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!\"