terrified the young wife of twenty； she could not at first understand
the selfish quiescence of this man； who might be compared to a cracked
pot； and who； in order to live； regulated his existence with the
unchangeable regularity which a clockmaker requires of a clock。 So the
little man always evaded his wife； while she always hit out； as it
were； ten feet above his head。
Dinah's fits of fury when she saw herself condemned never to escape
from La Baudraye and Sancerre are more easily imagined than described
she who had dreamed of handling a fortune and managing the dwarf
whom she； the giant； had at first humored in order to command。 In the
hope of some day making her appearance on the greater stage of Paris；
she accepted the vulgar incense of her attendant knights with a view
to seeing Monsieur de la Baudraye's name drawn from the electoral urn；
for she supposed him to be ambitious； after seeing him return thrice
from Paris； each time a step higher on the social ladder。 But when she
struck on the man's heart； it was as though she had tapped on marble！
The man who had been Receiver…General and Referendary； who was now
Master of Appeals； Officer of the Legion of Honor； and Royal
Commissioner； was but a mole throwing up its little hills round and
round a vineyard！ Then some lamentations were poured into the heart of
the Public Prosecutor； of the Sous…prefet； even of Monsieur Gravier；
and they all increased in their devotion to this sublime victim； for；
like all women； she never mentioned her speculative schemes； and
again like all womenfinding such speculation vain； she ceased to
speculate。
Dinah； tossed by mental storms； was still undecided when； in the
autumn of 1827； the news was told of the purchase by the Baron de la
Baudraye of the estate of Anzy。 Then the little old man showed an
impulsion of pride and glee which for a few months changed the current
of his wife's ideas； she fancied there was a hidden vein of greatness
in the man when she found him applying for a patent of entail。 In his
triumph the Baron exclaimed：
〃Dinah； you shall be a countess yet！〃
There was then a patched…up reunion between the husband and wife； such
as can never endure； and which only humiliated and fatigued a woman
whose apparent superiority was unreal； while her unseen superiority
was genuine。 This whimsical medley is commoner than people think。
Dinah； who was ridiculous from the perversity of her cleverness； had
really great qualities of soul； but circumstances did not bring these
rarer powers to light； while a provincial life debased the small
change of her wit from day to day。 Monsieur de la Baudraye； on the
contrary； devoid of soul； of strength； and of wit； was fated to figure
as a man of character； simply by pursuing a plan of conduct which he
was too feeble to change。
There was in their lives a first phase； lasting six years； during
which Dinah； alas！ became utterly provincial。 In Paris there are
several kinds of women： the duchess and the financier's wife； the
ambassadress and the consul's wife； the wife of the minister who is a
minister； and of him who is no longer a minister； then there is the
ladyquite the ladyof the right bank of the Seine and of the left。
But in the country there is but one kind of woman； and she； poor
thing； is the provincial woman。
This remark points to one of the sores of modern society。 It must be
clearly understood： France in the nineteenth century is divided into
two broad zonesParis； and the provinces。 The provinces jealous of
Paris； Paris never thinking of the provinces but to demand money。 Of
old； Paris was the Capital of the provinces； and the court ruled the
Capital； now； all Paris is the Court； and all the country is the town。
However lofty； beautiful； and clever a girl born in any department of
France may be on entering life； if； like Dinah Piedefer； she marries
in the country and remains there； she inevitably becomes the
provincial woman。 In spite of every determination； the commonplace of
second…rate ideas； indifference to dress； the culture of vulgar
people； swamp the sublimer essence hidden in the youthful plant； all
is over； it falls into decay。 How should it be otherwise？ From their
earliest years girls bred in the country see none but provincials；
they cannot imagine anything superior； their choice lies among
mediocrities； provincial fathers marry their daughters to provincial
sons； crossing the races is never thought of； and the brain inevitably
degenerates； so that in many country towns intellect is as rare as the
breed is hideous。 Mankind becomes dwarfed in mind and body； for the
fatal principle of conformity of fortune governs every matrimonial
alliance。 Men of talent； artists； superior brainsevery bird of
brilliant plumage flies to Paris。 The provincial woman； inferior in
herself； is also inferior through her husband。 How is she to live
happy under this crushing twofold consciousness？
But there is a third and terrible element besides her congenital and
conjugal inferiority which contributes to make the figure arid and
gloomy； to reduce it； narrow it； distort it fatally。 Is not one of the
most flattering unctions a woman can lay to her soul the assurance of
being something in the existence of a superior man； chosen by herself；
wittingly； as if to have some revenge on marriage； wherein her tastes
were so little consulted？ But if in the country the husbands are
inferior beings； the bachelors are no less so。 When a provincial wife
commits her 〃little sin；〃 she falls in love with some so…called
handsome native； some indigenous dandy； a youth who wears gloves and
is supposed to ride well； but she knows at the bottom of her soul that
her fancy is in pursuit of the commonplace； more or less well dressed。
Dinah was preserved from this danger by the idea impressed upon her of
her own superiority。 Even if she had not been as carefully guarded in
her early married life as she was by her mother； whose presence never
weighed upon her till the day when she wanted to be rid of it； her
pride； and her high sense of her own destinies； would have protected
her。 Flattered as she was to find herself surrounded by admirers； she
saw no lover among them。 No man here realized the poetical ideal which
she and Anna Grossetete had been wont to sketch。 When； stirred by the
involuntary temptations suggested by the homage she received； she
asked herself； 〃If I had to make a choice； who should it be？〃 she
owned to a preference for Monsieur de Chargeboeuf； a gentleman of good
family； whose appearance and manners she liked； but whose cold nature；
selfishness； and narrow ambition； never rising above a prefecture and
a good marriage； repelled her。 At a word from his family； who were
alarmed lest he should be killed for an intrigue； the Vicomte had
already deserted a woman he had loved in the town where he previously
had been Sous…prefet。
Monsieur de Clagny； on the other hand； the only man whose mind
appealed to hers； whose ambition was founded on love； and who knew
what love means； Dinah thought perfectly odious。 When Dinah saw
herself condemned to six years' residence at Sancerre she was on the
point of accepting the devotion of Monsieur le Vicomte de Chargeboeuf；
but he was appointed to a prefecture and left the district。 To
Monsieur de Clagny's great satisfaction； the new Sous…prefet was a
married man whose wife made friends with Dinah。 The lawyer had now no
rival to fear but Monsieur Gravier。 Now Monsieur Gravier was the
typical man of forty of whom women make use while they laugh at him；
whose hopes they intentionally and remorselessly encourage； as we are
kind to a beast of burden。 In six years； among all the men who were
introduced to her from twenty leagues round； there was not one in
whose presence Dinah was conscious of the excitement caused by
personal beauty； by a belief in promised happiness； by the impact of a
superior soul； or the anticipation of a love affair； even an unhappy
one。
Thus none of Dinah's choicest faculties had a chance of developing；
she swallowed many insults to her pride； which was constantly
suffering under the husband who so calmly walked the stage as
supernumerary in the drama of her life。 Compelled to bury her wealth
of love； she showed only the surface to the world。 Now and then she
would try to rouse herself； try to form some manly resolution； but she
was kept in leading strings by the need for money。 And so； slowly and
in spite of the ambitious protests and grievous recriminations of her
own mind； she underwent the provincial metamorphosis here described。
Each day took with it a fragment of her spirited determination。 She
had laid down a rule for the care of her person； which she gradually
departed from。 Though at first she kept up with the fashions and the
little novelties of elegant life； she was obliged to limit her
purchases by the amount of her allowance。 Instead of six hats； caps；
or gowns； she resigned herself to one gown each season。 She was so
much admired in a certain bonnet that she made it do duty for two
seasons。 So it was in everything。
Not unfrequently her artistic sense led her to sacrifice the
requirements of her person to secure some bit of Gothic furniture。 By
the seventh year she had come so low as to think it convenient to have
her morning dresses made at home by the best needlewoman in the
neighborhood； and her mother； her husband； and her friends pronounced
her charming in these inexpensive costumes which did credit to her
taste。 Her ideas were imitated！ As she had no standard of comparison；
Dinah fell into the snares that surround the provincial woman。 If a
Parisian woman's hips are too narrow or too full； her inventive wit
and the desire to please help to find some heroic remedy； if she has
some defect； some ugly spot； or small disfigurement； she is capable of
making it an adornment； this is often seen； but the provincial woman
never！ If her waist is too short and her figure ill balanced； well；
she makes up her mind to the worst； and her adorersor they do not
adore hermust take her as she is； while the Parisian always insists
on being taken for what she is not。 Hence the preposterous bustles；
the audacious