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!OneofthepleasureswhichMademoiselleCormonvaluedmostwaswithoutmeaninganymalice，althoughthefactcertainlyrestsonegotismtheunspeakablesatisfactionshederivedfromseeingherselfdressedasmistressofthehousetoreceiveherguests。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；aftercarefullyverifyingthenameswrittenonlittlebitsofpaperinthetremblinghandwritingoftheabbetheonlydutyheassumedinthehousehold，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。"
　　Sometimesshewouldputsuchabsurdquestionsalwaysforthepurposeoffulfillingherdutiestosociety，andmakingherselfagreeabletohergueststhateverybodyburstoutlaughing。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，leaningonhisarmandclingingtohissidethiswasoneofherfictions；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，knowinghownecessaryrallyingpointsaretoalldiscontentswhicharereallyatthebottomofalloppositions，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!"