558 GEORGE SAND. against commercial marriages, and taught that every union should be based upon love ; but this, at least in our fortunate land and century, does not strike us as either shocking or novel. From this time the life of George Sand was that of an indefatigable literary worker, and no year passed unmarked by the issue of new works under her name. Yet, notwithstanding these labors, her iron constitution permitted her to take long journeys, to enjoy society, and often to abandon herself to the delights of her country home. She wrote chiefly at night : in the day time she walked, climbed, and rode horseback as freely and fre- quently as in her girlhood, and her letters to her friends dwell continually upon these simple, exhilarating pleas- ures. She had, during her whole life, three unfailing sources of delight — her children, nature, and music. The strange compromise which she had made with her husband was evidently one which could not continue. In 1835 she applied for a divorce, which, after some diffi- culties with regard to the children, was granted her. While it was still doubtful whether their guardianship should be entrusted to her or to their father, she seriously considered the idea, in case of a decision adverse to her claim, of leaving France and escaping with them to America. The judgment of the court finally placed her in possession both of them and of the estate of Nohant. To Maurice and Solange she was ever a devoted mother. She attended personally to their education and shared their amusements. Their affection and their happiness fully rewarded her ; and, as both on attaining maturity made fortunate marriages, she was enabled to show herself as an excellent grandmother also. Of Nohant and the neighboring region she never tired. " Never a cockchafer passes but I run after it," she says, describing her country walks ; and she confesses how, on
