An Old Maid

to group around Mademoiselle Cormon and the Abbe de Sponde Jacquelin, Josette, and Mari

slept like a dormouse. He was in love with Josette, a girl of thirty, whom Mademoiselle would have dismissed had she married him. So the poor fond pair laid by their wages, and loved each other silently, waiting, hoping for mademoiselle's own marriage, as the Jews are waiting for the Messiah. Josette, born between Alencon and Mortagne, was short and plump; her face, which looked like

alled Penelope, and had served the family for eighteen years; but she was kept so carefully and fed with such regularity that mademoiselle and Jacquelin both hoped to use her for ten years longer. This beast was the subject

cupations with the infallible accuracy of mechanism. But, as they said in their idiom, they had eaten their white bread first. Mademoiselle Cormon, like all persons nervously agitated by a fixed idea, became hard to please, and nagging, less b

of?" she exclaimed. "Josette i

when the sun came round to fade the colors of the furniture,-all these great little things gave rise to serious quarrels in which mademoiselle grew angry. "Everything was changing," she would cry; "she did not know her own servants; the fact was she spoiled them!" On one occasion Josette gave her the "Journee du Chreti

ntly, "such a thing mu

gymnastics. These uncertainties of temper were accepted by Josette and Jacquelin as changes in the weather are accepted by husbandmen. Those worthy souls remark, "It is fine to-day," or "It

r self-absorbed by some accident. Her perfect health gave alarming meaning to the least little derangement of her digestive organs. She lived under the iron rod of the medical science of our forefathers, and took yearly four precautionary doses, strong enough to have killed Penelope, though they seemed to rejuvenate her mistress. If Josette, when dressing her, chanced to discover a

am always telling her to do so lightly for my uncle

e," said

e; "she has no more memory tha

might hope for an abundant supply of cider. While she thus gauged her vats, Mademoiselle Cormon also attended to the repairs which the winter necessitated; she ordered the digging of her flower-beds and her vegetable garden, from which she supplied her table. Every season had its own business. Mademoiselle always gave a dinner of farewell to her intimate friends the day before her departure, although she was certain to see them again within three

e Cormon is goi

"Her brea

worthy woman; if money always came into such h

e vineyards were in bloom; here's Mademoiselle Cormon

half-made, for here's one consenting party; but the other si

squier! Why, she

l the gatherings i

lle Cormon

r

lly let Mademois

ses while the old maid was deliberating on the things she needed for the journey; and the malicious Chevalier de Valois was playing piquet with Mademoiselle Armande, sister of a distinguished old marquis, and the queen of the salon of the aristocrats. If it was not uninteresting to any one to see what figure the seducer would cut that evening, it was all import

erself in her heavy stuffs with a sort of intoxication, and this satisfaction continued when she descended the stairs to cast her redoubtable eye on the salon, the dinner-table, and the boudoir. She would then walk about with the naive contentment of the rich,-who remember at all moments that they are rich and will never want for anything. She looked at her eternal furniture, her curiosities, her lacquers, and said to herself that all these fine things wanted was a master. After admiring the dining-room, and the oblong dinner-table, on which was spread a snow-white cloth adorned with twenty covers placed at equal distances; after verifying the squadron of bottles she had ordered to be brought up, and which all bore honorable labels; after carefully verifying the names written on little

riest, rigid on the point of discipline, read her a passage from Saint-Francois de Sales on the duties of women in society, which dwelt on the decent gayety of pious Christian women, who were bound to reserve their sternness for themselves, and to be amiable and pleasing in their homes, and see that their neighbors enjoyed themselves. Thus, filled with a sense of duty, and wishing, at all costs, to obey her director, who bade her converse with amenity, the poor soul perspired in her corset when the talk around her languished, so much did she suffer from the effort of emitting ideas in ord

oiselle Cormon is a

h the taxes they were always receiving; and why the Bible had not been printed in the days of Jesus Christ, inasmuch as it was written by Moses. Her mental powers were those of the English "country gentleman" who, hearing constant mention

to assist women, turned Mademoiselle Cormon's sayings into wit by sustaining them paradoxically, and he often covered the retreat so well that it seemed as if the good woman had said nothing silly. She asserted very s

ply thought that she was not so stupid as she was,-the result being that she settled down into her ignorance with some complacency; she lost her timidity, and acquired a self-po

tep, she was ruminating over a question that might draw him from

ns; for she said to herself "If I had a husband I should do just so"),-"uncle, if everythi

man, who cherished his niece, always allowed her to

arried,-supposing tha

ild," repli

om marrying to-morrow if I choose,

will of God," replied the former prior of the Sorbo

d omnipotentem, was stupefied; but persons of obtuse mind have the terrible logic of children

otherwise they ought all to stay unmarried; if not, they ought al

are blaming the Church, which declare

he world were good Catholics, wouldn't

d, Rose; you don't nee

nfirmed her in the good opinion she was beginning to acquire about herself. That

On these ceremonial days, friendly familiarities were exchanged between the servants of t

ssly for you, for mademoiselle knows how you like them; and she said to

legal authority of the town. "Mariette, did you steep

il where Mariette held court; he cast the eye of a gastronome

anson, who courted the maid. "Mademoiselle ha

d to Mariette, in the easy tone of a great

the cross of the Legion of honor, is there some li

is,-a hare sent from Prebau

t marry him, together with a terror at the idea which prevented her from wishing for the marriage, assailed her. Her mind, stimulated by these feelings, was much occupied by du Bousquier. Without being aware of it, she was influenced by the herculean form of the republican. Madame Granson and the Chevalier d

el, former bailiff to the house of Esgrignon, and now the notary of the upper aristocracy, by whom he was received with a distinction due to his vir

all in t

are welcomed arose. While awaiting the official announcement of dinner, the company were sauntering on the terrace above the river, and gazing at the water-plants, the mosaic of the currents, and the various pretty details of the houses clustering across the river, their old wooden galleries, thei

red openly to the great news of Suzanne and du Bousquier. Provincials possess in the highest degree the art of distilling gossip; the right moment for openly dis

have

es

ousqu

handsome

iselle Cormo

N

H

ening the concert? Though such a piece of news was like a gold mine to work in the monotonous lives of these personages, the observant and distrustful chevalier thought he recognized in the worthy woman a far more extended sentiment; namely, the joy caused by the triumph of self-intere

d to himself; "what a c

name was like the branch of a tree, to which the ideas which swarmed in her mind about rank, nobility, and the external qualities of a husband had fastened. But, though the Chevalier de Valois was the man chosen by her heart, and mind, and ambition, that elderly ruin, combed and curled like a little Saint-John in a procession, alarmed Mademoiselle Cormon. She saw the gentleman in him, but she could not see a husband. The indif

t he isn't a tri

than to purify, like charcoal, the muddy waters of vice? How is it some observers fail to see that these noble creatures, obliged by the sternness of their own principles never to infringe on conjugal fidelity, must naturally desire a husband of wide

about to say to each other, it is necessary to reveal two serious matters which agitated the town,

to that "little Church," sublime in its orthodoxy, which was to the court of Rome what the Ultras were to be to Louis XVIII. The abbe, more especially, refused to recognize a Church which had compromised with the constitutionals. The rector was therefore not received in the Cormon household, whose sympathies were all given to the curate of Saint-Le

t know their Mohammed; and they thought they were ardent in carrying out their own conception. Athanase Granson was one of the warmest

terrace. She accepted it, not without thanking him by a happy look for this attent

and judgment in social proprieties, and also, you

" she said, in

approves of the rector; but that is not all; there is something far more serious; isn't he throwing himself headlong into an opposition without considering what influence h

r is always telling me he has so much mind, and yet he can't

caught your words on the fly. I present my compliments to Monsieur

lle Cormon toward some flower-pots at a little distance, in order

ose detestable lyceums should have ideas? Only sound morals and noble habits will ever produce great ideas and a true love. It is easy to

nocently. "He sits up late, and for what? reading books and writi

oughts back to the ground where he hoped to inspire her with horror for her

h drums at their head. The masters have no more religion than pagans. An

es you. That young man frightens me because I am really interested in him. Tell him not to intrigue with the Bonapartists, as he is now doing about that theatre. When all these pett

'll talk to her," said Mademoiselle Cormon, "for he might lose his place in the mayor

s wife, so the chevalier said to him

hich drives out intellect vice? But what an adorable wi

to the Princess Goritza, was mentally

hat mademoiselle was served. The old maid gave a glance of appeal to the chevalier; but the gallant recorder of mortgages, who was beginning to see in the manners of that gentleman the barrier which the provincial nobles were setting up about this time between t

ligious and liberal; he is agitating this matter of the theatre; he frequents the Bonapartists; he takes the side of that rector. Such conduct may make him lose his place in the mayor's office. You know with

r, "how grateful I am to you! You are right: my son is

fate is a banner of revolt; and to such, revolt is vengeance. Athanase would certainly persist in that faith, for his opinions were woven in with his artistic sorrows, with his bitter contemplation of the social state. He was ignorant of the fact that at thirty-six years of age,-the period of life when a man ha

with the first course, which they ate as provincials eat, without shame at possessing a good appetite, and not as in Paris, where it seems as if jaws gnashed under sumptuary laws, which made it their business to contradict the laws of anatomy. In P

ted of her "speeches"; it was talked about for fully two years, and is still told at

tom of the theatre intrigues, and on whose back the adroit chevalier would in any case have put those sins with his customary cleverness, was in the dock with no lawyer to defend him. Athanase, the only guest loyal enough to stand by du Bousquier, had not the nerve to emit his ideas in the presence of those potentates of Alencon, whom in his heart he thought stupid. None but provincial youths now retain a

t that Monsieur du Bousquier car

ess Goritza flat on the table. The chevalier, who little expected such an apt remark from his Dulcinea, was so amazed that he could at first

adame Granson. "I always said that so

always charming,"

all women have wit,"

s of celibate Pere Gigogne, a monster, who for the last fifteen years had kept the Foundling Hospital supplied. His immoral habits were at last revealed! these Parisian satu

een, and whose behavior always seemed to me extremely insolent, she is far superior in manners to du Bousquier. Besides, the girl has the nobility of beauty; from that point of view the marriage would be a poor one for her; she might do better. You know how the Emperor Joseph had the curiosity to see the du Barry at Luciennes. He offered her his arm to w

nal happiness; he took out his snuff-box, and confided the rest of his rema

a delicate one for Louis

who made it, and not Louis XV.," remarked

, "Madame du Barry was the Suzanne of Louis XV.,-a circumstance well known to scamps like ourselves, but unsuitable for the

the Chevalier de Valois, and nodded his

now history?" asked the

lle Cormon, angelically, glad to see that the dish of ducks was empty at last, and the conve

ove, and as blind as pagan love, ought not to look into the causes of it. Niece, you are president

jaculated Madem

usquier would marry h

," said Madame Granson; "but really, to tell

" said the recorder of mortgages, w

ed sparkling. Following the example of the recorder, each guest capped his neighbor's joke with another: Du Bousquier was a

said the Abbe de Sponde, with a g

ather," added

ed thus into the arena of puns, wit

of mortgages. "I hear the cre

; several other guests had meantime assembled for the evening. Mademoiselle Cormon, from a sense of shamefacedness, dared not look at the terrible seducer. She seized upon Athanase, and began to lecture him with the queerest platitudes about royalist politics and religious morality. Not possessing, like the Chevalier de Valois, a snuff-box adorned with a princess, by the help of which he could stand this torrent of silliness, the poor poet listened to the words

ase, will yo

the absorbed young man like one of t

mademoi

hat moment resembled the stout god of Fable which the Republic stamped

him," she added, remembering the insistence with which the ch

. Had he listened to her, he might have made her, then and there, perceive his passion; for, in the agitated state of Mademoiselle Cormon's mind, a single word would have suffi

ng to Mademoiselle Cormo

thi

flection on the matter, and attaching but little importance to Mademoiselle Cormon's words; for she fully

Monsieur Choisnel, the procureur-du-roi, and two ladies went into the boudoir for a game at backgammon. The glass lustres were lighted; and then the

ing to-morrow

lly must,"

. Madame Granson was the first to perceive the quite unnatural

usin?" she said at last, find

girl. As the president of the Maternity So

e Granson. "But you have ne

n, it is so natural

ggered the treasurer of the Maternity Society. Du Bousquier h

ught to pay the indemnity. Isn't it his place rather than ours to look after the girl?-who, to tell you the truth, seems to me rather

ehensible. Certainly I don't wish to excuse Monsieur du Bousquier; but pray

omen will accuse you of depravity,-but what will that matter? you will be loved, and loved truly. If Athanase seemed to you an idiot, my dear, it is that he has too many ideas; extremes meet. He lives the life of a girl of fifteen; he has never wallowed in the

ed Mademoiselle Cormon, who opened her eyes wid

impossible for Suzanne to love du Bousquier. And

o people love with i

cousin is altogether too innocent; such stupidity passes all bounds!-Dear child," she

ear; the Holy V

u Bousquier isn'

whose personal appearance makes him dangerous

lf bring about th

maid, with the meekne

You owe it to good morals and to religion to manifes

Granson. I will consult my uncle and the Abbe Couturier," said Mademoisell

ied air of the assembly, made Mademoiselle Cormon not a little proud of her compa

,-was the object of deep but silent curiosity. A few young women arrived, who, under pretext of watching the game, gazed fixedly a

asked himself, seized by one of thos

ck, which ended a seventh rubbe

hout losing," he said. "I

er ways," said the cheval

here every one exclaimed on the exquisite taste of th

ke Monsieur de Val

le oblong mirror, placed above the "Deserter,"

Cormon conducting certain of her favorite guests to the portico. There the groups parted; some followed the Bretagne road towards the chateau; the others went in the dire

rmon looked very

n? why, I thought h

hat he slept? He does not know what cards h

have the grief

t! It will be a f

r for the ap

play with Monsieur de Val

ch did

hree or four franc

hundred and sixty-five days a year? At tha

ands we had

nd madame, how lucky you are, whi

ord a carriage, and dispense wit

, which takes off one wheel, and the suppo

n making a mag

young man? Besides, there's

same time of year, was continued on the homeward way. If any observer of human customs had lived i

ed man. Ever since he had been confirmed in his present office by a royal decree, Monsieur du Ronceret had been in favor of du Bousquier. To others the purveyor seemed dangerous,-a man of bad habits, capable of anything. In the provinces, as in Paris, men before the public eye are like t

me that night, he made man

grignon shall invite the Abbe de Sponde to dinner, so as to stop all gossip about Mademoiselle Cormon if I decide against her, or about me if she refuses me. The abbe shall be well cajoled; and Mademoiselle Cormon will certainly not hold out against a visit from Mademoiselle Armande, who will show her the grandeur and future chances of such an alliance. The abbe's property

could not be made to see the connection which existed between his love and his poli