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as he went away。
When he came into the room； there was the Marquise in her favorite attitude； melancholy expressed in her whole form。 She made no movement when he entered； only raised her eyes and looked full at him； but the glance that she gave him was like a smile。 Mme。 d'Aiglemont's manner meant confidence and sincere friendship； but of love there was no trace。 Charles sat down and found nothing to say。 A sensation for which no language exists troubled him。
〃What is the matter with you？〃 she asked in a softened voice。
〃Nothing。 。 。 。 Yes； I am thinking of something of which； as yet； you have not thought at all。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃Whythe Congress is over。〃
〃Well；〃 she said； 〃and ought you to have been at the Congress？〃
A direct answer would have been the most eloquent and delicate declaration of love； but Charles did not make it。 Before the candid friendship in Mme。 d'Aiglemont's face all the calculations of vanity； the hopes of love； and the diplomatist's doubts died away。 She did not suspect； or she seemed not to suspect； his love for her； and Charles； in utter confusion turning upon himself； was forced to admit that he had said and done nothing which could warrant such a belief on her part。 For M。 de Vandenesse that evening； the Marquise was； as she had always been； simple and friendly； sincere in her sorrow； glad to have a friend； proud to find a nature responsive to her ownnothing more。 It had not entered her mind that a woman could yield twice； she had known lovelove lay bleeding still in the depths of her heart； but she did not imagine that bliss could bring her its rapture twice； for she believed not merely in the intellect； but in the soul； and for her love was no simple attraction； it drew her with all noble attractions。
In a moment Charles became a young man again； enthralled by the splendor of a nature so lofty。 He wished for a fuller initiation into the secret history of a life blighted rather by fate than by her own fault。 Mme。 d'Aiglemont heard him ask the cause of the overwhelming sorrow which had blended all the harmonies of sadness with her beauty； she gave him one glance； but that searching look was like a seal set upon some solemn compact。
〃Ask no more such questions of me；〃 she said。 〃Four years ago； on this very day； the man who loved me； for whom I would have given up everything； even my own self…respect； died； and died to save my name。 That love was still young and pure and full of illusions when it came to an end。 Before I gave way to passionand never was a woman so urged by fateI had been drawn into the mistake that ruins many a girl's life； a marriage with a man whose agreeable manners concealed his emptiness。 Marriage plucked my hopes away one by one。 And now； to…day； I have forfeited happiness through marriage； as well as the happiness styled criminal； and I have known no happiness。 Nothing is left to me。 If I could not die； at least I ought to be faithful to my memories。〃
No tears came with the words。 Her eyes fell； and there was a slight twisting of the fingers interclasped； according to her wont。 It was simply said； but in her voice there was a note of despair； deep as her love seemed to have been； which left Charles without a hope。 The dreadful story of a life told in three sentences； with that twisting of the fingers for all comment； the might of anguish in a fragile woman； the dark depths masked by a fair face； the tears of four years of mourning fascinated Vandenesse； he sat silent and diminished in the presence of her woman's greatness and nobleness； seeing not the physical beauty so exquisite； so perfectly complete； but the soul so great in its power to feel。 He had found； at last； the ideal of his fantastic imaginings； the ideal so vigorously invoked by all who look on life as the raw material of a passion for which many a one seeks ardently； and dies before he has grasped the whole of the dreamed…of treasure。
With those words of hers in his ears； in the presence of her sublime beauty； his own thoughts seemed poor and narrow。 Powerless as he felt himself to find words of his own； simple enough and lofty enough to scale the heights of this exaltation； he took refuge in platitudes as to the destiny of women。
〃Madame； we must either forget our pain； or hollow out a tomb for ourselves。〃
But reason always cuts a poor figure beside sentiment； the one being essentially restricted； like everything that is positive； while the other is infinite。 To set to work to reason where you are required to feel； is the mark of a limited nature。 Vandenesse therefore held his peace； sat awhile with his eyes fixed upon her； then came away。 A prey to novel thoughts which exalted woman for him； he was in something the same position as a painter who has taken the vulgar studio model for a type of womanhood； and suddenly confronts the /Mnemosyne/ of the Musee that noblest and least appreciated of antique statues。
Charles de Vandenesse was deeply in love。 He loved Mme。 d'Aiglemont with the loyalty of youth； with the fervor that communicates such ineffable charm to a first passion； with a simplicity of heart of which a man only recovers some fragments when he loves again at a later day。 Delicious first passion of youth； almost always deliciously savored by the woman who calls it forth； for at the golden prime of thirty； from the poetic summit of a woman's life； she can look out over the whole course of lovebackwards into the past； forwards into the futureand； knowing all the price to be paid for love； enjoys her bliss with the dread of losing it ever present with her。 Her soul is still fair with her waning youth； and passion daily gathers strength from the dismaying prospect of the coming days。
〃This is love；〃 Vandenesse said to himself this time as he left the Marquise； 〃and for my misfortune I love a woman wedded to her memories。 It is hard work to struggle against a dead rival； never present to make blunders and fall out of favor； nothing of him left but his better qualities。 What is it but a sort of high treason against the Ideal to attempt to break the charm of memory； to destroy the hopes that survive a lost lover； precisely because he only awakened longings； and all that is loveliest and most enchanting in love？〃
These sober reflections； due to the discouragement and dread of failure with which love begins in earnest； were the last expiring effort of diplomatic reasoning。 Thenceforward he knew no afterthoughts； he was the plaything of his love； and lost himself in the nothings of that strange inexplicable happiness which is full fed by a chance word； by silence； or a vague hope。 He tried to love Platonically； came daily to breathe the air that she breathed； became almost a part of her house； and went everywhere with her； slave as he was of a tyrannous passion compounded of egoism and devotion of the completest。 Love has its own instinct； finding the way to the heart； as the feeblest insect finds the way to its flower； with a will which nothing can dismay or turn aside。 If feeling is sincere； its destiny is not doubtful。 Let a woman begin to think that her life depends on the sincerity or fervor or earnestness which her lover shall put into his longings； and is there n