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which young and loving hearts desire so much。 From the start； Marie…
Angelique tasted all the sweets of material life to the very utmost。
For two years her husband made himself； as it were； her purveyor。 He
explained to her； by degrees； and with great art； the things of life；
he initiated her slowly into the mysteries of the highest society； he
taught her the genealogies of noble families； he showed her the world；
he guided her taste in dress； he trained her to converse； he took her
from theatre to theatre； and made her study literature and current
history。 This education he accomplished with all the care of a lover；
father； master； and husband； but he did it soberly and discreetly； he
managed both enjoyments and instructions in such a manner as not to
destroy the value of her religious ideas。 In short； he carried out his
enterprise with the wisdom of a great master。 At the end of four
years； he had the happiness of having formed in the Comtesse de
Vandenesse one of the most lovable and remarkable young women of our
day。
Marie…Angelique felt for Felix precisely the feelings with which Felix
desired to inspire her；true friendship； sincere gratitude； and a
fraternal love； in which was mingled； at certain times； a noble and
dignified tenderness； such as tenderness between husband and wife
ought to be。 She was a mother； and a good mother。 Felix had therefore
attached himself to his young wife by every bond without any
appearance of garroting her；relying for his happiness on the charms
of habit。
None but men trained in the school of lifemen who have gone round
the circle of disillusionment； political and amorousare capable of
following out a course like this。 Felix； however； found in his work
the same pleasure that painters； writers； architects take in their
creations。 He doubly enjoyed both the work and its fruition as he
admired his wife； so artless； yet so well…informed； witty； but
natural； lovable and chaste； a girl； and yet a mother； perfectly free；
though bound by the chains of righteousness。 The history of all good
homes is that of prosperous peoples； it can be written in two lines；
and has in it nothing for literature。 So； as happiness is only
explicable to and by itself； these four years furnish nothing to
relate which was not as tender as the soft outlines of eternal
cherubs； as insipid； alas！ as manna； and about as amusing as the tale
of 〃Astrea。〃
In 1833； this edifice of happiness； so carefully erected by Felix de
Vandenesse； began to crumble； weakened at its base without his
knowledge。 The heart of a woman of twenty…five is no longer that of a
girl of eighteen； any more than the heart of a woman of forty is that
of a woman of thirty。 There are four ages in the life of woman； each
age creates a new woman。 Vandenesse knew； no doubt； the law of these
transformations （created by our modern manners and morals）； but he
forgot them in his own case；just as the best grammarian will forget
a rule of grammar in writing a book； or the greatest general in the
field under fire； surprised by some unlooked…for change of base；
forgets his military tactics。 The man who can perpetually bring his
thought to bear upon his facts is a man of genius； but the man of the
highest genius does not display genius at all times； if he did； he
would be like to God。
After four years of this life； with never a shock to the soul； nor a
word that produced the slightest discord in this sweet concert of
sentiment； the countess； feeling herself developed like a beautiful
plant in a fertile soil； caressed by the sun of a cloudless sky； awoke
to a sense of a new self。 This crisis of her life； the subject of this
Scene； would be incomprehensible without certain explanations； which
may extenuate in the eyes of women the wrong…doing of this young
countess； a happy wife； a happy mother； who seems； at first sight；
inexcusable。
Life results from the action of two opposing principles； when one of
them is lacking the being suffers。 Vandenesse； by satisfying every
need； had suppressed desire； that king of creation； which fills an
enormous place in the moral forces。 Extreme heat； extreme sorrow；
complete happiness； are all despotic principles that reign over spaces
devoid of production； they insist on being solitary； they stifle all
that is not themselves。 Vandenesse was not a woman； and none but women
know the art of varying happiness； hence their coquetry； refusals；
fears； quarrels； and the all…wise clever foolery with which they put
in doubt the things that seemed to be without a cloud the night
before。 Men may weary by their constancy； but women never。 Vandenesse
was too thoroughly kind by nature to worry deliberately the woman he
loved； on the contrary； he kept her in the bluest and least cloudy
heaven of love。 The problem of eternal beatitude is one of those whose
solution is known only to God。 Here； below； the sublimest poets have
simply harassed their readers when attempting to picture paradise。
Dante's reef was that of Vandenesse； all honor to such courage！
Felix's wife began to find monotony in an Eden so well arranged； the
perfect happiness which the first woman found in her terrestrial
paradise gave her at length a sort of nausea of sweet things； and made
the countess wish； like Rivarol reading Florian； for a wolf in the
fold。 Such； judging by the history of ages； appears to be the meaning
of that emblematic serpent to which Eve listened； in all probability；
out of ennui。 This deduction may seem a little venturesome to
Protestants； who take the book of Genesis more seriously than the Jews
themselves。
The situation of Madame de Vandenesse can； however； be explained
without recourse to Biblical images。 She felt in her soul an enormous
power that was unemployed。 Her happiness gave her no suffering； it
rolled along without care or uneasiness； she was not afraid of losing
it； each morning it shone upon her； with the same blue sky； the same
smile； the same sweet words。 That clear； still lake was unruffled by
any breeze； even a zephyr； she would fain have seen a ripple on its
glassy surface。 Her desire had something so infantine about it that it
ought to be excused； but society is not more indulgent than the God of
Genesis。 Madame de Vandenesse； having now become intelligently clever；
was aware that such sentiments were not permissible； and she refrained
from confiding them to her 〃dear little husband。〃 Her genuine
simplicity had not invented any other name for him； for one can't call
up in cold blood that delightfully exaggerated language which love
imparts to its victims in the midst of flames。
Vandenesse； glad of this adorable reserve； kept his wife； by
deliberate calculations； in the temperate regions of conjugal
affection。 He never condescended to seek a reward or even an
acknowledgment of the infinite pains which he gave himself； his wife
thought his luxury and good taste her natural right； and she felt no
gratitude for the fact that her pride and self…love had never
suffered。 It was thus in everything。 Kindness has its mishaps； often
it is attributed to temperament； people are seldom willing to
recognize it as the secret effort of a noble soul。
About this period of her life； Madame Felix de Vandenesse had attained
to a degree of worldly knowledge which enabled her to quit the
insignificant role of a timid； listening； and observing supernumerary；
a part played； they say； for some time； by Giulia Grisi in the
chorus at La Scala。 The young countess now felt herself capable of
attempting the part of prima…donna； and she did so on several
occasions。 To the great satisfaction of her husband； she began to
mingle in conversations。 Intelligent ideas and delicate observations
put into her mind by her intercourse with her husband； made her
remarked upon； and success emboldened her。 Vandenesse； to whom the
world admitted that his wife was beautiful； was delighted when the
same assurance was given that she was clever and witty。 On their
return from a ball； concert； or rout where Marie had shone
brilliantly； she would turn to her husband； as she took off her
ornaments； and say； with a joyous； self…assured air；
〃Were you pleased with me this evening？〃
The countess excited jealousies； among others that of her husband's
sister； Madame de Listomere； who until now had patronized her；
thinking that she protected a foil to her own merits。 A countess；
beautiful； witty and virtuous！what a prey for the tongues of the
world！ Felix had broken with too many women； and too many women had
broken with him； to leave them indifferent to his marriage。 When these
women beheld in Madame de Vandenesse a small woman with red hands； and
rather awkward manner； saying little； and apparently not thinking
much； they thought themselves sufficiently avenged。 The disasters of
July； 1830； supervened； society was dissolved for two years； the rich
evaded the turmoil an