rs belonging to the best families； is the one in which Aurore spent three years。 The cloister can be recognized； the garden planted with chestnut trees； and the cell from which there was a view over the city。 All her dreams seemed so near Heaven there； for the rich； cloudy sky was so near〃that most beautiful and ever…changing sky； perhaps the most beautiful in the world；〃 of which we read in _Rose et Blanche_。 But together with this romance of religious life is a libertine novel with stories of orgies； of a certain private house； and of very risky and unpleasant episodes。 This is the collaborator's share in the work。 The risky parts are Sandeau's。
Such； then； is this hybrid composition。 It was； in reality； the monstrosity announced by George Sand。
It had a certain success； but the person who was most severe in her judgment of it was Sophie…Victoire； George Sand's mother； who had very prudish tastes in literature。 This woman is perfectly delightful； and every time we come across her it is a fresh joy。 Her daughter was obliged to make some excuse for herself； and this she did by stating that the work was not entirely her own。
〃I do not approve of a great deal of the nonsense；〃 she writes； 〃and I only let certain things pass to please my publisher； who wanted something rather lively。 。 。 。 I do not like the risky parts myself。 。 。 。〃 Later on in the same letter； she adds： 〃There is nothing of the kind in the book I am writing now； and I am using nothing of my collaborator's in this； except his name。〃＇15＇
＇15＇ _Correspondance_： To her mother； February 22； 1832。
This was true。 Jules Sand had had his day； and the book of which she now speaks was _Indiana_。 She signed this 〃George Sand。〃
The unpublished correspondence with Emile Regnault； some fragments of which we have just read； contains a most interesting letter concerning the composition of _Indiana_。 It is dated February 28； 1832。 George Sand first insists on the severity of the subject and on its resemblance to life。 〃It is as simple； as natural and as positive as you could wish；〃 she says。 〃It is neither romantic； mosaic； nor frantic。 It is just ordinary life of the most _bourgeois_ kind； but unfortunately this is much more difficult than exaggerated literature。 。 。 。 There is not the least word put in for nothing； not a single description； not a vestige of poetry。 There are no unexpected； extraordinary； or amazing situations； but merely four volumes on four characters。 With only just these characters； that is； with hidden feelings； everyday thoughts； with friendship； love； selfishness； devotion； self…respect； persistency； melancholy； sorrow； ingratitude； disappointment； hope； and all the mixed…up medley of the human mind； is it possible to write four volumes which will not bore people？ I am afraid of boring people； of boring them as life itself does。 And yet what is more interesting than the history of the heart； when it is a true history？ The main thing is to write true history； and it is just that which is so difficult。 。 。 。〃
This declaration is rather surprising to any one who reads it to…day。 We might ask whether what was natural in 1832 would be natural in 1910？ That is not the question which concerns us； though。 The important fact to note is that George Sand was no longer attempting to manufacture monstrosities。 She was endeavouring to be true； and she wanted above everything else to present a character of woman who would be the typical modern woman。
〃Noemi （this name was afterwards left to Sandeau； who had used it in _Marianna_。 George Sand changed it to that of _Indiana_） is a typical woman； strong and weak； tired even by the weight of the air； but capable of holding up the sky； timid in everyday life； but daring in days of battle； shrewd and clever in seizing the loose threads of ordinary life； but silly and stupid in distinguishing her own interests when it is a question of her happiness； caring little for the world at large； but allowing herself to be duped by one man； not troubling much about her own dignity； but watching over that of the object of her choice； despising the vanities of the times as far as she is concerned； but allowing herself to be fascinated by the man who is full of these vanities。 This； I believe；〃 she says； 〃is the usual woman； an extraordinary mixture of weakness and energy； of grandeur and of littleness； a being ever composed of two opposite natures； at times sublime and at times despicable； clever in deceiving and easily deceived herself。〃
This novel； intended to present to us the modern woman； ought to be styled a 〃feminist novel。〃 It was also； as regards other points of view。 _Indiana_ appeared in May； 1832； _Valentine_ in 1833； and _Jacques_ in 1834。 In these three books I should like to show our present feminism； already armed； and introduced to us according to George Sand's early ideas。
_Indiana_ is the story of a woman who had made an unfortunate marriage。 At the age of nineteen she had married Colonel Delmare。 Colonels were very much in vogue in those days； and the fact that he had attained that rank proves that he was much older than she was。 Colonel Delmare was an honest； straightforward man in the Pharisaical sense of the word。 This simply means that he had never robbed or killed any one。 He had no delicacy and no charm； and； fond as he was of his own authority； he was a domestic tyrant。 Indiana was very unhappy between this execrable husband and a cousin of hers； Ralph； a man who is twice over English； in the first place because his name is Brown； and then because he is phlegmatic。 Ralph is delightful and most excellent； and it is on his account that she is insensible to the charms of Raymon de Ramieres an elegant and distinguished young man who is a veritable lady…killer。
Space forbids us to go into all the episodes of this story； but the crisis is that Colonel Delmare is ruined； and his business affairs call him to the Isle of Bourbon。 He intends to take Indiana with him； but she refuses to accompany him。 She knows quite well that Raymon will do all he can to prevent her going。 She hurries away to him； offers herself to him； and volunteers to remain with him always。 It is unnecessary to give Raymon's reply to this charming proposal。 Poor Indiana receives a very wet blanket on a cold winter's night。
She therefore starts for the Isle of Bourbon； and； some time after her arrival there； she gets a letter from Raymon which makes her think that he is very unhappy。 She accordingly hastens back to him； but is received by the young wife whom Raymon has just married。 It is a very brilliant marriage； and Raymon could not have hoped for anything more satisfactory。 Poor Indiana！ The Seine； however； is quite near； and she throws herself into it。 This was quite safe； as Ralph was there to fish her out again。 Ralph was always at hand to fish his cousin out of everything。 He is her appointed rescuer； her Newfoundland dog。 In the country or in the town； on _terra firma_ or on the boat which takes Indiana to the Isle of Bourbon； we always see Ralph turn up； phlegmatic as usual。 Unnecessary to say that Ralph is in love with Indiana。 His apparent calmness is put on purposely。 It is the snowy covering under which a volcano is burning。 His awkward and unprepossessing appearance conceals an exquisite soul。 Ralph brings Indiana good news。 Colonel Delmare is dead； so that she is free。 What will she do now with her liberty？ After due deliberation； Ralph and Indiana decide to commit suicide； but they have to agree about the kind of death they will die。 Ralph considers that this is a matter of certain importance。 He does not care to kill himself in Paris； there are too many people about； so that there is no tranquillity。 The Isle of Bourbon seems to him a pleasant place for a suicide。 There was a magnificent horizon there； then； too； there was a precipice and a waterfall。 。 。 。
Ralph's happy ideas are somewhat sinister； but the couple set out nevertheless for the Isle of Bourbon in search of a propitious waterfall。 A sea…voyage； under such circumstances； would be an excellent preparation。 When once there； they carry out their plans； and Ralph gives his beloved wise advice at the last moment。 She must not jump from the side； as that would be bad。 〃Throw yourself into the white line that the waterfall makes；〃 he says。 〃You will then reach the lake with that； and the torrent will plunge you in。〃 This sounds enticing。
Such a suicide was considered infinitely poetical at that epoch； and every one pitied Indiana in her troubles。 It is curious to read such books calmly a long time afterwards； books which reflect so exactly the sentiments of a certain epoch。 It is curious to note how the point of view has changed； and how people and things appear to us exactly the reverse of what they appeared to the author and to contemporaries。
As a matter of fact； the only interesting person in all this is Colonel Delmare； or； at any rate； he is the only one of whom Indiana could not complain。 He loved her； and he loved no one else but her。 The like cannot be said for Indiana。 Few husbands would imitate his patience and forbearance； and he certainly allowed hi