herfather，whomshemadeveryhappy，whonolongercomplainedofhishealth，andwhowasgrowingfat，accompaniedherinherexpeditions。
AstheBaroness\'name-daygrewnear——hernamewasLouise——theVicar-
GeneralcameonedaytolesRouxey，deputed，nodoubt，byMadamedeWattevilleandMonsieurdeSoulas，tonegotiateapeacebetweenmotheranddaughter。
\"ThatlittleRosaliehasaheadonhershoulders，\"saidthefolkofBesancon。
AfterhandsomelypayinguptheninetythousandfrancsspentonlesRouxey，theBaronessallowedherhusbandathousandfrancsamonthtoliveon；shewouldnotputherselfinthewrong。ThefatheranddaughterwereperfectlywillingtoreturntoBesanconforthe15thofAugust，andtoremaintheretilltheendofthemonth。
When，afterdinner，theVicar-GeneraltookMademoiselledeWattevilleapart，toopenthequestionofthemarriage，byexplainingtoherthatitwasvaintothinkanymoreofAlbert，ofwhomtheyhadhadnonewsforayearpast，hewasstoppedatoncebyasignfromRosalie。ThestrangegirltookMonsieurdeGranceybythearm，andledhimtoaseatunderaclumpofrhododendrons，whencetherewasaviewofthelake。
\"Listen，dearAbbe，\"saidshe。\"YouwhomIloveasmuchasmyfather，foryouhadanaffectionformyAlbert，ImustatlastconfessthatI
committedcrimestobecomehiswife，andhemustbemyhusband——Here；
readthis。\"
Sheheldouttohimanumberofthe/Gazette/whichshehadinherapronpocket，pointingoutthefollowingparagraphunderthedateofFlorence，May25th:——
\"TheweddingofMonsieurleDucdeRhetore，eldestsonoftheDucdeChaulieu，theformerAmbassador，toMadamelaDuchessed\'Argaiolo，/nee/PrincessSoderini，wassolemnizedwithgreatsplendor。NumerousentertainmentsgiveninhonorofthemarriagearemakingFlorencegay。TheDuchess\'fortuneisoneofthefinestinItaly，forthelateDukelefthereverything。
\"Thewomanhelovedismarried，\"saidshe。\"Idividedthem。\"
\"You？How？\"askedtheAbbe。
Rosaliewasabouttoreply，whenshewasinterruptedbyaloudcryfromtwoofthegardeners，followingonthesoundofabodyfallingintothewater；shestarted，andranoffscreaming，\"Oh!father!\"——TheBaronhaddisappeared。
Intryingtoreachapieceofgraniteonwhichhefanciedhesawtheimpressionofashell，acircumstancewhichwouldhavecontradictedsomesystemofgeology，MonsieurdeWattevillehadgonedowntheslope，losthisbalance，andslippedintothelake，which，ofcourse，wasdeepestcloseundertheroadway。ThemenhadthegreatestdifficultyinenablingtheBarontocatchholdofapolepusheddownattheplacewherethewaterwasbubbling，butatlasttheypulledhimout，coveredwithmud，inwhichhehadsunk；hewasgettingdeeperanddeeperin，bydintofstruggling。MonsieurdeWattevillehaddinedheavily，digestionwasinprogress，andwasthuschecked。
Whenhehadbeenundressed，washed，andputtobed，hewasinsuchevidentdangerthattwoservantsatoncesetoutonhorseback:onetoridetoBesancon，andtheothertofetchthenearestdoctorandsurgeon。WhenMadamedeWattevillearrived，eighthourslater，withthefirstmedicalaidfromBesancon，theyfoundMonsieurdeWattevillepastallhope，inspiteoftheintelligenttreatmentoftheRouxeydoctor。Thefrighthadproducedseriouseffusiononthebrain，andtheshocktothedigestionwashelpingtokillthepoorman。
Thisdeath，whichwouldneverhavehappened，saidMadamedeWatteville，ifherhusbandhadstayedatBesancon，wasascribedbyhertoherdaughter\'sobstinacy。ShetookanaversionforRosalie，abandoningherselftogriefandregretsthatwereevidentlyexaggerated。ShespokeoftheBaronas\"herdearlamb!\"
ThelastoftheWattevilleswasburiedonanislandinthelakeatlesRouxey，wheretheBaronesshadalittleGothicmonumenterectedofwhitemarble，likethatcalledthetombofHeloiseatPere-Lachaise。
AmonthafterthiscatastrophethemotheranddaughterhadsettledintheHoteldeRupt，wheretheylivedinsavagesilence。Rosaliewassufferingfromrealsorrow，whichhadnovisibleoutlet；sheaccusedherselfofherfather\'sdeath，andshefearedanotherdisaster，muchgreaterinhereyes，andverycertainlyherownwork；neitherGirardettheattorneynortheAbbedeGranceycouldobtainanyinformationconcerningAlbert。Thissilencewasappalling。InaparoxysmofrepentanceshefeltthatshemustconfesstotheVicar-GeneralthehorriblemachinationsbywhichshehadseparatedFrancescaandAlbert。
Theyhadbeensimple，butformidable。MademoiselledeWattevillehadinterceptedAlbert\'sletterstotheDuchessaswellasthatinwhichFrancescaannouncedherhusband\'sillness，warningherloverthatshecouldwritetohimnomoreduringthetimewhileshewasdevoted，aswasherduty，tothecareofthedyingman。Thus，whileAlbertwaswhollyoccupiedwithelectionmatters，theDuchesshadwrittenhimonlytwoletters；oneinwhichshetoldhimthattheDucd\'Argaiolowasindanger，andoneannouncingherwidowhood——twonobleandbeautifulletterswhichRosaliekeptback。
Afterseveralnights\'laborshesucceededinimitatingAlbert\'swritingveryperfectly。ShehadsubstitutedthreelettersofherownwritingforthreeofAlbert\'s，andtheroughcopieswhichsheshowedtotheoldpriestmadehimshudder——thegeniusofevilwasrevealedinthemtosuchperfection。Rosalie，writinginAlbert\'sname，hadpreparedtheDuchessforachangeintheFrenchman\'sfeelings，falselyrepresentinghimasfaithless，andshehadansweredthenewsoftheDucd\'Argaiolo\'sdeathbyannouncingthemarriageerelongofAlbertandMademoiselledeWatteville。Thetwoletters，intendedtocrossontheroad，had，infact，doneso。TheinfernalclevernesswithwhichtheletterswerewrittensomuchastonishedtheVicar-Generalthathereadthemasecondtime。Francesca，stabbedtotheheartbyagirlwhowantedtokillloveinherrival，hadansweredthelastinthesefourwords:\"Youarefree。Farewell。\"
\"Purelymoralcrimes，whichgivenoholdtohumanjustice，arethemostatrociousanddetestable，\"saidtheAbbeseverely。\"Godoftenpunishesthemonearth；hereinliesthereasonoftheterriblecatastropheswhichtousseeminexplicable。Ofallsecretcrimesburiedinthemysteryofprivatelife，themostdisgracefulisthatofbreakingthesealofaletter，orofreadingitsurreptitiously。Everyone，whoeveritmaybe，andurgedbywhateverreason，whoisguiltyofsuchanacthasstainedhishonorbeyondretrieving。
\"Doyounotfeelallthatistouching，thatisheavenlyinthestoryoftheyouthfulpage，falselyaccused，andcarryingthelettercontainingtheorderforhisexecution，whosetsoutwithoutathoughtofill，andwhomProvidenceprotectsandsaves——miraculously，wesay!
Butdoyouknowwhereinthemiraclelies？Virtuehasagloryaspotentasthatofinnocentchildhood。
\"Isaythesethingsnotmeaningtoadmonishyou，\"saidtheoldpriest，withdeepgrief。\"I，alas!amnotyourspiritualdirector；youarenotkneelingatthefeetofGod；Iamyourfriend，appalledbydreadofwhatyourpunishmentmaybe。WhathasbecomeofthatunhappyAlbert？
Hashe，perhaps，killedhimself？Therewastremendouspassionunderhisassumptionofcalm。IunderstandnowthatoldPrinceSoderini，thefatheroftheDuchessd\'Argaiolo，cameheretotakebackhisdaughter\'slettersandportraits。ThiswasthethunderboltthatfellonAlbert\'shead，andhewentoff，nodoubt，totrytojustifyhimself。Buthowisitthatinfourteenmonthshehasgivenusnonewsofhimself？\"
\"Oh!ifImarryhim，hewillbesohappy!\"
\"Happy？——Hedoesnotloveyou。Besides，youhavenogreatfortunetogivehim。Yourmotherdetestsyou；youmadeherafiercereplywhichrankles，andwhichwillbeyourruin。Whenshetoldyouyesterdaythatobediencewastheonlywaytorepairyourerrors，andremindedyouoftheneedformarrying，mentioningAmedee——\'Ifyouaresofondofhim，marryhimyourself，mother!\'——Didyou，ordidyounot，flingthesewordsinherteeth？\"
\"Yes，\"saidRosalie。
\"Well，Iknowher，\"MonsieurdeGranceywenton。\"InafewmonthsshewillbeComtessedeSoulas!Shewillbesuretohavechildren；shewillgiveMonsieurdeSoulasfortythousandfrancsayear；shewillbenefithiminotherways，andreduceyourshareofherfortuneasmuchaspossible。Youwillbepooraslongasshelives，andsheisbuteight-and-thirty!YourwholeestatewillbethelandoflesRouxey，andthesmallsharelefttoyouafteryourfather\'slegaldebtsaresettled，if，indeed，yourmothershouldconsenttoforegoherclaimsonlesRouxey。Fromthepointofviewofmaterialadvantages，youhavedonebadlyforyourself；fromthepointofviewoffeeling，Iimagineyouhavewreckedyourlife。Insteadofgoingtoyourmother——\"Rosalieshookherheadfiercely。
\"Toyourmother，\"thepriestwenton，\"andtoreligion，whereyouwould，atthefirstimpulseofyourheart，havefoundenlightenment，counsel，andguidance，youchosetoactinyourownway，knowingnothingoflife，andlisteningonlytopassion!\"
ThesewordsofwisdomterrifiedMademoiselledeWatteville。
\"AndwhatoughtItodonow？\"sheaskedafterapause。
\"Torepairyourwrong-doing，youmustascertainitsextent，\"saidtheAbbe。
\"Well，IwillwritetotheonlymanwhocanknowanythingofAlbert\'sfate，MonsieurLeopoldHannequin，anotaryinParis，hisfriendsincechildhood。\"
\"Writenomore，unlesstodohonortotruth，\"saidtheVicar-General。
\"Placetherealandthefalselettersinmyhands，confesseverythingindetailasthoughIwerethekeeperofyourconscience，askingmehowyoumayexpiateyoursins，anddoingasIbidyou。Ishallsee——
for，aboveallthings，restorethisunfortunatemantohisinnocenceintheeyesofthewomanhehadmadehisdivinityonearth。Thoughhehaslosthishappiness，Albertmuststillhopeforjustification。\"
RosaliepromisedtoobeytheAbbe，hopingthatthestepshemighttakewouldperhapsendinbringingAlbertbacktoher。
NotlongafterMademoiselledeWatteville\'sconfessionaclerkcametoBesanconfromMonsieurLeopoldHannequin，armedwithapowerofattorneyfromAlbert；hecalledfirstonMonsieurGirardet，begginghisassistanceinsellingthehousebelongingtoMonsieurSavaron。TheattorneyundertooktodothisoutoffriendshipforAlbert。TheclerkfromParissoldthefurniture，andwiththeproceedscouldrepaysomemoneyowedbySavarontoGirardet，whoontheoccasionofhisinexplicabledeparturehadlenthimfivethousandfrancswhileundertakingtocollecthisassets。WhenGirardetaskedwhathadbecomeofthehandsomeandnoblepleader，towhomhehadbeensomuchattached，theclerkrepliedthatnooneknewbuthismaster，andthatthenotaryhadseemedgreatlydistressedbythecontentsofthelastletterhehadreceivedfromMonsieurAlbertdeSavarus。
Onhearingthis，theVicar-GeneralwrotetoLeopold。Thiswastheworthynotary\'sreply:——
\"ToMonsieurl\'AbbedeGrancey，Vicar-GeneraloftheDioceseofBesancon。
\"PARIS。
\"Alas，monsieur，itisinnobody\'spowertorestoreAlberttothelifeoftheworld；hehasrenouncedit。HeisanoviceinthemonasteryoftheGrandChartreusenearGrenoble。Youknow，betterthanIwhohavebutjustlearnedit，thatonthethresholdofthatcloistereverythingdies。Albert，foreseeingthatIshouldgotohim，placedtheGeneraloftheOrderbetweenmyutmosteffortsandhimself。Iknowhisnoblesoulwellenoughtobesurethatheisthevictimofsomeodiousplotunknowntous；buteverythingisatanend。TheDuchessed\'Argaiolo，nowDuchessedeRhetore，seemstometohavecarriedseveritytoanextreme。AtBelgirate，whichshehadleftwhenAlbertflewthither，shehadleftinstructionsleadinghimtobelievethatshewaslivinginLondon。FromLondonAlbertwentinsearchofhertoNaples，andfromNaplestoRome，whereshewasnowengagedtotheDucdeRhetore。WhenAlbertsucceededinseeingMadamed\'Argaiolo，atFlorence，itwasattheceremonyofhermarriage。
\"Ourpoorfriendswoonedinthechurch，andevenwhenhewasindangerofdeathhecouldneverobtainanyexplanationfromthiswoman，whomusthavehadIknownotwhatinherheart。ForsevenmonthsAlberthadtraveledinpursuitofacruelcreaturewhothoughtitsporttoescapehim；heknewnotwhereorhowtocatchher。
\"IsawhimonhiswaythroughParis；andifyouhadseenhim，asI
did，youwouldhavefeltthatnotawordmightbespokenabouttheDuchess，attheriskofbringingonanattackwhichmighthavewreckedhisreason。Ifhehadknownwhathiscrimewas，hemighthavefoundmeanstojustifyhimself；butbeingfalselyaccusedofbeingmarried!——whatcouldhedo？Albertisdead，quitedeadtotheworld。Helongedforrest；letushopethatthedeepsilenceandprayerintowhichhehasthrownhimselfmaygivehimhappinessinanotherguise。You，monsieur，whohaveknownhim，mustgreatlypityhim；andpityhisfriendsalso。
\"Yours，etc。\"
AssoonashereceivedthisletterthegoodVicar-GeneralwrotetotheGeneraloftheCarthusianorder，andthiswastheletterhereceivedfromAlbertSavarus:——
\"BrotherAlberttoMonsieurl\'AbbedeGrancey，Vicar-GeneraloftheDioceseofBesancon。
\"LAGRANDECHARTREUSE。
\"Irecognizedyourtendersoul，dearandwell-belovedVicar-
General，andyourstillyouthfulheart，inallthatthereverendFatherGeneralofourOrderhasjusttoldme。Youhaveunderstoodtheonlywishthatlurksinthedepthsofmyheartsofarasthethingsoftheworldareconcerned——togetjusticedonetomyfeelingsbyherwhohastreatedmesobadly!Butbeforeleavingmeatlibertytoavailmyselfofyouroffer，theGeneralwantedtoknowthatmyvocationwassincere；hewassokindastotellmehisidea，onfindingthatIwasdeterminedtopreserveabsolutesilenceonthispoint。IfIhadyieldedtothetemptationtorehabilitatethemanoftheworld，thefriarwouldhavebeenrejectedbythismonastery。Gracehascertainlydoneherwork，but，thoughshort，thestrugglewasnotthelesskeenorthelesspainful。IsnotthisenoughtoshowyouthatIcouldneverreturntotheworld？
\"Hencemyforgiveness，whichyouaskfortheauthorofsomuchwoe，isentireandwithoutathoughtofvindictiveness。IwillpraytoGodtoforgivethatyoungladyasIforgiveher，andasI
shallbeseechHimtogiveMadamedeRhetorealifeofhappiness。
Ah!whetheritbedeath，ortheobstinatehandofayounggirlmadlybentonbeingloved，oroneoftheblowsascribedtochance，mustwenotallobeyGod？SorrowinsomesoulsmakesavastvoidthroughwhichtheDivineVoicerings。Ilearnedtoolatethebearingsofthislifeonthatwhichawaitsus；allinmeiswornout；IcouldnotserveintheranksoftheChurchMilitant，andI
laytheremainsofanalmostextinctlifeatthefootofthealtar。
\"ThisisthelasttimeIshalleverwrite。Youalone，wholovedme，andwhomIlovedsowell，couldmakemebreakthelawofoblivionIimposedonmyselfwhenIenteredtheseheadquartersofSaintBruno，butyouarealwaysespeciallynamedintheprayersof\"BROTHERALBERT。
\"November1836。\"
\"Everythingisforthebestperhaps，\"thoughttheAbbedeGrancey。
WhenheshowedthislettertoRosalie，who，withapiousimpulse，kissedthelineswhichcontainedherforgiveness，hesaidtoher:
\"Well，nowthatheislosttoyou，willyounotbereconciledtoyourmotherandmarrytheComtedeSoulas？\"
\"OnlyifAlbertshouldorderit，\"saidshe。
\"Butyouseeitisimpossibletoconsulthim。TheGeneraloftheOrderwouldnotallowit。\"
\"IfIweretogotoseehim？\"
\"NoCarthusianseesanyvisitor。Besides，nowomanbuttheQueenofFrancemayenteraCarthusianmonastery，\"saidtheAbbe。\"SoyouhavenolongeranyexcusefornotmarryingyoungMonsieurdeSoulas。\"
\"Idonotwishtodestroymymother\'shappiness，\"retortedRosalie。
\"Satan!\"exclaimedtheVicar-General。
TowardstheendofthatwintertheworthyAbbedeGranceydied。ThisgoodfriendnolongerstoodbetweenMadamedeWattevilleandherdaughter，tosoftentheimpactofthosetwoironwills。
Theeventhehadforetoldtookplace。InthemonthofAugust1837
MadamedeWattevillewasmarriedtoMonsieurdeSoulasinParis，whithershewentbyRosalie\'sadvice，thegirlmakingashowofkindnessandsweetnesstohermother。MadamedeWattevillebelievedinthisaffectiononthepartofherdaughter，whosimplydesiredtogotoParistogiveherselftheluxuryofabitterrevenge；shethoughtofnothingbutavengingSavarusbytorturingherrival。
MademoiselledeWattevillehadbeendeclaredlegallyofage；shewas，infact，notfarfromone-and-twenty。Hermother，tosettlewithherfinally，hadresignedherclaimsonlesRouxey，andthedaughterhadsignedareleaseforalltheinheritanceoftheBarondeWatteville。
RosalieencouragedhermothertomarrytheComtedeSoulasandsettleallherownfortuneonhim。
\"Letuseachbeperfectlyfree，\"shesaid。
MadamedeSoulas，whohadbeenuneasyastoherdaughter\'sintentions，wastouchedbythisliberality，andmadeherapresentofsixthousandfrancsayearinthefundsasconsciencemoney。AstheComtessedeSoulashadanincomeofforty-eightthousandfrancsfromherownlands，andwasquiteincapableofalienatingtheminordertodiminishRosalie\'sshare，MademoiselledeWattevillewasstillafortunetomarry，ofeighteenhundredthousandfrancs；lesRouxey，withtheBaron\'sadditions，andcertainimprovements，mightyieldtwentythousandfrancsayear，besidesthevalueofthehouse，rents，andpreserves。SoRosalieandhermother，whosoonadoptedtheParisstyleandfashions，easilyobtainedintroductionstothebestsociety。Thegoldenkey——eighteenhundredthousandfrancs——embroideredonMademoiselledeWatteville\'sstomacher，didmorefortheComtessedeSoulasthanherpretensions/ala/deRupt，herinappropriatepride，orevenherratherdistantgreatconnections。
InthemonthofFebruary1838Rosalie，whowaseagerlycourtedbymanyyoungmen，achievedthepurposewhichhadbroughthertoParis。ThiswastomeettheDuchessedeRhetore，toseethiswonderfulwoman，andtooverwhelmherwithperennialremorse。RosaliegaveherselfuptothemostbewilderingeleganceandvanitiesinordertofacetheDuchessonanequalfooting。
Theyfirstmetataballgivenannuallyafter1830forthebenefitofthepensionersontheoldCivilList。Ayoungman，promptedbyRosalie，pointedherouttotheDuchess，saying:
\"Thereisaveryremarkableyoungperson，astrong-mindedyoungladytoo!Shedroveaclevermanintoamonastery——theGrandChartreuse——amanofimmensecapabilities，AlbertdeSavarus，whosecareershewrecked。SheisMademoiselledeWatteville，thefamousBesanconheiress——\"
TheDuchessturnedpale。Rosalie\'seyesmetherswithoneofthoseflasheswhich，betweenwomanandwoman，aremorefatalthanthepistolshotsofaduel。FrancescaSoderini，whohadsuspectedthatAlbertmightbeinnocent，hastilyquittedtheballroom，leavingthespeakerathiswits\'endtoguesswhatterribleblowhehadinflictedonthebeautifulDuchessedeRhetore。
\"IfyouwanttohearmoreaboutAlbert，cometotheOperaballonTuesdaywithamarigoldinyourhand。\"
Thisanonymousnote，sentbyRosalietotheDuchess，broughttheunhappyItaliantotheball，whereMademoiselledeWattevilleplacedinherhandallAlbert\'sletters，withthatwrittentoLeopoldHannequinbytheVicar-General，andthenotary\'sreply，andeventhatinwhichshehadwrittenherconfessiontotheAbbedeGrancey。
\"Idonotchoosetobetheonlysufferer，\"shesaidtoherrival，\"foronehasbeenasruthlessastheother。\"
AfterenjoyingthedismaystampedontheDuchess\'beautifulface，Rosaliewentaway；shewentoutnomore，andreturnedtoBesanconwithhermother。
MademoiselledeWatteville，wholivedaloneonherestateoflesRouxey，riding，hunting，refusingtwoorthreeoffersayear，goingtoBesanconfourorfivetimesinthecourseofthewinter，andbusyingherselfwithimprovingherland，wasregardedasaveryeccentricpersonage。ShewasoneofthecelebritiesoftheEasternprovinces。
MadamedeSoulashastwochildren，aboyandagirl，andshehasgrownyounger；butMonsieurdeSoulashasagedagooddeal。
\"Myfortunehascostmedear，\"saidhetoyoungChavoncourt。\"Reallytoknowabigotitisunfortunatelynecessarytomarryher!\"
MademoiselledeWattevillebehavesinthemostextraordinarymanner。
\"Shehasvagaries，\"peoplesay。EveryyearshegoestogazeatthewallsoftheGrandeChartreuse。Perhapsshedreamsofimitatinghergrand-unclebyforcingthewallsofthemonasterytofindahusband，asWattevillebrokethroughthoseofhismonasterytorecoverhisliberty。
SheleftBesanconin1841，intending，itwassaid，togetmarried；buttherealreasonofthisexpeditionisstillunknown，forshereturnedhomeinastatewhichforbidshereverappearinginsocietyagain。ByoneofthosechancesofwhichtheAbbedeGranceyhadspoken，shehappenedtobeontheLoireinasteamboatofwhichtheboilerburst。
MademoiselledeWattevillewassoseverelyinjuredthatshelostherrightarmandherleftleg；herfaceismarkedwithfearfulscars，whichhavebereftherofherbeauty；herhealth，cruellyupset，leavesherfewdaysfreefromsuffering。Inshort，shenowneverleavestheChartreuseoflesRouxey，wheresheleadsalifewhollydevotedtoreligiouspractices。