An Old Maid

the rue Saint-Blaise on her way to Prebaudet, where she was overtaken by an event which hurried on her marriage,-an event entirely unlooke

ock in the morning, in listening, as she breakfasted, to the various reports of her k

the son of Mere Grosmort, with a letter. The lad left Alencon before daylight, a

ed, Josette? Do you t

were," said Josette, gues

the first lines. "Tell Jacquelin to harness Penelope-Get ready, Jos

excited by the sentiment sh

med by Josette,

le, Penelope is

signify? I mus

selle, it is

shall g

d at the silence her mistress kept as to the co

mademoiselle; don't excite your

r, from which the quicksilver was peeling, and

e, my dear, dress me at once; I want to be ready before Jacquelin has harnessed Penelope. If

ssian army during the Emigration, grandson of one of his best friends, was desirous of retiring to Alencon, and asked his, the abbe's hospitality, on the ground of his friendship for his grandfather, the Vicomte de Troisville. The old abbe,

he was about to leave the room, they stopped her to ask for instructions, for the first time in her life the despotic old maid, who saw to everything at Prebaudet with her own eyes, said, to their stupefactio

she saw her mistress flying down the staircase

acquelin in a sharp voice to drive at a gallop, with the whip, if necessary, to the great astonishment of the poor beast, so afraid was she of not having time to arrange the house suitably to receive Monsieur de Troisville. She calculated that the grandson of her uncle's friend was probably about forty years of age; a soldier just from service was undoubtedly a bachelor; and she resolved, her uncle aidi

nters the road to Brittany. If the departure of Mademoiselle Cormon made a great noise in Alencon, it is easy to imagine the uproar caused by her sudden return on the following day, in a pouring rain which beat her face without her

they entered Alencon had put Josette on the scent of the affair; and a discussion having started between them, it was settled that the expected de Troisville

othing! inquires nothing! That's my uncle all over. He'd

become, like Richard III., keen-witted, fierce, bold, promissory,-if one ma

ke a bombshell into all households. At that moment Jacquelin was descending from his wooden seat (polished by a process unknown to cabinet-makers), on which he perched in front of the carriole. He opened the great green gate, round at the top, and closed in sign of mourning; for during Mademoiselle Cormon's absence the evening assemblies did not take place. The faithful invited the Abbe de Sponde to their several ho

cried Mademo

d Mariette, who was occu

gentleman

ademoi

's my

church, ma

carriole as she pulled herself up by the sides of the vehicle and clung to the curtains. Mademoiselle then threw herself into their arms; because f

vel of the portico she looked about her

te, leave that gate

nd," whispered Jacquelin, as

ed Mademoiselle Cormon, sitting down on the bench in t

emoiselle knows very well that during her absence Monsieur l'abbe dines

is he

at church; he won't be

t wasting money, don't spare it; get all there is that is good and delicate. Go to the diligence o

rter t

y uncle expects may arrive at any moment. If we had to give

d looked at Jacquelin as if she would say, "Made

id, "let us see where we had better

isville" (pronounced Treville) "to sleep." How many id

him in the g

ine," said Mademoiselle Cormon. "All very

your unc

bare; it is act

oir? It is easily done; and there's a fire-place. Moreau can

to-night without Monsieur de Troisville observing it (in case Monsieur de Troisville arrives while Moreau is here), I should like it. If Moreau

ting when her mis

to Moreau; I must be dressed! Fancy if Monsieur de Troisville surprised me as I am now! and

" said Josette

is, Penelope that! Is Penelop

ther, and she hasn't ha

demoiselle Cormon; "provided I

e stood still for a moment, speechless. Then, at a gesture fro

Jacquelin," were the f

r; the parcels half-packed; and the singular air of the excited old maid. But when Mariette made an invasion of the market, and bought all the best things; when Jacquelin went to the principal upholsterer in Alencon, two doors from the church, in search of a bed,-there was matter for the gravest conjectures. These extraordinary events were discussed on all sides; t

it was four feet wide at Madame Granson's, in the rue du Bercail; but it was reduced to a simple couch at Monsieur du Ronceret's, where du Bousquier was dining. The lesser bourgeoisie declared that the cost was eleven hundred francs. But generally it was thought that, as to this, rumor was counting the chickens before they were hatched. In other quarters it was said that Mariette had made such a raid on the market that the price of carp had risen. At the end of the rue Saint-Blaise, Penelope had dropped dead. This decease was doubted in the house of the receiver-general; but at the Prefecture it was authenti

or emigre. The aristocracy along that road approved of the marriage; Mademoiselle Cormon could not do better with her money. But among the Bourgeoisie, the Vicomte de Troisville was a Russian general who had fought against France, and was now returning with a great fo

ession of nearly all authors when they read over a work they have hitherto thought proof against every exacting or blase critic: new situations seem timeworn; the best-turned and most highly polished phrases limp and squint; metaphors and images grin or contradict each other; whatsoever is false strikes the eye. In like manner this poor woman trembled lest she should see on the lips of Monsieur de Troisville a smile of contempt for this episcopal salon; she dreaded the cold loo

said to herself; "a noble name! Our proper

l their papillae, long sunk in flesh. Her blood, lashed by this new hope, was in m

der a triple guard of wrappings, still further defended by formidable lines of pins. Above all, Mademoiselle Cormon sacrificed on the altar of her hopes three bottles of the famous liqueurs of Madame Amphoux, the most illustrious of all the distillers of the tropics,-a name very dear to gourmets. Thanks to the devotion of her lieutenants, mademoiselle was soon ready for the conflict. The different

as mademoiselle began to think she had set the table with the best plate and linen and prepare

erself, the snap of the

aw his own marriage in that of his mistress, had also heard the click-clack in the rue Saint-Blaise, and had opened wide the gates into the courtyard. The postilion, a friend of his, took pride in making a fine turn-in, and drew up sharply before the portico. The abbe came forward to greet his guest, whose carriage was emptied with a spe

till on her sofa, beside the fire in the salon. Josette opened the door; and the Vicomte d

, the grandson of one of my old schoolmates; Mons

w well he does it!" thou

stocracy. The viscount's strength had all the distinction of elegance; his figure had preserved its magnificent dignity. He had blue eyes, black hair, an olive skin, and looked to be about forty-six years of age. You might have thought him a handsome Spaniard preserved in the ice of Russi

e Sponde chanced to be even more absent-minded than usual, Mademoiselle Cormon was not less preoccupied. They both walked on in silence. The old maid had never before met any man as seductive as this Olympean viscount. She might have said to he

Troisville is very amiabl

e hasn't as ye

is ways, his manners, hi

ier and himself. "Monsieur de Troisville wrote me that he wanted to buy a house here. If he was married, he wouldn't come

he r

her uncle. "His grandfather commanded a squadron, b

, uncle, that he must be at least forty-five." She f

a poor priest of seventy, Rose

arrived at the Cormons. The traveller soon rejoined his hosts,

." The old maid fancied a declaration lurked in that speech, and she lowere

which one of our ancestors, steward to the Duc d'Alencon, acquired the land and

is arm to the happy woman, who endeavored not to lean too he

here," said the viscount, a

erts for nothing; no one ever frightens them; and the

imself to observe Mademoiselle Cormon, and therefore did not perceive the dulness of her mi

; taxes are enormous," res

ey?" said the viscount, pre

e abbe. "My niece manages

to be thought miserly. "As for the furniture, I shall leave it as it is, and change

oiselle," said the viscount, smil

e such a pretty speech

able arrangements of the house, remarking that he had supposed the provinces behind the age

rly all human creatures find in momentous circumstances, "we have a very brilliant society here, monsieur. It assembles at my house, and you shall judge of it this evening, for some of my faithful friends have no doubt heard of my return and your arrival. Among them is the Chevalier de Valois, a seigneur of

count. "Yes, the d'Esgr

e's much amusement: the receiver-general gives balls; the prefect is an a

ling, "I have done wisely to come ba

"I, too, attach

scount

d maid, "all is well

ol. Never was any adversary better aimed at. The viscount was far too well-bred to speak of the excellence of the dinner; but his silence was praise. As he drank the delicious wines which Jacquelin served to him profusely, he seemed to feel he was with friends, and to meet them with pleasure; for the true connoiss

return brought joy to the household. Mademoiselle foresaw the moment when the viscount wanted bread; she watched his every look; when he turned his head she adroitly put upon his plate a portion of some dish he seemed to like; had he been a gourmand, she would almost have killed him; but what a delightful specimen of the attentions she would show to a husband! She did not commit

of the affection that was felt for her; whereas it was really the result of the poignant curiosity which had seized upon the town. Impatient to show herself in all her glory, Mademoiselle Cormon told Jacquelin to serve coffee and liqueurs in the sa

ally Madame Amphoux's liqueurs, which the

d the chief-justice du Ronceret. "The postmaster tells me his off

ith the appetite of four men, turned pale even to the left section of h

is very cold to-day?

f Russia, perhaps,"

ed at him as if to

been whirling tempestuously within her, and her nerves were agitated by the presentiment of some great crisis. It required all these circumstances combined to make her so unlike herself. With wha

ingly, they began to converse together, standing before the fireplace. A circle formed around them; and their conversation, though uttered in a low voice, was listened to in religious silence.

r le vicomte has come, I am

mon, cup in hand, turns round.] "It must be a large house" [Mademoiselle Cormon offe

Valois. "Are

the last sixteen years, to a dau

rry the old maid to her bedroom, where he laid her out on the bed. Josette, armed with scissors, cut the corset, which was terribly tight. Du Bousquier flung water on Mademoiselle Cormon's face and bosom, which, released from the corset, overflowed like

n about all this time? Faithful to h

whose laughter was repressed by his cool aristocratic glances, "her blood is horribly out

e de Sponde, "and she may have taken cold. It won't be

three months, adding that she was afraid it wou

o himself as he looked at Monsieur de Troi

it, and he promptly carried away the liqueurs of Madame Amphoux, which

upposing that his niece could have the slightest interest in Monsieur de Troisville's marriage. As for the viscount, preoccupied with the object of his journey, and, l

d come. She intended to stay in bed, as it was necessary to bleed her. The salon was now full. Mademoiselle Cormon's absence allowed the ladies present to discuss the tragi-com

ied you!" said Josette to her mistress. "He was re

closure to this solemn

e laughter. But on that day Mademoiselle Cormon (much benefited by the bleeding) would have seemed sublime even to the boldest scoffers, had they witnessed the noble dignity, the splendid

uitable house; do me the favor, monsieur, of accepting th

sons and two daughters; we sh

efuse me," she

swer I wrote to your letter," said t

cle! then

ter breakfast the Abbe de Sponde carried off his guest, as agreed upon the previous evening, to show

aid to Josette, with a deeply distressed air,

demoiselle, you

prepared to

r place, I should take

de Valois says he

imes they declare that he robbed the republic; he cou

e," thought Mademoiselle Cormon, who rem

evidently mortifying, was of a nature to drive her into some extreme action; for persons deficient

ccasion, in bachelor language, to "press his point." Monsieur de Valois considered that such an occasion demanded a painstaking toilet; he therefore took a bath and groomed himself with extraordinary care. For the first an

f the Thirteen") makes herself a nun for the lack of ten minutes' patience; Judge Popinot (see "Commission in Lunacy") puts off till the morrow the duty of examining the Marquis d'Espard; Charles Grandet (see "Eugenie Grandet") goes to Paris from Bordeaux instead of returning by Nantes; and such events are called chance or fatality! A touch of rouge carefully applied destroyed the hopes of the Chevalier de Valois; co

said piously, on s

importunate. I could not trust to my stupid Rene to bring

ieur du Bousquier," she added, after a slight pause, and in a significant tone of

an order from heaven. She had been seen for the first time by a man w

such joy that you

er yet looked at any man in the world. Thus encouraged, the pu

you lay fainting upon that bed, you were enchanting. I have never in my life seen a more beautiful person,-and I have seen many h

id, "and that is not kind when all the town will p

e, I have never changed in my feelings toward yo

ousquier, and then Mademoiselle Cormon decided on her course. She raised her e

tian manner, and not oppose my religious customs, but to leave me the right to select my

od fat hand so full of mon

im to kiss it, "one thing m

thing, it is granted,

,-for to lie is one of the capital sins. But you will confess it, will you not? We will do penance for it together"

ought du Bousquier. "What luck! Well, m

ll take upon

ha

as been agreed upon between

a man willing to devote himself, "such sacrifices ca

my harshnes

ite of your

usquier, I have

fat red hand, which du

pair, looking round to see who entered, beheld

ing, "I see you are abo

de Valois, remarkably young and seductive, had the air of a Lauzun re

sure was he of success, "Monsieur de Troisville and the

dear Chevalier, to hear" [Mademoiselle Cormon dropped her eyes] "of the honor that mademoiselle has done me, the secret of which I have kept for some months. We shall be married in a few days; the contract is already drawn, and we shall sign it t

Great on Charles XII. at Pultawa for all his past defeats. Du Bousquier revenged himself deliciously for the thousand little shafts he had long borne

ay end like a fairy tale: They were happy ever after, and had-many-children!" So saying, he took a pi

iselle Cormon raised her eyes, saw that skull in all its nudity, and lowered them, abashed.

despise me," thought he,

ated between his congratulatory wish and the false front. Besides, even if she had comprehended it, her word was passed, her hand given. Monsieur de

together?" she said artlessly

or whether he wanted to stay and study the causes of his disaster and remedy it, certain it is that he allowed himself to be led like a lamb

he kindness to tell him that her uncle knew it was for sale. She dared not confide that lie to the abbe, fearing his absent-mindedness. The lie, however, prospered better than if it had been a virtuous action. In the course of that evening all Alencon heard the news. For the last four days the to

there's only a hand's breadth be