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country air by her doctors as a last resource。 Village politicians were by no means pleased to see the young； delicate； downcast face； they had hoped that the new arrival at Saint…Lange would bring some life and stir into the neighborhood； and clearly any sort of stir or movement must be distasteful to the suffering invalid in the traveling carriage。
That evening； when the notables of Saint…Lange were drinking in the private room of the wineshop； the longest head among them declared that such depression could admit of but one constructionthe Marquise was ruined。 His lordship the Marquis was away in Spain with the Duc d'Angouleme （so they said in the papers）； and beyond a doubt her ladyship had come to Saint…Lange to retrench after a run of ill…luck on the Bourse。 The Marquis was one of the greatest gamblers on the face of the globe。 Perhaps the estate would be cut up and sold in little lots。 There would be some good strokes of business to be made in that case； and it behooved everybody to count up his cash； unearth his savings and to see how he stood； so as to secure his share of the spoil of Saint…Lange。
So fair did this future seem； that the village worthies； dying to know whether it was founded on fact； began to think of ways of getting at the truth through the servants at the chateau。 None of these； however； could throw any light on the calamity which had brought their mistress into the country at the beginning of winter； and to the old chateau of Saint…Lange of all places； when she might have taken her choice of cheerful country…houses famous for their beautiful gardens。
His worship the mayor called to pay his respects； but he did not see the lady。 Then the land…steward tried with no better success。
Madame la Marquise kept her room； only leaving it； while it was set in order； for the small adjoining drawing…room； where she dined； if； indeed； to sit down to a table； to look with disgust at the dishes； and take the precise amount of nourishment required to prevent death from sheer starvation； can be called dining。 The meal over； she returned at once to the old…fashioned low chair； in which she had sat since the morning； in the embrasure of the one window that lighted her room。
Her little girl she only saw for a few minutes daily； during the dismal dinner； and even for a short time she seemed scarcely able to bear the child's presence。 Surely nothing but the most unheard…of anguish could have extinguished a mother's love so early。
None of the servants were suffered to come near； her own woman was the one creature whom she liked to have about her； the chateau must be perfectly quiet； the child must play at the other end of the house。 The slightest sound had grown so intolerable； that any human voice； even the voice of her own child； jarred upon her。
At first the whole countryside was deeply interested in these eccentricities； but time passed on； every possible hypothesis had been advanced to account for them and the peasants and dwellers in the little country towns thought no more of the invalid lady。
So the Marquise was left to herself。 She might live on； perfectly silent； amid the silence which she herself had created； there was nothing to draw her forth from the tapestried chamber where her grandmother died； whither she herself had come that she might die； gently； without witnesses； without importunate solicitude； without suffering from the insincere demonstrations of egoism masquerading as affection； which double the agony of death in great cities。
She was twenty…six years old。 At that age； with plenty of romantic illusions still left； the mind loves to dwell on the thought of death when death seems to come as a friend。 But with youth； death is coy； coming up close only to go away； showing himself and hiding again； till youth has time to fall out of love with him during this dalliance。 There is that uncertainty too that hangs over death's to…morrow。 Youth plunges back into the world of living men； there to find the pain more pitiless than death； that does not wait to strike。
This woman who refused to live was to know the bitterness of these reprieves in the depths of her loneliness； in moral agony； which death would not come to end； she was to serve a terrible apprenticeship to the egoism which must take the bloom from her heart and break her in to the life of the world。
This harsh and sorry teaching is the usual outcome of our early sorrows。 For the first； and perhaps for the last time in her life； the Marquise d'Aiglemont was in very truth suffering。 And； indeed； would it not be an error to suppose that the same sentiment can be reproduced in us？ Once develop the power to feel； is it not always there in the depths of our nature？ The accidents of life may lull or awaken it； but there it is； of necessity modifying the self； its abiding place。 Hence； every sensation should have its great day once and for all； its first day of storm； be it long or short。 Hence； likewise； pain； the most abiding of our sensations； could be keenly felt only at its first irruption； its intensity diminishing with every subsequent paroxysm； either because we grow accustomed to these crises； or perhaps because a natural instinct of self…preservation asserts itself； and opposes to the destroying force of anguish an equal but passive force of inertia。
Yet of all kinds of suffering； to which does the name of anguish belong？ For the loss of parents； Nature has in a manner prepared us； physical suffering； again； is an evil which passes over us and is gone； it lays no hold upon the soul； if it persists； it ceases to be an evil； it is death。 The young mother loses her firstborn； but wedded love ere long gives her a successor。 This grief； too； is transient。 After all； these； and many other troubles like unto them； are in some sort wounds and bruises； they do not sap the springs of vitality； and only a succession of such blows can crush in us the instinct that seeks happiness。 Great pain； therefore； pain that arises to anguish； should be suffering so deadly； that past； present； and future are alike included in its grip； and no part of life is left sound and whole。 Never afterwards can we think the same thoughts as before。 Anguish engraves itself in ineffaceable characters on mouth and brow； it passes through us； destroying or relaxing the springs that vibrate to enjoyment； leaving behind in the soul the seeds of a disgust for all things in this world。
Yet； again； to be measureless； to weigh like this upon body and soul； the trouble should befall when soul and body have just come to their full strength； and smite down a heart that beats high with life。 Then it is that great scars are made。 Terrible is the anguish。 None； it may be； can issue from this soul…sickness without undergoing some dramatic change。 Those who survive it； those who remain on earth； return to the world to wear an actor's countenance and to play an actor's part。 They know the side…scenes where actors may retire to calculate chances； shed their tears； or pass their jests。 Life holds no inscrutable dark places for those who have passed through this ordeal； their judgments are Rhadamanthine。
For young women of the Marquise d'Aiglemont's age； this first； this most poignant pain of all； is always referable to the same cause。 A woman； especially if she is a young woman； greatly beautiful； and by nature great； never fails to stake her whole life as instinct and sentiment and society all unite to bid her。 Suppose that that life fails her； suppose that she still lives on； she cannot but endure the most cruel pangs； inasmuch as a first love is the loveliest of all。 How comes it that this catastrophe has found no painter； no poet？ And yet； can it be painted？ Can it be sung？ No； for the anguish arising from it eludes analysis and defies the colors of art。 And more than this； such pain is never confessed。 To console the sufferer； you must be able to divine the past which she hugs in bitterness to her soul like a remorse； it is like an avalanche in a valley； it laid all waste before it found a permanent resting…place。
The Marquise was suffering from this anguish； which will for long remain unknown； because the whole world condemns it； while sentiment cherishes it； a