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!\"