562 GEORGE SAND. " Letters of a Traveler," the unfortunate " She and He * (Elle et Lui), " Lucrezia Floriani," "Consuelo," and the three delightful tales of peasant life, entitled respectively, "La Petite Fadette " — upon which the familiar play of Fanchon the Cricket, is founded — "The Devil's Pond" (La Mare du Diable), and " Francois le Champi," from which she afterwards made a play. The " Letters of a Traveler " are a very striking series written after a journey through Switzerland and Italy, in company with the poet Alfred de Musset, her further rela- tions with whom are depicted in the story " She and He," published after his death. This work was regarded by the public as ungenerous, if not unjustifiable; but it must be remembered that after the breach between them, De Musset had not spared her in his verse. Her book was intended as a defence of herself; but it had the force of a judgment upon him. It was soon replied to by the poet's brother in another tale, entitled " He and She," in which Madame Sand was represented in a light even more unfavorable than that in which she had placed the hero of her story. It is probable that each version of the affair contained truth. Doubtless de Musset and Madame Sand were both in fault, for two such pronounced per- sonalities could not long have accommodated themselves to each other. Their difficulties, however, should never have been submitted to the public. In " Lucrezia Floriani " she was believed to have com- mitted a similar error, since the unpleasing character of Karol was by many supposed to represent her old friend and companion, Chopin the composer. She denied that such was the case, and it is evident that she did not intend a portrait, although there were points of resem- blance. Through the interference of unwise acquaint- ances, however, the book caused a breach between Chopin and herself. In many of her other works too curious
