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rejoice that her son is so well loved〃
She laid her head for a moment on my breast； repeating the words；
〃Forgive me！ oh； forgive me！〃 in a voice that was neither her girlish
voice with its joyous notes； nor the woman's voice with despotic
endings； not the sighing sound of the mother's woe； but an agonizing
new voice for new sorrows。
〃You； Felix；〃 she presently continued； growing animated； 〃you are the
friend who can do no wrong。 Ah！ you have lost nothing in my heart； do
not blame yourself； do not feel the least remorse。 It was the height
of selfishness in me to ask you to sacrifice the joys of life to an
impossible future； impossible； because to realize it a woman must
abandon her children； abdicate her position； and renounce eternity。
Many a time I have thought you higher than I； you were great and
noble； I； petty and criminal。 Well； well； it is settled now； I can be
to you no more than a light from above； sparkling and cold； but
unchanging。 Only； Felix； let me not love the brother I have chosen
without return。 Love me； cherish me！ The love of a sister has no
dangerous to…morrow； no hours of difficulty。 You will never find it
necessary to deceive the indulgent heart which will live in future
within your life； grieve for your griefs； be joyous with your joys；
which will love the women who make you happy； and resent their
treachery。 I never had a brother to love in that way。 Be noble enough
to lay aside all self…love and turn our attachment； hitherto so
doubtful and full of trouble； into this sweet and sacred love。 In this
way I shall be enabled to still live。 I will begin to…night by taking
Lady Dudley's hand。〃
She did not weep as she said these words so full of bitter knowledge；
by which； casting aside the last remaining veil which hid her soul
from mine； she showed by how many ties she had linked herself to me；
how many chains I had hewn apart。 Our emotions were so great that for
a time we did not notice it was raining heavily。
〃Will Madame la comtesse wait here under shelter？〃 asked the coachman；
pointing to the chief inn of Ballan。
She made a sign of assent； and we stayed nearly half an hour under the
vaulted entrance； to the great surprise of the inn…people who wondered
what brought Madame de Mortsauf on that road at eleven o'clock at
night。 Was she going to Tours？ Had she come from there？ When the storm
ceased and the rain turned to what is called in Touraine a 〃brouee；〃
which does not hinder the moon from shining through the higher mists
as the wind with its upper currents whirls them away； the coachman
drove from our shelter； and； to my great delight； turned to go back
the way we came。
〃Follow my orders；〃 said the countess； gently。
We now took the road across the Charlemagne moor； where the rain began
again。 Half…way across I heard the barking of Arabella's dog； a horse
came suddenly from beneath a clump of oaks； jumped the ditch which
owners of property dig around their cleared lands when they consider
them suitable for cultivation； and carried Lady Dudley to the moor to
meet the carriage。
〃What pleasure to meet a love thus if it can be done without sin；〃
said Henriette。
The barking of the dog had told Lady Dudley that I was in the
carriage。 She thought； no doubt； that I had brought it to meet her on
account of the rain。 When we reached the spot where she was waiting；
she urged her horse to the side of the road with the equestrian
dexterity for which she was famous； and which to Henriette seemed
marvellous。
〃Amedee；〃 she said； and the name in her English pronunciation had a
fairy…like charm。
〃He is here； madame；〃 said the countess； looking at the fantastic
creature plainly visible in the moonlight； whose impatient face was
oddly swathed in locks of hair now out of curl。
You know with what swiftness two women examine each other。 The
Englishwoman recognized her rival； and was gloriously English； she
gave us a look full of insular contempt； and disappeared in the
underbrush with the rapidity of an arrow。
〃Drive on quickly to Clochegourde；〃 cried the countess； to whom that
cutting look was like the blow of an axe upon her heart。
The coachman turned to get upon the road to Chinon which was better
than that to Sache。 As the carriage again approached the moor we heard
the furious galloping of Arabella's horse and the steps of her dog。
All three were skirting the wood behind the bushes。
〃She is going； you will lose her forever；〃 said Henriette。
〃Let her go；〃 I answered； 〃and without a regret。〃
〃Oh； poor woman！〃 cried the countess； with a sort of compassionate
horror。 〃Where will she go？〃
〃Back to La Grenadiere；a little house near Saint…Cyr；〃 I said；
〃where she is staying。〃
Just as we were entering the avenue of Clochegourde Arabella's dog
barked joyfully and bounded up to the carriage。
〃She is here before us！〃 cried the countess； then after a pause she
added； 〃I have never seen a more beautiful woman。 What a hand and what
a figure！ Her complexion outdoes the lily； her eyes are literally
bright as diamonds。 But she rides too well； she loves to display her
strength； I think her violent and too active；also too bold for our
conventions。 The woman who recognizes no law is apt to listen only to
her caprices。 Those who seek to shine； to make a stir； have not the
gift of constancy。 Love needs tranquillity； I picture it to myself
like a vast lake in which the lead can find no bottom； where tempests
may be violent； but are rare and controlled within certain limits；
where two beings live on a flowery isle far from the world whose
luxury and display offend them。 Still； love must take the imprint of
the character。 Perhaps I am wrong。 If nature's elements are compelled
to take certain forms determined by climate； why is it not the same
with the feelings of individuals？ No doubt sentiments； feelings； which
hold to the general law in the mass； differ in expression only。 Each
soul has its own method。 Lady Dudley is the strong woman who can
traverse distances and act with the vigor of a man； she would rescue
her lover and kill jailers and guards； while other women can only love
with their whole souls； in moments of danger they kneel down to pray；
and die。 Which of the two women suits you best？ That is the question。
Yes； yes； Lady Dudley must surely love； she has made many sacrifices。
Perhaps she will love you when you have ceased to love her！〃
〃Dear angel；〃 I said； 〃let me ask the question you asked me； how is it
that you know these things？〃
〃Every sorrow teaches a lesson； and I have suffered on so many points
that my knowledge is vast。〃
My servant had heard the order given； and thinking we should return by
the terraces he held my horse ready for me in the avenue。 Arabella's
dog had scented the horse； and his mistress； drawn by very natural
curiosity； had followed the animal through the woods to the avenue。
〃Go and make your peace；〃 said Henriette； smiling without a tinge of
sadness。 〃Say to Lady Dudley how much she mistakes my intention； I
wished to show her the true value of the treasure which has fallen to
her； my heart holds none but kind feelings； above all neither anger
nor contempt。 Explain to her that I am her sister； and not her rival。〃
〃I shall not go；〃 I said。
〃Have you never discovered；〃 she said with lofty pride； 〃that certain
propitiations are insulting？ Go！〃
I rode towards Lady Dudley wishing to know the state of her mind。 〃If
she would only be angry and leave me；〃 I thought； 〃I could return to
Clochegourde。〃
The dog led me to an oak； from which； as I came up； Arabella galloped
crying out to me； 〃Come！ away！ away！〃 All that I could do was to
follow her to Saint Cyr； which we reached about midnight。
〃That lady is in perfect health；〃 said Arabella as she dismounted。
Those who know her can alone imagine the satire contained in that
remark； dryly said in a tone which meant； 〃I should have died！〃
〃I forbid you to utter any of your sarcasms about Madame de Mortsauf；〃
I said。
〃Do I displease your Grace in remarking upon the perfect health of one
so dear to your precious heart？ Frenchwomen hate； so I am told； even
their lover's dog。 In England we love