Sadnessorgladness，itallcomestomethroughyou。ThehopeofsuccessalwayscarriesmebacktothedayfollowingthatoneonwhichIsawyouforthefirsttime，whenmylifebecameonewithyoursastheearthturnstothelight。/Qualpianto/aretheseelevenyears，forthisisthe26thofDecember，theanniversaryofmyarrivalatyourvillaontheLakeofGeneva。ForelevenyearshaveIbeencryingtoyou，whileyoushinelikeastarsettoohighformantoreachit。
\"27th。
\"No，dearest，donotgotoMilan；stayatBelgirate。Milanterrifiesme。IdonotlikethatodiousMilanesefashionofchattingattheScalaeveryeveningwithadozenpersons，amongwhomitishardifnoonesayssomethingsweet。Tomesolitudeislikethelumpofamberinwhoseheartaninsectlivesforeverinunchangingbeauty。Thustheheartandsoulofawomanremainspureandunalteredintheformoftheirfirstyouth。Isitthe/Tedeschi/thatyouregret？
\"28th。
\"Isyourstatuenevertobefinished？Ishouldwishtohaveyouinmarble，inpainting，inminiature，ineverypossibleform，tobeguilemyimpatience。IstillamwaitingfortheviewofBelgiratefromthesouth，andthatofthebalcony；theseareallthatInowlack。Iamsoextremelybusythatto-dayIcanonlywriteyounothing——butthatnothingiseverything。WasitnotofnothingthatGodmadetheworld？Thatnothingisaword，God\'sword:Iloveyou!
\"30th。
\"Ah!Ihavereceivedyourjournal。Thanksforyourpunctuality——
Soyoufoundgreatpleasureinseeingallthedetailsofourfirstacquaintancethussetdown？Alas!evenwhiledisguisingthemIwassorelyafraidofoffendingyou。Wehadnostories，anda/Review/
withoutstoriesisabeautywithouthair。Notbeinginventivebynature，andinsheerdespair，Itooktheonlypoetryinmysoul，theonlyadventureinmymemory，andpitcheditinthekeyinwhichitwouldbeartelling；nordidIeverceasetothinkofyouwhilewritingtheonlyliteraryproductionthatwillevercomefrommyheart，Icannotsayfrommypen。DidnotthetransformationofyourfierceSormanointoGinamakeyoulaugh？
\"Youaskaftermyhealth。Well，itisbetterthaninParis。ThoughIworkenormously，thepeacefulnessofthesurroundingshasitseffectonthemind。Whatreallytriesandagesme，dearangel，istheanguishofmortifiedvanity，theperpetualfrictionofParislife，thestruggleofrivalambitions。Thispeaceisabalm。
\"Ifyoucouldimaginethepleasureyourlettergivesme!——thelong，kindletterinwhichyoutellmethemosttrivialincidentsofyourlife。No!youwomencanneverknowtowhatadegreeatrueloverisinterestedinthesetrifles。Itwasanimmensepleasuretoseethepatternofyournewdress。Canitbeamatterofindifferencetometoknowwhatyouwear？Ifyourloftybrowisknit？Ifourwritersamuseyou？IfCanalis\'songsdelightyou？I
readthebooksyouread。Eventoyourboatingonthelakeeveryincidenttouchedme。Yourletterisaslovely，assweetasyoursoul!Oh!flowerofheaven，perpetuallyadored，couldIhavelivedwithoutthosedearletters，whichforelevenyearshaveupheldmeinmydifficultpathlikealight，likeaperfume，likeasteadychant，likesomedivinenourishment，likeeverythingwhichcansootheandcomfortlife。
\"Donotfailme!IfyouknewwhatanxietyIsufferthedaybeforetheyaredue，orthepainaday\'sdelaycangiveme!Issheill？
Is/he/？Iammidwaybetweenhellandparadise。
\"/Omiacaradiva/，keepupyourmusic，exerciseyourvoice，practise。Iamenchantedwiththecoincidenceofemploymentsandhoursbywhich，thoughseparatedbytheAlps，welivebypreciselythesamerule。Thethoughtcharmsmeandgivesmecourage。ThefirsttimeIundertooktopleadhere——Iforgettotellyouthis——I
fanciedthatyouwerelisteningtome，andIsuddenlyfelttheflashofinspirationwhichliftsthepoetabovemankind。IfIamreturnedtotheChamber——oh!youmustcometoParistobepresentatmyfirstappearancethere!
\"30th，Evening。
\"Goodheavens，howIloveyou!Alas!Ihaveintrustedtoomuchtomyloveandmyhopes。Anaccidentwhichshouldsinkthatoverloadedbarkwouldendmylife。ForthreeyearsnowIhavenotseenyou，andatthethoughtofgoingtoBelgiratemyheartbeatssowildlythatIamforcedtostop——Toseeyou，tohearthatgirlishcaressingvoice!Toembraceinmygazethativoryskin，glisteningunderthecandlelight，andthroughwhichIcanreadyournoblemind!Toadmireyourfingersplayingonthekeys，todrinkinyourwholesoulinalook，inthetoneofan/Oime/oran/Alberto/!Towalkbytheblossomingorange-trees，toliveafewmonthsinthebosomofthatgloriousscenery!——Thatislife。Whatfollyitistorunafterpower，aname，fortune!ButatBelgiratethereiseverything；thereispoetry，thereisglory!Ioughttohavemademyselfyoursteward，or，asthatdeartyrantwhomwecannothateproposedtome，livethereas/cavaliereservente/，onlyourpassionwastoofiercetoallowofit。
\"Farewell，myangel，forgivememynextfitofsadnessinconsiderationofthischeerfulmood；ithascomeasabeamoflightfromthetorchofHope，whichhashithertoseemedtomeaWill-o\'-the-wisp。\"
\"Howhelovesher!\"criedRosalie，droppingtheletter，whichseemedheavyinherhand。\"Afterelevenyearstowritelikethis!\"
\"Mariette，\"saidMademoiselledeWattevilletohermaidnextmorning，\"goandpostthisletter。TellJeromethatIknowallIwishtoknow，andthatheistoserveMonsieurAlbertfaithfully。Wewillconfessoursins，youandI，withoutsayingtowhomthelettersbelonged，nortowhomtheyweregoing。Iwasinthewrong；Ialoneamguilty。\"
\"Mademoisellehasbeencrying？\"saidMariette。
\"Yes，butIdonotwantthatmymothershouldperceiveit；givemesomeverycoldwater。\"
InthemidstofthestormsofherpassionRosalieoftenlistenedtothevoiceofconscience。Touchedbythebeautifulfidelityofthesetwohearts，shehadjustsaidherprayers，tellingherselfthattherewasnothinglefttoherbuttoberesigned，andtorespectthehappinessoftwobeingsworthyofeachother，submissivetofate，lookingtoGodforeverything，withoutallowingthemselvesanycriminalactsorwishes。Shefeltabetterwoman，andhadacertainsenseofsatisfactionaftercomingtothisresolution，inspiredbythenaturalrectitudeofyouth。Andshewasconfirmedinitbyagirl\'sidea:Shewassacrificingherselffor/him/。
\"Shedoesnotknowhowtolove，\"thoughtshe。\"Ah!ifitwereI——I
wouldgiveupeverythingtoamanwholovedmeso——Tobeloved!——
When，bywhomshallIbeloved？ThatlittleMonsieurdeSoulasonlylovesmymoney；ifIwerepoor，hewouldnotevenlookatme。\"
\"Rosalie，mychild，whatareyouthinkingabout？Youareworkingbeyondtheoutline，\"saidtheBaronesstoherdaughter，whowasmakingworsted-workslippersfortheBaron。
Rosaliespentthewinterof1834-35tornbysecrettumults；butinthespring，inthemonthofApril，whenshereachedtheageofnineteen，shesometimesthoughtthatitwouldbeafinethingtotriumphoveraDuchessed\'Argaiolo。Insilenceandsolitudetheprospectofthisstrugglehadfannedherpassionandherevilthoughts。Sheencouragedherromanticdaringbymakingplanafterplan。Althoughsuchcharactersareanexception，thereare，unfortunately，toomanyRosaliesintheworld，andthisstorycontainsamoralthatoughttoservethemasawarning。
InthecourseofthiswinterAlbertdeSavarushadquietlymadeconsiderableprogressinBesancon。Confidentofsuccess，henowimpatientlyawaitedthedissolutionoftheChamber。AmongthemenofthemoderatepartyhehadwonthesuffragesofoneofthemakersofBesancon，arichcontractor，whohadverywideinfluence。
WherevertheysettledtheRomanstookimmensepains，andspentenormoussumstohaveanunlimitedsupplyofgoodwaterineverytownoftheirempire。AtBesancontheydrankthewaterfromArcier，ahillatsomeconsiderabledistancefromBesancon。ThetownstandsinahorseshoecircumscribedbytheriverDoubs。Thus，torestoreanaqueductinordertodrinkthesamewaterthattheRomansdrank，inatownwateredbytheDoubs，isoneofthoseabsurditieswhichonlysucceedinacountryplacewherethemostexemplarygravityprevails。
Ifthiswhimcouldbebroughthometotheheartsofthecitizens，itwouldleadtoconsiderableoutlay；andthisexpenditurewouldbenefittheinfluentialcontractor。
AlbertSavarondeSavarusopinedthatthewateroftheriverwasgoodfornothingbuttoflowunderthesuspensionbridge，andthattheonlydrinkablewaterwasthatfromArcier。Articleswereprintedinthe/Review/whichmerelyexpressedtheviewsofthecommercialinterestofBesancon。Thenobilityandthecitizens，themoderatesandthelegitimists，thegovernmentpartyandtheopposition，everybody，inshort，wasagreedthattheymustdrinkthesamewaterastheRomans，andboastofasuspensionbridge。ThequestionoftheArcierwaterwastheorderofthedayatBesancon。AtBesancon——asinthematterofthetworailwaystoVersailles——asforeverystandingabuse——therewereprivateinterestsunconfessedwhichgavevitalforcetothisidea。Thereasonablefolkinoppositiontothisscheme，whowereindeedbutfew，wereregardedasoldwomen。NoonetalkedofanythingbutofSavaron\'stwoprojects。Andthus，aftereighteenmonthsofundergroundlabor，theambitiouslawyerhadsucceededinstirringtoitsdepthsthemoststagnanttowninFrance，themostunyieldingtoforeigninfluence，infindingthelengthofitsfoot，touseavulgarphrase，andexertingapreponderantinfluencewithoutstirringfromhisownroom。Hehadsolvedthesingularproblemofhowtobepowerfulwithoutbeingpopular。
InthecourseofthiswinterhewonsevenlawsuitsforvariouspriestsofBesancon。Atmomentshecouldbreathefreelyatthethoughtofhiscomingtriumph。Thisintensedesire，whichmadehimworksomanyinterestsanddevisesomanysprings，absorbedthelaststrengthofhisterriblyoverstrungsoul。Hisdisinterestednesswaslauded，andhetookhisclients\'feeswithoutcomment。Butthisdisinterestednesswas，intruth，moralusury；hecountedonarewardfargreatertohimthanallthegoldintheworld。
InthemonthofOctober1834hehadbrought，ostensiblytoserveamerchantwhowasindifficulties，withmoneylenthimbyLeopoldHannequin，ahousewhichgavehimaqualificationforelection。Hehadnotseemedtoseekordesirethisadvantageousbargain。
\"Youarereallyaremarkableman，\"saidtheAbbedeGrancey，who，ofcourse，hadwatchedandunderstoodthelawyer。TheVicar-GeneralhadcometointroducetohimaCanonwhoneededhisprofessionaladvice。
\"Youareapriestwhohastakenthewrongturning。\"ThisobservationstruckSavarus。
Rosalie，onherpart，hadmadeuphermind，inherstronggirl\'shead，togetMonsieurdeSavarusintothedrawing-roomandacquaintedwiththesocietyoftheHoteldeRupt。SofarshehadlimitedherdesirestoseeingandhearingAlbert。Shehadcompounded，sotospeak，andacompositionisoftennomorethanatruce。
LesRouxey，theinheritedestateoftheWattevilles，wasworthjusttenthousandfrancsayear；butinotherhandsitwouldhaveyieldedagreatdealmore。TheBaroninhisindifference——forhiswifewastohave，andinfacthad，fortythousandfrancsayear——leftthemanagementoflesRouxeytoasortoffactotum，anoldservantoftheWattevillesnamedModinier。Nevertheless，whenevertheBaronandhiswifewishedtogooutofthetown，theywenttolesRouxey，whichisverypicturesquelysituated。Thechateauandtheparkwere，infact，createdbythefamousWatteville，whoinhisactiveoldagewaspassionatelyattachedtothismagnificentspot。
Betweentwoprecipitoushills——littlepeakswithbaresummitsknownasthegreatandthelittleRouxey——intheheartofaravinewherethetorrentsfromtheheights，withtheDentdeVilardattheirhead，cometumblingtojointhelovelyupperwatersoftheDoubs，Wattevillehadahugedamconstructed，leavingtwocuttingsfortheoverflow。Abovethisdamhemadeabeautifullake，andbelowittwocascades；andthese，unitingafewyardsbelowthefalls，formedalovelylittlerivertoirrigatethebarren，uncultivatedvalley，andthesetwohillsheenclosedinaringfence，andbuilthimselfaretreatonthedam，whichhewidenedtotwoacresbyaccumulatingaboveitallthesoilwhichhadtoberemovedtomakeachannelfortheriverandtheirrigationcanals。
WhentheBarondeWattevillethusobtainedthelakeabovehisdamhewasownerofthetwohills，butnotoftheuppervalleythusflooded，throughwhichtherehadbeenatalltimesaright-of-waytowhereitendsinahorseshoeundertheDentdeVilard。Butthisferociousoldmanwassowidelydreaded，thatsolongashelivednoclaimwasurgedbytheinhabitantsofRiceys，thelittlevillageonthefurthersideoftheDentdeVilard。WhentheBarondied，helefttheslopesofthetwoRouxeyhillsjoinedbyastrongwall，toprotectfrominundationthetwolateralvalleysopeningintothevalleyofRouxey，totherightandleftatthefootoftheDentdeVilard。ThushediedthemasteroftheDentdeVilard。
HisheirsassertedtheirprotectorateofthevillageofRiceys，andsomaintainedtheusurpation。Theoldassassin，theoldrenegade，theoldAbbeWatteville，endedhiscareerbyplantingtreesandmakingafineroadovertheshoulderofoneoftheRouxeyhillstojointhehighroad。Theestatebelongingtothisparkandhousewasextensive，butbadlycultivated；therewerechaletsonbothhillsandneglectedforestsoftimber。Itwasallwildanddeserted，lefttothecareofnature，abandonedtochancegrowths，butfullofsublimeandunexpectedbeauty。YoumaynowimaginelesRouxey。
Itisunnecessarytocomplicatethisstorybyrelatingalltheprodigioustroubleandtheinventivenessstampedwithgenius，bywhichRosalieachievedherendwithoutallowingittobesuspected。ItisenoughtosaythatitwasinobediencetohermotherthatsheleftBesanconinthemonthofMay1835，inanantiquetravelingcarriagedrawnbyapairofsturdyhiredhorses，andaccompaniedherfathertolesRouxey。
Toayounggirllovelurksineverything。Whensherose，themorningafterherarrival，MademoiselledeWattevillesawfromherbedroomwindowthefineexpanseofwater，fromwhichthelightmistsroselikesmoke，andwerecaughtinthefirsandlarches，rollingupandalongthehillstilltheyreachedtheheights，andshegaveacryofadmiration。
\"Theylovedbythelakes!/She/livesbyalake!Alakeiscertainlyfulloflove!\"shethought。
Alakefedbysnowshasopalescentcolorsandatranslucencythatmakesitonehugediamond；butwhenitisshutinlikethatoflesRouxey，betweentwogranitemassescoveredwithpines，whensilencebroodsoveritlikethatoftheSavannasortheSteppes，theneveryonemustexclaimasRosaliedid。
\"Weowethat，\"saidherfather，\"tothenotoriousWatteville。\"
\"Onmyword，\"saidthegirl，\"hedidhisbesttoearnforgiveness。Letusgoinaboattothefurtherend；itwillgiveusanappetiteforbreakfast。\"
TheBaroncalledtwogardenerladswhoknewhowtorow，andtookwithhimhisprimeministerModinier。Thelakewasaboutsixacresinbreadth，insomeplacestenortwelve，andfourhundredinlength。
RosaliesoonfoundherselfattheupperendshutinbytheDentdeVilard，theJungfrauofthatlittleSwitzerland。
\"Hereweare，MonsieurleBaron，\"saidModinier，signingtothegardenerstotieuptheboat；\"willyoucomeandlook？\"
\"Lookatwhat？\"askedRosalie。
\"Oh，nothing!\"exclaimedtheBaron。\"Butyouareasensiblegirl；wehavesomelittlesecretsbetweenus，andImaytellyouwhatrufflesmymind。Somedifficultieshavearisensince1830betweenthevillageauthoritiesofRiceysandme，onaccountofthisveryDentdeVilard，andIwanttosettlethematterwithoutyourmother\'sknowinganythingaboutit，forsheisstubborn；sheiscapableofflingingfireandflamesbroadcast，particularlyifsheshouldhearthattheMayorofRiceys，arepublican，gotupthisactionasasoptohispeople。\"
Rosaliehadpresenceofmindenoughtodisguiseherdelight，soastoworkmoreeffectuallyonherfather。
\"Whataction？\"saidshe。
\"Mademoiselle，thepeopleofRiceys，\"saidModinier，\"havelongenjoyedtherightofgrazingandcuttingfodderontheirsideoftheDentdeVilard。NowMonsieurChantonnit，theMairesince1830，declaresthatthewholeDentbelongstohisdistrict，andmaintainsthatahundredyearsago，ormore，therewasawaythroughourgrounds。Youunderstandthatinthatcaseweshouldnolongerhavethemtoourselves。Thenthisbarbarianwouldendbysaying，whattheoldmeninthevillagesay，thatthegroundoccupiedbythelakewasappropriatedbytheAbbedeWatteville。ThatwouldbetheendoflesRouxey；whatnext？\"
\"Indeed，mychild，betweenourselves，itisthetruth，\"saidMonsieurdeWattevillesimply。\"Thelandisanusurpation，withnotitle-deedbutlapseoftime。And，therefore，toavoidallworry，IshouldwishtocometoafriendlyunderstandingastomyborderlineonthissideoftheDentdeVilard，andIwillthenraiseawall。\"
\"Ifyougivewaytothemunicipality，itwillswallowyouup。YououghttohavethreatenedRiceys。\"
\"ThatisjustwhatItoldthemasterlastevening，\"saidModinier。
\"ButinconfirmationofthatviewIproposedthatheshouldcometoseewhether，onthissideoftheDentorontheother，theremaynotbe，highorlow，sometracesofanenclosure。\"
ForacenturytheDentdeVilardhadbeenusedbybothpartieswithoutcomingtoextremities；itstoodasasortofpartywallbetweenthecommunesofRiceysandlesRouxey，yieldinglittleprofit。Indeed，theobjectindispute，beingcoveredwithsnowforsixmonthsintheyear，wasofanaturetocooltheirardor。Thusitrequiredallthehotblastbywhichtherevolutionof1830inflamedtheadvocatesofthepeople，tostirupthismatter，bywhichMonsieurChantonnit，theMaireofRiceys，hopedtogiveadramaticturntohiscareeronthepeacefulfrontierofSwitzerland，andtoimmortalizehistermofoffice。Chantonnit，ashisnameshows，wasanativeofNeuchatel。
\"Mydearfather，\"saidRosalie，astheygotintotheboatagain，\"I
agreewithModinier。IfyouwishtosecurethejointpossessionoftheDentdeVilard，youmustactwithdecision，andgetalegalopinionwhichwillprotectyouagainstthisenterprisingChantonnit。Whyshouldyoubeafraid？GetthefamouslawyerSavaron——engagehimatonce，lestChantonnitshouldplacetheinterestsofthevillageinhishands。ThemanwhowonthecasefortheChapteragainstthetowncancertainlywinthatofWatteville/versus/Riceys!Besides，\"sheadded，\"lesRouxeywillsomedaybemine——notforalongtimeyet，Itrust——
Well，thendonotleavemewithalawsuitonmyhands。Ilikethisplace，Ishalloftenlivehere，andaddtoitasmuchaspossible。Onthosebanks，\"andshepointedtothefeetofthetwohills，\"IshallcutflowerbedsandmaketheloveliestEnglishgardens。LetusgotoBesanconandbringbackwithustheAbbedeGrancey，MonsieurSavaron，andmymother，ifshecarestocome。Youcanthenmakeupyourmind；
butinyourplaceIshouldhavedonesoalready。YournameisWatteville，andyouareafraidofafight!Ifyoushouldloseyourcase——well，Iwillneverreproachyoubyaword!\"
\"Oh，ifthatisthewayyoutakeit，\"saidtheBaron，\"Iamquiteready；Iwillseethelawyer。\"
\"Besidesalawsuitisreallygreatfun。Itbringssomeinterestintolife，withcomingandgoingandragingoverit。Youwillhaveagreatdealtodobeforeyoucangetholdofthejudges——WedidnotseetheAbbedeGranceyforthreeweeks，hewassobusy!\"
\"ButtheveryexistenceoftheChapterwasinvolved，\"saidMonsieurdeWatteville；\"andthentheArchbishop\'spride，hisconscience，everythingthatmakesupthelifeofthepriesthood，wasatstake。
ThatSavarondoesnotknowwhathedidfortheChapter!Hesavedit!\"
\"Listentome，\"saidhisdaughterinhisear，\"ifyousecureMonsieurdeSavaron，youwillgainyoursuit，won\'tyou？Well，then，letmeadviseyou。YoucannotgetatMonsieurSavaronexceptingthroughMonsieurdeGrancey。Takemywordforit，andletustogethertalktothedearAbbewithoutmymother\'spresenceattheinterview，forI
knowawayofpersuadinghimtobringthelawyertous。\"
\"Itwillbeverydifficulttoavoidmentioningittoyourmother!\"
\"TheAbbedeGranceywillsettlethatafterwards。ButjustmakeupyourmindtopromiseyourvotetoMonsieurSavaronatthenextelection，andyouwillsee!\"
\"Gototheelection!taketheoath？\"criedtheBarondeWatteville。
\"Whatthen!\"saidshe。
\"Andwhatwillyourmothersay？\"
\"Shemayevendesireyoutodoit，\"repliedRosalie，knowingasshedidfromAlbert\'slettertoLeopoldhowdeeplytheVicar-Generalhadpledgedhimself。
Fourdaysafter，theAbbedeGranceycalledveryearlyonemorningonAlbertdeSavarus，havingannouncedhisvisitthedaybefore。TheoldpriesthadcometowinoverthegreatlawyertothehouseoftheWattevilles，aproceedingwhichshowshowmuchtactandsubtletyRosaliemusthaveemployedinanunderhandway。
\"WhatcanIdoforyou，MonsieurleVicaire-General？\"askedSavarus。
TheAbbe，whotoldhisstorywithadmirablefrankness，wascoldlyheardbyAlbert。
\"Monsieurl\'Abbe，\"saidhe，\"itisoutofthequestionthatIshoulddefendtheinterestsoftheWattevilles，andyoushallunderstandwhy。
Mypartinthistownistoremainperfectlyneutral。Iwilldisplaynocolors；Imustremainamysterytilltheeveofmyelection。Now，topleadfortheWattevilleswouldmeannothinginParis，buthere!——
Here，whereeverythingisdiscussed，IshouldbesupposedbyeveryonetobeanallyofyourFaubourgSaint-Germain。\"
\"What!doyousupposethatyoucanremainunknownonthedayoftheelection，whenthecandidatesmustopposeeachother？ItmustthenbecomeknownthatyournameisSavarondeSavarus，thatyouhaveheldtheappointmentofMasterofAppeals，thatyouareamanoftheRestoration!\"
\"Onthedayoftheelection，\"saidSavarus，\"IwillbeallIamexpectedtobe；andIintendtospeakatthepreliminarymeetings。\"
\"IfyouhavethesupportofMonsieurdeWattevilleandhisparty，youwillgetahundredvotesinamass，andfarmoretobetrustedthanthoseonwhichyourely。Itisalwayspossibletoproducedivisionofinterests；convictionsareinseparable。\"
