Englandespeciallyhehadoftenvisited，andhespokethelanguagealmostwithoutaccent。IhadoncespentthreerainydayswithhiminthehouseofanEnglishfriendinthecountry。Hewasasharpobserver，andagooddealofagossip;heknewalittlesomethingabouteveryone，andaboutsomepeopleeverything。HisknowledgeonsocialmattersgenerallyhadthequalityofallGermanscience;itwascopious，minute，exhaustive。
\"Dotellme，\"Isaid，aswestoodlookingroundthehouse，\"whoandwhatistheladyinwhite，withtheyoungmansittingbehindher。\"
\"Who？\"heanswered，droppinghisglass。\"MadameBlumenthal！What！
Itwouldtakelongtosay。Beintroduced;it’seasilydone;youwillfindhercharming。Then，afteraweek，youwilltellmewhatsheis。\"
\"PerhapsIshouldnot。Myfriendtherehasknownheraweek，andI
don’tthinkheisyetabletogiveacoherentaccountofher。\"
Heraisedhisglassagain，andafterlookingawhile，\"Iamafraidyourfriendisalittle——whatdoyoucallit？——alittle’soft。’Poorfellow！he’snotthefirst。Ihaveneverknownthisladythatshehasnothadsomeeligibleyouthhoveringaboutinsomesuchattitudeasthat，undergoingthesofteningprocess。Shelookswonderfullywell，fromhere。It’sextraordinaryhowthosewomenlast！\"
\"Youdon’tmean，Itakeit，whenyoutalkabout’thosewomen，’thatMadameBlumenthalisnotembalmed，forduration，inacertaininfusionofrespectability？\"
\"Yesandno。Theatmospherethatsurroundsherisentirelyofherownmaking。Thereisnoreasoninherantecedentsthatpeopleshoulddroptheirvoicewhentheyspeakofher。Butsomewomenareneverattheireasetilltheyhavegivensomedamnabletwistorothertotheirpositionbeforetheworld。Theattitudeofuprightvirtueisunbecoming，likesittingtoostraightinafauteuil。Don’taskmeforopinions，however;contentyourselfwithafewfactsandwithananecdote。MadameBlumenthalisPrussian，andverywellborn。I
rememberhermother，anoldWestphalianGrafin，withprinciplesmarshalledoutlikeFredericktheGreat’sgrenadiers。Shewaspoor，however，andherprincipleswereaninsufficientdowryforAnastasia，whowasmarriedveryyoungtoaviciousJew，twiceherownage。Hewassupposedtohavemoney，butIamafraidhehadlessthanwasnominatedinthebond，orelsethathisprettyyoungwifespentitveryfast。Shehasbeenawidowthesesixoreightyears，andhaslived，Iimagine，inratherahand—to—mouthfashion。Isupposesheissomesixoreightandthirtyyearsofage。InwinteronehearsofherinBerlin，givinglittlesupperstotheartisticrabblethere;insummeroneoftenseesheracrossthegreentableatEmsandWiesbaden。She’sveryclever，andherclevernesshasspoiledher。A
yearafterhermarriageshepublishedanovel，withherviewsonmatrimony，intheGeorgeSandmanner——beatingthedrumtoMadameSand’strumpet。Nodoubtshewasveryunhappy;Blumenthalwasanoldbeast。Sincethenshehaspublishedalotofliterature——novelsandpoemsandpamphletsoneveryconceivabletheme，fromtheconversionofLolaMonteztotheHegelianphilosophy。Hertalkismuchbetterthanherwriting。Herconjugophobia——Ican’tcallitbyanyothername——madepeoplethinklightlyofheratatimewhenherrebellionagainstmarriagewasprobablyonlytheoretic。Shehadatasteforspinningfinephrases，shedrovehershuttle，andwhenshecametotheendofheryarnshefoundthatsocietyhadturneditsback。Shetossedherhead，declaredthatatlastshecouldbreathethesacredairoffreedom，andformallyannouncedthatshehadembracedan’intellectual’life。Thismeantunlimitedcamaraderiewithscribblersanddaubers，HegelianphilosophersandHungarianpianists。
Butshehasbeenadmiredalsobyagreatmanyreallyclevermen;
therewasatime，infact，whensheturnedaheadaswellsetonitsshouldersasthisone！\"AndNiedermeyertappedhisforehead。\"Shehasagreatcharm，and，literally，Iknownoharmofher。Yetforallthat，Iamnotgoingtospeaktoher;Iamnotgoingnearherbox。Iamgoingtoleavehertosay，ifshedoesmethehonourtoobservetheomission，thatItoohavegoneovertothePhilistines。
It’snotthat;itisthatthereissomethingsinisteraboutthewoman。Iamtoooldforittofrightenme，butIamgood—naturedenoughforittopainme。Herquarrelwithsocietyhasbroughthernohappiness，andheroutwardcharmisonlythemaskofadangerousdiscontent。Herimaginationislodgedwhereherheartshouldbe！Solongasyouamuseit，wellandgood;she’sradiant。Butthemomentyouletitflag，sheiscapableofdroppingyouwithoutapang。Ifyoulandonyourfeetyouaresomuchthewiser，simply;buttherehavebeentwoorthree，Ibelieve，whohavealmostbrokentheirnecksinthefall。\"
\"Youarereversingyourpromise，\"Isaid，\"andgivingmeanopinion，butnotananecdote。\"
\"Thisismyanecdote。AyearagoafriendofminemadeheracquaintanceinBerlin，andthoughhewasnolongerayoungman，andhadneverbeenwhatiscalledasusceptibleone，hetookagreatfancytoMadameBlumenthal。He’samajorinthePrussianartillery——
grizzled，grave，atriflesevere，amaneverywayfirminthefaithofhisfathers。It’saproofofAnastasia’scharmthatsuchamanshouldhavegotintothehabitofgoingtoseehereverydayofhislife。Butthemajorwasinlove，ornextdoortoit！Everydaythathecalledhefoundherscribblingawayatalittleormolutableonalotofhalf—sheetsofnote—paper。Sheusedtobidhimsitdownandholdhistongueforaquarterofanhour，tillshehadfinishedherchapter;shewaswritinganovel，anditwaspromisedtoapublisher。
Clorinda，sheconfidedtohim，wasthenameoftheinjuredheroine。
Themajor，Iimagine，hadneverreadaworkoffictioninhislife，butheknewbyhearsaythatMadameBlumenthal’sliterature，whenputforthinpinkcovers，wassubversiveofseveralrespectableinstitutions。Besides，hedidn’tbelieveinwomenknowinghowtowriteatall，anditirritatedhimtoseethisinkygoddesscorrectingproof—sheetsunderhisnose——irritatedhimthemorethat，asIsay，hewasinlovewithherandthatheventuredtobelieveshehadakindnessforhisyearsandhishonours。Andyetshewasnotsuchawomanashecouldeasilyasktomarryhim。Theresultofallthiswasthathefellintothewayofrailingatherintellectualpursuitsandsayingheshouldliketorunhisswordthroughherpileofpapers。Awomanwascleverenoughwhenshecouldguessherhusband’swishes，andlearnedenoughwhenshecouldreadhimthenewspapers。Atlast，oneday，MadameBlumenthalflungdownherpenandannouncedintriumphthatshehadfinishedhernovel。Clorindahadexpiredinthearmsof——someoneelsethanherhusband。Themajor，bywayofcongratulatingher，declaredthathernovelwasimmoralrubbish，andthatherloveofviciousparadoxeswasonlyapeculiarlydepravedformofcoquetry。Headded，however，thathelovedherinspiteofherfollies，andthatifshewouldformallyabjurethemhewouldasformallyofferherhishand。Theysaythatwomenliketobesnubbedbymilitarymen。Idon’tknow，I’msure;I
don’tknowhowmuchpleasure，onthisoccasion，wasmingledwithAnastasia’swrath。Butherwrathwasveryquiet，andthemajorassuredmeitmadeherlookuncommonlypretty。’Ihavetoldyoubefore，’shesays，’thatIwritefromaninnerneed。Iwritetounburdenmyheart，tosatisfymyconscience。Youcallmypooreffortscoquetry，vanity，thedesiretoproduceasensation。IcanprovetoyouthatitisthequietlabouritselfIcarefor，andnottheworld’smoreorlessflatteringattentiontoit！’AndseizingthehistoryofClorindashethrustitintothefire。Themajorstandsstaring，andthefirstthingheknowssheissweepinghimagreatcurtseyandbiddinghimfarewellforever。Leftaloneandrecoveringhiswits，hefishesoutClorindafromtheembers，andthenproceedstothumpvigorouslyatthelady’sdoor。Butitneveropened，andfromthatdaytothedaythreemonthsagowhenhetoldmethetale，hehadnotbeheldheragain。\"
\"ByJove，it’sastrikingstory，\"Isaid。\"Butthequestionis，whatdoesitprove？\"
\"Severalthings。First（whatIwascarefulnottotellmyfriend），thatMadameBlumenthalcaredforhimatriflemorethanhesupposed;
second，thathecaresforhermorethanever;third，thattheperformancewasamaster—stroke，andthatherallowinghimtoforceaninterviewuponheragainisonlyaquestionoftime。\"
\"Andlast？\"Iasked。
\"Thisisanotheranecdote。Theotherday，UnterdenLinden，Isawonabookseller’scounteralittlepink—coveredromance——’Sophronia，’byMadameBlumenthal。Glancingthroughit，Iobservedanextraordinaryabuseofasterisks;everytwoorthreepagesthenarrativewasadornedwithaportentousblank，crossedwitharowofstars。\"
\"Well，butpoorClorinda？\"Iobjected，asNiedermeyerpaused。
\"Sophronia，mydearfellow，issimplyClorindarenamedbythebaptismoffire。Thefairauthorcameback，ofcourse，andfoundClorindatumbleduponthefloor，agooddealscorched，but，onthewhole，morefrightenedthanhurt。Shepicksherup，brushesheroff，andsendshertotheprinter。Wherevertheflameshadburntaholesheswingsaconstellation！ButifthemajorispreparedtodropapenitenttearovertheashesofClorinda，Ishallnotwhispertohimthattheurnisempty。\"
EvenAdelinaPatti’ssinging，forthenexthalf—hour，buthalfavailedtodivertmefrommyquickenedcuriositytobeholdMadameBlumenthalfacetoface。AssoonasthecurtainhadfallenagainI
repairedtoherboxandwasusheredinbyPickeringwithzealoushospitality。Hisglowingsmileseemedtosaytome，\"Ay，lookforyourself，andadore！\"Nothingcouldhavebeenmoregraciousthanthelady’sgreeting，andIfound，somewhattomysurprise，thatherprettinesslostnothingonanearerview。HereyesindeedwerethefinestIhaveeverseen——thesoftest，thedeepest，themostintenselyresponsive。Inspiteofsomethingfadedandjadedinherphysiognomy，hermovements，hersmile，andthetoneofhervoice，especiallywhenshelaughed，hadanalmostgirlishfranknessandspontaneity。Shelookedatyouveryhardwithherradiantgrayeyes，andsheindulgedwhileshetalkedinasuperabundanceofrestless，ratheraffectedlittlegestures，asiftomakeyoutakehermeaninginacertainveryparticularandsuperfinesense。Iwonderedwhetherafterawhilethismightnotfatigueone’sattention;thenmeetinghercharmingeyes，Isaid，Notforalongtime。Shewasveryclever，and，asPickeringhadsaid，shespokeEnglishadmirably。Itoldher，asItookmyseatbesideher，ofthefinethingsIhadheardaboutherfrommyfriend，andshelistened，lettingmegoonsometime，andexaggeratealittle，withherfineeyesfixedfulluponme。
\"Really？\"shesuddenlysaid，turningshortrounduponPickering，whostoodbehindus，andlookingathiminthesameway。\"Isthatthewayyoutalkaboutme？\"
Heblushedtohiseyes，andIrepented。Shesuddenlybegantolaugh;
itwasthenIobservedhowsweethervoicewasinlaughter。Wetalkedafterthisofvariousmatters，andinalittlewhileI
complimentedheronherexcellentEnglish，andaskedifshehadlearntitinEngland。
\"Heavenforbid！\"shecried。\"Ihaveneverbeenthereandwishnevertogo。Ishouldnevergetonwiththe——\"Iwonderedwhatshewasgoingtosay;thefogs，thesmoke，orwhistwithsixpennystakes？——\"I
shouldnevergeton，\"shesaid，\"withthearistocracy！Iamafiercedemocrat——Iamnotashamedofit。Iholdopinionswhichwouldmakemyancestorsturnintheirgraves。Iwasborninthelapoffeudalism。Iamadaughterofthecrusaders。ButIamarevolutionist！Ihaveapassionforfreedom——myideaofhappinessistodieonagreatbarricade！It’stoyourgreatcountryIshouldliketogo。Ishouldliketoseethewonderfulspectacleofagreatpeoplefreetodoeverythingitchooses，andyetneverdoinganythingwrong！\"
Ireplied，modestly，that，afterall，bothourfreedomandourgoodconducthadtheirlimits，andsheturnedquicklyaboutandshookherfanwithadramaticgestureatPickering。\"Nomatter，nomatter！\"
shecried;\"Ishouldliketoseethecountrywhichproducedthatwonderfulyoungman。IthinkofitasasortofArcadia——alandofthegoldenage。He’ssodelightfullyinnocent！InthisstupidoldGermany，ifayoungmanisinnocenthe’safool;hehasnobrains;
he’snotabitinteresting。ButMr。Pickeringsaysthefreshestthings，andafterIhavelaughedfiveminutesattheirfreshnessitsuddenlyoccurstomethattheyareverywise，andIthinkthemoverforaweek。\"True！\"shewenton，noddingathim。\"Icalltheminspiredsolecisms，andItreasurethemup。RememberthatwhenI
nextlaughatyou！\"
GlancingatPickering，IwaspromptedtobelievethathewasinastateofbeatificexaltationwhichweighedMadameBlumenthal’ssmilesandfrownsinanequalbalance。Theywereequallyhers;theywerelinksalikeinthegoldenchain。Helookedatmewitheyesthatseemedtosay，\"Didyoueverhearsuchwit？Didyoueverseesuchgrace？\"Itseemedtomethathewasbutvaguelyconsciousofthemeaningofherwords;hergestures，hervoiceandglance，madeanabsorbingharmony。Thereissomethingpainfulinthespectacleofabsoluteenthralment，eventoanexcellentcause。IgavenoresponsetoPickering’schallenge，butmadesomeremarkuponthecharmofAdelinaPatti’ssinging。MadameBlumenthal，asbecamea\"revolutionist，\"wasobligedtoconfessthatshecouldseenocharminit;itwasmeagre，itwastrivial，itlackedsoul。\"Youmustknowthatinmusic，too，\"shesaid，\"Ithinkformyself！\"Andshebeganwithagreatmanyflourishesofherfantoexplainwhatitwasshethought。Remarkablethings，doubtless;butIcannotanswerforit，forinthemidstoftheexplanationthecurtainroseagain。\"Youcan’tbeagreatartistwithoutagreatpassion！\"MadameBlumenthalwasaffirming。BeforeIhadtimetoassentMadamePatti’svoicerosewheelinglikeaskylark，andraineddownitssilvernotes。\"Ah，givemethatart，\"Iwhispered，\"andIwillleaveyouyourpassion！\"AndIdepartedformyownplaceintheorchestra。Iwonderedafterwardswhetherthespeechhadseemedrude，andinferredthatithadnotonreceivingafriendlynodfromthelady，inthelobby，asthetheatrewasemptyingitself。ShewasonPickering’sarm，andhewastakinghertohercarriage。DistancesareshortinHomburg，butthenightwasrainy，andMadameBlumenthalexhibitedaveryprettysatin—shodfootasareasonwhy，thoughbutapennilesswidow，sheshouldnotwalkhome。Pickeringleftustogetheramomentwhilehewenttohailthevehicle，andmycompanionseizedtheopportunity，asshesaid，tobegmetobesoverykindastocomeandseeher。Itwasforaparticularreason！Itwasreasonenoughforme，ofcourse，I
answered，thatshehadgivenmeleave。Shelookedatmeamomentwiththatextraordinarygazeofherswhichseemedsoabsolutelyaudaciousinitscandour，andrejoinedthatIpaidmorecomplimentsthanouryoungfriendthere，butthatshewassureIwasnothalfsosincere。\"Butit’sabouthimIwanttotalk，\"shesaid。\"Iwanttoaskyoumanythings;Iwantyoutotellmeallabouthim。Heinterestsme;butyouseemysympathiesaresointense，myimaginationissolively，thatIdon’ttrustmyownimpressions。
Theyhavemisledmemorethanonce！\"Andshegavealittletragicshudder。
Ipromisedtocomeandcomparenoteswithher，andwebadeherfarewellathercarriagedoor。PickeringandIremainedawhile，walkingupanddownthelongglazedgalleryoftheKursaal。IhadnottakenmanystepsbeforeIbecameawarethatIwasbesideamanintheveryextremityoflove。\"Isn’tshewonderful？\"heasked，withanimplicitconfidenceinmysympathywhichitcostmesomeingenuitytoelude。Ifhewerereallyinlove，wellandgood！Foralthough，nowthatIhadseenher，IstoodreadytoconfesstolargepossibilitiesoffascinationonMadameBlumenthal’spart，andeventocertainpossibilitiesofsincerityofwhichmyappreciationwasvague，yetitseemedtomelessominousthatheshouldbesimplysmittenthanthathisadmirationshouldpiqueitselfonbeingdiscriminating。ItwasonhisfundamentalsimplicitythatIcountedforahappyterminationofhisexperiment，andtheformerofthesealternativesseemedtomethesimpler。Iresolvedtoholdmytongueandlethimrunhiscourse。Hehadagreatdealtosayabouthishappiness，aboutthedayspassinglikehours，thehourslikeminutes，andaboutMadameBlumenthalbeinga\"revelation。\"\"Shewasnothingto—night，\"hesaid;\"nothingtowhatshesometimesisinthewayofbrilliancy——inthewayofrepartee。Ifyoucouldonlyhearherwhenshetellsheradventures！\"
\"Adventures？\"Iinquired。\"Hasshehadadventures？\"
\"Ofthemostwonderfulsort！\"criedPickering，withrapture。\"Shehasn’tvegetated，likeme！Shehaslivedinthetumultoflife。
WhenIlistentoherreminiscences，it’slikehearingtheopeningtumultofoneofBeethoven’ssymphoniesasitlosesitselfinatriumphantharmonyofbeautyandfaith！\"
Icouldonlyliftmyeyebrows，butIdesiredtoknowbeforeweseparatedwhathehaddonewiththattroublesomeconscienceofhis。
\"Isupposeyouknow，mydearfellow，\"Isaid，\"thatyouaresimplyinlove。That’swhattheyhappentocallyourstateofmind。\"
Herepliedwithabrighteningeye，asifheweredelightedtohearit——\"SoMadameBlumenthaltoldmeonlythismorning！\"Andseeing，I
suppose，thatIwasslightlypuzzled，\"Iwenttodrivewithher，\"hecontinued;\"wedrovetoKonigstein，toseetheoldcastle。Wescrambledupintotheheartoftheruinandsatforanhourinoneofthecrumblingoldcourts。Somethinginthesolemnstillnessoftheplaceunloosedmytongue;andwhileshesatonaniviedstone，ontheedgeoftheplungingwall，Istoodthereandmadeaspeech。Shelistenedtome，lookingatme，breakingofflittlebitsofstoneandlettingthemdropdownintothevalley。Atlastshegotupandnoddedatmetwoorthreetimessilently，withasmile，asifshewereapplaudingmeforasoloontheviolin。’Youareinlove，’shesaid。’It’saperfectcase！’Andforsometimeshesaidnothingmore。Butbeforewelefttheplaceshetoldmethatsheowedmeananswertomyspeech。Shethankedmeheartily，butshewasafraidthatifshetookmeatmywordshewouldbetakingadvantageofmyinexperience。Ihadknownfewwomen;Iwastooeasilypleased;I
thoughtherbetterthanshereallywas。Shehadgreatfaults;Imustknowherlongerandfindthemout;Imustcompareherwithotherwomen——womenyounger，simpler，moreinnocent，moreignorant;andthenifIstilldidherthehonourtothinkwellofher，shewouldlistentomeagain。ItoldherthatIwasnotafraidofpreferringanywomanintheworldtoher，andthensherepeated，’Happyman，happyman！youareinlove，youareinlove！’\"
IcalleduponMadameBlumenthalacoupleofdayslater，insomeagitationofthought。Ithasbeenprovedthatthereare，hereandthere，intheworld，suchpeopleassincereimpostors;certaincharacterswhocultivatefictitiousemotionsinperfectgoodfaith。