodaNormantofallinlovewithforeignthings，——aboveallwhentheycomefromEngland。\"
MadameMignon，notwithstandinghermelancholy，couldnothelpsmilingattheideaofMadameLatournellereadingChildeHarold。Thesternscionofaparliamentaryhouseacceptedthesmileasanapprovalofherdoctrine。
\"And，therefore，mydearMadameMignon，\"shewenton，\"youhavetakenModeste’sfancies，whicharenothingbuttheresultsofherreading，foralove—affair。Remember，sheisjusttwenty。Girlsfallinlovewiththemselvesatthatage;theydresstoseethemselveswell—
dressed。IrememberIusedtomakemylittlesister，nowdead，putonaman’shatandpretendweweremonsieurandmadame。Yousee，youhadaveryhappyyouthinFrankfort;butletusbejust，——Modesteislivingherewithouttheslightestamusement。Although，tobesure，hereverywishisattendedto，stillsheknowssheisshutupandwatched，andthelifesheleadswouldgivehernopleasureatallifitwerenotfortheamusementshegetsoutofherbooks。Come，don’tworryyourself;shelovesnobodybutyou。YououghttobeverygladthatshegoesintotheseenthusiasmsforthecorsairsofByronandtheheroesofWalterScottandyourownGermans，Egmont，Goethe，Werther，Schiller，andalltheother’ers。’\"
\"Well，madame，whatdoyousaytothat？\"askedDumay，respectfully，alarmedatMadameMignon’ssilence。
\"Modesteisnotonlyinclinedtolove，butshelovessomeman，\"
answeredthemother，obstinately。
\"Madame，mylifeisatstake，andyoumustallowme——notformysake，butformywife，mycolonel，forallofus——toprobethismattertothebottom，andfindoutwhetheritisthemotherorthewatch—dogwhoisdeceived。\"
\"Itisyouwhoaredeceived，Dumay。Ah！ifIcouldbutseemydaughter！\"criedthepoorwoman。
\"Butwhomisitpossibleforhertolove？\"askedthenotary。\"I’llanswerformyExupere。\"
\"Itcan’tbeGobenheim，\"saidDumay，\"forsincethecolonel’sdeparturehehasnotspentninehoursaweekinthishouse。Besides，hedoesn’tevennoticeModeste——thatfive—francpieceofaman！HisuncleGobenheim—Kellerisallthetimewritinghim，’GetrichenoughtomarryaKeller。’Withthatideainhismindyoumaybesurehedoesn’tknowwhichsexModestebelongsto。Noothermenevercomehere，——forofcourseIdon’tcountButscha，poorlittlefellow;Ilovehim！HeisyourDumay，madame，\"saidthecashiertoMadameLatournelle。\"ButschaknowsverywellthatamereglanceatModestewouldcosthimaBretonducking。Notasoulhasanycommunicationwiththishouse。MadameLatournellewhotakesModestetochurcheversinceyour——yourmisfortune，madame，hascarefullywatchedheronthewayandallthroughtheservice，andhasseennothingsuspicious。Inshort，ifImustconfessthetruth，Ihavemyselfrakedallthepathsaboutthehouseeveryeveningforthelastmonth，andfoundnotraceoffootstepsinthemorning。\"
\"Rakesareneithercostlynordifficulttohandle，\"remarkedthedaughterofGermany。
\"Butthedogs？\"criedDumay。
\"Lovershavephiltersevenfordogs，\"answeredMadameMignon。
\"Ifyouareright，myhonorislost！Imayaswellblowmybrainsout，\"exclaimedDumay。
\"Whyso，Dumay？\"saidtheblindwoman。
\"Ah，madame，Icouldnevermeetmycolonel’seyeifhedidnotfindhisdaughter——nowhisonlydaughter——aspureandvirtuousasshewaswhenhesaidtomeonthevessel，’Letnofearofthescaffoldhinderyou，Dumay，ifthehonorofmyModesteisatstake。’\"
\"Ah！Irecognizeyouboth，\"saidMadameMignoninavoiceofstrongemotion。
\"I’llwagermysalvationthatModesteisaspureasshewasinhercradle，\"exclaimedMadameDumay。
\"Well，Ishallmakecertainofit，\"repliedherhusband，\"ifMadamelaComtessewillallowmetoemploycertainmeans;foroldtroopersunderstandstrategy。\"
\"Iwillallowyoutodoanythingthatshallenlightenus，provideditdoesnoinjurytomylastchild。\"
\"Whatareyougoingtodo，Jean？\"askedMadameDumay;\"howcanyoudiscoverayounggirl’ssecretifshemeanstohideit？\"
\"Obeyme，all！\"criedthelieutenant，\"Ishallneedeveryoneofyou。\"
Ifthisrapidsketchwereclearlydevelopeditwouldgiveawholepictureofmannersandcustomsinwhichmanyafamilycouldrecognizetheeventsoftheirownhistory;butitmustsufficeasitistoexplaintheimportanceofthefewdetailsheretoforegivenaboutpersonsandthingsonthememorableeveningwhentheoldsoldierhadmadereadyhisplotagainsttheyounggirl，intendingtowrenchfromtherecessesofherheartthesecretofaloveandaloverseenonlybyablindmother。
CHAPTERV
THEPROBLEMSTILLUNSOLVED
Anhourwentbyinsolemnstillnessbrokenonlybythecabalisticphrasesofthewhist—players:\"Spades！\"\"Trumped！\"\"Cut！\"\"Howarehonors？\"\"Twotofour。\"\"Whosedeal？\"——phraseswhichrepresentinthesedaysthehigheremotionsoftheEuropeanaristocracy。Modestecontinuedtowork，withoutseemingtobesurprisedathermother’ssilence。MadameMignon’shandkerchiefslippedfromherlaptothefloor;Butschaprecipitatedhimselfuponit，pickeditup，andashereturneditwhisperedinModeste’sear，\"Takecare！\"Modesteraisedapairofwonderingeyes，whosepuzzledglancefilledthepoorcripplewithjoyunspeakable。\"Sheisnotinlove！\"hewhisperedtohimself，rubbinghishandstilltheskinwasnearlypeeledoff。AtthismomentExuperetorethroughthegardenandthehouse，plungedintothesalonlikeanavalanche，andsaidtoDumayinanaudiblewhisper，\"Theyoungmanishere！\"Dumaysprangforhispistolsandrushedout。
\"GoodGod！supposehekillshim！\"criedMadameDumay，burstingintotears。
\"Whatisthematter？\"askedModeste，lookinginnocentlyatherfriendsandnotbetrayingtheslightestfear。
\"Itisallaboutayoungmanwhoishangingroundthehouse，\"criedMadameLatournelle。
\"Well！\"saidModeste，\"whyshouldDumaykillhim？\"
\"Sanctasimplicita！\"ejaculatedButscha，lookingathismasterasproudlyasAlexanderismadetocontemplateBabyloninLebrun’sgreatpicture。
\"Whereareyougoing，Modeste？\"askedthemotherasherdaughterrosetoleavetheroom。
\"Togetreadyforyourbedtime，mamma，\"answeredModeste，inavoiceaspureasthetonesofaninstrument。
\"Youhaven’tpaidyourexpenses，\"saidthedwarftoDumaywhenhereturned。
\"ModesteisaspureastheVirginonouraltar，\"criedMadameLatournelle。
\"GoodGod！suchexcitementswearmeout，\"saidDumay;\"andyetI’mastrongman。\"
\"MayIlosethattwenty—fivesousifIhavetheslightestideawhatyouareabout，\"remarkedGobenheim。\"Youseemtometobecrazy。\"
\"Andyetitisallaboutatreasure，\"saidButscha，standingontiptoetowhisperinGobenheim’sear。
\"Dumay，IamsorrytosaythatIamstillalmostcertainofwhatI
toldyou，\"persistedMadameMignon。
\"Theburdenofproofisnowonyou，madame，\"saidDumay，calmly;\"itisforyoutoprovethatwearemistaken。\"
DiscoveringthatthematterinquestionwasonlyModeste’shonor，Gobenheimtookhishat，madehisbow，andwalkedoff，carryinghistensouswithhim，——therebeingevidentlynohopeofanotherrubber。
\"Exupere，andyoutoo，Butscha，mayleaveus，\"saidMadameLatournelle。\"GobacktoHavre;youwillgetthereintimeforthelastpieceatthetheatre。I’llpayforyourtickets。\"
WhenthefourfriendswerealonewithMadameMignon，MadameLatournelle，afterlookingatDumay，whobeingaBretonunderstoodthemother’sobstinacy，andatherhusbandwhowasfingeringthecards，feltherselfauthorizedtospeakup。
\"MadameMignon，comenow，telluswhatdecisivethinghasstruckyourmind。\"
\"Ah，mygoodfriend，ifyouwereamusicianyouwouldhaveheard，asI
have，thelanguageoflovethatModestespeaks。\"
ThepianoofthedemoisellesMignonwasamongthefewarticlesoffurniturewhichhadbeenmovedfromthetown—housetotheChalet。
Modesteoftenconjuredawayhertroublesbypractising，withoutamaster。Bornamusician，sheplayedtoenlivenhermother。Shesangbynature，andlovedtheGermanairswhichhermothertaughther。Fromtheselessonsandtheseattemptsatself—instructioncameaphenomenonnotuncommontonatureswithamusicalvocation;Modestecomposed，asfarasapersonignorantofthelawsofharmonycanbesaidtocompose，tenderlittlelyricmelodies。Melodyistomusicwhatimageryandsentimentaretopoetry，aflowerthatblossomsspontaneously。
Consequently，nationshavehadmelodiesbeforeharmony，——botanycomeslaterthantheflower。Inlikemanner，Modeste，whoknewnothingofthepainter’sartexceptwhatshehadseenhersisterdointhewayofwater—color，wouldhavestoodsubduedandfascinatedbeforethepicturesofRaphael，Titian，Rubens，Murillo，Rembrandt，AlbertDurer，Holbein，——inotherwords，beforethegreatidealsofmanylands。
Lately，foratleastamonth，Modestehadwarbledthesongsofnightingales，musicalrhapsodieswhosepoetryandmeaninghadrousedtheattentionofhermother，alreadysurprisedbyhersuddeneagernessforcompositionandherfancyforputtingairsintocertainverses。
\"Ifyoursuspicionshavenootherfoundation，\"saidLatournelletoMadameMignon，\"Ipityyoursusceptibilities。\"
\"WhenaBretongirlsings，\"saidDumaygloomily，\"theloverisnotfaroff。\"
\"IwillletyouhearModestewhensheisimprovising，\"saidthemother，\"andyoushalljudgeforyourselves——\"
\"Poorgirl！\"saidMadameDumay，\"Ifsheonlyknewouranxietyshewouldbedeeplydistressed;shewouldtellusthetruth，——especiallyifshethoughtitwouldsaveDumay。\"
\"Myfriends，Iwillquestionmydaughterto—morrow，\"saidMadameMignon;\"perhapsIshallobtainmorebytendernessthanyouhavediscoveredbytrickery。\"
Wasthecomedyofthe\"FillemalGardee\"beingplayedhere，——asitiseverywhereandforever，——underthenosesofthesefaithfulspies，thesehonestBartholos，thesePyreneanhounds，withouttheirbeingabletoferretout，detect，norevensurmisethelover，thelove—
affair，orthesmokeofthefire？Atanyrateitwascertainlynottheresultofastrugglebetweenthejailersandtheprisoner，betweenthedespotismofadungeonandthelibertyofavictim，——itwassimplythenever—endingrepetitionofthefirstsceneplayedbymanwhenthecurtainoftheCreationrose;itwasEveinParadise。
Andnow，whichofthetwo，themotherorthewatch—dog，hadtherightofit？
NoneofthepersonswhowereaboutModestecouldunderstandthatmaidenheart——forthesoulandthefacewehavedescribedwereinharmony。Thegirlhadtransportedherexistenceintoanotherworld，asmuchdeniedanddisbelievedininthesedaysofoursasthenewworldofChristopherColumbusinthesixteenthcentury。Happily，shekeptherowncounsel，ortheywouldhavethoughthercrazy。Butfirstwemustexplaintheinfluenceofthepastuponhernature。
Twoeventshadformedthesoulanddevelopedthemindofthisyounggirl。MonsieurandMadameMignon，warnedbythefatethatovertookBettina，hadresolved，justbeforethefailure，tomarryModeste。Theychosethesonofarichbanker，formerlyofHamburg，butestablishedinHavresince1815，——aman，moreover，whowasunderobligationstothem。Theyoungman，whosenamewasFrancoisAlthor，thedandyofHavre，blessedwithacertainvulgarbeautyinwhichthemiddleclassesdelight，well—made，well—fleshed，andwithafinecomplexion，abandonedhisbetrothedsohastilyonthedayofherfather’sfailurethatneitherModestenorhermothernoreitheroftheDumayshadseenhimsince。LatournelleventuredaquestiononthesubjecttoJacobAlthor，thefather;butheonlyshruggedhisshouldersandreplied，\"I
reallydon’tknowwhatyoumean。\"
Thisanswer，toldtoModestetogivehersomeexperienceoflife，wasalessonwhichshelearnedallthemorereadilybecauseLatournelleandDumaymademanyandlongcommentsonthecowardlydesertion。ThedaughtersofCharlesMignon，likespoiledchildren，hadalltheirwishesgratified;theyrodeonhorseback，kepttheirownhorsesandgrooms，andotherwiseenjoyedaperilousliberty。Seeingherselfinpossessionofanofficiallover，ModestehadallowedFrancisquetokissherhand，andtakeherbythewaisttomounther。Sheacceptedhisflowersandallthelittleproofsoftendernesswithwhichitispropertosurroundtheladyofourchoice;sheevenworkedhimapurse，believinginsuchties，——strongindeedtonoblesouls，butcobwebsfortheGobenheims，theVilquins，andtheAlthors。
SometimeduringthespringwhichfollowedtheremovalofMadameMignonandherdaughtertotheChalet，FrancisqueAlthorcametodinewiththeVilquins。HappeningtoseeModesteoverthewallatthefootofthelawn，heturnedawayhishead。SixweekslaterhemarriedtheeldestMademoiselleVilquin。InthiswayModeste，young，beautiful，andofhighbirth，learnedthelessonthatforthreewholemonthsofherengagementshehadbeennothingmorethanMademoiselleMillion。
Herpoverty，wellknowntoall，becameasentineldefendingtheapproachestotheChaletfullyaswellastheprudenceoftheLatournellesorthevigilanceofDumay。ThetalkofthetownranforatimeonMademoiselleMignon’spositiononlytoinsulther。
\"Poorgirl！whatwillbecomeofher？——anoldmaid，ofcourse。\"
\"Whatafate！tohavehadtheworldatherfeet;tohavehadthechancetomarryFrancisqueAlthor，——andnow，nobodywillingtotakeher！\"
\"Afteralifeofluxury，tocomedowntosuchpoverty——\"
AndtheseinsultswerenotutteredinsecretorlefttoModeste’simagination;sheheardthemspokenmorethanoncebytheyoungmenandtheyoungwomenofHavreastheywalkedtoIngouville，and，knowingthatMadameMignonandherdaughterlivedattheChalet，talkedofthemastheypassedthehouse。FriendsoftheVilquinsexpressedsurprisethatthemotheranddaughterwerewillingtoliveonamongthescenesoftheirformersplendor。FromheropenwindowbehindtheclosedblindsModestesometimesheardsuchinsolenceasthis:——
\"IamsureIcan’tthinkhowtheycanlivethere，\"someonewouldsayashepacedthevillalawn，——perhapstoassistVilquiningettingridofhistenant。
\"Whatdoyousupposetheyliveon？theyhaven’tanymeansofearningmoney。\"
\"Iamtoldtheoldwomanhasgoneblind。\"
\"IsMademoiselleMignonstillpretty？Dearme，howdashingsheusedtobe！Well，shehasn’tanyhorsesnow。\"
Mostyounggirlsonhearingthesespitefulandsillyspeeches，bornofanenvythatnowrushed，peevishanddrivelling，toavengethepast，wouldhavefeltthebloodmounttotheirforeheads;otherswouldhavewept;somewouldhaveundergonespasmsofanger;butModestesmiled，aswesmileatthetheatrewhilewatchingtheactors。Herpridecouldnotdescendsolowasthelevelofsuchspeeches。
Theothereventwasmoreseriousthanthesemercenarymeannesses。
BettinaCarolinediedinthearmsofheryoungersister，whohadnursedherwiththedevotionofgirlhood，andthecuriosityofanuntaintedimagination。Inthesilenceoflongnightsthesistersexchangedmanyaconfidence。WithwhatdramaticinterestwaspoorBettinainvestedintheeyesoftheinnocentModeste？Bettinaknewlovethroughsorrowonly，andshewasdyingofit。Amongyounggirlseveryman，scoundrelthoughhebe，isstillalover。Passionistheonethingabsolutelyrealinthethingsoflife，anditinsistsonitssupremacy。Charlesd’Estourny，gambler，criminal，anddebauchee，remainedinthememoryofthesisters，theelegantParisianofthefetesofHavre，theadmiredofthewomenkind。BettinabelievedshehadcarriedhimofffromthecoquettishMadameVilquin，andtoModestehewashersister’shappylover。Suchadorationinyounggirlsisstrongerthanallsocialcondemnations。ToBettina’sthinking，justicehadbeendeceived;ifnot，howcouldithavesentencedamanwhohadlovedherforsixmonths？——lovedhertodistractioninthehiddenretreattowhichhehadtakenher，——thathemight，wemayadd，beatlibertytogohisownway。Thusthedyinggirlinoculatedhersisterwithlove。Togethertheytalkedofthegreatdramawhichimaginationenhances;andBettinacarriedwithhertothegravehersister’signorance，leavingher，ifnotinformed，atleastthirstingforinformation。
Nevertheless，remorsehadsetitsfangstoosharplyinBettina’sheartnottoforcehertowarnhersister。InthemidstofherownconfessionsshehadpreacheddutyandimplicitobediencetoModeste。
Ontheeveningofherdeathsheimploredhertorememberthetearsthatsoakedherpillow，andnottoimitateaconductwhichevensufferingcouldnotexpiate。Bettinaaccusedherselfofbringingacurseuponthefamily，anddiedindespairatbeingunabletoobtainherfather’spardon。Notwithstandingtheconsolationswhichtheministersofreligion，touchedbyherrepentance，freelygaveher，shecriedinheartrendingtoneswithherlatestbreath:\"Ohfather！
father！\"\"Nevergiveyourheartwithoutyourhand，\"shesaidtoModesteanhourbeforeshedied;\"andaboveall，acceptnoattentionsfromanymanwithouttellingeverythingtopapaandmamma。\"
Thesewords，soearnestintheirpracticalmeaning，utteredinthehourofdeath，hadmoreeffectuponModestethanifBettinahadexactedasolemnoath。Thedyinggirl，farseeingasprophet，drewfrombeneathherpillowaringwhichshehadsentbyherfaithfulmaid，FrancoiseCochet，tobeengravedinHavrewiththesewords，\"ThinkofBettina，1827，\"andplaceditonhersister’sfinger，begginghertokeepitthereuntilshemarried。Thustherehadbeenbetweenthesetwoyounggirlsastrangecomminglingofbitterremorseandtheartlessvisionsofafleetingspring—timetooearlyblightedbythekeennorthwindofdesertion;yetalltheirtears，regretsandmemorieswerealwayssubordinatetotheirhorrorofevil。
Nevertheless，thisdramaofapoorseducedsisterreturningtodieunderaroofofelegantpoverty，thefailureofherfather，thebasenessofherbetrothed，theblindnessofhermothercausedbygrief，hadtouchedthesurfaceonlyofModeste’slife，bywhichalonetheDumaysandtheLatournellesjudgedher;fornodevotionoffriendscantaketheplaceofamother’seye。ThemonotonouslifeinthedaintylittleChalet，surroundedbythechoiceflowerswhichDumaycultivated;thefamilycustoms，asregularasclock—work，theprovincialdecorum，thegamesatwhistwhilethemotherknittedandthedaughtersewed，thesilence，brokenonlybytheroaroftheseaintheequinoctialstorms，——allthismonastictranquillitydidinfacthideaninnerandtumultuouslife，thelifeofideas，thelifeofthespiritualbeing。Wesometimeswonderhowitispossibleforyounggirlstodowrong;butsuchasdosohavenoblindmothertosendherplummetlineofintuitiontothedepthsofthesubterraneanfanciesofavirginheart。TheDumayssleptwhenModesteopenedherwindow，asitweretowatchforthepassingofaman，——themanofherdreams，theexpectedknightwhowastomountherbehindhimandrideawayunderthefireofDumay’spistols。
Duringthedepressioncausedbyhersister’sdeathModesteflungherselfintothepracticeofreading，untilhermindbecamesoddeninit。Borntotheuseoftwolanguages，shecouldspeakandreadGermanquiteaswellasFrench;shehadalso，togetherwithhersister，learnedEnglishfromMadameDumay。Beingverylittleoverlookedinthematterofreadingbythepeopleabouther，whohadnoliteraryknowledge，Modestefedhersoulonthemodernmasterpiecesofthreeliteratures，English，French，andGerman。LordByron，Goethe，Schiller，WalterScott，Hugo，Lamartine，Crabbe，Moore，thegreatworksofthe17thand18thcenturies，history，drama，andfiction，fromAstraeatoManonLescaut，fromMontaigne’sEssaystoDiderot，fromtheFabliauxtotheNouvelleHeloise，——inshort，thethoughtofthreelandscrowdedwithconfusedimagesthatgirlishhead，augustinitscoldguilelessness，itsnativechastity，butfromwhichtheresprangfull—armed，brilliant，sincere，andstrong，anoverwhelmingadmirationforgenius。ToModesteanewbookwasanevent;amasterpiecethatwouldhavehorrifiedMadameLatournellemadeherhappy，——equallyunhappyifthegreatworkdidnotplayhavocwithherheart。Alyricinstinctbubbledinthatgirlishsoul，sofullofthebeautifulillusionsofitsyouth。Butofthisradiantexistencenotagleamreachedthesurfaceofdailylife;itescapedthekenofDumayandhiswifeandtheLatournelles;theearsoftheblindmotheralonecaughtthecracklingofitsflame。
TheprofounddisdainwhichModestenowconceivedforordinarymengavetoherfacealookofpride，aninexpressibleuntamedshyness，whichtemperedherTeutonicsimplicity，andaccordedwellwithapeculiarityofherhead。Thehairgrowinginapointabovetheforeheadseemedthecontinuationofaslightlinewhichthoughthadalreadyfurrowedbetweentheeyebrows，andmadetheexpressionofuntameabilityperhapsashadetoostrong。Thevoiceofthischarmingchild，whomherfather，delightinginherwit，waswonttocallhis\"littleproverbofSolomon，\"hadacquiredapreciousflexibilityoforganthroughthepracticeofthreelanguages。Thisadvantagewasstillfurtherenhancedbyanaturalbell—liketonebothsweetandfresh，whichtouchedtheheartasdelightfullyasitdidtheear。Ifthemothercouldnolongerseethesignsofanobledestinyuponherdaughter’sbrow，shecouldstudythetransitionsofhersoul’sdevelopmentintheaccentsofthatvoiceattunedtolove。
CHAPTERVI
AMAIDEN’SFIRSTROMANCE
TothisperiodofModeste’seagerrageforreadingsucceededtheexerciseofastrangefacultygiventovigorousimaginations，——thepower，namely，ofmakingherselfanactorinadream—existence;ofrepresentingtoherownmindthethingsdesired，withsovividaconceptionthattheyseemedactuallytoattainreality;inshort，toenjoybythought，——toliveoutheryearswithinhermind;tomarry;togrowold;toattendherownfunerallikeCharlesV。;toplaywithinherselfthecomedyoflifeand，ifneedbe，thatofdeath。Modestewasindeedplaying，butallalone，thecomedyofLove。Shefanciedherselfadoredtothesummitofherwishesinmanyanimaginedphaseofsociallife。Sometimesastheheroineofadarkromance，shelovedtheexecutioner，orthewretchwhoendedherdaysuponthescaffold，or，likehersister，someParisianyouthwithoutapenny，whosestruggleswereallbeneathagarret—roof。SometimesshewasNinon，scorningmenamidcontinualfetes;orsomeapplaudedactress，orgayadventuress，exhaustinginherownbehalftheluckofGilBlas，orthetriumphsofPasta，Malibran，andFlorine。Then，wearyofthehorrorsandexcitements，shereturnedtoactuallife。Shemarriedanotary，sheatetheplainbrownbreadofhonesteverydaylife，shesawherselfaMadameLatournelle;sheacceptedapainfulexistence，sheboreallthetrialsofastrugglewithfortune。Afterthatshewentbacktotheromances:shewaslovedforherbeauty;asonofapeerofFrance，aneccentric，artisticyoungman，divinedherheart，recognizedthestarwhichthegeniusofaDeStaelhadplantedonherbrow。Herfatherreturned，possessingmillions。Withhispermission，sheputhervariousloverstocertaintests（alwayscarefullyguardingherownindependence）;sheownedamagnificentestateandcastle，servants，horses，carriages，thechoicestofeverythingthatluxurycouldbestow，andkepthersuitorsuncertainuntilshewasfortyyearsold，atwhichageshemadeherchoice。
ThiseditionoftheArabianNightsinasinglecopylastednearlyayear，andtaughtModestethesenseofsatietythroughthought。Sheheldherlifetooofteninherhand，shesaidtoherselfphilosophicallyandwithtoorealabitterness，tooseriously，andtoooften，\"Well，whatisit，afterall？\"nottohaveplungedtoherwaistinthedeepdisgustwhichallmenofgeniusfeelwhentheytrytocompletebyintensetoiltheworktowhichtheyhavedevotedthemselves。HeryouthandherrichnaturealonekeptModesteatthisperiodofherlifefromseekingtoenteracloister。Butthissenseofsatietycasther，saturatedasshestillwaswithCatholicspirituality，intotheloveofGood，theinfiniteofheaven。Sheconceivedofcharity，servicetoothers，asthetrueoccupationoflife;butshecoweredinthegloomydrearinessoffindinginitnofoodforthefancythatlaycrouchinginherheartlikeaninsectatthebottomofacalyx。Meanwhileshesattranquillysewinggarmentsforthechildrenofthepoor，andlisteningabstractedlytothegrumblingsofMonsieurLatournellewhenDumayheldthethirteenthcardordrewouthislasttrump。
HerreligiousfaithdroveModesteforatimeintoasingulartrackofthought。Sheimaginedthatifshebecamesinless（speakingecclesiastically）shewouldattaintosuchaconditionofsanctitythatGodwouldhearherandaccomplishherdesires。\"Faith，\"shethought，\"canmovemountains;Christhassaidso。TheSaviourledhisapostleuponthewatersofthelakeTiberias;andI，allIaskofGodisahusbandtoloveme;thatiseasierthanwalkinguponthesea。\"
ShefastedthroughthenextLent，anddidnotcommitasinglesin;
thenshesaidtoherselfthatonacertaindaycomingoutofchurchsheshouldmeetahandsomeyoungmanwhowasworthyofher，whomhermotherwouldaccept，andwhowouldfallmadlyinlovewithher。Whenthedaycameonwhichshehad，asitwere，summonedGodtosendheranangel，shewaspersistentlyfollowedbyaratherdisgustingbeggar;
moreover，itrainedheavily，andnotasingleyoungmanwasinthestreets。OnanotheroccasionshewenttowalkonthejettytoseetheEnglishtravellersland;buteachEnglishmanhadanEnglishwoman，nearlyashandsomeasModesteherself，whosawnooneatallresemblingawanderingChildeHarold。Tearsovercameher，asshesatdownlikeMariusontheruinsofherimagination。ButonthedaywhenshesubpoenaedGodforthethirdtimeshefirmlybelievedthattheElectofherdreamswaswithinthechurch，hiding，perhapsoutofdelicacy，behindoneofthepillars，roundallofwhichshedraggedMadameLatournelleonatourofinspection。Afterthisfailure，shedeposedtheDeityfromomnipotence。Manywereherconversationswiththeimaginarylover，forwhomsheinventedquestionsandanswers，bestowinguponhimagreatdealofwitandintelligence。
ThehighambitionsofherhearthiddenwithintheseromancesweretherealexplanationoftheprudentconductwhichthegoodpeoplewhowatchedoverModestesomuchadmired;theymighthavebroughtheranynumberofyoungAlthorsorVilquins，andshewouldneverhavestoopedtosuchclowns。Shewanted，purelyandsimply，amanofgenius，——
talentshecaredlittlefor;justasalawyerisofnoaccounttoagirlwhoaimsforanambassador。Heronlydesireforwealthwastocastitatthefeetofheridol。Indeed，thegoldenbackgroundofthesevisionswasfarlessrichthanthetreasuryofherownheart，filledwithwomanlydelicacy;foritsdominantdesirewastomakesomeTasso，someMilton，aJean—JacquesRousseau，aMurat，aChristopherColumbushappy。
Commonplacemiseriesdidnotseriouslytouchthisyouthfulsoul，wholongedtoextinguishthefiresofthemartyrsignoredandrejectedintheirownday。SometimessheimaginedbalmsofGilead，soothingmelodieswhichmighthaveallayedthesavagemisanthropyofRousseau。
OrshefanciedherselfthewifeofLordByron;guessingintuitivelyhiscontemptforthereal，shemadeherselfasfantasticasthepoetryofManfred，andprovidedforhisscepticismbymakinghimaCatholic。
ModesteattributedMoliere’smelancholytothewomenoftheseventeenthcentury。\"Whyistherenotsomeonewoman，\"sheaskedherself，\"loving，beautiful，andrich，readytostandbesideeachmanofgeniusandbehisslave，likeLara，themysteriouspage？\"Shehad，asthereaderperceives，fullyunderstood\"ilpianto，\"whichtheEnglishpoetchantedbythemouthofhisGulmare。ModestegreatlyadmiredthebehavioroftheyoungEnglishwomanwhoofferedherselftoCrebillon，theson，whomarriedher。ThestoryofSterneandElizaDraperwasherlifeandherhappinessforseveralmonths。Shemadeherselfideallytheheroineofalikeromance，andmanyatimesherehearsedinimaginationthesublimeroleofEliza。Thesensibilitysocharminglyexpressedinthatdelightfulcorrespondencefilledhereyeswithtearswhich，itissaid，werelackinginthoseofthewittiestofEnglishwriters。