第8章

\"Goodweatherfortheapple-blossoms。\" \"Youbeatus；butwhenyouplaywithMonsieurdeValoisyouneverdootherwise。\" \"Howmuchdidhewin？\" \"Well，to-night，threeorfourfrancs；heneverloses。\" \"True；anddon\'tyouknowtherearethreehundredandsixty-fivedaysayear？Atthatpricehisgainsarethevalueofafarm。\" \"Ah!whathandswehadto-night!\" \"Hereyouareathome，monsieurandmadame，howluckyyouare，whilewehavehalfthetowntocross!\" \"Idon\'tpityyou；youcouldaffordacarriage，anddispensewiththefatigueofgoingonfoot。\" \"Ah，monsieur!wehaveadaughtertomarry，whichtakesoffonewheel，andthesupportofoursoninPariscarriesoffanother。\" \"Youpersistinmakingamagistrateofhim？\" \"Whatelsecanbedonewithayoungman？Besides，there\'snoshameinservingtheking。\" Sometimesadiscussiononcidersandflax，alwayscouchedinthesameterms，andreturningatthesametimeofyear，wascontinuedonthehomewardway。Ifanyobserverofhumancustomshadlivedinthisstreet，hewouldhaveknownthemonthsandseasonsbysimplyoverhearingtheconversations。 Onthisoccasionitwasexclusivelyjocose；forduBousquier，whochancedtomarchaloneinfrontofthegroups，washummingthewell- knownair，——littlethinkingofitsappropriateness，——\"Tenderwoman! hearthewarbleofthebirds，\"etc。Tosome，duBousquierwasastrongmanandamisjudgedman。Eversincehehadbeenconfirmedinhispresentofficebyaroyaldecree，MonsieurduRoncerethadbeeninfavorofduBousquier。Toothersthepurveyorseemeddangerous，——amanofbadhabits，capableofanything。Intheprovinces，asinParis，menbeforethepubliceyearelikethatstatueinthefineallegoricaltaleofAddison，forwhichtwoknightsonarrivingnearitfought；foronesawitwhite，theothersawitblack。Then，whentheywerebothofftheirhorses，theysawitwaswhiteonesideandblacktheother。 Athirdknightcomingalongdeclareditred。 Whenthechevalierwenthomethatnight，hemademanyreflections，asfollows:—— \"ItishightimenowtospreadarumorofmymarriagewithMademoiselleCormon。Itwillleakoutfromthed\'Esgrignonsalon，andgostraighttothebishopatSeez，andsogetroundthroughthegrandvicarstothecurateofSaint-Leonard\'s，whowillbecertaintotellittotheAbbeCouturier；andMademoiselleCormonwillgettheshotinherupperworks。TheoldMarquisd\'EsgrignonshallinvitetheAbbedeSpondetodinner，soastostopallgossipaboutMademoiselleCormonifIdecideagainsther，oraboutmeifsherefusesme。Theabbeshallbewellcajoled；andMademoiselleCormonwillcertainlynotholdoutagainstavisitfromMademoiselleArmande，whowillshowherthegrandeurandfuturechancesofsuchanalliance。Theabbe\'spropertyisundoubtedlyasmuchasthreehundredthousand；herownsavingsmustamounttomorethantwohundredthousand；shehasherhouseandPrebaudetandfifteenthousandfrancsayear。AwordtomyfriendtheComtedeFontaine，andIshouldbemayorofAlenconto-morrow，anddeputy。Then，onceseatedontheRightbenches，weshallreachthepeerage，shouting，\'Cloture!\'\'Ordre!\'\" AssoonasshereachedhomeMadameGransonhadalivelyargumentwithherson，whocouldnotbemadetoseetheconnectionwhichexistedbetweenhisloveandhispoliticalopinions。Itwasthefirstquarrelthathadevertroubledthatpoorhousehold。 CHAPTERVI FINALDISAPPOINTMENTANDITSFIRSTRESULT Thenextday，MademoiselleCormon，packedintotheoldcarriolewithJosette，andlookinglikeapyramidonavastseaofparcels，droveuptherueSaint-BlaiseonherwaytoPrebaudet，whereshewasovertakenbyaneventwhichhurriedonhermarriage，——anevententirelyunlookedforbyeitherMadameGranson，duBousquier，MonsieurdeValois，orMademoiselleCormonhimself。Chanceisthegreatestofallartificers。 ThedayafterherarrivalatPrebaudet，shewasinnocentlyemployed，abouteighto\'clockinthemorning，inlistening，asshebreakfasted，tothevariousreportsofherkeeperandhergardener，whenJacquelinmadeaviolentirruptionintothedining-room。 \"Mademoiselle，\"hecried，outofbreath，\"Monsieurl\'abbesendsyouanexpress，thesonofMereGrosmort，withaletter。TheladleftAlenconbeforedaylight，andhehasjustarrived；heranlikePenelope!Can\'tIgivehimaglassofwine？\" \"Whatcanhavehappened，Josette？Doyouthinkmyunclecanbe——\" \"Hecouldn\'twriteifhewere，\"saidJosette，guessinghermistress\'sfears。 \"Quick!quick!\"criedMademoiselleCormon，assoonasshehadreadthefirstlines。\"TellJacquelintoharnessPenelope——Getready，Josette； packupeverythinginhalfanhour。Wemustgobacktotown——\" \"Jacquelin!\"calledJosette，excitedbythesentimentshesawonhermistress\'sface。 Jacquelin，informedbyJosette，cameintosay，—— \"But，mademoiselle，Penelopeiseatingheroats。\" \"Whatdoesthatsignify？Imuststartatonce。\" \"But，mademoiselle，itisgoingtorain。\" \"Thenweshallgetwet。\" \"Thehouseisonfire!\"mutteredJosette，piquedatthesilencehermistresskeptastothecontentsoftheletter，whichshereadandreread。 \"Finishyourcoffee，atanyrate，mademoiselle；don\'texciteyourblood；justseehowredyouare。\" \"AmIred，Josette？\"shesaid，goingtoamirror，fromwhichthequicksilverwaspeeling，andwhichpresentedherfeaturestoherupsidedown。 \"Goodheavens!\"thoughtMademoiselleCormon，\"supposeIshouldlookugly!Come，Josette；come，mydear，dressmeatonce；IwanttobereadybeforeJacquelinhasharnessedPenelope。Ifyoucan\'tpackmythingsintime，Iwillleavethemhereratherthanloseasingleminute。\" IfyouhavethoroughlycomprehendedthepositivemonomaniatowhichthedesireofmarriagehadbroughtMademoiselleCormon，youwillshareheremotion。TheworthyuncleannouncedinthissuddenmissivethatMonsieurdeTroisville，oftheRussianarmyduringtheEmigration，grandsonofoneofhisbestfriends，wasdesirousofretiringtoAlencon，andaskedhis，theabbe\'shospitality，onthegroundofhisfriendshipforhisgrandfather，theVicomtedeTroisville。 Theoldabbe，alarmedattheresponsibility，entreatedhisniecetoreturninstantlyandhelphimtoreceivethisguest，anddothehonorsofthehouse；fortheviscount\'sletterhadbeendelayed，andhemightdescenduponhisshouldersthatverynight。 AfterreadingthismissivecouldtherebeaquestionofthedemandsofPrebaudet？Thekeeperandthegardener，witnessestoMademoiselleCormon\'sexcitement，stoodasideandawaitedherorders。Butwhen，asshewasabouttoleavetheroom，theystoppedhertoaskforinstructions，forthefirsttimeinherlifethedespoticoldmaid，whosawtoeverythingatPrebaudetwithherowneyes，said，totheirstupefaction，\"Dowhatyoulike。\"Thisfromamistresswhocarriedheradministrationtothepointofcountingherfruits，andmarkingthemsoastoordertheirconsumptionaccordingtothenumberandconditionofeach! \"IbelieveI\'mdreaming，\"thoughtJosette，asshesawhermistressflyingdownthestaircaselikeanelephanttowhichGodhasgivenwings。 Presently，inspiteofadrivingrain，MademoiselleCormondroveawayfromPrebaudet，leavingherfactotumswiththereinsontheirnecks。 JacquelindarednottakeuponhimselftohastentheusuallittletrotofthepeaceablePenelope，who，likethebeautifulqueenwhosenameshebore，hadanappearanceofmakingasmanystepsbackwardasshemadeforward。Impatientwiththepace，mademoiselleorderedJacquelininasharpvoicetodriveatagallop，withthewhip，ifnecessary，tothegreatastonishmentofthepoorbeast，soafraidwassheofnothavingtimetoarrangethehousesuitablytoreceiveMonsieurdeTroisville。Shecalculatedthatthegrandsonofheruncle\'sfriendwasprobablyaboutfortyyearsofage；asoldierjustfromservicewasundoubtedlyabachelor；andsheresolved，heruncleaiding，nottoletMonsieurdeTroisvillequittheirhouseintheconditionheenteredit。ThoughPenelopegalloped，MademoiselleCormon，absorbedinthoughtsofhertrousseauandthewedding-day，declaredagainandagainthat Jacquelinmadenowayatall。ShetwistedaboutinthecarriolewithoutreplyingtoJosette\'squestions，andtalkedtoherselflikeapersonwhoismentallyrevolvingimportantdesigns。 ThecarrioleatlastarrivedinthemainstreetofAlencon，calledtherueSaint-BlaiseattheendtowardMontagne，butnearthehotelduMoreittakesthenameoftheruedelaPorte-de-Seez，andbecomestherueduBercailasitenterstheroadtoBrittany。IfthedepartureofMademoiselleCormonmadeagreatnoiseinAlencon，itiseasytoimaginetheuproarcausedbyhersuddenreturnonthefollowingday，inapouringrainwhichbeatherfacewithoutherapparentlymindingit。Penelopeatafullgallopwasobservedbyeveryone，andJacquelin\'sgrin，theearlyhour，theparcelsstuffedintothecarrioletopsy-turvy，andtheevidentimpatienceofMademoiselleCormonwereallnoted。 ThepropertyofthehouseofTroisvillelaybetweenAlenconandMortagne。Josetteknewthevariousbranchesofthefamily。AworddroppedbymademoiselleastheyenteredAlenconhadputJosetteonthescentoftheaffair；andadiscussionhavingstartedbetweenthem，itwassettledthattheexpecteddeTroisvillemustbebetweenfortyandforty-twoyearsofage，abachelor，andneitherrichnorpoor。 MademoiselleCormonbeheldherselfspeedilyVicomtessedeTroisville。 \"Andtothinkthatmyuncletoldmenothing!thinksofnothing! inquiresnothing!That\'smyuncleallover。He\'dforgethisownnoseifitwasn\'tfastenedtohisface。\" Haveyouneverremarkedthat，undercircumstancessuchasthese，oldmaidsbecome，likeRichardIII。，keen-witted，fierce，bold，promissory，——ifonemaysousetheword，——and，likeinebriateclerks，nolongerinaweofanything？ ImmediatelythetownofAlencon，speedilyinformedfromthefartherendoftheruedeSaint-BlaisetothegateofSeezofthisprecipitatereturn，accompaniedbysingularcircumstances，wasperturbedthroughoutitsviscera，bothpublicanddomestic。Cooks，shopkeepers，streetpassengers，toldthenewsfromdoortodoor；thenceitrosetotheupperregions。Soonthewords:\"MademoiselleCormonhasreturned!\" burstlikeabombshellintoallhouseholds。AtthatmomentJacquelinwasdescendingfromhiswoodenseat(polishedbyaprocessunknowntocabinet-makers)，onwhichheperchedinfrontofthecarriole。Heopenedthegreatgreengate，roundatthetop，andclosedinsignofmourning；forduringMademoiselleCormon\'sabsencetheeveningassembliesdidnottakeplace。ThefaithfulinvitedtheAbbedeSpondetotheirseveralhouses；andMonsieurdeValoispaidhisdebtbyinvitinghimtodineattheMarquisd\'Esgrignon\'s。Jacquelin，havingopenedthegate，calledfamiliarlytoPenelope，whomhehadleftinthemiddleofthestreet。Thatanimal，accustomedtothisproceeding，turnedinofherself，andcircledroundthecourtyardinamannertoavoidinjuringtheflower-bed。Jacquelinthentookherbridle，andledthecarriagetotheportico。 \"Mariette!\"criedMademoiselleCormon。 \"Mademoiselle!\"exclaimedMariette，whowasoccupiedinclosingthegate。 \"Hasthegentlemanarrived？\" \"No，mademoiselle。\" \"Where\'smyuncle？\" \"Heisatchurch，mademoiselle。\" JacquelinandJosettewerebythistimeonthefirststepoftheportico，holdingouttheirhandstomanoeuvretheexitoftheirmistressfromthecarrioleasshepulledherselfupbythesidesofthevehicleandclungtothecurtains。Mademoisellethenthrewherselfintotheirarms；becauseforthelasttwoyearsshedarednotriskherweightontheironstep，affixedtotheframeofthecarriagebyahorriblemechanismofclumsybolts。 WhenMademoiselleCormonreachedtheleveloftheporticoshelookedabouthercourtyardwithanairofsatisfaction。 \"Come，come，Mariette，leavethatgatealone；Iwantyou。\" \"There\'ssomethinginthewind，\"whisperedJacquelin，asMariettepassedthecarriole。 \"Mariette，whatprovisionshaveyouinthehouse？\"askedMademoiselleCormon，sittingdownonthebenchinthelongantechamberlikeapersonovercomewithfatigue。 \"Ihaven\'tanything，\"repliedMariette，withherhandsonherhips。 \"MademoiselleknowsverywellthatduringherabsenceMonsieurl\'abbedinesouteveryday。YesterdayIwenttofetchhimfromMademoiselleArmande\'s。\" \"Whereishenow？\" \"Monsieurl\'abbe？Why，atchurch；hewon\'tbeinbeforethreeo\'clock。\" \"Hethinksofnothing!heoughttohavetoldyoutogotomarket。 Mariette，goatonce；andwithoutwastingmoney，don\'tspareit；getallthereisthatisgoodanddelicate。Gotothediligenceofficeandseeifyoucansendforpates；andIwantshrimpsfromtheBrillante。 Whato\'clockisit？\" \"Aquartertonine。\" \"Goodheavens!Mariette，don\'tstoptochatter。Thepersonmyuncleexpectsmayarriveatanymoment。Ifwehadtogivehimbreakfast，whereshouldwebewithnothinginthehouse？\" MarietteturnedbacktoPenelopeinalather，andlookedatJacquelinasifshewouldsay，\"MademoisellehasputherhandonahusbandTHIS time。\" \"Now，Josette，\"continuedtheoldmaid，\"letusseewherewehadbetterputMonsieurdeTroisvilletosleep。\" Withwhatjoyshesaidthewords，\"PutMonsieurdeTroisville\" (pronouncedTreville)\"tosleep。\"Howmanyideasinthosefewwords! Theoldmaidwasbathedinhope。 \"Willyouputhiminthegreenchamber？\" \"Thebishop\'sroom？No；that\'stoonearmine，\"saidMademoiselleCormon。\"Allverywellformonseigneur；he\'sasaintlyman。\" \"Givehimyouruncle\'sroom。\" \"Oh，that\'ssobare；itisactuallyindecent。\" \"Well，then，mademoiselle，whynotarrangeabedinyourboudoir？Itiseasilydone；andthere\'safire-place。Moreaucancertainlyfindinhiswareroomsabedtomatchthehangings。\" \"Youareright，Josette。GoyourselftoMoreau；consultwithhimwhattodo；Iauthorizeyoutogetwhatiswanted。Ifthebedcouldbeputupto-nightwithoutMonsieurdeTroisvilleobservingit(incaseMonsieurdeTroisvillearriveswhileMoreauishere)，Ishouldlikeit。IfMoreauwon\'tengagetodothis，thenImustputMonsieurdeTroisvilleinthegreenroom，althoughMonsieurdeTroisvillewouldbesoveryneartome。\" Josettewasdepartingwhenhermistressrecalledher。 \"Stop!explainthemattertoJacquelin，\"shecried，inaloudnervoustone。\"TellHIMtogotoMoreau；Imustbedressed!FancyifMonsieurdeTroisvillesurprisedmeasIamnow!andmyunclenotheretoreceivehim!Oh，uncle，uncle!Come，Josette；comeanddressmeatonce。\" \"ButPenelope？\"saidJosette，imprudently。 \"AlwaysPenelope!Penelopethis，Penelopethat!IsPenelopethemistressofthishouse？\" \"Butsheisallofalather，andshehasn\'thadtimetoeatheroats。\" \"Thenletherstarve!\"criedMademoiselleCormon；\"providedImarry，\" shethoughttoherself。 Hearingthesewords，whichseemedtoherlikehomicide，Josettestoodstillforamoment，speechless。Then，atagesturefromhermistress，sheranheadlongdownthestepsoftheportico。 \"Thedevilisinher，Jacquelin，\"werethefirstwordssheuttered。 ThusallthingsconspiredonthisfatefuldaytoproducethegreatsceniceffectwhichdecidedthefuturelifeofMademoiselleCormon。 Thetownwasalreadytopsy-turvyinmind，asaconsequenceofthefiveextraordinarycircumstanceswhichaccompaniedMademoiselleCormon\'sreturn；towit，thepouringrain；Penelopeatagallop，inalather，andblown；theearlyhour；theparcelshalf-packed；andthesingularairoftheexcitedoldmaid。ButwhenMariettemadeaninvasionofthemarket，andboughtallthebestthings；whenJacquelinwenttotheprincipalupholstererinAlencon，twodoorsfromthechurch，insearchofabed，——therewasmatterforthegravestconjectures。Theseextraordinaryeventswerediscussedonallsides；theyoccupiedthemindsofeveryone，evenMademoiselleArmandeherself，withwhomwasMonsieurdeValois。WithintwodaysthetownofAlenconhadbeenagitatedbysuchstartlingeventsthatcertaingoodwomenwereheardtoremarkthattheworldwascomingtoanend。Thislastnews，however，resolveditselfintoasinglequestion，\"WhatishappeningattheCormons？\" TheAbbedeSponde，adroitlyquestionedwhenheleftSaint-Leonard\'stotakehisdailywalkwiththeAbbeCouturier，repliedwithhisusualkindlinessthatheexpectedtheVicomtedeTroisville，anoblemanintheserviceofRussiaduringtheEmigration，whowasreturningtoAlencontosettlethere。Fromtwotofiveo\'clockaspeciesoflabialtelegraphywentonthroughoutthetown；andalltheinhabitantslearnedthatMademoiselleCormonhadatlastfoundahusbandbyletter，andwasabouttomarrytheVicomtedeTroisville。Somesaid，\"Moreauhassoldthemabed。\"Thebedwassixfeetwideinthatquarter；itwasfourfeetwideatMadameGranson\'s，intherueduBercail；butitwasreducedtoasimplecouchatMonsieurduRonceret\'s，whereduBousquierwasdining。Thelesserbourgeoisiedeclaredthatthecostwaselevenhundredfrancs。Butgenerallyitwasthoughtthat，astothis，rumorwascountingthechickensbeforetheywerehatched。InotherquartersitwassaidthatMariettehadmadesucharaidonthemarketthatthepriceofcarphadrisen。AttheendoftherueSaint-Blaise，Penelopehaddroppeddead。Thisdeceasewasdoubtedinthehouseofthereceiver-general；butatthePrefectureitwasauthenticatedthatthepoorbeasthadexpiredassheturnedintothecourtyardofthehotelCormon，withsuchvelocityhadtheoldmaidflowntomeetherhusband。Theharness-maker，wholivedatthecorneroftheruedeSeez，wasboldenoughtocallatthehouseandaskifanythinghadhappenedtoMademoiselleCormon\'scarriage，inordertodiscoverwhetherPenelopewasreallydead。FromtheendoftherueSaint-BlaisetotheendoftherueduBercail，itwasthenmadeknownthat，thankstoJacquelin\'sdevotion，Penelope，thatsilentvictimofhermistress\'simpetuosity，stilllived，thoughsheseemedtobesuffering。 AlongtheroadtoBrittanytheVicomtedeTroisvillewasstatedtobeayoungersonwithoutapenny，fortheestatesinPerchebelongedtotheMarquisdeTroisville，peerofFrance，whohadchildren；themarriagewouldbe，therefore，anenormouspieceofluckforapooremigre。Thearistocracyalongthatroadapprovedofthemarriage； MademoiselleCormoncouldnotdobetterwithhermoney。ButamongtheBourgeoisie，theVicomtedeTroisvillewasaRussiangeneralwhohadfoughtagainstFrance，andwasnowreturningwithagreatfortunemadeatthecourtofSaint-Petersburg；hewasaFOREIGNER；oneofthoseALLIESsohatedbytheliberals；theAbbedeSpondehadslylynegotiatedthismarriage。AllthepersonswhohadarighttocalluponMademoiselleCormondeterminedtodosothatveryevening。 Duringthistransurbanexcitement，whichmadethatofSuzannealmostaforgottenaffair，Mademoisellewasnotlessagitated；shewasfilledwithavarietyofnovelemotions。Lookingabouthersalon，dining- room，andboudoir，cruelapprehensionstookpossessionofher。A speciesofdemonshowedherwithasneerherold-fashionedluxury。Thehandsomethingsshehadadmiredfromheryouthupshesuddenlysuspectedofageandabsurdity。Inshort，shefeltthatfearwhichtakespossessionofnearlyallauthorswhentheyreadoveraworktheyhavehithertothoughtproofagainsteveryexactingorblasecritic: