第5章

stoutwaist，theplumpnessofawet-nurse，strongdimpledarms，redhands，wereallinkeepingwiththeswellingoutlinesandthefatwhitenessofNormanbeauty。Projectingeyes，undecidedincolor，gavetoherface，theroundedoutlineofwhichhadnodignity，anairofsurpriseandsheepishsimplicity，whichwassuitableperhapsforanoldmaid。IfRosehadnotbeen，asshewas，reallyinnocent，shewouldhaveseemedso。Anaquilinenosecontrastedcuriouslywiththenarrownessofherforehead；foritisrarethatthatformofnosedoesnotcarrywithitafinebrow。Inspiteofherthickredlips，asignofgreatkindliness，theforeheadrevealedtoogreatalackofideastoallowoftheheartbeingguidedbyintellect；shewasevidentlybenevolentwithoutgrace。HowseverelywereproachVirtueforitsdefects，andhowfullofindulgenceweallareforthepleasanterqualitiesofVice! ChestnuthairofextraordinarylengthgavetoRoseCormon\'sfaceabeautywhichresultsfromvigorandabundance，——thephysicalqualitiesmostapparentinherperson。Inthedaysofherchiefpretensions，Roseaffectedtoholdherheadatthethree-quarterangle，inordertoexhibitaveryprettyear，whichdetacheditselffromtheblue-veinedwhitenessofherthroatandtemples，setoff，asitwas，byherwealthofhair。Seenthusinaball-dress，shemighthaveseemedhandsome。 Herprotuberantoutlinesandhervigoroushealthdid，infact，drawfromtheofficersoftheEmpiretheapprovingexclamation，—— \"Whatafineslipofagirl!\" But，asyearsrolledon，thisplumpness，encouragedbyatranquil，wholesomelife，hadinsensiblysoillspreaditselfoverthewholeofMademoiselleCormon\'sbodythatherprimitiveproportionsweredestroyed。Atthepresentmoment，nocorsetcouldrestoreapairofhipstothepoorlady，whoseemedtohavebeencastinasinglemould。 Theyouthfulharmonyofherbosomexistednolonger；anditsexcessiveamplitudemadethespectatorfearthatifshestoopeditsheavymassesmighttoppleherover。Butnaturehadprovidedagainstthisbygivingheranaturalcounterpoise，whichrenderedneedlessthedeceitfuladjunctofabustle；inRoseCormoneverythingwasgenuine。Herchin，asitdoubled，reducedthelengthofherneck，andhinderedtheeasycarriageofherhead。Rosehadnowrinkles，butshehadfoldsofflesh；andjestersdeclaredthattosavechafingshepowderedherskinastheydoaninfant\'s。 ThisamplepersonofferedtoayoungmanfullofardentdesireslikeAthanaseanattractiontowhichhehadsuccumbed。Youngimaginations，essentiallyeagerandcourageous，liketoroveuponthesefinelivingsheetsofflesh。Rosewaslikeaplumppartridgeattractingtheknifeofagourmet。ManyanelegantdeepindebtwouldverywillinglyhaveresignedhimselftomakethehappinessofMademoiselleCormon。But，alas!thepoorgirlwasnowfortyyearsold。Atthisperiod，aftervainlyseekingtoputintoherlifethoseinterestswhichmaketheWoman，andfindingherselfforcedtobestillunmarried，shefortifiedhervirtuebysternreligiouspractices。Shehadrecoursetoreligion，thegreatconsolerofoppressedvirginity。Aconfessorhad，forthelastthreeyears，directedMademoiselleCormonratherstupidlyinthepathofmaceration；headvisedtheuseofscourging，which，ifmodernmedicalscienceistobebelieved，producesaneffectquitethecontrarytothatexpectedbytheworthypriest，whosehygienicknowledgewasnotextensive。 TheseabsurdpracticeswerebeginningtoshedamonastictintoverthefaceofRoseCormon，whonowsawwithsomethinglikedespairherwhiteskinassumingtheyellowtoneswhichproclaimmaturity。Aslightdownonherupperlip，aboutthecorners，begantospreadanddarkenlikeatrailofsmoke；hertemplesgrewshiny；decadencewasbeginning!ItwasauthenticinAlenconthatMademoiselleCormonsufferedfromrushofbloodtothehead。SheconfidedherillstotheChevalierdeValois，enumeratingherfoot-baths，andconsultinghimastorefrigerants。Onsuchoccasionstheshrewdoldgentlemanwouldpullouthissnuff-box，gazeatthePrincessGoritza，andsay，bywayofconclusion:—— \"Therightcomposingdraught，mydearlady，isagoodandkindhusband。\" \"Butwhomcanonetrust？\"shereplied。 Thechevalierwouldthenbrushawaythesnuffwhichhadsettledinthefoldsofhiswaistcoatorhispaduasoybreeches。Totheworldatlargethisgesturewouldhaveseemedverynatural；butitalwaysgaveextremeuneasinesstothepoorwoman。 TheviolenceofthishopewithoutanobjectwassogreatthatRosewasafraidtolookamaninthefacelestheshouldperceiveinhereyesthefeelingsthatfilledhersoul。Byawilfulness，whichwasperhapsonlythecontinuationofherearliermethods，thoughshefeltherselfattractedtowardthemenwhomightstillsuither，shewassoafraidofbeingaccusedoffollythatshetreatedthemungraciously。Mostpersonsinhersociety，beingincapableofappreciatinghermotives，whichwerealwaysnoble，explainedhermannertowardsherco-celibatesastherevengeofarefusalreceivedorexpected。Whentheyear1815 began，Rosehadreachedthatfatalagewhichshedarednotavow。Shewasforty-twoyearsold。Herdesireformarriagethenacquiredanintensitywhichborderedonmonomania，forshesawplainlythatallchanceofprogenywasabouttoescapeher；andthethingwhichinhercelestialignoranceshedesiredaboveallthingswasthepossessionofchildren。NotapersoninallAlenconeverattributedtothisvirtuouswomanasingledesireforamorouslicense。Sheloved，asitwere，inbulkwithouttheslightestimaginationoflove。RosewasaCatholicAgnes，incapableofinventingevenoneofthewilesofMoliere\'sAgnes。 Forsomemonthspastshehadcountedonchance。ThedisbandmentoftheImperialtroopsandthereorganizationoftheRoyalarmycausedachangeinthedestinationofmanyofficers，whoreturned，someonhalf-pay，otherswithorwithoutapension，totheirnativetowns，—— allhavingadesiretocounteracttheirlucklessfate，andtoendtheirlifeinawaywhichmighttoRoseCormonbeahappybeginningofhers。Itwouldsurelybestrangeif，amongthosewhoreturnedtoAlenconoritsneighborhood，nobrave，honorable，and，aboveall，soundandhealthyofficerofsuitableagecouldbefound，whosecharacterwouldbeapassportamongBonaparteopinions；orsomeci- devantnoblewho，toregainhislostposition，wouldjointheranksoftheroyalists。ThishopekeptMademoiselleCormoninheartduringtheearlymonthsofthatyear。But，alas!allthesoldierswhothusreturnedwereeithertoooldortooyoung；tooaggressivelyBonapartist，ortoodissipated；inshort，theirseveralsituationswereoutofkeepingwiththerank，fortune，andmoralsofMademoiselleCormon，whonowgrewdailymoreandmoredesperate。ThepoorwomaninvainprayedtoGodtosendherahusbandwithwhomshecouldbepiouslyhappy:itwasdoubtlesswrittenabovethatsheshoulddiebothvirginandmartyr；nomansuitableforahusbandpresentedhimself。 TheconversationsinhersaloneveryeveningkeptherinformedofthearrivalofallstrangersinAlencon，andofthefactsoftheirfortunes，rank，andhabits。ButAlenconisnotatownwhichattractsvisitors；itisnotontheroadtoanycapital；evensailors，travellingfromBresttoParis，neverstopthere。Thepoorwomanendedbyadmittingtoherselfthatshewasreducedtotheaborigines。Hereyenowbegantoassumeacertainsavageexpression，towhichthemaliciouschevalierrespondedbyashrewdlookashedrewouthissnuff-boxandgazedatthePrincessGoritza。MonsieurdeValoiswaswellawarethatinthefeminineethicsoflovefidelitytoafirstattachmentisconsideredapledgeforthefuture。 ButMademoiselleCormon——wemustadmitit——waswantinginintellect，anddidnotunderstandthesnuff-boxperformance。Sheredoubledhervigilanceagainst\"theevilspirit\"；herrigiddevotionandfixedprincipleskepthercruelsufferingshiddenamongthemysteriesofprivatelife。Everyevening，afterthecompanyhadlefther，shethoughtofherlostyouth，herfadedbloom，thehopesofthwartednature；and，allthewhileimmolatingherpassionsatthefeetoftheCross(likepoemscondemnedtostayinadesk)，sheresolvedfirmlythatif，bychance，anysuitorpresentedhimself，tosubjecthimtonotests，buttoaccepthimatonceforwhateverhemightbe。Sheevenwentsofarastothinkofmarryingasub-lieutenant，amanwhosmokedtobacco，whomsheproposedtorender，bydintofcareandkindness，oneofthebestmenintheworld，althoughhewashamperedwithdebts。 Butitwasonlyinthesilenceofnightwatchesthatthesefantasticmarriages，inwhichsheplayedthesublimeroleofguardianangel，tookplace。Thenextday，thoughJosettefoundhermistress\'bedinatossedandtumbledcondition，MademoiselleCormonhadrecoveredherdignity，andcouldonlythinkofamanofforty，aland-owner，wellpreserved，andaquasi-youngman。 TheAbbedeSpondewasincapableofgivinghisniecetheslightestaidinhermatrimonialmanoeuvres。Theworthysoul，nowseventyyearsofage，attributedthedisastersoftheFrenchRevolutiontothedesignofProvidence，eagertopunishadissoluteChurch。Hehadthereforeflunghimselfintothepath，longsinceabandoned，whichanchoritesoncefollowedinordertoreachheaven:heledanasceticlifewithoutproclaimingit，andwithoutexternalcredit。Hehidfromtheworldhisworksofcharity，hiscontinualprayers，hispenances；hethoughtthatallpriestsshouldhaveactedthusduringthedaysofwrathandterror，andhepreachedbyexample。Whilepresentingtotheworldacalmandsmilingface，hehadendedbydetachinghimselfutterlyfromearthlyinterests；hismindturnedexclusivelytosufferers，totheneedsoftheChurch，andtohisownsalvation。Heleftthemanagementofhispropertytohisniece，whogavehimtheincomeofit，andtowhomhepaidaslenderboardinordertospendthesurplusinsecretalmsandgiftstotheChurch。 Alltheabbe\'saffectionswereconcentratedonhisniece，whoregardedhimasafather，butanabstractedfather，unabletoconceivetheagitationsoftheflesh，andthankingGodformaintaininghisdeardaughterinastateofcelibacy；forhehad，fromhisyouthup，adoptedtheprinciplesofSaintJohnChrysostom，whowrotethat\"thevirginstateisasfarabovethemarriagestateastheangelisabovehumanity。\"Accustomedtoreverenceheruncle，MademoiselleCormondarednotinitiatehimintothedesireswhichfilledhersoulforachangeofstate。Theworthyman，accustomed，onhisside，tothewaysofthehouse，wouldscarcelyhavelikedtheintroductionofahusband。 Preoccupiedbythesufferingshesoothed，lostinthedepthsofprayer，theAbbedeSpondehadperiodsofabstractionwhichthehabituesofthehouseregardedasabsent-mindedness。Inanycase，hetalkedlittle；buthissilencewasaffableandbenevolent。Hewasamanofgreatheightandspare，withgraveandsolemnmanners，thoughhisfaceexpressedallgentlesentimentsandaninwardcalm；whilehismerepresencecarriedwithitasacredauthority。HewasveryfondoftheVoltaireanchevalier。Thosetwomajesticrelicsofthenobilityandclergy，thoughofverydifferenthabitsandmorals，recognizedeachotherbytheirgeneroustraits。Besides，thechevalierwasasunctuouswiththeabbeashewaspaternalwiththegrisettes。 SomepersonsmayfancythatMademoiselleCormonusedeverymeanstoattainherend；andthatamongthelegitimateluresofwomanhoodshedevotedherselftodress，worelow-neckedgowns，andemployedthenegativecoquetriesofamagnificentdisplayofarms。Notatall!Shewasasheroicandimmovableinherhigh-neckedchemisetteasasentryinhisbox。Hergowns，bonnets，andchiffonswereallcutandmadebythedressmakerandthemillinerofAlencon，twohump-backedsisters，whowerenotwithoutsometaste。Inspiteoftheentreatiesoftheseartists，MademoiselleCormonrefusedtoemploytheairydeceitsofelegance；shechosetobesubstantialinallthings，fleshandfeathers。Butperhapstheheavyfashionofhergownswasbestsuitedtohercastofcountenance。Letthoselaughwhowillatthispoorgirl；youwouldhavethoughthersublime，Ogeneroussouls!whocarebutlittlewhatformtruefeelingtakes，butadmireitwhereitIS。 Heresomelight-mindedpersonmayexclaimagainstthetruthofthisstatement；theywillsaythatthereisnotinallFranceagirlsosillyastobeignorantoftheartofanglingformen；thatMademoiselleCormonisoneofthosemonstrousexceptionswhichcommonsenseshouldpreventawriterfromusingasatype；thatthemostvirtuousandalsothesilliestgirlwhodesirestocatchherfishknowswellhowtobaitthehook。Butthesecriticismsfallbeforethefactthatthenoblecatholic，apostolic，andRomanreligionisstillerectinBrittanyandintheancientduchyofAlencon。Faithandpietyadmitofnosubtleties。MademoiselleCormontrodthepathofsalvation，preferringthesorrowsofhervirginitysocruellyprolongedtotheevilsoftrickeryandthesinofasnare。Inawomanarmedwithascourgevirtuecouldnevercompromise；consequentlybothloveandself-interestwereforcedtoseekher，andseekherresolutely。 Andhereletushavethecouragetomakeacruelobservation，indayswhenreligionisnothingmorethanausefulmeanstosome，andapoesytoothers。Devotioncausesamoralophthalmia。Bysomeprovidentialgrace，ittakesfromsoulsontheroadtoeternitythesightofmanylittleearthlythings。Inaword，piouspersons，devotes，arestupidonvariouspoints。Thisstupidityproveswithwhatforcetheyturntheirmindstocelestialmatters；althoughtheVoltaireanChevalierdeValoisdeclaredthatitwasdifficulttodecidewhetherstupidpeoplebecamenaturallypious，orwhetherpietyhadtheeffectofmakingintelligentyoungwomenstupid。Butreflectuponthiscarefully:thepurestcatholicvirtue，withitslovingacceptanceofallcups，withitspioussubmissiontothewillofGod，withitsbeliefintheprintofthedivinefingerontheclayofallearthlylife，isthemysteriouslightwhichglidesintotheinnermostfoldsofhumanhistory，settingtheminreliefandmagnifyingthemintheeyesofthosewhostillhaveFaith。Besides，iftherebestupidity，whynotconcernourselveswiththesorrowsofstupidityaswellaswiththesorrowsofgenius？Theformerisasocialelementinfinitelymoreabundantthanthelatter。 So，then，MademoiselleCormonwasguiltyintheeyesoftheworldofthedivineignoranceofvirgins。Shewasnoobserver，andherbehaviorwithhersuitorsprovedit。Atthisverymoment，ayounggirlofsixteen，whohadneveropenedanovel，wouldhavereadahundredchaptersofalovestoryintheeyesofAthanaseGranson，whereMademoiselleCormonsawabsolutelynothing。Shyherself，sheneversuspectedshynessinothers；shedidnotrecognizeinthequaveringtonesofhisspeechtheforceofasentimenthecouldnotutter。 Capableofinventingthoserefinementsofsentimentalgrandeurwhichhinderedhermarriageinherearlyyears，sheyetcouldnotrecognizetheminAthanase。Thismoralphenomenonwillnotseemsurprisingtopersonswhoknowthatthequalitiesoftheheartareasdistinctfromthoseofthemindasthefacultiesofgeniusarefromthenobilityofsoul。Aperfect，all-roundedmanissorarethatSocrates，oneofthenoblestpearlsofhumanity，declared(asaphrenologistofthatday) thathewasborntobeascamp，andaverybadone。AgreatgeneralmaysavehiscountryatZurich，andtakecommissionsfrompurveyors。A greatmusicianmayconceivethesublimestmusicandcommitaforgery。 Awomanoftruefeelingmaybeafool。Inshort，adevotemayhaveasublimesoulandyetbeunabletorecognizethetonesofanoblesoulbesideher。Thecapricesproducedbyphysicalinfirmitiesareequallytobemetwithinthementalandmoralregions。 Thisgoodcreature，whogrievedatmakingheryearlypreservesfornoonebutheruncleandherself，wasbecomingalmostridiculous。Thosewhofeltasympathyforheronaccountofhergoodqualities，andothersonaccountofherdefects，nowmadefunofherabortivemarriages。Morethanoneconversationwasbasedonwhatwouldbecomeofsofineaproperty，togetherwiththeoldmaid\'ssavingsandheruncle\'sinheritance。Forsometimepastshehadbeensuspectedofbeingaufond，inspiteofappearances，an\"original。\"Intheprovincesitwasnotpermissibletobeoriginal:beingoriginalmeanshavingideasthatarenotunderstoodbyothers；theprovincesdemandequalityofmindaswellasequalityofmannersandcustoms。 ThemarriageofMademoiselleCormonseemed，after1804，athingsoproblematicalthatthesaying\"marriedlikeMademoiselleCormon\" becameproverbialinAlenconasappliedtoridiculousfailures。SurelythesarcasticmoodmustbeanimperativeneedinFrance，thatsoexcellentawomanshouldexcitethelaughterofAlencon。Notonlydidshereceivethewholesocietyoftheplaceatherhouse，notonlywasshecharitable，pious，incapableofsayinganunkindthing，butshewasfullyinaccordwiththespiritoftheplaceandthehabitsandcustomsoftheinhabitants，wholikedherasthesymboloftheirlives；shewasabsolutelyinlaidintothewaysoftheprovinces；shehadneverquittedthem；sheimbibedalltheirprejudices；sheespousedalltheirinterests；sheadoredthem。 Inspiteofherincomeofeighteenthousandfrancsfromlandedproperty，averyconsiderablefortuneintheprovinces，shelivedonafootingwithfamilieswhowerelessrich。Whenshewenttohercountry-placeatPrebaudet，shedrovethereinanoldwickercarriole，hungontwostrapsofwhiteleather，drawnbyawheezymare，andscarcelyprotectedbytwoleathercurtainsrustywithage。Thiscarriole，knowntoallthetown，wascaredforbyJacquelinasthoughitwerethefinestcoupeinallParis。Mademoisellevaluedit；shehaduseditfortwelveyears，——afacttowhichshecalledattentionwiththetriumphantjoyofhappyavarice。MostoftheinhabitantsofthetownweregratefultoMademoiselleCormonfornothumiliatingthembytheluxuryshecouldhavedisplayed；wemayevenbelievethathadsheimportedacalechefromParistheywouldhavegossipedmoreaboutthatthanabouthervariousmatrimonialfailures。Themostbrilliantequipagewould，afterall，haveonlytakenher，liketheoldcarriole，toPrebaudet。Nowtheprovinces，whichlooksolelytoresults，carelittleaboutthebeautyoreleganceofthemeans，providedtheyareefficient。 CHAPTERV ANOLDMAID\'SHOUSEHOLD Tocompletethepictureoftheinternalhabitsandwaysofthishouse，itisnecessarytogrouparoundMademoiselleCormonandtheAbbedeSpondeJacquelin，Josette，andMariette，thecook，whoemployedthemselvesinprovidingforthecomfortofuncleandniece。 Jacquelin，amanofforty，short，fat，ruddy，andbrown，withafacelikeaBretonsailor，hadbeenintheserviceofthehousefortwenty- twoyears。Hewaitedattable，groomedthemare，gardened，blackedtheabbe\'sboots，wentonerrands，choppedthewood，drovethecarriole，andfetchedtheoats，straw，andhayfromPrebaudet。Hesatintheantechamberduringtheevening，wherehesleptlikeadormouse。HewasinlovewithJosette，agirlofthirty，whomMademoisellewouldhavedismissedhadshemarriedhim。Sothepoorfondpairlaidbytheirwages，andlovedeachothersilently，waiting，hopingformademoiselle\'sownmarriage，astheJewsarewaitingfortheMessiah。 Josette，bornbetweenAlenconandMortagne，wasshortandplump；herface，whichlookedlikeadirtyapricot，wasnotwantinginsenseandcharacter；itwassaidthatsheruledhermistress。JosetteandJacquelin，sureofresults，endeavoredtohideaninwardsatisfactionwhichallowsittobesupposedthat，aslovers，theyhaddiscountedthefuture。Mariette，thecook，whohadbeenfifteenyearsinthehousehold，knewhowtomakeallthedishesheldinmosthonorinAlencon。 PerhapsweoughttocountformuchthefatoldNormanbrown-baymare，whichdrewMademoiselleCormontohercountry-seatatPrebaudet；forthefiveinhabitantsofthehouseboretothisanimalamaniacalaffection。ShewascalledPenelope，andhadservedthefamilyforeighteenyears；butshewaskeptsocarefullyandfedwithsuchregularitythatmademoiselleandJacquelinbothhopedtouseherfortenyearslonger。Thisbeastwasthesubjectofperpetualtalkandoccupation；itseemedasifpoorMademoiselleCormon，havingnochildrenonwhomherrepressedmotherlyfeelingscouldexpendthemselves，hadturnedthosesentimentswhollyonthismostfortunateanimal。 Thefourfaithfulservants——forPenelope\'sintelligenceraisedhertotheleveloftheothergoodservants；whilethey，ontheotherhand，hadloweredthemselvestothemute，submissiveregularityofthebeast——wentandcamedailyinthesameoccupationswiththeinfallibleaccuracyofmechanism。But，astheysaidintheiridiom，theyhadeatentheirwhitebreadfirst。MademoiselleCormon，likeallpersonsnervouslyagitatedbyafixedidea，becamehardtoplease，andnagging，lessbynaturethanfromtheneedofemployingheractivity。 Havingnohusbandorchildrentooccupyher，shefellbackonpettydetails。Shetalkedforhoursaboutmerenothings，onadozennapkinsmarked\"Z，\"placedintheclosetbeforethe\"O\'s。\" \"WhatcanJosettebethinkingof？\"sheexclaimed。\"Josetteisbeginningtoneglectthings。\" MademoiselleinquiredforeightdaysrunningwhetherPenelopehadhadheroatsattwoo\'clock，becauseononeoccasionJacquelinwasatriflelate。Hernarrowimaginationspentitselfontrifles。Alayerofdustforgottenbythefeather-duster，asliceoftoastill-madebyMariette，Josette\'sdelayinclosingtheblindswhenthesuncameroundtofadethecolorsofthefurniture，——allthesegreatlittlethingsgaverisetoseriousquarrelsinwhichmademoisellegrewangry。 \"Everythingwaschanging，\"shewouldcry；\"shedidnotknowherownservants；thefactwasshespoiledthem!\"OnoneoccasionJosettegaveherthe\"JourneeduChretien\"insteadofthe\"QuinzainedePaques。\" Thewholetownheardofthisdisasterthesameevening。Mademoisellehadbeenforcedtoleavethechurchandreturnhome；andhersuddendeparture，upsettingthechairs，madepeoplesupposeacatastrophehadhappened。Shewasthereforeobligedtoexplainthefactstoherfriends。 \"Josette，\"shesaidgently，\"suchathingmustneverhappenagain。\" MademoiselleCormonwas，withoutbeingawareofit，madehappierbysuchlittlequarrels，whichservedascatharticstorelieveherbitterness。Thesoulhasitsneeds，and，likethebody，itsgymnastics。TheseuncertaintiesoftemperwereacceptedbyJosetteandJacquelinaschangesintheweatherareacceptedbyhusbandmen。Thoseworthysoulsremark，\"Itisfineto-day，\"or\"Itrains，\"withoutarraigningtheheavens。Andsowhentheymetinthemorningtheservantswouldwonderinwhathumormademoisellewouldgetup，justasafarmerwondersaboutthemistsatdawn。 MademoiselleCormonhadended，asitwasnaturalsheshouldend，incontemplatingherselfonlyintheinfinitepettinessesofherlife。 HerselfandGod，herconfessorandtheweeklywash，herpreservesandthechurchservices，andheruncletocarefor，absorbedherfeebleintellect。Tohertheatomsoflifeweremagnifiedbyanopticpeculiartopersonswhoareselfishbynatureorself-absorbedbysomeaccident。Herperfecthealthgavealarmingmeaningtotheleastlittlederangementofherdigestiveorgans。Shelivedundertheironrodofthemedicalscienceofourforefathers，andtookyearlyfourprecautionarydoses，strongenoughtohavekilledPenelope，thoughtheyseemedtorejuvenatehermistress。IfJosette，whendressingher，chancedtodiscoveralittlepimpleonthestillsatinyshouldersofmademoiselle，itbecamethesubjectofendlessinquiriesastothevariousalimentaryarticlesoftheprecedingweek。AndwhatatriumphwhenJosetteremindedhermistressofacertainharethatwasrather\"high，\"andhaddoubtlessraisedthataccursedpimple!Withwhatjoytheysaidtoeachother:\"Nodoubt，nodoubt，itWASthehare!\" \"Marietteover-seasonedit，\"saidmademoiselle。\"Iamalwaystellinghertodosolightlyformyuncleandforme；butMariettehasnomorememorythan——\" \"Thehare，\"saidJosette。 \"Justso，\"repliedMademoiselle；\"shehasnomorememorythanahare，——averyjustremark。\" Fourtimesayear，atthebeginningofeachseason，MademoiselleCormonwenttopassacertainnumberofdaysonherestateofPrebaudet。ItwasnowthemiddleofMay，theperiodatwhichshewishedtoseehowherapple-treeshad\"snowed，\"asayingofthatregionwhichexpressedtheeffectproducedbeneaththetreesbythefallingoftheirblossoms。Whenthecirculardepositofthesefallenpetalsresembledalayerofsnowtheownerofthetreesmighthopeforanabundantsupplyofcider。Whileshethusgaugedhervats，MademoiselleCormonalsoattendedtotherepairswhichthewinternecessitated；sheorderedthediggingofherflower-bedsandhervegetablegarden，fromwhichshesuppliedhertable。Everyseasonhaditsownbusiness。Mademoisellealwaysgaveadinneroffarewelltoherintimatefriendsthedaybeforeherdeparture，althoughshewascertaintoseethemagainwithinthreeweeks。ItwasalwaysapieceofnewswhichechoedthroughAlenconwhenMademoiselleCormondeparted。