the duchesse de langeais-第9节
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nobleness of developing womanhood。 She trusted nothing and no one； yet there were times when she quitted her sceptical attitude for a submissive credulity。
How should any portrait be anything but incomplete of her； in whom the play of swiftly…changing colour made discord only to produce a poetic confusion？ For in her there shone a divine brightness； a radiance of youth that blended all her bewildering characteristics in a certain completeness and unity informed by her charm。 Nothing was feigned。 The passion or semi…passion； the ineffectual high aspirations； the actual pettiness； the coolness of sentiment and warmth of impulse； were all spontaneous and unaffected； and as much the outcome of her own position as of the position of the aristocracy to which she belonged。 She was wholly self…contained； she put herself proudly above the world and beneath the shelter of her name。 There was something of the egoism of Medea in her life； as in the life of the aristocracy that lay a…dying； and would not so much as raise itself or stretch out a hand to any political physician； so well aware of its feebleness； or so conscious that it was already dust； that it refused to touch or be touched。
The Duchesse de Langeais （for that was her name） had been married for about four years when the Restoration was finally consummated； which is to say； in 1816。 By that time the revolution of the Hundred Days had let in the light on the mind of Louis XVIII。 In spite of his surroundings； he comprehended the situation and the age in which he was living； and it was only later； when this Louis XI； without the axe； lay stricken down by disease； that those about him got the upper hand。 The Duchesse de Langeais； a Navarreins by birth； came of a ducal house which had made a point of never marrying below its rank since the reign of Louis XIV。 Every daughter of the house must sooner or later take a tabouret at Court。 So； Antoinette de Navarreins； at the age of eighteen； came out of the profound solitude in which her girlhood had been spent to marry the Duc de Langeais's eldest son。 The two families at that time were living quite out of the world； but after the invasion of France； the return of the Bourbons seemed to every Royalist mind the only possible way of putting an end to the miseries of the war。
The Ducs de Navarreins and de Langeais had been faithful throughout to the exiled Princes； nobly resisting all the temptations of glory under the Empire。 Under the circumstances they naturally followed out the old family policy； and Mlle Antoinette； a beautiful and portionless girl； was married to M。 le Marquis de Langeais only a few months before the death of the Duke his father。
After the return of the Bourbons； the families resumed their rank； offices； and dignity at Court； once more they entered public life； from which hitherto they held aloof； and took their place high on the sunlit summits of the new political world。 In that time of general baseness and sham political conversions； the public conscience was glad to recognise the unstained loyalty of the two houses； and a consistency in political and private life for which all parties involuntarily respected them。 But； unfortunately； as so often happens in a time of transition； the most disinterested persons； the men whose loftiness of view and wise principles would have gained the confidence of the French nation and led them to believe in the generosity of a novel and spirited policythese men； to repeat； were taken out of affairs； and public business was allowed to fall into the hands of others； who found it to their interest to push principles to their extreme consequences by way of proving their devotion。
The families of Langeais and Navarreins remained about the Court； condemned to perform the duties required by Court ceremonial amid the reproaches and sneers of the Liberal party。 They were accused of gorging themselves with riches and honours； and all the while their family estates were no larger than before； and liberal allowances from the civil list were wholly expended in keeping up the state necessary for any European government； even if it be a Republic。
In 1818； M。 le Duc de Langeais commanded a division of the army； and the Duchess held a post about one of the Princesses； in virtue of which she was free to live in Paris and apart from her husband without scandal。 The Duke； moreover； besides his military duties； had a place at Court； to which he came during his term of waiting； leaving his major…general in command。 The Duke and Duchess were leading lives entirely apart； the world none the wiser。 Their marriage of convention shared the fate of nearly all family arrangements of the kind。 Two more antipathetic dispositions could not well have been found； they were brought together； they jarred upon each other； there was soreness on either side； then they were divided once for all。 Then they went their separate ways； with a due regard for appearances。 The Duc de Langeais； by nature as methodical as the Chevalier de Folard himself； gave himself up methodically to his own tastes and amusements； and left his wife at liberty to do as she pleased so soon as he felt sure of her character。 He recognised in her a spirit pre…eminently proud； a cold heart； a profound submissiveness to the usages of the world； and a youthful loyalty。 Under the eyes of great relations； with the light of a prudish and bigoted Court turned full upon the Duchess； his honour was safe。
So the Duke calmly did as the grands seigneurs of the eighteenth century did before him； and left a young wife of two…and…twenty to her own devices。 He had deeply offended that wife； and in her nature there was one appalling characteristicshe would never forgive an offence when woman's vanity and self…love； with all that was best in her nature perhaps； had been slighted； wounded in secret。 Insult and injury in the face of the world a woman loves to forget； there is a way open to her of showing herself great； she is a woman in her forgiveness； but a secret offence women never pardon； for secret baseness； as for hidden virtues and hidden love； they have no kindness
This was Mme la Duchesse de Langeais's real position； unknown to the world。 She herself did not reflect upon it。 It was the time of the rejoicings over the Duc de Berri's marriage。 The Court and the Faubourg roused itself from its listlessness and reserve。
This was the real beginning of that unheard…of splendour which the Government of the Restoration carried too far。 At that time the Duchess； whether for reasons of her own； or from vanity； never appeared in public without a following of women equally distinguished by name and fortune。 As queen of fashion she had her dames d'atours； her ladies； who modelled their manner and their wit on hers。 They had been cleverly chosen。 None of her satellites belonged to the inmost Court circle； nor to the highest level of the Faubourg Saint…Germain； but they had set their minds upon admission to those inner sanctuaries。 Being as yet simple dominations； they wished to rise to the neighbourhood of the throne； and mingle with the seraphic powers in the high sphere known as le petit chateau。 Thus surrounded； the Duchess's position was stronger and more commanding and secure。 Her 〃ladies〃 defended her character and helped her to play her detestable part of a woman of fashion。 She could laugh at men at her ease； play with fire； receive the homage on which the feminine nature is nourished； and remain mistress of herself。
At Paris； in the highest society of all； a woman is a woman still； she lives on incense； adulation； and honours。 No beauty； however undoubted； no face； however fair； is anything without admiration。 Flattery and a lover are proofs of power。 And what is power without recognition？ Nothing。 If the prettiest of women were left alone in a corner of a drawing…room； she would droop。 Put her in the very centre and summit of social grandeur； she will at once aspire to reign over all heartsoften because it is out of her power to be the happy queen of one。 Dress and manner and coquetry are all meant to please one of the poorest creatures extantthe brainless coxcomb； whose handsome face is his sole merit； it was for such as these that women threw themselves away。 The gilded wooden idols of the Restoration； for they were neither more nor less； had neither the antecedents of the petits maitres of the time of the Fronde； nor the rough sterling worth of Napoleon's heroes； not the wit and fine manners of their grandsires； but something of all three they meant to be without any trouble to themselves。 Brave they were； like all young Frenchmen； ability they possessed； no doubt； if they had had a chance of proving it； but their places were filled up by the old worn…out men； who kept them in leading strings。 It was a day of small things； a cold prosaic era。 Perhaps it takes a long time for a Restoration to become a Monarchy。
For the past eighteen months the Duchesse de Langeais had been leading this empty life； filled with balls and subsequent visits； objectless triumphs； and the transient loves that spring up and die in an evening's space。 All eyes were turned on her when she entered a room； she reaped h
