enchained or； made a pretty effect in the carving。 The Revolution has
damaged the ducal crown and the crest； which was a palm…tree vert with
fruit or。 Senart； the secretary of the committee of public safety was
bailiff of Sache before 1781； which explains this destruction。
These arrangements give an elegant air to the little castle； dainty as
a flower； which seems to scarcely rest upon the earth。 Seen from the
valley the ground…floor appears to be the first story； but on the
other side it is on a level with a broad gravelled path leading to a
grass…plot； on which are several flower…beds。 To right and left are
vineyards； orchards； and a few acres of tilled land planted with
chestnut…trees which surround the house； the ground falling rapidly to
the Indre； where other groups of trees of variegated shades of green；
chosen by Nature herself； are spread along the shore。 I admired these
groups； so charmingly disposed； as we mounted the hilly road which
borders Clochegourde； I breathed an atmosphere of happiness。 Has the
moral nature； like the physical nature； its own electrical
communications and its rapid changes of temperature？ My heart was
beating at the approach of events then unrevealed which were to change
it forever； just as animals grow livelier when foreseeing fine
weather。
This day； so marked in my life； lacked no circumstance that was needed
to solemnize it。 Nature was adorned like a woman to meet her lover。 My
soul heard her voice for the first time； my eyes worshipped her； as
fruitful； as varied as my imagination had pictured her in those
school…dreams the influence of which I have tried in a few unskilful
words to explain to you； for they were to me an Apocalypse in which my
life was figuratively foretold； each event； fortunate or unfortunate；
being mated to some one of these strange visions by ties known only to
the soul。
We crossed a court…yard surrounded by buildings necessary for the farm
work；a barn； a wine…press； cow…sheds； and stables。 Warned by the
barking of the watch…dog； a servant came to meet us； saying that
Monsieur le comte had gone to Azay in the morning but would soon
return； and that Madame la comtesse was at home。 My companion looked
at me。 I fairly trembled lest he should decline to see Madame de
Mortsauf in her husband's absence； but he told the man to announce us。
With the eagerness of a child I rushed into the long antechamber which
crosses the whole house。
〃Come in； gentlemen；〃 said a golden voice。
Though Madame de Mortsauf had spoken only one word at the ball； I
recognized her voice； which entered my soul and filled it as a ray of
sunshine fills and gilds a prisoner's dungeon。 Thinking； suddenly；
that she might remember my face； my first impulse was to fly； but it
was too late；she appeared in the doorway； and our eyes met。 I know
not which of us blushed deepest。 Too much confused for immediate
speech she returned to her seat at an embroidery frame while the
servant placed two chairs； then she drew out her needle and counted
some stitches； as if to explain her silence； after which she raised
her head； gently yet proudly； in the direction of Monsieur de Chessel
as she asked to what fortunate circumstance she owed his visit。 Though
curious to know the secret of my unexpected appearance； she looked at
neither of us；her eyes were fixed on the river； and yet you could
have told by the way she listened that she was able to recognize； as
the blind do； the agitations of a neighboring soul by the
imperceptible inflexions of the voice。
Monsieur de Chessel gave my name and biography。 I had lately arrived
at Tours； where my parents had recalled me when the armies threatened
Paris。 A son of Touraine to whom Touraine was as yet unknown； she
would find me a young man weakened by excessive study and sent to
Frapesle to amuse himself； he had already shown me his estate； which I
saw for the first time。 I had just told him that I had walked from
Tours to Frapesle； and fearing for my healthwhich was really
delicatehe had stopped at Clochegourde to ask her to allow me to
rest there。 Monsieur de Chessel told the truth； but the accident
seemed so forced that Madame de Mortsauf distrusted us。 She gave me a
cold； severe glance； under which my own eyelids fell； as much from a
sense of humiliation as to hide the tears that rose beneath them。 She
saw the moisture on my forehead； and perhaps she guessed the tears；
for she offered me the restoratives I needed； with a few kind and
consoling words； which gave me back the power of speech。 I blushed
like a young girl； and in a voice as tremulous as that of an old man I
thanked her and declined。
〃All I ask；〃 I said； raising my eyes to hers； which mine now met for
the second time in a glance as rapid as lightning；〃is to rest here。
I am so crippled with fatigue I really cannot walk farther。〃
〃You must not doubt the hospitality of our beautiful Touraine；〃 she
said； then； turning to my companion； she added： 〃You will give us the
pleasure of your dining at Clochegourde？〃
I threw such a look of entreaty at Monsieur de Chessel that he began
the preliminaries of accepting the invitation； though it was given in
a manner that seemed to expect a refusal。 As a man of the world； he
recognized these shades of meaning； but I； a young man without
experience； believed so implicitly in the sincerity between word and
thought of this beautiful woman that I was wholly astonished when my
host said to me； after we reached home that evening； 〃I stayed because
I saw you were dying to do so； but if you do not succeed in making it
all right； I may find myself on bad terms with my neighbors。〃 That
expression； 〃if you do not make it all right；〃 made me ponder the
matter deeply。 In other words； if I pleased Madame de Mortsauf； she
would not be displeased with the man who introduced me to her。 He
evidently thought I had the power to please her； this in itself gave
me that power； and corroborated my inward hope at a moment when it
needed some outward succor。
〃I am afraid it will be difficult；〃 he began； 〃Madame de Chessel
expects us。〃
〃She has you every day；〃 replied the countess； 〃besides； we can send
her word。 Is she alone？〃
〃No； the Abbe de Quelus is there。〃
〃Well； then；〃 she said； rising to ring the bell； 〃you really must dine
with us。〃
This time Monsieur de Chessel thought her in earnest； and gave me a
congratulatory look。 As soon as I was sure of passing a whole evening
under that roof I seemed to have eternity before me。 For many
miserable beings to…morrow is a word without meaning； and I was of the
number who had no faith in it； when I was certain of a few hours of
happiness I made them contain a whole lifetime of delight。
Madame de Mortsauf talked about local affairs； the harvest； the
vintage； and other matters to which I was a total stranger。 This
usually argues either a want of breeding or great contempt for the
stranger present who is thus shut out from the conversation； but in
this case it was embarrassment。 Though at first I thought she treated
me as a child and I envied the man of thirty to whom she talked of
serious matters which I could not comprehend； I came； a few months
later； to understand how significant a woman's silence often is； and
how many thoughts a voluble conversation masks。 At first I attempted
to be at my ease and take part in it； then I perceived the advantages
of my situation and gave myself up to the charm of listening to Madame
de Mortsauf's voice。 The breath of her soul rose and fell among the
syllables as sound is divided by the notes of a flute； it died away to
the ear as it quickened the pulsation of the blood。 Her way of
uttering the terminations in 〃i〃 was like a bird's song； the 〃ch〃 as
she said it was a kiss； but the 〃t's〃 were an echo of her heart's
despotism。 She thus extended； without herself knowing that she did so；
the meaning of her words； leading the soul of the listener into
regions above this earth。 Many a time I have continued a discussion I
could easily have ended； many a time I have allowed myself to be
unjustly scolded that I might listen to those harmonies of the human
voice； that I might breathe the air of her soul as it left her lips；
and strain to my soul that spoken light as I would fain have strained
the speaker to my breast。 A swallow's song of joy it was when she was
gay！but when she spoke of her griefs； a swan's voice calling to its
mates！
Madame de Mortsauf's inattention to my presence enabled me to examine
her。 My eyes rejoiced as they glided over the sweet speaker； they
kissed her feet； they clasped her waist； they played with the ringlets
of her hair。 And yet I was a prey to terror； as all who； once in their
lives； have experienced the illimitable joys of a true passion will
understand。 I feared she would detect me if I let my eyes rest upon
the shoulder I had kissed； and the fear sharpened the temptation。 I
yielded； I looked； my eyes tore away the covering； I saw the mole
which lay where the pretty line between the shoulders started； and
which； ever since the ball； had sparkled in that twilight which seems
the region of the sleep of youths whose imagination is ardent and
whose life is chaste。
I can sketch for you the leading features which all eyes saw in Madame
de Mortsauf； but no drawing； however correct； no color； however warm；
can represent her to you。 Her face was of those that require the
unattainable artist； whose hand can paint the reflection of inward
fires and render that luminous vapor which defies science and is not
revealable by languagebut which a lover sees。 Her soft； fair hair
often caused her much suffering； no doubt through sudden rushes of
blood to the head。 Her brow； round and prominent like that of Joconda；
teemed with unuttered thoughts； restrained feelingsflowers drowning
in bitter waters。 The eyes； of a green tinge flecked with brown； were
always wan； but if her children were in question； or if some keen
condition of joy or suffering （rare in the lives of all resigned
women） seized her； those eyes sent forth a subtile gleam as if from
fires that were consuming her；the gleam that wrung the tears from
mine when she covered me with her contempt； and