Thus was Nohant in quiet days.  But the days at Nohant were by no means always quiet.  For George Sand was most hospitable, kept indeed literally open house for her friends, and did so regardless of credit and debit.  The following passage from a letter written by her in 1840 from Paris to her half-brother Hippolyte Chatiron gives us a good idea of the state of matters:- -

If you will guarantee my being able to pass the summer at Nohant for 4,000 francs, I will go.  But I have never been there without spending 1,500 francs per month, and as I do not spend here the half of this, it is neither the love of work, nor that of spending, nor that of glory, which makes me stay.  I do not know whether I have been pillaged; but I am at a loss how to avoid it with my nonchalance, in so vast a house, and so easy a kind of life as that of Nohant.  Here I can see clearly; everything is done under my eyes as I understand and wish it.  At Nohant—­let this remain between us—­you know that before I am up a dozen people have often made themselves at home in the house.  What can I do?  Were I to pose as a good manager [econome] they would accuse me of stinginess; were I to let things go on, I should not be able to provide for them.  Try if you can find a remedy for this.

In George Sand’s letters many glimpses may be caught of the life at Nohant.  To some of them I have already drawn the reader’s attention in preceding chapters; now I shall point out a few more.

  George Sand to Madame Marliani; Nohant, August 13, 1841:—­

I have had all my nights absorbed by work and fatigue.  I have passed all my days with Pauline [Viardot] in walking, playing at billiards, and all this makes me so entirely go out of my indolent character and lazy habits that, at night, instead of working quickly, I fall stupidly asleep at every line....Viardot [Louis Viardot, the husband of Pauline] passes his days in poaching with my brother and Papet; for the shooting season has not yet begun, and they brave the laws, divine and human.  Pauline reads with Chopin whole scores at the piano.  She is always good-natured and charming, as you know her.

  George Sand to Mdlle.  Rozieres:  Nohant, October 15, 1841:—­

Papet is in the depths of the forests; in “Erymanthe” at least, hunting the wild boar.  Chopin is in Paris, and he has relapsed, as he says, into his triples croches [demisemiquavers].

  George Sand to Mdlle.  Rozieres; Nohant, May 9, 1842:—­

Quick to work!  Your master, the great Chopin, has forgotten (that for which he nevertheless cares a great deal) to buy a beautiful present for Francoise, my faithful servant, whom he adores, and he is very right.

He begs of you therefore to send him, immediately, four yards of lace, two fingers broad at least, within the price of ten francs a yard; further, a shawl of whatever material you like,