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returned to Clochegourde； leaving me to the count； who began to talk
politics apropos of his neighbors。
〃Let us go in；〃 I said； 〃you are bare…headed； and the dew may do you
an injury。〃
〃You pity me； my dear Felix；〃 he answered； 〃you understand me； but my
wife never tries to comfort me；on principle； perhaps。〃
Never would she have left me to walk home with her husband； it was now
I who had to find excuses to join her。 I found her with her children；
explaining the rules of backgammon to Jacques。
〃See there；〃 said the count； who was always jealous of the affection
she showed for her children； 〃it is for them that I am neglected。
Husbands； my dear Felix； are always suppressed。 The most virtuous
woman in the world has ways of satisfying her desire to rob conjugal
affection。〃
She said nothing and continued as before。
〃Jacques；〃 he said； 〃come here。〃
Jacques objected slightly。
〃Your father wants you； go at once； my son；〃 said his mother； pushing
him。
〃They love me by order；〃 said the old man； who sometimes perceived his
situation。
〃Monsieur；〃 she answered； passing her hand over Madeleine's smooth
tresses； which were dressed that day 〃a la belle Ferronniere〃； 〃do not
be unjust to us poor women； life is not so easy for us to bear。
Perhaps the children are the virtues of a mother。〃
〃My dear；〃 said the count； who took it into his head to be logical；
〃what you say signifies that women who have no children would have no
virtue； and would leave their husbands in the lurch。〃
The countess rose hastily and took Madeleine to the portico。
〃That's marriage； my dear fellow；〃 remarked the count to me。 〃Do you
mean to imply by going off in that manner that I am talking nonsense？〃
he cried to his wife； taking his son by the hand and going to the
portico after her with a furious look in his eyes。
〃On the contrary； Monsieur； you frightened me。 Your words hurt me
cruelly；〃 she added； in a hollow voice。 〃If virtue does not consist in
sacrificing everything to our children and our husband； what is
virtue？〃
〃Sac…ri…ficing！〃 cried the count； making each syllable the blow of a
sledge…hammer on the heart of his victim。 〃What have you sacrificed to
your children？ What do you sacrifice to me？ Speak！ what means all
this？ Answer。 What is going on here？ What did you mean by what you
said？〃
〃Monsieur；〃 she replied； 〃would you be satisfied to be loved for love
of God； or to know your wife virtuous for virtue's sake？〃
〃Madame is right；〃 I said； interposing in a shaken voice which
vibrated in two hearts； 〃yes； the noblest privilege conferred by
reason is to attribute our virtues to the beings whose happiness is
our work； and whom we render happy； not from policy； nor from duty；
but from an inexhaustible and voluntary affection〃
A tear shone in Henriette's eyes。
〃And； dear count；〃 I continued； 〃if by chance a woman is involuntarily
subjected to feelings other than those society imposes on her； you
must admit that the more irresistible that feeling is； the more
virtuous she is in smothering it； in sacrificing herself to her
husband and children。 This theory is not applicable to me who
unfortunately show an example to the contrary； nor to you whom it will
never concern。〃
〃You have a noble soul； Felix；〃 said the count； slipping his arm； not
ungracefully； round his wife's waist and drawing her towards him to
say： 〃Forgive a poor sick man； dear； who wants to be loved more than
he deserves。〃
〃There are some hearts that are all generosity；〃 she said； resting her
head upon his shoulder。 The scene made her tremble to such a degree
that her comb fell； her hair rolled down； and she turned pale。 The
count； holding her up； gave a sort of groan as he felt her fainting；
he caught her in his arms as he might a child； and carried her to the
sofa in the salon； where we all surrounded her。 Henriette held my hand
in hers as if to tell me that we two alone knew the secret of that
scene； so simple in itself； so heart…rending to her。
〃I do wrong；〃 she said to me in a low voice； when the count left the
room to fetch a glass of orange…flower water。 〃I have many wrongs to
repent of towards you； I wished to fill you with despair when I ought
to have received you mercifully。 Dear； you are kindness itself； and I
alone can appreciate it。 Yes； I know there is a kindness prompted by
passion。 Men have various ways of being kind； some from contempt；
others from impulse； from calculation； through indolence of nature；
but you； my friend； you have been absolutely kind。〃
〃If that be so；〃 I replied； 〃remember that all that is good or great
in me comes through you。 You know well that I am of your making。〃
〃That word is enough for any woman's happiness；〃 she said； as the
count re…entered the room。 〃I feel better；〃 she said； rising； 〃I want
air。〃
We went down to the terrace； fragrant with the acacias which were
still in bloom。 She had taken my right arm； and pressed it against her
heart； thus expressing her sad thoughts； but they were； she said； of a
sadness dear to her。 No doubt she would gladly have been alone with
me； but her imagination； inexpert in women's wiles； did not suggest to
her any way of sending her children and the count back to the house。
We therefore talked on indifferent subjects； while she pondered a
means of pouring a few last thoughts from her heart to mine。
〃It is a long time since I have driven out；〃 she said； looking at the
beauty of the evening。 〃Monsieur； will you please order the carriage
that I may take a turn？〃
She knew that after evening prayer she could not speak with me； for
the count was sure to want his backgammon。 She might have returned to
the warm and fragrant terrace after her husband had gone to bed； but
she feared； perhaps； to trust herself beneath those shadows； or to
walk by the balustrade where our eyes could see the course of the
Indre through the dear valley。 As the silent and sombre vaults of a
cathedral lift the soul to prayer； so leafy ways； lighted by the moon；
perfumed with penetrating odors； alive with the murmuring noises of
the spring…tide； stir the fibres and weaken the resolves of those who
love。 The country calms the old； but excites the young。 We knew it
well。 Two strokes of the bell announced the hour of prayer。 The
countess shivered。
〃Dear Henriette； are you ill？〃
〃There is no Henriette；〃 she said。 〃Do not bring her back。 She was
capricious and exacting； now you have a friend whose courage has been
strengthened by the words which heaven itself dictated to you。 We will
talk of this later。 We must be punctual at prayers； for it is my day
to lead them。〃
As Madame de Mortsauf said the words in which she begged the help of
God through all the adversities of life； a tone came into her voice
which struck all present。 Did she use her gift of second sight to
foresee the terrible emotion she was about to endure through my
forgetfulness of an engagement made with Arabella？
〃We have time to make three kings before the horses are harnessed；〃
said the count； dragging me back to the salon。 〃You can go and drive
with my wife； and I'll go to bed。〃
The game was stormy； like all others。 The countess heard the count's
voice either from her room or from Madeleine's。
〃You show a strange hospitality；〃 she said； re…entering the salon。
I looked at her with amazement； I could not get accustomed to the
change in her； formerly she would have been most careful not to
protect me against the count； then it gladdened her that I should
share her sufferings and bear them with patience for love of her。
〃I would give my life；〃 I whispered in her ear； 〃if I could hear you
say again； as you once said； 'Poor dear； poor dear！'〃
She lowered her eyes； remembering the moment to which I alluded； yet
her glance turned to me beneath her eyelids； expressing the joy of a
woman who finds the mere passing tones from her heart preferred to the
delights of another love。 The count was losing the game； he said he
was tired； as an excuse to give it up； and we went to walk on the lawn
while waiting for the carriage。 When the count left us； such pleasure
shone on my face that Madame de Mortsauf questioned me by a l