letters of two brides-第2章

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shown　me　by　Philippe；　all　despoiled　of　their　splendor；　as　in　the　days
of　my　childhood。

Philippe　grew　quite　confidential　when　he　saw　the　surprise　depicted　on
my　countenance。　For　you　must　know　that　in　this　home　of　diplomacy　the
very　servants　have　a　reserved　and　mysterious　air。　He　went　on　to　tell
me　that　it　was　expected　a　law　would　soon　be　passed　restoring　to　the
fugitives　of　the　Revolution　the　value　of　their　property；　and　that　my
father　is　waiting　to　do　up　his　house　till　this　restitution　is　made；
the　king's　architect　having　estimated　the　damage　at　three　hundred
thousand　livres。

This　piece　of　news　flung　me　back　despairing　on　my　drawing…room　sofa。
Could　it　be　that　my　father；　instead　of　spending　this　money　in
arranging　a　marriage　for　me；　would　have　left　me　to　die　in　the　convent？
This　was　the　first　thought　to　greet　me　on　the　threshold　of　my　home。

Ah！　Renee；　what　would　I　have　given　then　to　rest　my　head　upon　your
shoulder；　or　to　transport　myself　to　the　days　when　my　grandmother　made
the　life　of　these　rooms？　You　two　in　all　the　world　have　been　alone　in
loving　meyou　away　at　Maucombe；　and　she　who　survives　only　in　my
heart；　the　dear　old　lady；　whose　still　youthful　eyes　used　to　open　from
sleep　at　my　call。　How　well　we　understood　each　other！

These　memories　suddenly　changed　my　mood。　What　at　first　had　seemed
profanation；　now　breathed　of　holy　association。　It　was　sweet　to　inhale
the　faint　odor　of　the　powder　she　loved　still　lingering　in　the　room；
sweet　to　sleep　beneath　the　shelter　of　those　yellow　damask　curtains
with　their　white　pattern；　which　must　have　retained　something　of　the
spirit　emanating　from　her　eyes　and　breath。　I　told　Philippe　to　rub　up
the　old　furniture　and　make　the　rooms　look　as　if　they　were　lived　in；　I
explained　to　him　myself　how　I　wanted　everything　arranged；　and　where　to
put　each　piece　of　furniture。　In　this　way　I　entered　into　possession；
and　showed　how　an　air　of　youth　might　be　given　to　the　dear　old　things。

The　bedroom　is　white　in　color；　a　little　dulled　with　time；　just　as　the
gilding　of　the　fanciful　arabesques　shows　here　and　there　a　patch　of
red；　but　this　effect　harmonizes　well　with　the　faded　colors　of　the
Savonnerie　tapestry；　which　was　presented　to　my　grandmother　by　Louis
XV。　along　with　his　portrait。　The　timepiece　was　a　gift　from　the
Marechal　de　Saxe；　and　the　china　ornaments　on　the　mantelpiece　came　from
the　Marechal　de　Richelieu。　My　grandmother's　portrait；　painted　at　the
age　of　twenty…five；　hangs　in　an　oval　frame　opposite　that　of　the　King。
The　Prince；　her　husband；　is　conspicuous　by　his　absence。　I　like　this
frank　negligence；　untinged　by　hypocrisya　characteristic　touch　which
sums　up　her　charming　personality。　Once　when　my　grandmother　was
seriously　ill；　her　confessor　was　urgent　that　the　Prince；　who　was
waiting　in　the　drawing…room；　should　be　admitted。

〃He　can　come　in　with　the　doctor　and　his　drugs；〃　was　the　reply。

The　bed　has　a　canopy　and　well…stuffed　back；　and　the　curtains　are
looped　up　with　fine　wide　bands。　The　furniture　is　of　gilded　wood；
upholstered　in　the　same　yellow　damask　with　white　flowers　which　drapes
the　windows；　and　which　is　lined　there　with　a　white　silk　that　looks　as
though　it　were　watered。　The　panels　over　the　doors　have　been　painted；
by　what　artist　I　can't　say；　but　they　represent　one　a　sunrise；　the
other　a　moonlight　scene。

The　fireplace　is　a　very　interesting　feature　in　the　room。　It　is　easy　to
see　that　life　in　the　last　century　centered　largely　round　the　hearth；
where　great　events　were　enacted。　The　copper　gilt　grate　is　a　marvel　of
workmanship；　and　the　mantelpiece　is　most　delicately　finished；　the
fire…irons　are　beautifully　chased；　the　bellows　are　a　perfect　gem。　The
tapestry　of　the　screen　comes　from　the　Gobelins　and　is　exquisitely
mounted；　charming　fantastic　figures　run　all　over　the　frame；　on　the
feet；　the　supporting　bar；　and　the　wings；　the　whole　thing　is　wrought
like　a　fan。

Dearly　should　I　like　to　know　who　was　the　giver　of　this　dainty　work　of
art；　which　was　such　a　favorite　with　her。　How　often　have　I　seen　the　old
lady；　her　feet　upon　the　bar；　reclining　in　the　easy…chair；　with　her
dress　half　raised　in　front；　toying　with　the　snuff…box；　which　lay　upon
the　ledge　between　her　box　of　pastilles　and　her　silk　mits。　What　a
coquette　she　was！　to　the　day　of　her　death　she　took　as　much　pains　with
her　appearance　as　though　the　beautiful　portrait　had　been　painted　only
yesterday；　and　she　were　waiting　to　receive　the　throng　of　exquisites
from　the　Court！　How　the　armchair　recalls　to　me　the　inimitable　sweep　of
her　skirts　as　she　sank　back　in　it！

These　women　of　a　past　generation　have　carried　off　with　them　secrets
which　are　very　typical　of　their　age。　The　Princess　had　a　certain　turn
of　the　head；　a　way　of　dropping　her　glance　and　her　remarks；　a　choice　of
words；　which　I　look　for　in　vain；　even　in　my　mother。　There　was　subtlety
in　it　all；　and　there　was　good…nature；　the　points　were　made　without　any
affectation。　Her　talk　was　at　once　lengthy　and　concise；　she　told　a　good
story；　and　could　put　her　meaning　in　three　words。　Above　all；　she　was
extremely　free…thinking；　and　this　has　undoubtedly　had　its　effect　on　my
way　of　looking　at　things。

From　seven　years　old　till　I　was　ten；　I　never　left　her　side；　it　pleased
her　to　attract　me　as　much　as　it　pleased　me　to　go。　This　preference　was
the　cause　of　more　than　one　passage　at　arms　between　her　and　my　mother；
and　nothing　intensifies　feeling　like　the　icy　breath　of　persecution。
How　charming　was　her　greeting；　〃Here　you　are；　little　rogue！〃　when
curiosity　had　taught　me　how　to　glide　with　stealthy　snake…like
movements　to　her　room。　She　felt　that　I　loved　her；　and　this　childish
affection　was　welcome　as　a　ray　of　sunshine　in　the　winter　of　her　life。

I　don't　know　what　went　on　in　her　rooms　at　night；　but　she　had　many
visitors；　and　when　I　came　on　tiptoe　in　the　morning　to　see　if　she　were
awake；　I　would　find　the　drawing…room　furniture　disarranged；　the　card…
tables　set　out；　and　patches　of　snuff　scattered　about。

This　drawing…room　is　furnished　in　the　same　style　as　the　bedroom。　The
chairs　and　tables　are　oddly　shaped；　with　claw　feet　and　hollow
mouldings。　Rich　garlands　of　flowers；　beautifully　designed　and　carved；
wind　over　the　mirrors　and　hang　down　in　festoons。　On　the　consoles　are
fine　china　vases。　The　ground　colors　are　scarlet　and　white。　My
grandmother　was　a　high…spirited；　striking　brunette；　as　might　be
inferred　from　her　choice　of　colors。　I　have　found　in　the　drawing…room　a
writing…table　I　remember　well；　the　figures　on　it　used　to　fascinate　me；
it　is　plaited　in　graven　silver；　and　was　a　present　from　one　of　the
Genoese　Lomellini。　Each　side　of　the　table　represents　the　occupations
of　a　different　season；　there　are　hundreds　of　figures　in　each　picture；
and　all　in　relief。

I　remained　alone　for　two　hours；　while　old　memories　rose　before　me；　one
after　another；　on　this　spot；　hallowed　by　the　death　of　a　woman　most
remarkable　even　among　the　witty　and　beautiful　Court　ladies　of　Louis
XV。's　day。

You　know　how　abruptly　I　was　parted　from　her；　at　a　day's　notice；　in
1816。

〃Go　and　bid　good…bye　to　your　grandmother；〃　said　my　mother。

The　Princess　received　me　as　usual；　without　any　display　of　feeling；　and
expressed　no　surprise　at　my　departure。

〃You　are　going　to　the　convent；　dear；〃　she　said；　〃and　will　see　your
aunt　there；　who　is　an　excellent　woman。　I　shall　take　care；　though；　that
they　don't　make　a　victim　of　you；　you　shall　be　independent；　and　able　to
marry　whom　you　please。〃

Six　months　later　she　died。　Her　will　had　been　given　into　the　keeping　of
the　Prince　de　Talleyrand；　the　most　devoted　of　all　her　old　friends。　He
contrived；　while　paying　a　visit　to　Mlle。　de　Chargeboeuf；　to　intimate
to　me；　through　her；　that　my　grandmother　forbade　me　to　take　the　vows。　I
hope；　sooner　or　later；　to　meet　the　Prince；　and　then　I　shall　doubtless
learn　more　from　him。

Thus；　sweetheart；　if　I　have　found　no　one　in　flesh　and　blood　to　meet
me；　I　have　comforted　myself　with　the　shade　of　the　dear　Princess；　and
have　prepared　myself　for　carrying　out　one　of　our　pledges；　which　was；
as　you　know；　to　keep　each　other　informed　of　the　smallest　details　in
our　homes　and　occupations。　It　makes　such　a　difference　to　know　where
and　how　the　life　of　one　we　love　is　passed。　Send　me　a　faithful　picture
of　the　veriest　trifles　around　you；　omitting　nothing；　not　even　the
sunset　lights　among　the　tall　trees。

October　19th。

It　was　three　in　the　afternoon　when　I　arrived。　About　half…past　five；
Rose　came　and　told　me　that　my　mother　had　returned；　so　I　went
downstairs　to　pay　my　respects　to　her。

My　mother　lives　in　a　suite　on　the　ground　floor；　exactly　corresponding
to　mine；　and　in　the　same　block。　I　am　just　over　her　head；　and　the　same
secret　staircase　serves　for　both。　My　father's　rooms　are　in　the　block
opposite；　but　are　larger　by　the　whole　of　the　space　occupied　by　the
grand　staircase　on　our　side　of　the　building。　These　ancestral　mansions
are　so　spacious；　that　my　father　and　mother　continue　to　occupy　the
ground…floor　rooms；　in　spite　of　the　social　duties　which　have　once　more
devolved　on　them　with　the　return　of　the　Bourbons；　and　are　even　able　to
receive　in　them。

I　found　my　mother；　dressed　for　the　evening；　in　her　drawing…room；　where
nothing　is　changed。　I　came　slowly　down　the　stairs；　speculating　with
every　step　how　I　should　be　met　by　this　mother　who　had　shown　herself　so
little　of　a　mother　to　me；　and　from　whom；　during　eight　years；　I　had
heard　nothing　beyond　the　two　letters　of　which　you　know。　Judging　it
unworthy　to　simulate　an　affection　I　could　not　possibly　feel；　I　put　on
the　air　of　a　pious　imbecile；　and　entered　the　room　with　many　inward
qualms；　which　however　soon　disappeared。　My　mother's　tack　was　equal　to
the　occasion。　She　made　no　pretence　of　emotion；　she　neither　held　me　at
arm's…length　nor　hugged　me　to　her　bosom　like　a　beloved　daughter；　but
greeted　me　as　though　we　had　parted　the　evening　before。　Her　manner　was
that　of　the　kindliest　and　most　sincere　friend；　as　she　addressed　me
like　a　grown　person；　first　kissing　me　on　the　forehead。

〃My　dear　little　one；〃　she　said；　〃if　you　were　to　die　at　the　convent；　it
is　much　better　to　live　with　your　family。　You　frustrate　your　father's
plans　and　mine；　but　the　age　of　blind　obedience　to　parents　is　past。　M。
de　Chaulieu's　intention；　and　in　this　I　am　quite　at　one　with　him；　is　to
lose　no　opportunity　of　making　your　life　pleasant　and　of　letting　you
see　the　world。　At　your　age　I　should　have　thought　as　you　do；　therefore
I　am　not　vexed　with　you；　it　is　impossible　you　should　understand　what
we　expected　from　you。　You　will　not　find　any　absurd　severity　in　me；　and
if　you　have　ever　thought　me　heartless；　you　will　soon　find　out　your
mistake。　Still；　though　I　wish　you　to　feel　perfectly　free；　I　think
that；　to　begin　with；　you　would　do　well　to　follow　the　counsels　of　a
mother；　who　wishes　to　be　a　sister　to　you。〃

I　was　quite　charmed　by　the　Duchess；　who　talked　in　a　gentle　voice；
straightening　my　convent　tippet　as　she　spoke。　At　the　age　of　thirty…
eight　she　is　still　exquisitely　beautiful。　She　has　dark…blue　eyes；　with
silken　lashes；　a　smooth　forehead；　and　a　complexion　so　pink　and　white
that　you　might　think　she　paints。　Her　bust　and　shoulders　are　marvelous；
and　her　waist　is　as　slender　as　yours。　Her　hand　is　milk…white　and
extraordinarily　beautiful；　the　nails　catch　the　light　in　their　pe