Allmymindwascenteredonmystudies,which,especiallyatthebeginning,weredifficult.Infact,IwasinsufficientlypreparedtofollowthephysicalsciencecourseattheSorbonne,for,despiteallmyefforts,IhadnotsucceededinacquiringinPolandapreparationascompleteasthatoftheFrenchstudentsfollowingthesamecourse.SoIwasobligedtosupplythisdeficiency,especiallyinmathematics.Idividedmytimebetweencourses,experimentalwork,andstudyinthelibrary.IntheeveningIworkedinmyroom,sometimesverylateintothenight.AllthatIsawandlearnedthatwasnewdelightedme.Itwaslikeanewworldopenedtome,theworldofscience,whichIwasatlastpermittedtoknowinallliberty.
Ihavepleasantmemoriesofmyrelationswithmystudentcompanions.Reservedandshyatthebeginning,itwasnotlongbeforeInoticedthatthestudents,nearlyallofwhomworkedseriously,weredisposedtobefriendly.Ourconversationsaboutourstudiesdeepenedourinterestintheproblemswediscussed.
AmongthePolishstudentsIdidnothaveanycompanionsinmystudies.Nevertheless,myrelationswiththeirsmallcolonyhadacertainintimacy.Fromtimetotimewewouldgatherinoneanother'sbarerooms,wherewecouldtalkovernationalquestionsandfeellessisolated.Wewouldalsogoforwalkstogether,orattendpublicreunions,forwewereallinterestedinpolitics.Bytheendofthefirstyear,however,Iwasforcedtogiveuptheserelationships,forIfoundthatallmyenergyhadtobeconcentratedonmystudies,inordertoachievethemassoonaspossible.Iwasevenobligedtodevotemostofmyvacationtimetomathematics.
Mypersistenteffortswerenotinvain.Iwasabletomakeupforthedeficiencyofmytrainingandtopassexaminationsatthesametimewiththeotherstudents.Ievenhadthesatisfactionofgraduatinginfirstrankas"licencieeessciencesphysiques"in,andinsecondrankas"licencieeessciencesmathematiques"in,.
Mybrother-in-law,recallinglatertheseyearsofworkundertheconditionsIhavejustdescribed,jokinglyreferredtothemas"theheroicperiodofmysister-in-law'slife."Formyself,Ishallalwaysconsideroneofthebestmemoriesofmylifethatperiodofsolitaryyearsexclusivelydevotedtothestudies,finallywithinmyreach,forwhichIhadwaitedsolong.
ItwasinthatIfirstmetPierreCurie.Oneofmycompatriots,aprofessorattheUniversityofFribourg,havingcalleduponme,invitedmetohishome,withayoungphysicistofParis,whomheknewandesteemedhighly.UponenteringtheroomIperceived,standingframedbytheFrenchwindowopeningonthebalcony,atallyoungmanwithauburnhairandlarge,limpideyes.Inoticedthegraveandgentleexpressionofhisface,aswellasacertainabandoninhisattitude,suggestingthedreamerabsorbedinhisreflections.Heshowedmeasimplecordialityandseemedtomeverysympathetic.AfterthatfirstinterviewheexpressedthedesiretoseemeagainandtocontinueourconversationofthateveningonscientificandsocialsubjectsinwhichheandIwerebothinterested,andonwhichweseemedtohavesimilaropinions.
Sometimelater,hecametomeinmystudentroomandwebecamegoodfriends.Hedescribedtomehisdays,filledwithwork,andhisdreamofanexistenceentirelydevotedtoscience.Hewasnotlonginaskingmetosharethatexistence,butIcouldnotdecideatonce;Ihesitatedbeforeadecisionthatmeantabandoningmycountryandmyfamily.
IwentbacktoPolandformyvacation,withoutknowingwhetherornotIwastoreturntoParis.Butcircumstancespermittedmeagaintotakeupmyworkthereintheautumnofthatyear.IenteredoneofthephysicslaboratoriesattheSorbonne,tobeginexperimentalresearchinpreparationformydoctor'sthesis.
AgainIsawPierreCurie.Ourworkdrewuscloserandcloser,untilwewerebothconvincedthatneitherofuscouldfindabetterlifecompanion.Soourmarriagewasdecideduponandtookplacealittlelater,inJuly,.
PierreCuriehadjustreceivedhisdoctor'sdegreeandhadbeenmadeprofessorintheSchoolofPhysicsandChemistryoftheCityofParis.Hewasthirty-sixyearsold,andalreadyaphysicistknownandappreciatedinFranceandabroad.Solelypreoccupiedwithscientificinvestigation,hehadpaidlittleattentiontohiscareer,andhismaterialresourceswereverymodest.HelivedatSceaux,inthesuburbsofParis,withhisoldparents,whomhelovedtenderly,andwhomhedescribedas"exquisite"thefirsttimehespoketomeaboutthem.Infact,theywereso:thefatherwasanelderlyphysicianofhighintellectandstrongcharacter,andthemotherthemostexcellentofwomen,entirelydevotedtoherhusbandandhersons.Pierre'selderbrother,whowasthenprofessorattheUniversityofMontpellier,wasalwayshisbestfriend.SoIhadtheprivilegeofenteringintoafamilyworthyofaffectionandesteem,andwhereIfoundthewarmestwelcome.
Weweremarriedinthesimplestway.Iworenounusualdressonmymarriageday,andonlyafewfriendswerepresentattheceremony,butIhadthejoyofhavingmyfatherandmysecondsistercomefromPoland.
Wedidnotcareformorethanaquietplaceinwhichtoliveandtowork,andwerehappytofindalittleapartmentofthreeroomswithabeautifulviewofagarden.Afewpiecesoffurniturecametousfromourparents.Withamoneygiftfromarelativeweacquiredtwobicyclestotakeusoutintothecountry.