Besides, the country here had a certain novelty to me. I know the
country on the other side of the Petit Morin, but all this is new to me
except Meaux. At first the house did not look habitable to me. It was
easily made so, however, and it has great possibilities, which will keep
me busy for years.

Although you do not know this part of the country, it has, for me, every
sort of attraction--historical as well as picturesque. Its historical
interest is rather for the student than the tourist, and I love it none
the less for that.

If ever you relent and come to see me, I can take you for some lovely
walks. I can, on a Sunday afternoon, in good weather, even take you to
the theater--what is more, to the theater to see the players of the
Comedie Francaise. It is only half an hour's walk from my house to
Pont-aux-Dames, where Coquelin set up his maison de retraite for aged
actors, and where he died and is buried. In the old park, where the du
Barry used to walk in the days when Louis XVI clapped her in prison on a
warrant wrung from the dying old king, her royal lover, there is an
open-air theater, and there, on Sundays, the actors of the Theatre
Francais play, within sight of the tomb of the founder of the retreat,
under the very trees--and they are stately and noble--where the du Barry
walked.

Of course I shall only take you there if you insist. I have outgrown
the playhouse. I fancy that I am much more likely to sit out on the
lawn and preach to you on how the theater has missed its mission than I
am--unless you insist--to take you down to the hill to listen to Moliere
or Racine.