Firstpublishedin1910。ThisvolumeisdedicatedtoMadameL。LandouzywithgratitudeandaffectionThisbookisnotintendedasastudyofGeorgeSand。Itismerelyaseriesofchapterstouchingonvariousaspectsofherlifeandwritings。Myworkwillnotbelostiftheperusalofthesepagesshouldinspireoneofthehistoriansofourliteraturewiththeideaofdevotingtothegreatnovelist，tohergeniusandherinfluence，aworkofthiskind。

I

AUROREDUPIN

PSYCHOLOGYOFADAUGHTEROFROUSSEAU

InthewholeofFrenchliteraryhistory，thereis，perhaps，nosubjectofsuchinexhaustibleandmoderninterestasthatofGeorgeSand。

Ofwhatuseisliteraryhistory？Itisnotonlyakindofmuseum，inwhichafewmasterpiecesarepreservedforthepleasureofbeholders。

Itisthiscertainly，butitisstillmorethanthis。Finebooksare，beforeanythingelse，livingworks。Theynotonlyhavelived，buttheycontinuetolive。Theylivewithinus，underneaththoseideaswhichformourconscienceandthosesentimentswhichinspireouractions。

Thereisnothingofgreaterimportanceforanysocietythantomakeaninventoryoftheideasandthesentimentswhicharecomposingitsmoralatmosphereeveryinstantthatitexists。Foreveryindividualthisworkistheveryconditionofhisdignity。Thequestionis，shouldwehavetheseideasandthesesentiments，if，inthetimesbeforeus，therehadnotbeensomeexceptionalindividualswhoseizedthem，asitwere，intheairandmadethemviableanddurable？

Theseexceptionalindividualswerecapableofthinkingmorevigorously，offeelingmoredeeply，andofexpressingthemselvesmoreforciblythanweare。Theybequeathedtheseideasandsentimentstous。

Literaryhistoryis，then，aboveandbeyondallthings，theperpetualexaminationoftheconscienceofhumanity。

Thereisnoneedformetorepeatwhateveryoneknows，thefactthatourepochisextremelycomplex，agitatedanddisturbed。

Inthemidstofthislabyrinthinwhichwearefeelingourwaywithsuchdifficulty，whodoesnotlookbackregretfullytothedayswhenlifewasmoresimple，whenitwaspossibletowalktowardsagoal，mysteriousandunknownthoughitmightbe，bystraightpathsandroyalroutes？

GeorgeSandwrotefornearlyhalfacentury。Forfiftytimesthreehundredandsixty—fivedays，sheneverletadaypassbywithoutcoveringmorepagesthanotherwritersinamonth。Herfirstbooksshockedpeople，herearlyopinionsweregreetedwithstorms。

Fromthattimeforthsherushedhead—longintoeverythingnew，shewelcomedeverychimeraandpasseditontouswithmoreforceandpassioninit。Vibratingwitheverybreath，electrifiedbyeverystorm，shelookedupateverycloudbehindwhichshefanciedshesawastarshining。Theworkofanothernovelisthasbeencalledarepertoryofhumandocuments。Butwhatarepertoryofideasherworkwas！

Shehassaidwhatshehadtosayonnearlyeverysubject；onlove，thefamily，socialinstitutionsandonthevariousformsofgovernment。

Andwithallthisshewasawoman。Hercaseisalmostuniqueinthehistoryofletters。Itisintenselyinterestingtostudytheinfluenceofthiswomanofgeniusontheevolutionofmodernthought。

Ishallendeavourtoapproachmysubjectconscientiouslyandwithallduerespect。Ishallstudybiographywhereitisindispensableforthecompleteunderstandingofworks。IshallgiveasketchoftheoriginalindividualsImeetonmypath，portrayingtheseonlyattheirpointofcontactwiththelifeofourauthoress，anditseemstomethatagalleryinwhichweseeSandeau，Sainte—Beuve，Musset，Michel（ofBourges），Liszt，Chopin，Lamennais，PierreLeroux，Dumas_fils_，Flaubertandmany，manyothersisanincomparableportraitgallery。Ishallnotattackpersons，butIshalldiscussideasand，whennecessary，disputethemenergetically。Weshall，Ihope，duringourvoyage，seemanyperspectivesopenoutbeforeus。

Ihave，ofcourse，madeuseofalltheworksdevotedtoGeorgeSandwhichwereofanyvalueformystudy，andamongothersofthetwovolumespublished，underthenameofWladimirKarenine，[1]byawomanbelongingtoRussianaristocraticsociety。Fortheperiodbefore1840，thisisthemostcompleteworkthathasbeenwritten。

M。SamuelRocheblave，acleverUniversityprofessorandthemanwhoknowsmorethananyoneaboutthelifeandworksofGeorgeSand，hasbeenmyguideandhashelpedmegreatlywithhiswiseadvice。

Privatecollectionsofdocumentshavealsobeenplacedatmyservicemostgenerously。Iamthereforeabletosupplysomehithertounpublishedwritings。GeorgeSandpublished，inall，aboutahundredvolumesofnovelsandstories，fourvolumesofautobiography，andsixofcorrespondence。Inspiteofallthiswearestillaskedforfreshdocuments。

[1]WLADIMIRKARENINE：_GeorgeSand，Savieetsesaeuvres。_

2Vols。Ollendorf。

Itisinteresting，asapreliminarystudy，tonotethenaturalgifts，andthefirstimpressionsofAuroreDupinasachildandyounggirl，andtoseehowthesepredeterminedthewomanandthewriterknowntousasGeorgeSand。

Lucile—Amandine—AuroreDupin，legitimatedaughterofMauriceDupinandofSophie—VictoireDelaborde，wasborninParis，at15RueMeslay，intheneighbourhoodoftheTemple，onthe1stofJuly，1804。Iwouldcallattentionatoncetothespecialphenomenonwhichexplainstheproblemofherdestiny：Imeanbythisherheredity，orrathertheradicalandviolentcontrastofhermaternalandpaternalheredity。

Byherfathershewasanaristocratandrelatedtothereigninghouses。

HerancestorwastheKingofPoland，AugustusII，theloverofthebeautifulCountessAuroravonKoenigsmarck。GeorgeSand’sgrandfatherwasMauricedeSaxe。Hemayhavebeenanadventureranda_condottiere_，butFranceowestohimFontenoy，thatbrilliantpageofherhistory。

Allthistakesusbacktotheeighteenthcenturywithitsbrilliant，gallant，frivolous，artisticandprofligateepisodes。MauricedeSaxeadoredthetheatre，eitherforitselforforthesakeofthewomenconnectedwithit。Onhiscampaign，hetookwithhimatheatricalcompanywhichgavearepresentationtheeveningbeforeabattle。

InthiscompanywasayoungartistenamedMlle。deVerriereswhosefatherwasacertainM。Rinteau。MauricedeSaxeadmiredtheyoungactressandadaughterwasbornofthis_liaison_，whowaslateronrecognizedbyherfatherandnamedMarie—AuroredeSaxe。

ThiswasGeorgeSand’sgrandmother。AttheageoffifteentheyounggirlmarriedComtedeHorn，abastardsonofLouisXV。Thishusbandwasobligingenoughtohiswife，whowasonlyhiswifeinname，todieassoonaspossible。Shethenreturnedtohermother"theOperalady。"Anelderlynobleman，DupindeFrancueil，whohadbeentheloveroftheotherMlle。Verrieres，nowfellinlovewithherandmarriedher。Theirson，MauriceDupin，wasthefatherofournovelist。

TheastonishingpartofthisseriesofadventuresisthatMarie—Auroreshouldhavebeentheeminentlyrespectablewomanthatshewas。

Onhermother’sside，though，AuroreDupinbelongedtothepeople。

ShewasthedaughterofSophie—VictoireDelabordemilliner，thegrandchildofacertainbird—sellerontheQuaidesOiseaux，whousedtokeepapublic—house，andshewasthegreat—granddaughterofMereCloquart。

ThisdoublehereditywaspersonifiedinthetwowomenwhosharedGeorgeSand’schildishaffection。Wemustthereforestudytheportraitsofthesetwowomen。

Thegrandmotherwas，ifnotatypical_grandedame_，atleastatypicalelegantwomanofthelatterhalfoftheeighteenthcentury。

Shewasverywelleducatedandrefined，thankstolivingwiththetwosisters，Mlles。Verrieres，whowereaccustomedtothebestsociety。Shewasagoodmusicianandsangdelightfully。

WhenshemarriedDupindeFrancueil，herhusbandwassixty—two，justdoubleherage。But，assheusedtosaytohergranddaughter，"noonewaseveroldinthosedays。ItwastheRevolutionthatbroughtoldageintotheworld。"

Dupinwasaveryagreeableman。Whenyoungerhehadbeen_too_agreeable，butnowhewasjustsufficientlysotomakehiswifeveryhappy。

Hewasverylavishinhisexpenditureandlivedlikeaprince，sothatheleftMarie—Auroreruinedandpoorwithaboutthreethousandayear。ShewasimbuedwiththeideasofthephilosophersandanenemyoftheQueen’s_coterie_。ShewasbynomeansalarmedattheRevolutionandwasverysoontakenprisoner。

Shewasarrestedonthe26thofNovember，1793，andincarceratedinthe_CouventdesAnglaises_，RuedesFosse’s—Saint—Victor，whichhadbeenconvertedintoadetentionhouse。OnleavingprisonshesettleddownatNohant，anestateshehadrecentlybought。

Itwastherethathergranddaughterrememberedherinherearlydays。

Shedescribesherastall，slender，fairandalwaysverycalm。

AtNohantshehadonlyhermaidsandherbooksforcompany。

WheninParis，shedelightedinthesocietyofpeopleofherownstationandofhertime，peoplewhohadtheideasandairsofformerdays。

Shecontinued，inthisnewcentury，theshadesofthoughtandthemannersandCustomsoftheold_regime。_

Asaset—offtothiswomanofraceandofculture，Aurore’smotherrepresentedtheordinarytypeofthewomanofthepeople。

Shewassmall，dark，fieryandviolent。She，too，thebird—seller’sdaughter，hadbeenimprisonedbytheRevolution，andstrangelyenoughinthe_CouventdesAnglaises_ataboutthesametimeasMauricedeSaxe’sgranddaughter。ItwasinthiswaythatthefusionofclasseswasunderstoodundertheTerror。Shewasemployedasa_figurante_inasmalltheatre。Thiswasmerelyacommencementforhercareer。AtthetimewhenMauriceDupinmether，shewasthemistressofanoldgeneral。Shealreadyhadonechildofdoubtfulparentage。MauriceDupin，too，hadanaturalson，namedHippolyte，sothattheycouldnotreproacheachother。

WhenMauriceDupinmarriedSophie—Victoire，amonthbeforethebirthofAurore，hehadsomedifficultyinobtaininghismother’sconsent。

Shefinallygavein，asshewasofanindulgentnature。ItispossiblethatSophie—Victoire’sconductwasirreproachableduringherhusband’slifetime，but，afterhisdeath，shereturnedtoherformerways。Shewasneverthelessofreligioushabitsandwouldnot，uponanyaccount，havemissedattendingMass。Shewasquick—tempered，jealousandnoisyand，whenanythingannoyedher，extremelyhot—headed。Atsuchtimesshewouldshoutandstorm，sothattheonlywaytosilenceherwastoshoutstillmoreloudly。

Sheneverboreanymalice，though，andwishednoharmtothoseshehadinsulted。Shewasofcoursesentimental，butmorepassionatethantender，andshequicklyforgotthosewhomshehadlovedmostfondly。

Thereseemedtobegapsinhermemoryandalsoinherconscience。

Shewasignorant，knowingnothingeitherofliteratureoroftheusagesofsociety。Her_salon_wasthelandingofherflatandheracquaintancesweretheneighbourswhohappenedtolivenextdoortoher。

Itiseasytoimaginewhatshethoughtofthearistocratswhovisitedhermother—in—law。Shewasamusingwhenshejokedandmadeparodiesonthewomenshestyled"theoldCountesses。"Shehadagreatdealofnaturalwit，alivelinesspeculiartothenativeofthefaubourgs，alltheimpudenceofthestreetarab，andaveritabletalentofmimicry。Shewasagoodhousewife，active，industriousandmostcleverinturningeverythingtoaccount。Withamerenothingshecouldimproviseadressorahatandgiveitacertainstyle。

Shewasalwaysmostskilfulwithherfingers，atypicalParisianwork—girl，adaughterofthestreetandachildofthepeople。

Inourtimesshewouldbestyled"amidinette。"

SucharethetwowomenwhosharedtheaffectionofAuroreDupin。

Fatehadbroughtthemtogether，buthadmadethemsounlikethattheywereboundtodislikeeachother。ThechildhoodoflittleAuroreservedasthelistsfortheircontentions。Theirrivalrywasthedominatingnoteinthesentimentaleducationofthechild。

AslongasMauriceDupinlived，AurorewasalwayswithherparentsintheirlittleParisiandwelling。MauriceDupinwasabrilliantofficer，andverybraveandjovial。In1808，AurorewenttohiminMadrid，wherehewasMurat’s_aide—de—camp_。ShelivedinthepalaceofthePrinceofPeace，thatvastpalacewhichMuratfilledwiththesplendourofhiscostumesandthegroanscausedbyhissuffering。

LikeVictorHugo，whowenttothesameplaceataboutthesametimeandundersimilarconditions，Auroremayhavebroughtbackwithher_desescourseslointaines_

_Commeunvaguefaisceaudelueursincertaines。_

Thisdoesnotseemprobable，though。Thereturnwaspainful，astheycamebackworriedandill，andweregladtotakerefugeatNohant。

TheywerejustbeginningtoorganizetheirlifewhenMauriceDupindiedsuddenly，fromanaccidentwhenriding，leavinghismotherandhiswifetogether。

Fromthistimeforth，AurorewasmoreoftenwithhergrandmotheratNohantthanwithhermotherinParis。Hergrandmotherundertookthecareofhereducation。Herhalf—brother，HippolyteChatiron，andshereceivedlessonsfromM。Deschartres，whohadeducatedMauriceDupin。

Hewasstewardandtutorcombined，averyauthoritativeman，arrogantandagreatpedant。Hewasaffectionate，though，andextremelydevoted。Hewasbothdetestableandtouchingatthesametime，andhadawarmhearthiddenunderaroughexterior。

NohantwasintheheartofBerry，andthismeantthecountryandNature。

ForAuroreDupinNatureprovedtobeanincomparableeducator。

Therewasonlyonemarkedtraitinthechild’scharacteruptothisdate，andthatwasagreattendencytoreverie。Forlonghoursshewouldremainalone，motionless，gazingintospace。

Peoplewereanxiousaboutherwhentheysawherlookingso_stupid_，buthermotherinvariablysaid："Donotbealarmed。Sheisalwaysruminatingaboutsomething。"Countrylife，whileprovidingherwithfreshairandplentyofexercise，sothatherhealthwasmagnificent，gavefreshfoodandanotherturntoherreveries。TenyearsearlierAlphonsedeLamartinehadbeensenttothecountryatMilly，andallowedtofrequentthelittlepeasantchildrenoftheplace。

AuroreDupin’sexistencewasnowverymuchthesameasthatofLamartine。NohantissituatedinthecentreoftheBlackValley。

Thegroundisdarkandrich；therearenarrow，shadypaths。

Itisnotahillycountry，andtherearewide，peacefulhorizons。

Atallhoursofthedayandatallseasonsoftheyear，AurorewanderedalongtheBerryroadswithherlittleplayfellows，thefarmers’children。TherewasMariewhotendedtheflock，Solangewhocollectedleaves，andLisetandPlaisirwhomindedthepigs。

Shealwaysknewinwhatmeadoworinwhatplaceshewouldfindthem。

Sheplayedwiththemamongstthehay，climbedthetreesanddabbledinthewater。Shemindedtheflockwiththem，andinwinter，whentheherdsmentalkedtogether，assembledroundtheirfire，shelistenedtotheirwonderfulstories。Thesecredulouscountrychildrenhad"seenwiththeirowneyes"Georgeon，theevilspiritoftheBlackValley。Theyhadalsoseenwill—o’—the—wisps，ghosts，the"whitegreyhound"andthe"BigBeast"！Intheevenings，shesatuplisteningtothestoriestoldbythehemp—weaver。Herfreshyoungsoulwasthusimpregnatedatanearlyagewiththepoetryofthecountry。Anditwasallthepoetryofthecountry，thatwhichcomesfromthings，suchasthefreshnessoftheairandtheperfumeoftheflowers，butalsothatwhichistobefoundinthesimplicityofsentimentsandinthatcandourandsurprisefacetofacewiththosesightsofNaturewhichhaveremainedthesameandhavebeenjustasincomprehensibleeversincethebeginningoftheworld。

Theantagonismofthetwomothersincreased，though。Wewillnotgointodetailwithregardtothevariousepisodes，butwillonlyconsidertheconsequences。

Thefirstconsequencewasthattheintelligenceofthechildbecamemorekeenthroughthisduality。Placedasshewas，inthesetwodifferentworlds，betweentwopersonswithmindssounlike，and，obligedasshewastogofromonetotheother，shelearnttounderstandandappreciatethemboth，contraststhoughtheywere。

Shehadsoonreckonedeachofthemup，andshesawtheirweaknesses，theirfaults，theirmeritsandtheiradvantages。

Asecondconsequencewastoincreasehersensitiveness。Eachtimethatshelefthermother，theseparationwasheartrending。

Whenshewasabsentfromher，shesufferedonaccountofthisabsence，andstillmorebecauseshefanciedthatshewouldbeforgotten。

Shelovedhermother，justasshewas，andtheideathatanyonewashostileordespisedhercausedthechildmuchsilentsuffering。

Itwasasthoughshehadanever—openwound。

Anotherconsequence，andbynomeanstheleastimportantone，wastodetermineinacertainsensetheimmensepowerofsympathywithinher。

Foralongtimesheonlyfeltasortofawe，whenwithherreservedandceremoniousgrandmother。Shefeltnearertohermother，astherewasnoneedtobeonceremonywithher。Shetookadisliketoallthosewhorepresentedauthority，rulesandthetyrannyofcustom。

Sheconsideredhermotherandherselfasoppressedindividuals。

AloveforthepeoplesprangupintheheartofthedaughterofSophie—Victoire。Shebelongedtothemthroughhermother，andshewasdrawntothemnowthroughthehumiliationssheunderwent。

Inthislittleenemyofreverencesandofsocietypeople，weseethedawnofthatinstinctwhich，lateron，wastocausehertorevoltopenly。GeorgeSandwasquiterightinsaying，lateron，thatitwasofnouseseekinganyintellectualreasonastheexplanationofhersocialpreferences。Everythinginherwasduetosentiment。

Hersocialismwasentirelytheoutcomeofhersufferingandtormentsasachild。

Thingshadtocometoacrisis，andthecrisiswasatrocious。

GeorgeSandgivesanaccountofthetragicsceneinher_Histoiredemavie_。Hergrandmotherhadalreadyhadoneattackofparalysis。

ShewasanxiousaboutAurore’sfuture，andwishedtokeepherfromtheinfluenceofhermother。Shethereforedecidedtoemployviolentmeanstothisend。Shesentforthechildtoherbedside，and，almostbesideherself，inachokingvoice，sherevealedtoherallthatsheoughttohaveconcealed。

ShetoldherofSophie—Victoire’spast，sheutteredthefatalwordandspokeofthechild’smotherasalostwoman。WithAurore’sextremesensitiveness，itwashorribletoreceivesuchconfidencesattheageofthirteen。Thirtyyearslater，GeorgeSanddescribestheanguishoftheterribleminute。"Itwasanightmare，"shesays。

"Ifeltchoked，anditwasasthougheverywordwouldkillme。

Theperspirationcameoutonmyface。Iwantedtointerrupther，togetupandrushaway。Ididnotwanttohearthefrightfulaccusation。

Icouldnotmove，though；Iseemedtobenailedonmyknees，andmyheadseemedtobeboweddownbythatvoicethatIheardaboveme，avoicewhichseemedtowithermelikeastormwind。"

Itseemsextraordinarythatawoman，whowasinrealitysokind—heartedandsowise，shouldhaveallowedherselftobecarriedawaylikethis。

Passionhasthesesuddenandunexpectedoutbursts，andweseehereamostsignificantproofoftheatmosphereofpassioninwhichthechildhadlived，andwhichgraduallyinsinuateditselfwithinher。

Underthesecircumstances，Aurore’sdeparturefortheconventwasadeliverance。Untiljustrecently，therehasalwaysbeenaconventinvogueinFranceinwhichithasbeenconsiderednecessaryforgirlsingoodsocietytobeeducated。In1817，_theCouventdesAnglaises_wasinvogue，theveryconventwhichhadservedasaprisonforthemotherandgrandmotherofAurore。

Thethreeyearsshespentthereinthat"bigfemininefamily，whereeveryonewasaskindasGod，"sheconsideredthemostpeacefulandhappytimeofherlife。Thepagesshedevotestotheminher_Histoiredemavie_haveallthefreshnessofanoasis。

Shedescribesmostlovinglythislittleworld，apart，exclusiveandself—sufficing，inwhichlifewassointense。

Thehouseconsistedofanumberofconstructions，andwassituatedintheneighbourhoodgivenuptoconvents。Therewerecourtyardsandgardensenoughtomakeitseemlikeasmallvillage。

Therewasalsoalabyrinthofpassagesaboveandunderground，justasinoneofAnneRadcliffe’snovels。Therewereoldwallsovergrownwithvineandjasmine。Thecockcouldbeheardatmidnight，justasintheheartofthecountry，andtherewasabellwithasilverytonelikeawoman’svoice。Fromherlittlecell，AurorelookedoverthetopsofthegreatchestnuttreesontoParis，sothattheairsonecessaryforthelungsofachildaccustomedtowanderingsinthecountrywasnotlackinginherconventhome。

Thepupilshaddividedthemselvesintothreecategories：

the_diables_，thegoodgirls，whowerethespeciallypiousones，andthesillyones。Auroretookherplaceatonceamongthe_diables_。

Thegreatexploitoftheseconventgirlsconsistedindescendingintothecellars，duringrecreation，andinsoundingthewalls，inorderto"deliverthevictim。"Therewassupposedtobeanunfortunatevictimimprisonedandtorturedbythegood，kindheartedSisters。

Alas！allthe_diables_sworntothetaskinthe_CouventdesAnglaises_neversucceededinfindingthevictim，sothatshemustbetherestill。

Verysoon，though，asuddenchange—tookplaceinAurore’ssoul。

Itwouldhavebeenstrangehaditbeenotherwise。Withsoextraordinarilysensitiveanorganization，thenewandtotallydifferentsurroundingscouldnotfailtomakeanimpression。

Thecloister，thecemetery，thelongservices，thewordsoftheritual，murmuredinthedimly—lightedchapel，andthepietythatseemstohoverintheairinhouseswheremanyprayershavebeenofferedup——

allthisactedontheyounggirl。OneeveninginAugust，shehadgoneintothechurch，whichwasdimlylightedbythesanctuarylamp。

Throughtheopenwindowcametheperfumeofhoneysuckleandthesongsofthebirds。Therewasacharm，amysteryandasolemncalmabouteverything，suchasshehadneverbeforeexperienced。

"Idonotknowwhatwastakingplacewithinme，"shesaid，whendescribingthis，lateron，"butIbreathedanatmospherethatwasindescribablydelicious，andIseemedtobebreathingitinmyverysoul。Suddenly，Ifeltashockthroughallmybeing，adizzinesscameoverme，andIseemedtobeenvelopedinawhitelight。

IthoughtIheardavoicemurmuringinmyear：_`TolleLege。’_I

turnedround，andsawthatIwasquitealone……"

Ourmodern_psychiatres_wouldsaythatshehadhadanhallucinationofhearing，togetherwitholfactorytrouble。Iprefersayingthatshehadreceivedthevisitofgrace。Tearsofjoybathedherfaceandsheremainedthere，sobbingforalongtime。

TheconventhadthereforeopenedtoAuroreanotherworldofsentiment，thatofChristianemotion。Hersoulwasnaturallyreligious，andthedrynessofaphilosophicaleducationhadnotbeensufficientforit。Theconventhadnowbroughtherthealimentforwhichshehadinstinctivelylonged。Lateron，whenherfaith，whichhadneverbeenveryenlightened，lefther，thesentimentremained。

Thisreligiosity，ofChristianform，wasessentialtoGeorgeSand。

Theconventalsorenderedheranothereminentservice。

Inthe_Histoiredemavie_，GeorgeSandretracesfrommemorytheportraitsofseveraloftheSisters。ShetellsusofMadameMarie—Xavier，andofherdespairathavingtakenthevows；ofSisterAnne—Joseph，whowasaskindasanangelandassillyasagoose；

ofthegentleMarie—Alicia，whoseserenesoullookedoutofherblueeyes，amirrorofpurity，andofthemysticalSisterHelene，whohadlefthomeinspiteofherfamily，inspiteofthesupplicationsandthesobsofhermotherandsisters，andwhohadpassedoverthebodyofachildonherwaytoGod。Itislikethisalways。

Thecostumesarethesame，thehandsareclaspedinthesamemanner，thewhitebandsandthefaceslookequallypale，butunderneaththisapparentuniformitywhatcontrasts！Itistheinnerlifewhichmarksthedifferencessovigorously，andshowsuptheoriginalityofeachone。

Auroregraduallydiscoveredthediversityofallthesesoulsandthebeautyofeachone。Shethoughtofbecominganun，butherconfessordidnotadvisethis，andhewascertainlywise。Hergrandmother，whohadaphilosopher’sopinionofpriests，blamedtheirfanaticism，andtookherlittlegranddaughterawayfromtheconvent。Perhapsshefelttheneedofaffectionforthefewmonthsshehadstilltolive。

Atanyrate，shecertainlyhadthisaffection。OneofthefirstresultsofthelargerperspicacitywhichAurorehadacquiredattheconventwastomakeherunderstandhergrandmotheratlast。

Shewasablenowtograspthecomplexnatureofherrelativeandtoseethedelicacyhiddenunderanappearanceofgreatreserve。

Sheknewnowallthatsheowedtohergrandmother，butunfortunatelyitwasoneofthosediscoverieswhicharemadetoolate。

TheeighteenmonthswhichAurorenowpassedatNohant，untilthedeathofhergrandmother，areveryimportantasregardsherpsychologicalbiography。Shewasseventeenyearsold，andagirlwhowaseagertoliveandveryemotional。ShehadfirstbeenachildofNature。HerconventlifehadtakenherawayfromNatureandaccustomedhertofallingbackonherownthoughts。Naturenowtookherbackoncemore，andherbelovedNohantfetedherreturn。

"Thetreeswereinflower，"shesays，"thenightingalesweresinging，and，inthedistance，Icouldheartheclassic，solemnsoundofthelabourers。Myoldfriends，thebigdogs，whohadgrowledatmetheeveningbefore，recognizedmeagainandwereprofuseintheircaresses……"

Shewantedtoseeeverythingagain。Thethingsthemselveshadnotchanged，butherwayoflookingatthemnowwasdifferent。

Duringherlong，solitarywalkseverymorning，sheenjoyedseeingthevariouslandscapes，sometimesmelancholy—lookingandsometimesdelightful。Sheenjoyed，too，thepicturesquenessofthevariousthingsshemet，theflocksofcattle，thebirdstakingtheirflight，andeventhesoundofthehorses’feetsplashinginthewater。

Sheenjoyedeverything，inakindofvoluptuousreveriewhichwasnolongerinstinctive，butconsciousandatriflemorbid。

Addedtoallthis，herreadingatthisepochwaswithoutanyorderormethod。Shereadeverythingvoraciously，mixingallthephilosophersuptogether。ShereadLocke，Condillac，Montesquieu，Bossuet，Pascal，Montaigne，butshekeptRousseauapartfromtheothers。Shedevouredthebooksofthemoralistsandpoets，LaBruyere，Pope，Milton，Dante，Virgil，Shakespeare。Allthisreadingwastoomuchforherandexcitedherbrain。ShehadreservedChateaubriand’s_Rene_，and，onreadingthat，shewasovercomebythesadnesswhichemanatesfromthesedistressingpages。Shewasdisgustedwithlife，andattemptedtocommitsuicide。Shetriedtodrownherself，andonlyowedherlifetothehealthy—mindednessofthegoodmareColette，asthehorseevidentlyhadnotthesamereasonsasitsyoungmistressforwishingtoputanendtoitsdays。

AllthistimeAurorewasentirelyfreetopleaseherself。Deschartres，whohadalwaystreatedherasaboy，encouragedherindependence。

Itwasathisinstigationthatshedressedinmasculineattiretogooutshooting。Peoplebegantotalkabouther"eccentricities"

atLanderneau，andthegossipcontinuedasfarasLaChatre。

Addedtothis，Aurorebegantostudyosteologywithayoungmanwholivedintheneighbourhood，anditwassaidthatthisyoungman，StephaneAjassondeGrandsaigne，gaveherlessonsinherownroom。

Thiswastheclimax。

Wehaveacurioustestimonyasregardsthestateoftheyounggirl’smindatthisepoch。Areview，entitled_LeVoiledepourpre_，publishedrecently，initsfirstnumber，aletterfromAuroretohermother，datedNovember18，1821。Hermotherhadevidentlywrittentoheronhearingthegossipabouther，andhadprobablyenlargeduponit。

"Youreproachme，mother，withneitherhavingtimidity，modesty，norcharm，"shewrites，"oratleastyousupposethatIhavethesequalities，butthatIrefrainfromshowingthem，andyouarequitecertainthatIhavenooutwarddecencynordecorum。

Yououghttoknowmebeforejudgingmeinthisway。

Youwouldthenbeabletoformanopinionaboutmyconduct。

Grandmotherishere，and，illthoughsheis，shewatchesovermecarefullyandlovingly，andshewouldnotfailtocorrectmeifsheconsideredthatIhadthemannersofadragoonorofahussar。"

Sheconsideredthatshehadnoneedofanyonetoguideorprotecther，andnoneedofleading—strings。

"Iamseventeen，"shesays，"andIknowmywayabout。"

IfthisMonsieurdeGrandsaignehadventuredtotakeanylibertywithher，shewasoldenoughtotakecareofherself。

HermotherhadblamedherforlearningLatinandosteology。

"Whyshouldawomanbeignorant？"sheasks。"Canshenotbewelleducatedwithoutthisspoilingherandwithoutbeingpedantic？

SupposingthatIshouldhavesonsinthefuture，andthatIhadprofitedsufficientlybymystudiestobeabletoteachthem，wouldnotamother’slessonsbeasgoodasatutor’s？"

Shewasalreadychallengingpublicopinion，startingacampaignagainstfalseprejudices，showingatendencytogeneralize，andtomakethecauseofonewomanthecauseofallwomen。

Wemustnowbearinmindthevarioustraitswehavediscovered，oneafteranother，inAurore’scharacter。Wemustremembertowhatparentagesheowedherintellectualityandhersentimentality。

ItwillthenbemoreeasytounderstandthetermssheuseswhendescribingherfascinationforRousseau’swritings。

"ThelanguageofJean—Jacquesandtheformofhisdeductionsimpressedmeasmusicmighthavedonewhenheardinbrilliantsunshine。

IcomparedhimtoMozart，andIunderstoodeverything。"

Sheunderstoodhim，forsherecognizedherselfinhim。

Shesympathizedwiththatpredominanceoffeelingandimagination，thatexaggerationofsentiment，thatpreferenceforlifeaccordingtoNature，thatemotiononbeholdingthevarioussightsofthecountry，thatdistrustofpeople，thoseeffusionsofreligioussentimentality，thosesolitaryreveries，andthatmelancholywhichmadedeathseemdesirabletohim。AllthiswastoAuroreDupinthegospelaccordingtoRousseau。Thewholeofherpsychologyistobefoundhere。

Shewasanexceptionalbeingundoubtedly；butinordertobeagenialexceptiononemusthavewithinoneself，andthenpersonifywithgreatintensityalltheinspirationswhich，atacertainmoment，aredispersedintheatmosphere。EversincethegreatagitationwhichhadshakenthemoralworldbyRousseau’spreaching，therehadbeenvariousvaguecurrentsandawholecrowdofconfusedaspirationsfloatingabout。Itwasthisenormouswavethatenteredafemininesoul。

UnconsciouslyAuroreDupinwelcomedthenewideal，anditwasthisidealwhichwastooperatewithinher。Thequestionwas，whatwouldshedowithit，inpresenceoflifewithallitseverydayandsocialrealities。Thisquestionistheobjectofourstudy。

Inthesolutionofitliestheinterest，thedramaandthelessonofGeorgeSand’sdestiny。

II

BARONNEDUDEVANTMARRIAGEANDFREEDOM——THEARRIVALINPARIS——

JULESSANDEAU

WemustnowendeavourtodiscoverwhatthefutureGeorgeSand’sexperiencesofmarriagewere，andtheresultoftheseexperiencesontheformationofherideas。

"Youwillloseyourbestfriendinme，"werethelastwordsofthegrandmothertohergranddaughteronherdeath—bed。Theoldladyspoketruly，andAurorewasverysoontoprovethis。Byaclauseinherwill，MadameDupindeFrancueillefttheguardianshipofAuroretoacousin，RenedeVilleneuve。Itwasscarcelylikely，though，thatSophie—Victoireshouldconsenttoherownrightsbeingfrustratedbythisillegalclause，particularlyasthismanbelongedtotheworldofthe"oldCountesses。"ShetookherdaughterwithhertoParis。Unfortunatelyforher，Aurore’seyeswerenowopen，andshewasculturedenoughtohavebeeninentiresympathywithherexquisitegrandmother。Itwasnolongerpossibleforhertohavetheoldpassionateaffectionandindulgenceforhermother，especiallyasshefeltthatshehadhithertobeendesertedbyher。

Shesawhermothernowjustasshewas，alightwomanbelongingtothepeople，awomanwhocouldnotresignherselftogrowingold。

IfonlySophie—Victoirehadbeenofatranquildisposition！

Shewasmostrestless，onthecontrary，wantingtochangeherabodeandchangeherrestauranteveryday。Shewouldquarrelwithpeopleoneday，makeitupthenext；wearadifferent—shapedhateveryday，andchangethecolourofherhaircontinually。

Shewasalwaysinastateofagitation。Shelovedpolicenewsandthrillingstories；readthe_SherlockHolmes_ofthosedaysuntilthemiddleofthenight。Shedreamedofsuchstories，andthefollowingdaywentonlivinginanatmosphereofcrime。

Whenshehadanattackofindigestion，shealwaysimaginedthatshehadbeenpoisoned。Whenavisitorarrived，shethoughtitmustbeaburglar。ShewasmostsarcasticaboutAurore’s"fineeducation"

andherliteraryaspirations。Herhatredofthedeadgrandmotherwasasstrongasever。Shewasconstantlyinsultinghermemory，andinherfitsofangersaidunheard—ofthings。Aurore’ssilencewasheronlyreplytothesestorms，andthisexasperatedhermother。

Shedeclaredthatshewouldcorrectherdaughter’s"slyways。"

Aurorebegantowonderwithterrorwhetherhermother’smindwerenotbeginningtogiveway。Thesituationfinallybecameintolerable。

Sophie—Victoiretookherdaughtertospendtwoorthreedayswithsomefriendsofhers，andthenleftherthere。TheylivedinthecountryatPlessis—Picard，nearMelun。Aurorewasdelightedtofindavastparkwiththicketsinwhichtherewereroebucksboundingabout。

Shelovedthedeepgladesandthewaterwiththegreenreflectionsofoldwillowtrees。MonsieurJamesDuplessisandhiswife，Angele，wereexcellentpeople，andtheyadoptedAuroreforthetimebeing。

Theyalreadyhadfivedaughters，sothatonemoredidnotmakemuchdifference。Theyfrequentedafewfamiliesintheneighbourhood，andtherewasplentyofgaietyamongtheyoungpeople。TheDuplessistookAuroresometimestoParisandtothetheatre。

"Oneevening，"wearetoldinthe_Histoiredemavie_，"wewerehavingsomeicesatTortoni’safterthetheatre，whensuddenlymymotherAngelesaidtoherhusband，`Why，there’sCasimir！’Ayoungman，slenderandratherelegant，withagayexpressionandamilitarylook，cameandshookhands，andansweredallthequestionshewasaskedabouthisfather，ColonelDudevant，whowasevidentlyverymuchrespectedandlovedbythefamily。"

Thiswasthefirstmeeting，thefirstappearanceofCasimirinthestory，andthiswashowheenteredintothelifeofAurore。

HewasinvitedtoPlessis，hejoinedtheyoungpeoplegood—humouredlyintheirgames，wasfriendlywithAurore，and，withoutposingasasuitor，askedforherhandinmarriage。Therewasnoreasonforhertorefusehim。Hewastwenty—sevenyearsofage，hadservedtwoyearsinthearmy，andhadstudiedlawinParis。Hewasanaturalson，ofcourse，buthehadbeenrecognizedbyhisfather，ColonelDudevant。

TheDudevantfamilywasgreatlyrespected。Theyhada_chateau_

atGuilleryinGascony。Casimirhadbeenwellbroughtupandhadgoodmanners。Auroremightaswellmarryhimasanyotheryoungman。

Itwouldevenbepreferabletomarryhimratherthananotheryoungman。

Hewasalreadyherfriend，andhewouldthenbeherhusband。

Thatwouldnotmakemuchdifference。

Themarriagealmostfellthrough，thankstoSophie—Victoire。

ShedidnotconsiderCasimirgood—lookingenough。Shewasnotthinkingofherdaughter，butofherself。Shehadmadeuphermindtohaveahandsomeson—in—lawwithwhomshecouldgoout。

Shelikedhandsomemen，andparticularlymilitarymen。

Finallysheconsentedtothemarriage，but，afortnightbeforetheceremony，shearrivedatPlessis，likeaveritablethunderbolt。

Anextraordinaryideahadoccurredtoher。ShevowedthatshehaddiscoveredthatCasimirhadbeenawaiterata_cafe_。

Shehadnodoubtdreamtthis，butsheheldtohertext，andwasindignantattheideaofherdaughtermarryingawaiter！……

ThingshadarrivedatthiscrisiswhenCasimir’smother，MadameDudevant，whohadallthemannersofa_grandedame_，decidedtopaySophie—Victoireanofficialvisit。Thelatterwasgreatlyflattered，forshelikedplentyofattentionpaidtoher。

ItwasinthiswaythatAuroreDupinbecameBaronneDudevant。

Shewasjusteighteenyearsofage。Itisinterestingtoreadherdescriptionofherselfatthistime。Inher_VoyageenAuvergne_，whichwasherfirstwriting，dated1827，shetracesthefollowingportrait，whichcertainlyisnotexaggerated。

"WhenIwassixteen，"shesays，"andlefttheconvent，everyonecouldseethatIwasaprettygirl。Iwasfresh—looking，thoughdark。

Iwaslikethosewildflowerswhichgrowwithoutanyartorculture，butwithgay，livelycolouring。Ihadplentyofhair，whichwasalmostblack。Onlookingatmyselfintheglass，though，IcantruthfullysaythatIwasnotverywellpleasedwithmyself。

Iwasdark，myfeatureswerewellcut，butnotfinished。Peoplesaidthatitwastheexpressionofmyfacethatmadeitinteresting。

Ithinkthiswastrue。Iwasgaybutdreamy，andmymostnaturalexpressionwasameditativeone。Peoplesaid，too，thatinthisabsent—mindedexpressiontherewasafixedlookwhichresembledthatoftheserpentwhenfascinatinghisprey。That，atanyrate，wasthefar—fetchedcomparisonofmyprovincialadorers。"

Theywerenotveryfarwrong，theseprovincialadorers。TheportraitsofAuroreatthisdateshowusacharmingfaceofayounggirl，asfresh—lookingasachild。Shehasratherlongfeatures，withadelicately—shapedchin。Sheisnotexactlypretty，butfascinating，withthosegreatdarkeyes，whichwereherprominentfeature，eyeswhich，whenfixedonanyone，tookcompletepossessionofthem——dreamy，passionateeyes，sombrebecausethesoulreflectedinthemhadprofounddepths。

Itisdifficulttodefinethatsoul，foritwassocomplex。

Tojudgebyappearances，itwasaverypeacefulsoul，andperhaps，too，itwasinrealitypeaceful。GeorgeSand，whoknewherselfthoroughly，frequentlyspokeofherlazinessandofherapathy，traitspeculiartothenativesofBerry。Superficialobserverslookednofurther，andhermotherusedtocallher"St。Tranquillity。"

Thenuns，though，ofherconventhadmoreperspicacity。Theysaid，whenspeakingofher："Stillwatersrundeep。"Underthesmoothsurfacetheyfanciedthatstormsweregathering。Aurorehadwithinhersomethingofhermotherandofhergrandmother，andtheiroppositenatureswereblendedinher。ShehadthecalmnessofMarie—Aurore，butshealsohadtheimpetuousnessofSophie—Victoire，andundoubtedly，too，somethingofthefreeandeasygoodhumourofherfather，thebreak—neckyoungofficer。ItcertainlyisnotsurprisingtofindaloveofadventureinadescendantofMauricedeSaxe。

Besidealltheseinnercontrasts，theobserverwasparticularlystruckbyhersuddenchangesofhumour，bythewayinwhich，afterafitofmelancholysadness，shesuddenlygavewaytothemostexuberantgaiety，followedbylongfitsofdepressionandnervousexhaustion。

Personally，Idonotbelievemuchintheinfluenceofthephysicaloverthemoralnature，butIamfullyconvincedoftheactionofthemoraloverthephysicalnature。Incertaincasesandinpresenceofextremelyaccentuatedconditions，physiologicalexplanationsmustbetakenintoaccount。Allthesefitsofmelancholyandweeping，thisprostration，thesehighspiritsandthelongwalks，inordertosoberdown，denotetheexigenciesofanabnormaltemperament。

Whenoncethecrisiswaspassed，itmustnotbesupposedthat，aswithmanyotherpeople，nothingremainedofitall。Thiswasbynomeansthecase，asinanaturesoextraordinarilyorganizedforstoringupsensationsnothingwaslost，nothingevaporated，andeverythingincreased。Thestillwaterseemedtobeslumbering。

Itsviolence，thoughheldincheck，wasincreasinginforce，andwhenonceletloose，itwouldcarryallbeforeit。

SuchwasthewomanwhomCasimirDudevantwastomarry。

Thefascinationwasgreat；thehonourrathertobefeared，foralldependedonhisskillinguidingthispowerfulenergy。

Thequestioniswhetherhelovedher。Ithasbeensaidthatitwasamarriageofinterest，asAurore’sfortuneamountedtotwentythousandpounds，andhewasbynomeansrich。Thismayhavebeenso，butthereisnoreasonwhymoneyshoulddestroyone’ssentiments，andthefactthatAurorehadmoneywasnotlikelytopreventCasimirfromappreciatingthecharmsofaprettygirl。

Itseems，therefore，veryprobablethathelovedhisyoungwife，atanyrateasmuchasthisCasimirwascapableoflovinghiswife。

Thenextquestioniswhethershelovedhim。Ithasbeensaidthatshedid，simplybecauseshedeclaredthatshedidnot。

When，lateron，afterherseparation，shespokeofhermarriage，allherlatergrievanceswereprobablyinhermind。Thereareherearlierletters，though，whichsomepeopleconsideraproofthatshecaredforCasimir，andtherearealsoafewwordsjotteddowninhernotebook。Whenherhusbandwasabsent，shewasanxiousabouthimandfearedthathehadmetwithanaccident。Itwouldbestrangeindeedifagirlofeighteendidnotfeelsomeaffectionforthemanwhohadbeenthefirsttomakelovetoher，amanwhomshehadmarriedofherownfree—will。Itisrareforawomantofeelnokindofattachmentforherhusband，butisthatattachmentlove？

Whenayoungwifecomplainsofherhusband，wehearinherreproachestheprotestofheroffendeddignity，ofherhumbledpride。

Whenawomanlovesherhusband，though，shedoesnotreproachhim，guiltythoughhemaybe，withhavinghumiliatedandwoundedher。

Whatshehasagainsthimthen，isthathehasbrokenherheartbyhislackofloveforher。Thisnoteandthisaccentcanneverbemistaken，andneveroncedowefinditwithAurore。

Wemaythereforeconcludethatshehadneverlovedherhusband。

Casimirdidnotknowhowtowinheraffection。Hedidnotevenrealizethatheneededtowinit。Hewasverymuchlikeallmen。

Theideaneveroccurstothemthat，whenoncetheyaremarried，theyhavetowintheirwife。

Hewasverymuchlikeallmen……ThatisthemostfaithfulportraitthatcanbetracedofCasimiratthisepoch。

Hehadnotasyettheviceswhichdevelopedinhimlateron。

Hehadnothingtodistinguishhimfromtheaverageman。Hewasselfish，withoutbeingdisagreeable，ratheridle，ratherincapable，rathervainandratherfoolish。Hewasjustanordinaryman。

Thewifehehadmarried，though，wasnotanordinarywoman。

Thatwastheirmisfortune。AsEmileFaguethasverywittilyputit，"MonsieurDudevant，aboutwhomshecomplainedsomuch，seemstohavehadnootherfaultthanthatofbeingmerelyanordinaryman，which，ofcourse，isunendurabletoasuperiorwoman。

Thesituationwasperhapsequallyunendurablefortheman。"Thisisquiteright，forCasimirwasverysoonconsiderablydisconcerted。

Hewasincapableofunderstandingherpsychology，and，asitseemedimpossibletohimthatawomanwasnothisinferior，hecametothelogicalconclusionthathiswifewas"idiotic。"

Thiswaspreciselyhisexpression，andateveryopportunityheendeavouredtocrushherbyhisownsuperiority。Allthisseemstothrowsomelightonhischaracterandalsoonthesituation。

HerewasamanwhohadmarriedthefutureGeorgeSand，andhecomplained，inallgoodfaith，thathiswifewas"idiotic"！

Certainly，oncomparingthe_Correspondance_withthe_Histoiredemavie_，thedifferenceoftoneismoststriking。ThelettersinwhichBaronneDudevanttells，daybyday，ofherhomelifearetooenthusiasticforthelettersofanunhappywife。

TherearereceptionsatNohant，livelydinners，singinganddancing。

Allthisis，atanyrate，thesurface，butgraduallythemisunderstandingsaremorepronounced，andthegulfwidens。

Theremayhavebeenamisunderstandingattheverybeginningoftheirmarriedlife，andAuroremayhavehadasurpriseofthenatureoftheonetowhichJanedeSimeroseconfessesin_L’Amidesfemmes_。

Inanunpublishedletterwrittenmuchlateron，intheyear1843，fromGeorgeSandtoherhalf—brotherHippolyteChatironontheoccasionofhisdaughter’sengagement，thefollowinglinesoccur：

"Seethatyourson—in—lawisnotbrutaltoyourdaughterthefirstnightoftheirmarriage……Menhavenoideathatthisamusementoftheirsisamartyrdomforus。Tellhimtosacrificehisownpleasurealittle，andtowaituntilhehastaughthiswifegraduallytounderstandthingsandtobewilling。Thereisnothingsofrightfulasthehorror，thesufferingandthedisgustofapoorgirlwhoknowsnothingandwhoissuddenlyviolatedbyabrute。

Webringgirlsupasmuchaspossiblelikesaints，andthenwehandthemoverlikefillies。Ifyourson—in—lawisanintelligentmanandifhereallylovesyourdaughter，hewillunderstandhis_role_，andwillnottakeitamissthatyoushouldspeaktohimbeforehand。"[2]

[2]CommunicatedbyM。S。Rocheblave。

IsGeorgeSandrecallinghereanyhiddenandpainfulmemories？

Casimirhad，atbottom，acertainbrutality，which，lateron，wasveryevident。Thequestioniswhetherhehadshownproofsofitatatimewhenitwouldhavebeenwisertohaverefrained。

Howeverthatmaybe，thefundamentaldisagreementoftheirnatureswasnotlonginmakingitselffeltbetweenthehusbandandwife。

Hewasmatter—of—fact，andshewasromantic；heonlybelievedinfacts，andsheinideas；hewasoftheearth，earthy，whilstsheaspiredtotheimpossible。Theyhadnothingtosaytoeachother，andwhentwopeoplehavenothingtosay，andlovedoesnotfillupthesilences，whattorturethedaily_tete—a—tete_mustbe。

Beforetheyhadbeenmarriedtwoyears，theywereboredtodeath。

TheyblamedNohant，butthefaultwasinthemselves。Nohantseemedunbearabletothem，simplybecausetheyweretherealonewitheachother。

TheywenttoPlessis，perhapsinthehopethattheremembranceofthedaysoftheirengagementmighthavesomeeffectonthem。

Itwasthere，in1824，thatthefamoussceneoftheblowtookplace。

Theywereplayingataregularchildren’sgameinthepark，andthrowingsandateachother。Casimirlosthispatienceandstruckhiswife。Itwascertainlyimpolite，butAuroredidnotappeartohavebeenveryindignantwithherhusbandatthetime。

Hergrievanceswerequiteofanotherkind，lesstangibleandmuchmoredeeplyfelt。

FromPlessistheywenttoOrmesson。Wedonotknowwhattookplacethere，butevidentlysomethingwhichmadeadeepimpressionmorally，somethingveryserious。Afewyearslater，referringtothisstayatOrmesson，GeorgeSandwrotetooneofherfriends：

"Youpassbyawallandcometoahouse……IfyouareallowedtoenteryouwillfindadelightfulEnglishgarden，atthebottomofwhichisaspringofwaterhiddenunderakindofgrotto。

Itisallverystiffanduninteresting，butitisverylonely。

Ispentseveralmonthsthere，anditwastherethatIlostmyhealth，myconfidenceinthefuture，mygaietyandmyhappiness。

ItwastherethatIfelt，andverydeeplytoo，myfirstapproachoftrouble……"[3]

[3]ExtractfromtheunpublishedlettersofGeorgeSandtoDr。EmileRegnault。

TheyleftOrmessonforParis，andParisforNohant，andafterthat，bywayoftryingtoshakeoffthedulnessthatwasoppressingthem，theyhadrecoursetotheclassicalmodeofdiversion——avoyage。

Theysetoffonthe5thofJuly，1825，forthatfamousexpeditiontothePyrenees，whichwastobesoimportantalandmarkinAuroreDudevant’shistory。OncrossingthePyrenees，thescenery，sonewtoher——orratherthememoryofwhichhadbeenlyingdormantinhermindsinceherchildhood——filledherwithwildenthusiasm。

Thisintenseemotioncontributedtodevelopwithinherthatsenseofthepicturesquewhich，lateron，wastoaddsoconsiderablytohertalentasawriter。Shehadhithertobeenlivinginthecountryofplains，theIle—de—FranceandBerry。Thecontrastmadeherrealizeallthebeautiesofnature，and，onherreturn，sheprobablyunderstoodherownfamiliarscenery，andenjoyeditallthemore。

Shehadhithertoappreciateditvaguely。LamartinelearnttolovetheseveresceneryofMillybetteronreturningtoitafterthesoftnessofItaly。

ThePyreneesserved，too，forBaronneDudevantasthesettingforanepisodewhichwasuniqueinhersentimentallife。

Inthe_Histoiredemavie_thereisanenigmaticalpageinwhichGeorgeSandhasintentionallymeasuredandvelledeveryexpression。

Shespeaksofhermoralsolitude，which，atthattime，wasprofoundandabsolute，andsheadds："Itwouldhavebeenmortaltoatendermindandtoagirlintheflowerofheryouth，ifithadnotbeenfilledwithadreamwhichhadtakentheimportanceofagreatpassion，notinmylife，asIhadsacrificedmylifetoduty，butinmythoughts。

IwasincontinualcorrespondencewithanabsentpersontowhomI

toldallmythoughts，allmydreams，whoknewallmyhumblevirtues，andwhoheardallmyplatonicenthusiasm。Thispersonwasexcellentinreality，butIattributedtohimmorethanalltheperfectionspossibletohumannature。Ionlysawthismanforafewdays，andsometimesonlyforafewhours，inthecourseofayear。Hewasasromantic，inhisintercoursewithme，asIwas。Consequentlyhedidnotcausemeanyscruples，eitherofreligionorofconscience。

Thismanwasthestayandconsolationofmyexile，asregardstheworldofreality。"Itwasthisdream，asintenseasanypassion，thatwemuststudyhere。Wemustmaketheacquaintanceofthisexcellentandromanticman。

AureliendeSezewasayoungmagistrate，afewyearsolderthanAurore。

Hewastwenty—sixyearsofageandshewastwenty—one。Hewasthegreat—nephewofthecounselwhopleadedforLouisXVI。Therewas，therefore，inhisfamilyatraditionofmoralnobility，andtheyoungmanhadinheritedthis。HehadmetAuroreatBordeauxandagainatCauterets。TheyhadvisitedthegrottoesofLourdestogether。

Aurelienhadappreciatedtheyoungwife’scharm，althoughshehadnotattemptedtoattracthisattention，asshewasnotcoquettish。

Sheappreciatedinhim——allthatwassolackinginCasimir——

cultureofmind，seriousnessofcharacter，discreetmannerswhichpeopletookatfirstforcoldness，andasomewhatdignifiedelegance。

Hewasscrupulouslyhonest，amagistrateoftheoldschool，sureofhisprinciplesandmasterofhimself。Itwas，probably，justthatwhichappealedtotheyoungwife，whowasatruewomanandwhohadalwayswishedtobedominated。WhentheymetagainatBreda，theyhadanexplanation。Thiswasthe"violentgrief"

ofwhichGeorgeSandspeaks。Shewasconsoledbyafriend，ZoeLeroy，whofoundawayofcalmingthisstormysoul。Shecamethroughthiscrisiscrushedwithemotionandfatigue，butcalmandjoyful。

Theyhadvowedtoloveeachother，buttoremainwithoutreproach，andtheirvowwasfaithfullykept。

Aurore，therefore，hadnothingwithwhichtoreproachherself，butwithherinnateneedofbeingfrank，sheconsidereditherdutytowritealettertoherhusband，informinghimofeverything。

ThiswasthefamousletterofNovember8，1825。Lateron，in1836，whenhercaseforseparationfromherhusbandwasbeingheard，afewfragmentsofitwerereadbyherhusband’sadvocatewiththeideaofincriminatingher。Bywayofreplytothis，GeorgeSand’sadvocatereadtheentireletterinallitseloquenceandgenerosity。

Itwasgreetedbyburstsofapplausefromtheaudience。

Allthisisverysatisfactory。ItisexactlythesituationofthePrincessofClevesinMadamedeLafayette’snovel。ThePrincessofClevesacknowledgestoherhusbandtheloveshecannothelpfeelingforMonsieurdeNemours，andasksforhishelpandadviceashernaturalprotector。Thisfineproceedingisusuallyadmired，althoughitcostthelifeofthePrinceofCleves，whodiedbroken—hearted。Personally，Iadmireittoo，althoughattimesI

wonderwhetherweoughtnotrathertoseeinitanunconscioussuggestionofperversity。Thisconfessionoflovetothepersonwhoisbeing，asitwere，robbedofthatlove，isinitselfakindofsecretpleasure。Byspeakingofthelove，itbecomesmorereal，webringitouttolightinsteadoflettingitdieawayinthosehiddendepthswithinus，inwhichsomanyofthevaguesentimentswhichwehavenotcaredtodefine，eventoourselves，dieaway。

Manywomenhavepreferredthismoresilentway，inwhichtheyalonehavebeenthesufferers。Butsuchwomenarenottheheroinesofnovels。

Noonehasappreciatedtheirsacrifice，andtheythemselvescouldscarcelytellallthatithascostthem。

AureliendeSezehadtakenuponhimselfthe_role_ofconfidanttothissoulthathehadallottedtohimself。Hetookhis_role_

veryseriously，aswashiscustominallthings。Hebecametheyoungwife’sdirectorinallmattersofconscience。Theletterswhichhewrotetoherhavebeenpreserved，andweknowthembytheextractsandtheanalysisthatMonsieurRocheblavehasgivenusandbyhisincisivecommentariesofthem。[4]Theyarelettersofguidance，spiritualletters。Thelaicconfessorendeavours，beforeallthings，tocalmtheimpatienceofthissoulwhichismoreandmoreardentandmoreandmoretroubledeveryday。Hebattleswithherabouthermaniaofphilosophizing，herwishtosifteverythingandtogettothebottomofeverything。Stronginhisowncalmness，hekeptrepeatingtoherinahundreddifferentwaysthewords：

"Becalm！"Theadvicewasgood；theonlydifficultywasthefollowingoftheadvice。

[4]"GeorgeSandavantGeorgeSand，"byS。Rocheblave（_RevuedeParis_，December15，1894）。

Graduallytheprofessorlosthisholdonhispupil，foritseemsasthoughAurorewerethefirsttotire。Aurelienfinallybegantodoubttheefficacyofhispreaching。Theusualfateofsentimentsoutsidethecommonorderofthingsisthattheylastthelengthoftimethatacrisisofenthusiasmlasts。Thebestthingthatcanhappenthenisthattheirnatureshouldnotchange，thattheyshouldnotdeteriorate，asissooftenthecase。Whentheyremainintacttotheend，theyleavebehindthem，inthesoul，atrailoflight，atrailofcold，purelight。

Thedeclineofthisplatonic_liaison_withAureliendeSezedatesfrom1828。SomegraveeventsweretakingplaceatNohantaboutthistime。ForthelastfewyearsCasimirhadfallenintothevicesofcertaincountrysquires，orso—calledgentlemenfarmers。

Hehadtakentodrink，incompanywithHippolyteChatiron，anditseemsthattheintoxicationpeculiartothenativesofBerrytakesaheavyandnotagayform。Hehadalsotakentootherbadhabits，awayfromhomeatfirst，andlateronundertheconjugalroof。

Hewasparticularlypartialtothemaid—servants，and，thedayfollowingthebirthofherdaughter，Solange，Aurorehadanunpleasantsurprisewithregardtoherhusband。Fromthatdayforth，whathadhithertobeenonlyavaguewishonherpartbecameafixedideawithher，andshebegantoformplans。Acertainincidentservedasapretext。

Whenputtingsomepapersinorder，Aurorecameuponherhusband’swill。

Itwasamerediatribe，inwhichthefuture"deceased"gaveutterancetoallhispastgrievancesagainsthis_idiotic_wife。

Hermindwasmadeupirrevocablyfromthismoment。Shewouldhaveherfreedomagain；shewouldgotoParisandspendthreemonthsoutofsixthere。ShehadayoungtutorfromthesouthofFrance，namedBoucoiran，educatingherchildren。ThisBoucoiranneededtobetakentotaskconstantly，andBaronneDudevantdidnotsparehim。[5]

[5]AninstanceofherdispositionforlecturingwillbeseeninthefollowingcuriouslettersentbyGeorgeSandtoherfriendandneighbour，AdolpheDuplomb。Thisletterhasneverbeenpublishedbefore，andweoweourthanksforittoMonsieurCharlesDuplomb。

_Nohant，July_23，1830。

"Areyousoverymuchafraidofme，mypoorHydrogene？Youexpectagoodlectureandyouwillnotexpectinvain。Havepatience，though。Beforegivingyouthedressingyoudeserve，IwanttotellyouthatIhavenotforgottenyou，andthatIwasveryvexedonreturningfromParis，tofindmygreatsimpletonofasongone。

IamsousedtoseeingyoursolemnfacethatIquitemissit。

Youhaveagreatmanyfaults，butafterall，youareagoodsort，andintimeyouwillgetreasonable。Trytorememberoccasionally，mydearPlombeus，thatyouhavefriends。IfIwereyouronlyfriend，thatwouldbeagreatdeal，asIamtobedependedon，andamalwaysatmypostasafriend，althoughImaynotbeverytender。

Iamnotverypoliteeither，asIspeakthetruthplainly。

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