第6章

Allhervisitors，especiallythosewhohadmissedavisit，cametobidhergood-bye；thesalonwasthronged，andeveryonesaidfarewellasthoughshewerestartingforCalcutta。Thenextdaytheshopkeeperswouldstandattheirdoorstoseetheoldcarriolepass，andtheyseemedtobetellingoneanothersomenewsbyrepeatingfromshoptoshop:——

"SoMademoiselleCormonisgoingtoPrebaudet!"

Somesaid:"HERbreadisbaked。"

"Hey!mylad，"repliedthenextman。"She"saworthywoman；ifmoneyalwayscameintosuchhandsweshouldn"tseeabeggarinthecountry。"

Anothersaid:"Dearme，Ishouldn"tbesurprisedifthevineyardswereinbloom；here"sMademoiselleCormongoingtoPrebaudet。Howhappensitshedoesn"tmarry？"

"I"dmarryhermyself，"saidawag；"infact，themarriageishalf-

made，forhere"soneconsentingparty；buttheothersidewon"t。Pooh!

theovenisheatingforMonsieurduBousquier。"

"MonsieurduBousquier!Why，shehasrefusedhim。"

Thateveningatallthegatheringsitwastoldgravely:——

"MademoiselleCormonhasgone。"

Or:——

"SoyouhavereallyletMademoiselleCormongo。"

TheWednesdaychosenbySuzannetomakeknownherscandalhappenedtobethisfarewellWednesday，——adayonwhichMademoiselleCormondroveJosettedistractedonthesubjectofpacking。Duringthemorning，therefore，thingshadbeensaidanddoneinthetownwhichlenttheutmostinteresttothisfarewellmeeting。MadameGransonhadgonetheroundofadozenhouseswhiletheoldmaidwasdeliberatingonthethingssheneededforthejourney；andthemaliciousChevalierdeValoiswasplayingpiquetwithMademoiselleArmande，sisterofadistinguishedoldmarquis，andthequeenofthesalonofthearistocrats。Ifitwasnotuninterestingtoanyonetoseewhatfiguretheseducerwouldcutthatevening，itwasallimportantforthechevalierandMadameGransontoknowhowMademoiselleCormonwouldtakethenewsinherdoublecapacityofmarriageablewomanandpresidentoftheMaternitySociety。AsfortheinnocentduBousquier，hewastakingawalkonthepromenade，andbeginningtosuspectthatSuzannehadtrickedhim；thissuspicionconfirmedhiminhisprinciplesastowomen。

OngaladaysthetablewaslaidatMademoiselleCormon"sabouthalf-

pastthreeo"clock。AtthatperiodthefashionablepeopleofAlencondinedatfour。UndertheEmpiretheystilldinedasinformertimesathalf-pasttwo；butthentheysupped!OneofthepleasureswhichMademoiselleCormonvaluedmostwas(withoutmeaninganymalice，althoughthefactcertainlyrestsonegotism)theunspeakablesatisfactionshederivedfromseeingherselfdressedasmistressofthehousetoreceiveherguests。Whenshewasthusunderarmsarayofhopewouldglideintothedarknessofherheart；avoicetoldherthatnaturehadnotsoabundantlyprovidedforherinvain，andthatsomeman，braveandenterprising，wouldsurelypresenthimself。Herdesirewasrefreshedlikeherperson；shecontemplatedherselfinherheavystuffswithasortofintoxication，andthissatisfactioncontinuedwhenshedescendedthestairstocastherredoubtableeyeonthesalon，thedinner-table，andtheboudoir。Shewouldthenwalkaboutwiththenaivecontentmentoftherich，——whorememberatallmomentsthattheyarerichandwillneverwantforanything。Shelookedathereternalfurniture，hercuriosities，herlacquers，andsaidtoherselfthatallthesefinethingswantedwasamaster。Afteradmiringthedining-room，andtheoblongdinner-table，onwhichwasspreadasnow-

whiteclothadornedwithtwentycoversplacedatequaldistances；

afterverifyingthesquadronofbottlesshehadorderedtobebroughtup，andwhichallborehonorablelabels；aftercarefullyverifyingthenameswrittenonlittlebitsofpaperinthetremblinghandwritingoftheabbe(theonlydutyheassumedinthehousehold，andonewhichgaverisetogravediscussionsontheplaceofeachguest)，——aftergoingthroughallthesepreliminaryactsmademoisellewent，inherfineclothes，toheruncle，whowasaccustomedatthis，thebesthourintheday，totakehiswalkontheterracewhichoverlookedtheBrillante，wherehecouldlistentothewarbleofbirdswhichwererestinginthecoppice，unafraidofeithersportsmenorchildren。AtsuchtimesofwaitingsheneverjoinedtheAbbedeSpondewithoutaskinghimsomeridiculousquestion，inordertodrawtheoldmanintoadiscussionwhichmightservetoamusehim。Andherreasonwasthis，——whichwillservetocompleteourpictureofthisexcellentwoman"snature:——

MademoiselleCormonregardeditasoneofherdutiestotalk；notthatshewastalkative，forshehadunfortunatelytoofewideas，anddidnotknowenoughphrasestoconversereadily。Butshebelievedshewasaccomplishingoneofthesocialdutiesenjoinedbyreligion，whichordersustomakeourselvesagreeabletoourneighbor。Thisobligationcosthersomuchthatsheconsultedherdirector，theAbbeCouturier，uponthesubjectofthishonestbutpuerilecivility。Inspiteofthehumbleremarkofhispenitent，confessingtheinwardlaborofhermindinfindinganythingtosay，theoldpriest，rigidonthepointofdiscipline，readherapassagefromSaint-FrancoisdeSalesonthedutiesofwomeninsociety，whichdweltonthedecentgayetyofpiousChristianwomen，whowereboundtoreservetheirsternnessforthemselves，andtobeamiableandpleasingintheirhomes，andseethattheirneighborsenjoyedthemselves。Thus，filledwithasenseofduty，andwishing，atallcosts，toobeyherdirector，whobadeherconversewithamenity，thepoorsoulperspiredinhercorsetwhenthetalkaroundherlanguished，somuchdidshesufferfromtheeffortofemittingideasinordertoreviveit。Undersuchcircumstancesshewouldputforththesillieststatements，suchas:"Noonecanbeintwoplacesatonce——unlessitisalittlebird，"bywhichsheonedayroused，andnotwithoutsuccess，adiscussionontheubiquityoftheapostles，whichshewasunabletocomprehend。Sucheffortsatconversationwonhertheappellationof"thatgoodMademoiselleCormon，"which，fromthelipsofthebeauxespritsofsociety，meansthatshewasasignorantasacarp，andratherapoorfool；butmanypersonsofherowncalibretooktheremarkinitsliteralsense，andanswered:——

"Yes；ohyes!MademoiselleCormonisanexcellentwoman。"

Sometimesshewouldputsuchabsurdquestions(alwaysforthepurposeoffulfillingherdutiestosociety，andmakingherselfagreeabletoherguests)thateverybodyburstoutlaughing。Sheasked，forinstance，whatthegovernmentdidwiththetaxestheywerealwaysreceiving；andwhytheBiblehadnotbeenprintedinthedaysofJesusChrist，inasmuchasitwaswrittenbyMoses。HermentalpowerswerethoseoftheEnglish"countrygentleman"who，hearingconstantmentionof"posterity"intheHouseofCommons，rosetomakethespeechthathassincebecomecelebrated:"Gentlemen，"hesaid，"IhearmuchtalkinthisplaceaboutPosterity。IshouldbegladtoknowwhatthatpowerhaseverdoneforEngland。"

UnderthesecircumstancestheheroicChevalierdeValoiswouldbringtothesuccoroftheoldmaidallthepowersofhiscleverdiplomacy，wheneverhesawthepitilesssmileofwiserheads。Theoldgentleman，wholovedtoassistwomen，turnedMademoiselleCormon"ssayingsintowitbysustainingthemparadoxically，andheoftencoveredtheretreatsowellthatitseemedasifthegoodwomanhadsaidnothingsilly。

Sheassertedveryseriouslyoneeveningthatshedidnotseeanydifferencebetweenanoxandabull。Thedearchevalierinstantlyarrestedthepealsoflaughterbyassertingthattherewasonlythedifferencebetweenasheepandalamb。

ButtheChevalierdeValoisservedanungratefuldame，forneverdidMademoiselleCormoncomprehendhischivalrousservices。Observingthattheconversationgrewlively，shesimplythoughtthatshewasnotsostupidasshewas，——theresultbeingthatshesettleddownintoherignorancewithsomecomplacency；shelosthertimidity，andacquiredaself-possessionwhichgavetoher"speeches"somethingofthesolemnitywithwhichtheBritishenunciatetheirpatrioticabsurdities，——theself-conceitofstupidity，asitmaybecalled。

Assheapproachedheruncle，onthisoccasion，withamajesticstep，shewasruminatingoveraquestionthatmightdrawhimfromasilence，whichalwaystroubledher，forshefearedhewasdull。

"Uncle，"shesaid，leaningonhisarmandclingingtohisside(thiswasoneofherfictions；forshesaidtoherself"IfIhadahusbandI

shoulddojustso")，——"uncle，ifeverythingherebelowhappensaccordingtothewillofGod，theremustbeareasonforeverything。"

"Certainly，"repliedtheabbe，gravely。Theworthyman，whocherishedhisniece，alwaysallowedhertotearhimfromhismeditationswithangelicpatience。

"ThenifIremainunmarried，——supposingthatIdo，——Godwillsit？"

"Yes，mychild，"repliedtheabbe。

"Andyet，asnothingpreventsmefrommarryingto-morrowifIchoose，Hiswillcanbedestroyedbymine？"

"ThatwouldbetrueifweknewwhatwasreallythewillofGod，"

repliedtheformerprioroftheSorbonne。"Observe，mydaughter，thatyouputinanIF。"

Thepoorwoman，whoexpectedtodrawheruncleintoamatrimonialdiscussionbyanargumentadomnipotentem，wasstupefied；butpersonsofobtusemindhavetheterriblelogicofchildren，whichconsistsinturningfromanswertoquestion，——alogicthatisfrequentlyembarrassing。

"But，uncle，Goddidnotmakewomenintendingthemnottomarry；

otherwisetheyoughtalltostayunmarried；ifnot，theyoughtalltomarry。There"sgreatinjusticeinthedistributionofparts。"

"Daughter，"saidtheworthyabbe，"youareblamingtheChurch，whichdeclarescelibacytobethebetterwaytoGod。"

"ButiftheChurchisright，andalltheworldweregoodCatholics，wouldn"tthehumanracecometoanend，uncle？"

"Youhavetoomuchmind，Rose；youdon"tneedsomuchtobehappy。"

Thatremarkbroughtasmileofsatisfactiontothelipsofthepoorwoman，andconfirmedherinthegoodopinionshewasbeginningtoacquireaboutherself。Thatishowtheworld，ourfriends，andourenemiesaretheaccomplicesofourdefects!

Atthismomenttheconversationwasinterruptedbythesuccessivearrivaloftheguests。Ontheseceremonialdays，friendlyfamiliaritieswereexchangedbetweentheservantsofthehouseandthecompany。Marietteremarkedtothechief-justiceashepassedthekitchen:——

"Ah，MonsieurduRonceret，I"vecookedthecauliflowersaugratinexpresslyforyou，formademoiselleknowshowyoulikethem；andshesaidtome:"Nowdon"tforget，Mariette，forMonsieurduRonceretiscoming。""

"ThatgoodMademoiselleCormon!"ejaculatedthechieflegalauthorityofthetown。"Mariette，didyousteepthemingravyinsteadofsoup-

stock？itismuchricher。"

Thechief-justicewasnotaboveenteringthechamberofcouncilwhereMarietteheldcourt；hecasttheeyeofagastronomearoundit，andofferedtheadviceofapastmasterincookery。

"Good-day，madame，"saidJosettetoMadameGranson，whocourtedthemaid。"Mademoisellehasthoughtofyou，andthere"sfishfordinner。"

AsfortheChevalierdeValois，heremarkedtoMariette，intheeasytoneofagreatseigneurwhocondescendstobefamiliar:——

"Well，mydearcordon-bleu，towhomIshouldgivethecrossoftheLegionofhonor，istheresomelittledaintyforwhichIhadbetterreservemyself？"

"Yes，yes，MonsieurdeValois，——aharesentfromPrebaudet；weighsfourteenpounds。"

DuBousquierwasnotinvited。MademoiselleCormon，faithfultothesystemwhichweknowof，treatedthatfifty-year-oldsuitorextremelyill，althoughshefeltinexplicablesentimentstowardshiminthedepthsofherheart。Shehadrefusedhim；yetattimessherepented；

andapresentimentthatsheshouldyetmarryhim，togetherwithaterrorattheideawhichpreventedherfromwishingforthemarriage，assailedher。Hermind，stimulatedbythesefeelings，wasmuchoccupiedbyduBousquier。Withoutbeingawareofit，shewasinfluencedbytheherculeanformoftherepublican。MadameGransonandtheChevalierdeValois，althoughtheycouldnotexplaintothemselvesMademoiselleCormon"sinconsistencies，haddetectedhernaiveglancesinthatdirection，themeaningofwhichseemedclearenoughtomakethembothresolvetoruinthehopesofthealreadyrejectedpurveyor，——hopeswhichitwasevidenthestillindulged。

Twoguests，whosefunctionsexcusedthem，keptthedinnerwaiting。OnewasMonsieurduCoudrai，therecorderofmortgages；theotherMonsieurChoisnel，formerbailifftothehouseofEsgrignon，andnowthenotaryoftheupperaristocracy，bywhomhewasreceivedwithadistinctionduetohisvirtues；hewasalsoamanofconsiderablewealth。Whenthetwobelatedguestsarrived，Jacquelinsaidtothemashesawthemabouttoenterthesalon:——

"THEYareallinthegarden。"

Nodoubttheassembledstomachswereimpatient；forontheappearanceoftheregisterofmortgages——whohadnodefectexceptthatofhavingmarriedforhermoneyanintolerableoldwoman，andofperpetratingendlesspuns，atwhichhewasthefirsttolaugh——thegentlemurmurbywhichsuchlate-comersarewelcomedarose。Whileawaitingtheofficialannouncementofdinner，thecompanyweresaunteringontheterraceabovetheriver，andgazingatthewater-plants，themosaicofthecurrents，andthevariousprettydetailsofthehousesclusteringacrosstheriver，theiroldwoodengalleries，theirmoulderingwindow-

frames，theirlittlegardenswhereclothesweredrying，thecabinet-

maker"sshop，——inshort，themanydetailsofasmallcommunitytowhichthevicinityofariver，aweepingwillow，flowers，rose-bushes，addedacertaingrace，makingthescenequiteworthyofalandscapepainter。

Thechevalierstudiedallfaces，forheknewthathisfirebrandhadbeenverysuccessfullyintroducedintothechiefhousesoftheplace。

ButnooneasyetreferredopenlytothegreatnewsofSuzanneandduBousquier。Provincialspossessinthehighestdegreetheartofdistillinggossip；therightmomentforopenlydiscussingthisstrangeaffairhadnotarrived；itwasfirstnecessarythatallpresentshouldputthemselvesonrecord。Sothewhisperswentroundfromeartoear:——

"Youhaveheard？"

"Yes。"

"DuBousquier？"

"AndthathandsomeSuzanne。"

"DoesMademoiselleCormonknowofit？"

"No。"

"Ha!"

ThiswasthePIANOofthescandal；theRINFORZANDOwouldbreakforthassoonasthefirstcoursehadbeenremoved。SuddenlyMonsieurdeValois"seyeslightedonMadameGranson，arrayedinhergreenhatwithbunchesofauriculas，andbeamingwithevidentjoy。Wasitmerelythejoyofopeningtheconcert？Thoughsuchapieceofnewswaslikeagoldminetoworkinthemonotonouslivesofthesepersonages，theobservantanddistrustfulchevalierthoughtherecognizedintheworthywomanafarmoreextendedsentiment；namely，thejoycausedbythetriumphofself-interest。InstantlyheturnedtoexamineAthanase，anddetectedhiminthesignificantsilenceofdeepmeditation。

Presently，alookcastbytheyoungmanonMademoiselleCormoncarriedtothesoulofthechevalierasuddengleam。Thatmomentaryflashoflightningenabledhimtoreadthepast。

"Ha!thedevil!"hesaidtohimself；"whatacheckmateI"mexposedto!"

MonsieurdeValoisnowapproachedMademoiselleCormon，andofferedhisarm。Theoldmaid"sfeelingtothechevalierwasthatofrespectfulconsideration；andcertainlyhisname，togetherwiththepositionheoccupiedamongthearistocraticconstellationsofthedepartmentmadehimthemostbrilliantornamentofhersalon。InherinmostmindMademoiselleCormonhadwishedforthelastdozenyearstobecomeMadamedeValois。Thatnamewaslikethebranchofatree，towhichtheideaswhichSWARMEDinhermindaboutrank，nobility，andtheexternalqualitiesofahusbandhadfastened。But，thoughtheChevalierdeValoiswasthemanchosenbyherheart，andmind，andambition，thatelderlyruin，combedandcurledlikealittleSaint-

Johninaprocession，alarmedMademoiselleCormon。Shesawthegentlemaninhim，butshecouldnotseeahusband。Theindifferencewhichthechevalieraffectedastomarriage，aboveall，theapparentpurityofhismoralsinahousewhichaboundedingrisettes，didsingularharminhermindtoMonsieurdeValoisagainsthisexpectations。Theworthyman，whoshowedsuchjudgmentinthematterofhisannuity，wasatfaulthere。Withoutbeingherselfawareofit，thethoughtsofMademoiselleCormononthetoovirtuouschevaliermightbetranslatedthus:——

"Whatapitythatheisn"tatrifledissipated!"

Observersofthehumanhearthaveremarkedtheleaningofpiouswomentowardscamps；somehaveexpressedsurpriseatthistaste，consideringitopposedtoChristianvirtue。But，inthefirstplace，whatnoblerdestinycanyouoffertoavirtuouswomanthantopurify，likecharcoal，themuddywatersofvice？Howisitsomeobserversfailtoseethatthesenoblecreatures，obligedbythesternnessoftheirownprinciplesnevertoinfringeonconjugalfidelity，mustnaturallydesireahusbandofwiderpracticalexperiencethantheirown？Thescampsofsociallifearegreatmeninlove。Thusthepoorwomangroanedinspiritatfindingherchosenvesselpartedintotwopieces。

GodalonecouldsoldertogetheraChevalierdeValoisandaduBousquier。

InordertoexplaintheimportanceofthefewwordswhichthechevalierandMademoiselleCormonareabouttosaytoeachother，itisnecessarytorevealtwoseriousmatterswhichagitatedthetown，andaboutwhichopinionsweredivided；besides，duBousquierwasmysteriouslyconnectedwiththem。

OneconcernstherectorofAlencon，whohadformerlytakentheconstitutionaloath，andwhowasnowconqueringtherepugnanceoftheCatholicsbyadisplayofthehighestvirtues。HewasCheverusonasmallscale，andbecameintimesofullyappreciatedthatwhenhediedthewholetownmournedhim。MademoiselleCormonandtheAbbedeSpondebelongedtothat"littleChurch，"sublimeinitsorthodoxy，whichwastothecourtofRomewhattheUltrasweretobetoLouisXVIII。Theabbe，moreespecially，refusedtorecognizeaChurchwhichhadcompromisedwiththeconstitutionals。TherectorwasthereforenotreceivedintheCormonhousehold，whosesympathieswereallgiventothecurateofSaint-Leonard，thearistocraticparishofAlencon。DuBousquier，thatfanaticliberalnowconcealedundertheskinofaroyalist，knowinghownecessaryrallyingpointsaretoalldiscontents(whicharereallyatthebottomofalloppositions)，haddrawnthesympathiesofthemiddleclassesaroundtherector。Somuchforthefirstcase；thesecondwasthis:——

UnderthesecretinspirationofduBousquiertheideaofbuildingatheatrehaddawnedonAlencon。ThehenchmenofthepurveyordidnotknowtheirMohammed；andtheythoughttheywereardentincarryingouttheirownconception。AthanaseGransonwasoneofthewarmestpartisansforthetheatre；andoflatehehadurgedatthemayor"sofficeacausewhichalltheotheryoungclerkshadeagerlyadopted。

Thechevalier，aswehavesaid，offeredhisarmtotheoldmaidforaturnontheterrace。Sheacceptedit，notwithoutthankinghimbyahappylookforthisattention，towhichthechevalierrepliedbymotioningtowardAthanasewithameaningeye。

"Mademoiselle，"hebegan，"youhavesomuchsenseandjudgmentinsocialproprieties，andalso，youareconnectedwiththatyoungmanbycertainties——"

"Distantones，"shesaid，interruptinghim。

"Oughtyounot，"hecontinued，"tousetheinfluenceyouhaveoverhismotherandoverhimselfbysavinghimfromperdition？Heisnotveryreligious，asyouknow；indeedheapprovesoftherector；butthatisnotall；thereissomethingfarmoreserious；isn"thethrowinghimselfheadlongintoanoppositionwithoutconsideringwhatinfluencehispresentconductmayexertuponhisfuture？Heisworkingfortheconstructionofatheatre。InthisaffairheissimplythedupeofthatdisguisedrepublicanduBousquier——"

"Goodgracious!MonsieurdeValois，"shereplied；"hismotherisalwaystellingmehehassomuchmind，andyethecan"tsaytwowords；

hestandsplantedbeforemeasmumasapost——"

"Whichdoesn"tthinkatall!"criedtherecorderofmortgages。"I

caughtyourwordsonthefly。IpresentmycomplimentstoMonsieurdeValois，"headded，bowingtothatgentlemanwithmuchemphasis。

Thechevalierreturnedthesalutationstiffly，anddrewMademoiselleCormontowardsomeflower-potsatalittledistance，inordertoshowtheinterrupterthathedidnotchoosetobespiedupon。

"Howisitpossible，"hecontinued，loweringhisvoice，andleaningtowardsMademoiselleCormon"sear，"thatayoungmanbroughtupinthosedetestablelyceumsshouldhaveideas？Onlysoundmoralsandnoblehabitswilleverproducegreatideasandatruelove。Itiseasytoseebyamerelookathimthatthepoorladislikelytobeimbecile，andcome，perhaps，tosomesadend。Seehowpaleandhaggardheis!"

"Hismotherdeclaresheworkstoohard，"repliedtheoldmaid，innocently。"Hesitsuplate，andforwhat？readingbooksandwriting!

Whatbusinessoughttorequireayoungmantowriteatnight？"

"Itexhaustshim，"repliedthechevalier，tryingtobringtheoldmaid"sthoughtsbacktothegroundwherehehopedtoinspireherwithhorrorforheryouthfullover。"ThemoralsofthoseImperiallyceumsarereallyshocking。"

"Oh，yes!"saidtheingenuouscreature。"Theymarchthepupilsaboutwithdrumsattheirhead。Themastershavenomorereligionthanpagans。Andtheyputthepoorladsinuniform，asiftheyweretroops。

Whatideas!"

"Andbeholdtheproduct!"saidthechevalier，motioningtoAthanase。

"Inmyday，youngmenwerenotsoshyoflookingataprettywoman。Asforhim，hedropshiseyeswheneverheseesyou。ThatyoungmanfrightensmebecauseIamreallyinterestedinhim。TellhimnottointriguewiththeBonapartists，asheisnowdoingaboutthattheatre。

Whenallthesepettyfolksceasetoaskforitinsurrectionally，——

whichtomymindisthesynonymofconstitutionally，——thegovernmentwillbuildit。Besideswhich，tellhismothertokeepaneyeonhim。"

"Oh，I"msureshewillpreventhimfromseeingthosehalf-pay，questionablepeople。I"lltalktoher，"saidMademoiselleCormon，"forhemightlosehisplaceinthemayor"soffice；andthenwhatwouldheandhismotherhavetoliveon？Itmakesmeshudder。"

AsMonsieurdeTalleyrandsaidofhiswife，sothechevaliersaidtohimself，lookingatMademoiselleCormon:——

"Findmeanotherasstupid!Goodpowers!isn"tvirtuewhichdrivesoutintellectvice？Butwhatanadorablewifeforamanofmyage!Whatprinciples!whatignorance!"