第3章

\"Come，don\'ttalknonsense，Suzanne，\"repliedduBousquier；\"IreallythinkIamstilldreaming。\" \"Howmuchmorerealitydoyouwant？\"criedSuzanne，standingup。 DuBousquierrubbedhiscottonnight-captothetopofhisheadwitharotatorymotion，whichplainlyindicatedthetremendousfermentationofhisideas。 \"Heactuallybelievesit!\"thoughtSuzanne，\"andhe\'sflattered。 Heaven!howeasyitistogullmen!\" \"Suzanne，whatthedevilmustIdo？Itissoextraordinary——I，whothought——Thefactisthat——No，no，itcan\'tbe——\" \"What？youcan\'tmarryme？\" \"Oh!asforthat，no；Ihaveengagements。\" \"WithMademoiselleArmandeorMademoiselleCormon，whohavebothrefusedyou？Listentome，MonsieurduBousquier，myhonordoesn\'tneedgendarmestodragyoutothemayor\'soffice。Isha\'n\'tlackforhusbands，thankgoodness!andIdon\'twantamanwhocan\'tappreciatewhatI\'mworth。Butsomedayyou\'llrepentofthewayyouarebehaving；forItellyounowthatnothingonearth，neithergoldnorsilver，willinducemetoreturnthegoodthingthatbelongstoyou，ifyourefusetoacceptitto-day。\" \"But，Suzanne，areyousure？\" \"Oh，monsieur!\"criedthegrisette，wrappinghervirtueroundher，\"whatdoyoutakemefor？Idon\'tremindyouofthepromisesyoumademe，whichhaveruinedapooryounggirlwhoseonlyblamewastohaveasmuchambitionaslove。\" DuBousquierwastornwithconflictingsentiments，joy，distrust，calculation。HehadlongdeterminedtomarryMademoiselleCormon；fortheCharter，onwhichhehadjustbeenruminating，offeredtohisambition，throughthehalfofherproperty，thepoliticalcareerofadeputy。Besides，hismarriagewiththeoldmaidwouldputhimsociallysohighinthetownthathewouldhavegreatinfluence。Consequently，thestormupraisedbythatmaliciousSuzannedrovehimintothewildestembarrassment。Withoutthissecretscheme，hewouldhavemarriedSuzannewithouthesitation。Inwhichcase，hecouldopenlyassumetheleadershipoftheliberalpartyinAlencon。Aftersuchamarriagehewould，ofcourse，renouncethebestsocietyandtakeupwiththebourgeoisclassoftradesmen，richmanufacturersandgraziers，whowouldcertainlycarryhimintriumphastheircandidate。 DuBousquieralreadyforesawtheLeftside。 Thissolemndeliberationhedidnotconceal；herubbedhishandsoverhishead，displacingthecapwhichcovereditsdisastrousbaldness。 Suzanne，meantime，likeallthosepersonswhosucceedbeyondtheirhopes，wassilentandamazed。Tohideherastonishment，sheassumedthemelancholyposeofaninjuredgirlatthemercyofherseducer； inwardlyshewaslaughinglikeagrisetteatherclevertrick。 \"Mydearchild，\"saidduBousquieratlength，\"I\'mnottobetakeninwithsuchBOSH，notI!\" SuchwasthecurtremarkwhichendedduBousquier\'smeditation。Heplumedhimselfonbelongingtotheclassofcynicalphilosopherswhocouldneverbe\"takenin\"bywomen，——puttingthem，oneandall，untothesamecategory，asSUSPICIOUS。Thesestrong-mindedpersonsareusuallyweakmenwhohaveaspecialcatechisminthematterofwomenkind。Tothemthewholesex，fromqueensofFrancetomilliners，areessentiallydepraved，licentious，intriguing，notalittlerascally，fundamentallydeceitful，andincapableofthoughtaboutanythingbuttrifles。Tothem，womenareevil-doingqueens，whomustbeallowedtodanceandsingandlaughastheyplease；theyseenothingsacredorsaintlyinthem，noranythinggrand；tothemthereisnopoetryinthesenses，onlygrosssensuality。Wheresuchjurisprudenceprevails，ifawomanisnotperpetuallytyrannizedover，shereducesthemantotheconditionofaslave。UnderthisaspectduBousquierwasagaintheantithesisofthechevalier。Whenhemadehisfinalremark，heflunghisnight-captothefootofthebed，asPopeGregorydidthetaperwhenhefulminatedanexcommunication；SuzannethenlearnedforthefirsttimethatduBousquierworeatoupetcoveringhisbaldspot。 \"Pleasetoremember，MonsieurduBousquier，\"sherepliedmajestically，\"thatincomingheretotellyouofthismatterIhavedonemyduty； rememberthatIhaveofferedyoumyhand，andaskedforyours；butrememberalsothatIbehavedwiththedignityofawomanwhorespectsherself。Ihavenotabasedmyselftoweeplikeasillyfool；Ihavenotinsisted；Ihavenottormentedyou。Younowknowmysituation。YoumustseethatIcannotstayinAlencon:mymotherwouldbeatme，andMadameLardotridesahobbyofprinciples；she\'llturnmeoff。Poorwork-girlthatIam，mustIgotothehospital？mustIbegmybread？ No!I\'dratherthrowmyselfintotheBrillanteortheSarthe。Butisn\'titbetterthatIshouldgotoParis？Mymothercouldfindanexcusetosendmethere，——anunclewhowantsme，oradyingaunt，oraladywhosendsforme。ButImusthavesomemoneyforthejourneyandfor——youknowwhat。\" ThisextraordinarypieceofnewswasfarmorestartlingtoduBousquierthantotheChevalierdeValois。Suzanne\'sfictionintroducedsuchconfusionintotheideasoftheoldbachelorthathewasliterallyincapableofsoberreflection。Withoutthisagitationandwithouthisinwarddelight(forvanityisaswindlerwhichneverfailsofitsdupe)，hewouldcertainlyhavereflectedthat，supposingitweretrue，agirllikeSuzanne，whoseheartwasnotyetspoiled，wouldhavediedathousanddeathsbeforebeginningadiscussionofthiskindandaskingformoney。 \"WillyoureallygotoParis，then？\"hesaid。 AflashofgayetylightedSuzanne\'sgrayeyesassheheardthesewords；buttheself-satisfiedduBousquiersawnothing。 \"Yes，monsieur，\"shesaid。 DuBousquierthenbeganbitterlamentations:hehadthelastpaymentstomakeonhishouse；thepainter，themason，theupholsterersmustbepaid。Suzannelethimrunon；shewaslisteningforthefigures。DuBousquierofferedherthreehundredfrancs。Suzannemadewhatiscalledonthestageafalseexit；thatis，shemarchedtowardthedoor。 \"Stop，stop!whereareyougoing？\"saidduBousquier，uneasily。\"Thisiswhatcomesofabachelor\'slife!\"thoughthe。\"ThedeviltakemeifIeverdidanythingmorethanrumplehercollar，and，loandbehold! shemakesTHATagroundtoputherhandinone\'spocket!\" \"I\'mgoing，monsieur，\"repliedSuzanne，\"toMadameGranson，thetreasureroftheMaternitySociety，who，tomyknowledge，hassavedmanyapoorgirlinmyconditionfromsuicide。\" \"MadameGranson!\" \"Yes，\"saidSuzanne，\"arelationofMademoiselleCormon，thepresidentoftheMaternitySociety。Savingyourpresence，theladiesofthetownhavecreatedaninstitutiontoprotectpoorcreaturesfromdestroyingtheirinfants，likethathandsomeFaustineofArgentanwhowasexecutedforitthreeyearsago。\" \"Here，Suzanne，\"saidduBousquier，givingherakey，\"openthatsecretary，andtakeoutthebagyou\'llfindthere:there\'saboutsixhundredfrancsinit；itisallIpossess。\" \"Oldcheat!\"thoughtSuzanne，doingashetoldher，\"I\'lltellaboutyourfalsetoupet。\" ShecomparedduBousquierwiththatcharmingchevalier，whohadgivenhernothing，itistrue，butwhohadcomprehendedher，advisedher，andcarriedallgrisettesinhisheart。 \"Ifyoudeceiveme，Suzanne，\"criedduBousquier，ashesawherwithherhandinthedrawer，\"you——\" \"Monsieur，\"shesaid，interruptinghimwithineffableimpertinence，\"wouldn\'tyouhavegivenmemoneyifIhadaskedforit？\" Recalledtoasenseofgallantry，duBousquierhadaremembranceofpasthappinessandgruntedhisassent。Suzannetookthebaganddeparted，afterallowingtheoldbachelortokissher，whichhedidwithanairthatseemedtosay，\"Itisarightwhichcostsmedear； butitisbetterthanbeingharriedbyalawyerinthecourtofassizesastheseducerofagirlaccusedofinfanticide。\" Suzannehidthesackinasortofgamebagmadeofosierwhichshehadonherarm，allthewhilecursingduBousquierforhisstinginess；foronethousandfrancswasthesumshewanted。Oncetemptedofthedeviltodesirethatsum，agirlwillgofarwhenshehassetfootonthepathoftrickery。AsshemadeherwayalongtherueduBercail，itcameintoherheadthattheMaternitySociety，presidedoverbyMademoiselleCormon，mightbeinducedtocompletethesumatwhichshehadreckonedherjourneytoParis，whichtoagrisetteofAlenconseemedconsiderable。Besides，shehatedduBousquier。ThelatterhadevidentlyfearedarevelationofhissupposedmisconducttoMadameGranson；andSuzanne，attheriskofnotgettingapennyfromthesociety，waspossessedwiththedesire，onleavingAlencon，ofentanglingtheoldbachelorintheinextricablemeshesofaprovincialslander。Inallgrisettesthereissomethingofthemalevolentmischiefofamonkey。Accordingly，SuzannenowwenttoseeMadameGranson，composingherfacetoanexpressionofthedeepestdejection。 CHAPTERIII ATHANASE MadameGranson，widowofalieutenant-colonelofartillerykilledatJena，possessed，asherwholemeansoflivelihood，ameagrepensionofninehundredfrancsayear，andthreehundredfrancsfrompropertyofherown，plusasonwhosesupportandeducationhadeatenupallhersavings。Sheoccupied，intherueduBercail，oneofthosemelancholyground-floorapartmentswhichatravellerpassingalongtheprincipalstreetofalittleprovincialtowncanlookthroughataglance。Thestreetdooropenedatthetopofthreesteepsteps；apassageledtoaninteriorcourtyard，attheendofwhichwasthestaircasecoveredbyawoodengallery。Ononesideofthepassagewasthedining-roomandthekitchen；ontheotherside，asalonputtomanyuses，andthewidow\'sbedchamber。 AthanaseGranson，ayoungmantwenty-threeyearsofage，whosleptinanatticroomabovethesecondfloorofthehouse，addedsixhundredfrancstotheincomeofhispoormother，bythesalaryofalittleplacewhichtheinfluenceofhisrelation，MademoiselleCormon，hadobtainedforhiminthemayor\'soffice，wherehewasplacedinchargeofthearchives。 FromtheseindicationsitiseasytoimagineMadameGransoninhercoldsalonwithitsyellowcurtainsandUtrechtvelvetfurniture，alsoyellow，asshestraightenedtheroundstrawmatswhichwereplacedbeforeeachchair，thatvisitorsmightnotsoilthered-tiledfloorwhiletheysatthere；afterwhichshereturnedtohercushionedarmchairandlittlework-tableplacedbeneaththeportraitofthelieutenant-colonelofartillerybetweentwowindows，——apointfromwhichhereyecouldraketherueduBercailandseeallcomers。Shewasagoodwoman，dressedwithbourgeoissimplicityinkeepingwithherwanfacefurrowedbygrief。Therigoroushumblenessofpovertymadeitselffeltinalltheaccessoriesofthishousehold，theveryairofwhichwaschargedwiththesternanduprightmoralsoftheprovinces。Atthismomentthesonandmotherweretogetherinthedining-room，wheretheywerebreakfastingwithacupofcoffee，withbreadandbutterandradishes。TomakethepleasurewhichSuzanne\'svisitwastogivetoMadameGransonintelligible，wemustexplaincertainsecretinterestsofthemotherandson。 AthanaseGransonwasathinandpaleyoungman，ofmediumheight，withahollowfaceinwhichhistwoblackeyes，sparklingwiththoughts，gavetheeffectofbitsofcoal。Theratherirregularlinesofhisface，thecurveofhislips，aprominentchin，thefinemodellingofhisforehead，hismelancholycountenance，causedbyasenseofhispovertywarringwiththepowersthathefeltwithinhim，wereallindicationsofrepressedandimprisonedtalent。InanyotherplacethanthetownofAlenconthemereaspectofhispersonwouldhavewonhimtheassistanceofsuperiormen，orofwomenwhoareabletorecognizegeniusinobscurity。Ifhiswasnotgenius，itwasatanyratetheformandaspectofit；ifhehadnottheactualforceofagreatheart，theglowofsuchaheartwasinhisglance。Althoughhewascapableofexpressingthehighestfeeling，acasingoftimiditydestroyedallthegracesofhisyouth，justastheiceofpovertykepthimfromdaringtoputforthallhispowers。Provinciallife，withoutanopening，withoutappreciation，withoutencouragement，describedacircleabouthiminwhichlanguishedanddiedthepowerofthought，——apowerwhichasyethadscarcelyreacheditsdawn。Moreover，Athanasepossessedthatsavagepridewhichpovertyintensifiesinnobleminds，exaltingthemintheirstrugglewithmenandthings；althoughattheirstartinlifeitisanobstacletotheiradvancement。Geniusproceedsintwoways:eitherittakesitsopportunity——likeNapoleon，likeMoliere——themomentthatitseesit，oritwaitstobesoughtwhenithaspatientlyrevealeditself。YoungGransonbelongedtothatclassofmenoftalentwhodistrustthemselvesandareeasilydiscouraged。Hissoulwascontemplative。Helivedmorebythoughtthanbyaction。 PerhapshemighthaveseemeddeficientorincompletetothosewhocannotconceiveofgeniuswithoutthesparkleofFrenchpassion；buthewaspowerfulintheworldofmind，andhewasliabletoreach，throughaseriesofemotionsimperceptibletocommonsouls，thosesuddendeterminationswhichmakefoolssayofaman，\"Heismad。\" ThecontemptwhichtheworldpoursoutonpovertywasdeathtoAthanase；theenervatingheatofsolitude，withoutabreathorcurrentofair，relaxedthebowwhicheverstrovetotightenitself；hissoulgrewwearyinthispainfuleffortwithoutresults。AthanasewasamanwhomighthavetakenhisplaceamongthegloriesofFrance；but，eagleashewas，coopedinacagewithouthispropernourishment，hewasabouttodieofhungeraftercontemplatingwithanardenteyethefieldsofairandthemountainheightswheregeniussoars。Hisworkinthecitylibraryescapedattention，andheburiedinhissoulhisthoughtsoffame，fearingthattheymightinjurehim；butdeeperthanalllayburiedwithinhimthesecretofhisheart，——apassionwhichhollowedhischeeksandyellowedhisbrow。Helovedhisdistantcousin，thisveryMademoiselleCormonwhomtheChevalierdeValoisandduBousquier，hishiddenrivals，werestalking。Thislovehadhaditsoriginincalculation。MademoiselleCormonwasthoughttobeoneoftherichestpersonsinthetown:thepoorladhadthereforebeenledtoloveherbydesiresformaterialhappiness，bythehope，longindulged，ofgildingwithcomforthismother\'slastyears，byeagerlongingfortheeaseoflifesoneedfultomenwholivebythought； butthismostinnocentpointofdeparturedegradedhispassioninhisowneyes。Moreover，hefearedtheridiculetheworldwouldcastupontheloveofayoungmanoftwenty-threeforanoldmaidofforty。 Andyethispassionwasreal；whatevermayseemfalseaboutsuchaloveelsewhere，itcanberealizedasafactintheprovinces，where，mannersandmoralsbeingwithoutchangeorchanceormovementormystery，marriagebecomesanecessityoflife。Nofamilywillacceptayoungmanofdissolutehabits。Howevernaturaltheliaisonofayoungman，likeAthanase，withahandsomegirl，likeSuzanne，forinstance，mightseeminacapital，italarmsprovincialparents，anddestroysthehopesofmarriageofapooryoungmanwhenpossiblythefortuneofarichonemightcausesuchanunfortunateantecedenttobeoverlooked。Betweenthedepravityofcertainliaisonsandasincerelove，amanofhonorandnofortunewillnothesitate:heprefersthemisfortunesofvirtuetotheevilsofvice。Butintheprovinceswomenwithwhomayoungmancallfallinlovearerare。Arichyounggirlhecannotobtaininaregionwherealliscalculation；apooryounggirlheispreventedfromloving；itwouldbe，asprovincialssay，marryinghungerandthirst。Suchmonkishsolitudeis，however，dangeroustoyouth。 Thesereflectionsexplainwhyprovinciallifeissofirmlybasedonmarriage。Thuswefindthatardentandvigorousgenius，forcedtorelyontheindependenceofitsownpoverty，quitsthesecoldregionswherethoughtispersecutedbybrutalindifference，wherenowomaniswillingtobeasisterofcharitytoamanoftalent，ofart，ofscience。 WhowillreallyunderstandAthanaseGranson\'sloveforMademoiselleCormon？Certainlyneitherrichmen——thosesultansofsocietywhofilltheirharems——normiddle-classmen，whofollowthewell-beatenhigh- roadofprejudices；norwomenwho，notchoosingtounderstandthepassionsofartists，imposetheyokeoftheirvirtuesuponmenofgenius，imaginingthatthetwosexesaregovernedbythesamelaws。 Here，perhaps，weshouldappealtothoseyoungmenwhosufferfromtherepressionoftheirfirstdesiresatthemomentwhenalltheirforcesaredeveloping；toartistssickoftheirowngeniussmotheringunderthepressureofpoverty；tomenoftalent，persecutedandwithoutinfluence，oftenwithoutfriendsatthestart，whohaveendedbytriumphingoverthatdoubleanguish，equallyagonizing，ofsoulandbody。SuchmenwillwellunderstandthelancinatingpainsofthecancerwhichwasnowconsumingAthanase；theyhavegonethroughthoselongandbitterdeliberationsmadeinpresenceofsomegrandiosepurposetheyhadnotthemeanstocarryout；theyhaveenduredthosesecretmiscarriagesinwhichthefructifyingseedofgeniusfallsonaridsoil。Suchmenknowthatthegrandeurofdesiresisinproportiontotheheightandbreadthoftheimagination。Thehighertheyspring，thelowertheyfall；andhowcanitbethattiesandbondsshouldnotbebrokenbysuchafall？Theirpiercingeyehasseen——asdidAthanase——thebrilliantfuturewhichawaitedthem，andfromwhichtheyfanciedthatonlyathingauzepartedthem；butthatgauzethroughwhichtheireyescouldseeischangedbySocietyintoawallofiron。Impelledbyavocation，byasentimentofart，theyendeavoragainandagaintolivebysentimentswhichsocietyasincessantlymaterializes。Alas! theprovincescalculateandarrangemarriagewiththeoneviewofmaterialcomfort，andapoorartistormanofscienceisforbiddentodoubleitspurposeandmakeitthesaviourofhisgeniusbysecuringtohimthemeansofsubsistence! Movedbysuchideas，AthanaseGransonfirstthoughtofmarriagewithMademoiselleCormonasameansofobtainingalivelihoodwhichwouldbepermanent。Thencehecouldrisetofame，andmakehismotherhappy，knowingatthesametimethathewascapableoffaithfullylovinghiswife。Butsoonhisownwillcreated，althoughhedidnotknowit，agenuinepassion。Hebegantostudytheoldmaid，and，bydintofthecharmwhichhabitgives，heendedbyseeingonlyherbeautiesandignoringherdefects。 Inayoungmanoftwenty-threethesensescountformuchinlove； theirfireproducesasortofprismbetweenhiseyesandthewoman。 FromthispointofviewtheclaspwithwhichBeaumarchis\'CherubinseizesMarcelineisastrokeofgenius。ButwhenwereflectthatintheutterisolationtowhichpovertycondemnedpoorAthanase，MademoiselleCormonwastheonlyfigurepresentedtohisgaze，thatsheattractedhiseyeincessantly，thatallthelighthehadwasconcentratedonher，surelyhislovemaybeconsiderednatural。 Thissentiment，socarefullyhidden，increasedfromdaytoday。 Desires，sufferings，hopes，andmeditationsswelledinquietnessandsilencethelakewideningeverintheyoungman\'sbreast，ashourbyhouraddeditsdropofwatertothevolume。Andthewiderthisinwardcircle，drawnbytheimagination，aidedbythesenses，grew，themoreimposingMademoiselleCormonappearedtoAthanase，andthemorehisowntimidityincreased。 Themotherhaddivinedthetruth。Likeallprovincialmothers，shecalculatedcandidlyinherownmindtheadvantagesofthematch。ShetoldherselfthatMademoiselleCormonwouldbeveryluckytosecureahusbandinayoungmanoftwenty-three，fulloftalent，whowouldalwaysbeanhonortohisfamilyandtheneighborhood；atthesametimetheobstacleswhichherson\'swantoffortuneandMademoiselleCormon\'sagepresentedtothemarriageseemedtoheralmostinsurmountable；shecouldthinkofnothingbutpatienceasbeingabletovanquishthem。LikeduBousquier，liketheChevalierdeValois，shehadapolicyofherown；shewasonthewatchforcircumstances，awaitingthepropitiousmomentforamovewiththeshrewdnessofmaternalinstinct。MadameGransonhadnofearsatallastothechevalier，butshedidsupposethatduBousquier，althoughrefused，retainedcertainhopes。Asanableandunderhandenemytothelatter，shedidhimmuchsecretharmintheinterestsofherson；fromwhom，bythebye，shecarefullyconcealedallsuchproceedings。 AfterthisexplanationitiseasytounderstandtheimportancewhichSuzanne\'slie，confidedtoMadameGranson，wasabouttoacquire。Whataweaponputintothehandsofthischaritablelady，thetreasureroftheMaternitySociety!HowshewouldgentlyanddemurelyspreadthenewswhilecollectingassistanceforthechasteSuzanne! AtthepresentmomentAthanase，leaningpensivelyonhiselbowatthebreakfasttable，wastwirlinghisspooninhisemptycupandcontemplatingwithapreoccupiedeyethepoorroomwithitsredbrickfloor，itsstrawchairs，itspaintedwoodenbuffet，itspinkandwhitecurtainschequeredlikeabackgammonboard，whichcommunicatedwiththekitchenthroughaglassdoor。Ashisbackwastothechimneywhichhismotherfaced，andasthechimneywasoppositetothedoor，hispallidface，stronglylightedfromthewindow，framedinbeautifulblackhair，theeyesgleamingwithdespairandfierywithmorningthoughts，wasthefirstobjectwhichmettheeyesoftheincomingSuzanne。Thegrisette，whobelongedtoaclasswhichcertainlyhastheinstinctofmiseryandthesufferingsoftheheart，suddenlyfeltthatelectricspark，dartingfromHeavenknowswhere，whichcanneverbeexplained，whichsomestrongmindsdeny，butthesympatheticstrokeofwhichhasbeenfeltbymanymenandmanywomen。Itisatoncealightwhichlightensthedarknessofthefuture，apresentimentofthesacredjoysofasharedlove，thecertaintyofmutualcomprehension。 Aboveall，itislikethetouchofafirmandablehandonthekeyboardofthesenses。Theeyesarefascinatedbyanirresistibleattraction；theheartisstirred；themelodiesofhappinessechointhesoulandintheears；avoicecriesout，\"Itishe!\"Oftenreflectioncastsadoucheofcoldwateronthisboilingemotion，andallisover。 Inamoment，asrapidastheflashofthelightning，Suzannereceivedthebroadsideofthisemotioninherheart。Theflameofarealloveburneduptheevilweedsfosteredbyalibertineanddissipatedlife。 Shesawhowmuchshewaslosingofdecencyandvaluebyaccusingherselffalsely。Whathadseemedtoherajokethenightbeforebecametohereyesaseriouschargeagainstherself。Sherecoiledatherownsuccess。Buttheimpossibilityofanyresult；thepovertyoftheyoungman；avaguehopeofenrichingherself，ofgoingtoParis，andreturningwithfullhandstosay，\"Iloveyou!herearethemeansofhappiness!\"ormerefate，ifyouwillhaveitso，driedupthenextmomentthisbeneficentdew。 Theambitiousgrisetteaskedwithatimidairforamoment\'sinterviewwithMadameGranson，whotookheratonceintoherbedchamber。WhenSuzannecameoutshelookedagainatAthanase；hewasstillinthesameposition，andthetearscameintohereyes。AsforMadameGranson，shewasradiantwithjoy。Atlastshehadaweapon，andaterribleone，againstduBousquier；shecouldnowdealhimamortalblow。ShehadofcoursepromisedthepoorseducedgirlthesupportofallcharitableladiesandthatofthemembersoftheMaternitySocietyinparticular；sheforesawadozenvisitswhichwouldoccupyherwholeday，andbrewupafrightfulstormontheheadoftheguiltyduBousquier。TheChevalierdeValois，whileforeseeingtheturntheaffairwouldtake，hadreallynoideaofthescandalwhichwouldresultfromhisownaction。 \"Mydearchild，\"saidMadameGransontoherson，\"wearetodine，youknow，withMademoiselleCormon；dotakealittlepainswithyourappearance。Youarewrongtoneglectyourdressasyoudo。PutonthathandsomefrilledshirtandyourgreencoatofElbeufcloth。Ihavemyreasons，\"sheaddedslyly。\"Besides，MademoiselleCormonisgoingtoPrebaudet，andmanypersonswilldoubtlesscalltobidhergood-bye。 Whenayoungmanismarriageableheoughttotakeeverymeanstomakehimselfagreeable。Ifgirlswouldonlytellthetruth，heavens!mydearboy，you\'dbeastonishedatwhatmakesthemfallinlove。Oftenitsufficesforamantoridepastthemattheheadofacompanyofartillery，orshowhimselfataballintightclothes。Sometimesamereturnofthehead，amelancholyattitude，makesthemsupposeaman\'swholelife；they\'llinventaromancetomatchthehero——whoisoftenamerebrute，butthemarriageismade。WatchtheChevalierdeValois:studyhim；copyhismanners；seewithwhateasehepresentshimself；heneverputsonastiffair，asyoudo。Talkalittlemore； onewouldreallythinkyoudidn\'tknowanything，——you，whoknowHebrewbyheart。\" Athanaselistenedtohismotherwithasurprisedbutsubmissiveair； thenherose，tookhiscap，andwentofftothemayor\'soffice，sayingtohimself，\"Canmymothersuspectmysecret？\" HepassedthroughtherueduVal-Noble，whereMademoiselleCormonlived，——alittlepleasurewhichhegavehimselfeverymorning，thinking，asusual，avarietyoffancifulthings: