iliate the Countess
continue. He writes of Helen's sympathy and dwells upon her entire
freedom from jealousy. He tells Frau von Hatzfeldt how much Helen is
longing to see his old friend. In conclusion, as though not to show
himself too blind a lover, he remarks that Helen's one failing is a total
lack of will. "When, however, we are man and wife," he adds, "then shall
I have 'will' enough for both, and she will be as clay in the hands of
the potter." The Countess continues obdurate, and in a further letter
(Aug. 2) Lassalle says:--

It is really a piece of extraordinary good fortune that, at the age of
thirty-nine and a half, I should be able to find a wife so beautiful,
so sympathetic, who loves me so much, and who--an indispensable
requirement--is so entirely absorbed in my personality.

At Lassalle's request, Helen herself wrote thus to the Baroness von
Hatzfeldt:--

DEAR AND BELOVED COUNTESS,--

Armed with an introduction from my lord and master, I, his affianced
wife, come to you--unhappily only in writing--_le coeur et la main
ouverte_, and beg of you a little of that friendship which you have
given to him so abundantly. How deeply do I regret that your illness
separates us, that I cannot tell you face to face how much I love and
honour him, how ardently I long for your help and advice as to how I
can best make my beautiful and noble eagle happy. This my first
letter must necessarily seem somewhat constrained to you; for I am an
insignificant, unimportant being, who can do nothing but love and
honour him, and strive to make him happy. I would fain dance and sing
like a child, and drive away all care from him. My one desire is to
understand his great and noble nature, and in good fortune and in bad
to stand faithful and true by his side.

Then followed a further appeal for the love and help of this friend of
Lassalle's early years. It was all in vain. Instead of a letter, Helen
received from the Countess what she called "a scrawl," and Lassalle a
long homily on his lack of judgment and foresight. Lassalle defended
himself, and so the not too pleasing correspondence went on.

Yet these days in Berne were the happiest in the lives of Lassalle and
his betrothed. Helen was staying with a Madame Aarson, and was
constantly visited by her lover. It was agreed between them that
Lassalle should follow her to Geneva, and see her parents. But no sooner