“Dear Child, you, the joy of an entire home, you whose white or rose-colored scarf flutters in the summer through the groves of Wierzchownia, like a will-o’-the-wisp, followed by the tender eyes of your father and mother—­how can I dedicate to you a story full of melancholy?  But is it not well to tell you of sorrow such as a young girl so fondly loved as you are will never know?  For some day your fair hands may comfort the unfortunate.  It is so difficult, Anna, to find in the history of our manners any incident worthy of meeting your eye, that an author has no choice; but perhaps you may discern how happy you are from reading this story, sent by

“Your old friend,
“DE BALZAC.”

Balzac was very proud of the success of Pierrette, and wished Madame Hanska to have Anna read it, assuring her that there was nothing “improper” in it.

“Pierrette has appeared in the Siecle.  The manuscript is bound for Anna. L’envoi has appeared; I enclose it to you.  Friends and enemies proclaim this little book a masterpiece; I shall be glad if they are not mistaken.  You will read it soon, as it is being printed in book form.  People have placed it beside the Recherche de l’Absolu.  I am willing.  I myself would like to place it beside Anna."[*]

[*] The dedication was placed at the end, en envoi.

After the death of Anna’s father, Balzac advised her mother in many ways.  His interest in Anna’s musical ability, which was very rare, increased and he had Liszt call on Madame Hanska and play for them when he went to St. Petersburg.  He expressed his gratitude to Liszt for this favor by dedicating to him La Duchesse de Langeais.  He regretted this later, after the musician fell into such discredit.

Balzac was anxious that Madame Hanska should manage the estate wisely, and that she should be very careful in selecting a husband for Anna.  The young girl had many suitors at St. Petersburg, and he expressed his opinion freely about them.  He wanted her to be happily married, and wrote her mother regarding the essential qualities of a husband.  He loved Anna for her mother’s sake as well as for her own, and when the fond mother wrote him about certain traits of her daughter he encouraged her to be proud of Anna, for she was far superior to the best-bred young people of Paris.

He did not approve, at first, of the young Count de Mniszech and championed another suitor; later he and the Count became warm friends, and in 1846, he dedicated to him Maitre Cornelius, written in 1831.  Besides having a very handsome cane made for him, he sent him many gifts.

Balzac expressed his admiration of Anna not only to her mother, but to others.  He wrote the Count, who was soon to become her husband, that she was the most charming young girl he had ever seen in the most refined circles of society.  He found her far more attractive than his niece, who had the bloom of a beautiful Norman, and he thought that possibly some of his admiration for her was due to his great affection for her mother.