In1830Colleville，whohadthegoodfortunenottoloseachild，wasobliged，owingtohiswell—knownattachmenttothefallenroyalfamily，tosendinhisresignation；buthewascleverenoughtomakeabargainforit，——obtaininginexchangeapensionoftwothousandfourhundredfrancs，basedonhisperiodofservice，andtenthousandfrancsindemnitypaidbyhissuccessor；healsoreceivedtherankofofficeroftheLegionofhonor。Nevertheless，hefoundhimselfinratheracrampedconditionwhenMademoiselleThuillier，in1832，advisedhimtocomeandlivenearthem；pointingouttohimthepossibilityofobtainingsomepositioninthemayor’soffice，which，infact，hedidobtainafewweekslater，atasalaryofthreethousandfrancs。ThusThuillierandCollevilleweredestinedtoendtheirdaystogether。In1833MadameColleville，thenthirty—fiveyearsold，settledherselfintherued’Enfer，atthecorneroftheruedesDeux—EgliseswithCelesteandlittleTheodore，theotherboysbeingattheirseveralschools。Collevillewasequidistantbetweenthemayor’sofficeandtherueSaint—Dominiqued’Enfer。Thusthehousehold，afterabrilliant，gay，headlong，reformed，andcalmedexistence，subsidedfinallyintobourgeoisobscuritywithfivethousandfourhundredfrancsayearforitssoledependence。
Celestewasbythistimetwelveyearsofage，andshepromisedtobepretty。Sheneededmasters，andhereducationoughttocostnotlessthantwothousandfrancsayear。Themotherfeltthenecessityofkeepingherundertheeyeofhergodfatherandgodmother。ShethereforeverywillinglyadoptedtheproposalofMademoiselleThuillier，who，withoutcommittingherselftoanyengagement，allowedMadameCollevilletounderstandthatthefortunesofherbrother，hiswife，andherselfwouldgo，ultimately，tothelittleCeleste。ThechildhadbeenleftatAuteuiluntilshewassevenyearsofage，adoredbythegoodoldMadameLemprun，whodiedin1829，leavingtwentythousandfrancs，andahousewhichwassoldfortheenormoussumoftwenty—eightthousand。Thelivelylittlegirlhadseenverylittleofhermother，butverymuchofMademoiselleandMadameThuillierwhenshefirstreturnedtothepaternalmansionin1829；butin1833shefellunderthedominionofFlavie，whowasthen，aswehavesaid，endeavoringtodoherduty，which，likeotherwomeninstigatedbyremorse，sheexaggerated。Withoutbeinganunkindmother，Flaviewasverysternwithherdaughter。Sherememberedherownbringing—up，andsworewithinherselftomakeCelesteavirtuouswoman。Shetookhertomass，andhadherpreparedforherfirstcommunionbyarectorwhohassincebecomeabishop。Celestewasallthemorereadilypious，becausehergodmother，MadameThuillier，wasasaint，andthechildadoredher；shefeltthatthepoorneglectedwomanlovedherbetterthanherownmother。
From1833to1840shereceivedabrillianteducationaccordingtotheideasofthebourgeoisie。Thebestmusic—mastersmadeherafairmusician；shecouldpaintawater—colorproperly；shedancedextremelywell；andshehadstudiedtheFrenchlanguage，history，geography，English，Italian，——inshort，allthatconstitutestheeducationofawell—brought—upyounglady。Ofmediumheight，ratherplump，unfortunatelynear—sighted，shewasneitherplainnorpretty；notwithoutdelicacyorevenbrilliancyofcomplexion，itistrue，buttotallydevoidofalldistinctionofmanner。Shehadagreatfundofreservedsensibility，andhergodfatherandgodmother，MademoiselleThuillierandColleville，wereunanimousononepoint，——thegreatresourceofmothers——namely，thatCelestewascapableofattachment。
Oneofherbeautieswasamagnificentheadofveryfineblondhair；
butherhandsandfeetshowedherbourgeoisorigin。
Celesteendearedherselfbypreciousqualities；shewaskind，simple，withoutgallofanykind；shelovedherfatherandmother，andwouldwillinglysacrificeherselffortheirsake。BroughtuptothedeepestadmirationforhergodfatherbyBrigitte（whotaughthertosay"AuntBrigitte"），andbyMadameThuillierandherownmother，Celesteimbibedthehighestideaoftheex—beauoftheEmpire。ThehouseintherueSaint—Dominiqued’EnferproduceduponherverymuchtheeffectoftheChateaudesTuileriesonacourtierofthenewdynasty。
Thuillierhadnotescapedtheactionoftheadministrativerolling—pinwhichthinsthemindasitspreadsitout。Exhaustedbyirksometoil，asmuchasbyhislifeofgallantry，theex—sub—directorhadwell—nighlostallhisfacultiesbythetimehecametoliveintherueSaint—
Dominique。Buthiswearyface，onwhichtherestillreignedanairofimperialhaughtiness，mingledwithacertaincontentment，theconceitofanupperofficial，madeadeepimpressionuponCeleste。Shealoneadoredthathaggardface。Thegirl，moreover，feltherselftobethehappinessoftheThuillierhousehold。
CHAPTERIV
THECIRCLEOFMONSIEURANDMADAMETHUILLIER
TheCollevillesandtheirchildrenbecame，naturally，thenucleusofthecirclewhichMademoiselleThuillierhadtheambitiontogrouparoundherbrother。AformerclerkintheBillardieredivisionoftheministry，namedPhellion，hadlivedforthelastthirtyyearsintheirpresentquarter。HewaspromptlygreetedbyCollevilleandThuillieratthefirstreview。Phellionprovedtobeoneofthemostrespectedmeninthearrondissement。Hehadonedaughter，nowmarriedtoaschool—teacherintherueSaint—Hyacinthe，aMonsieurBarniol。
Phellion’seldestsonwasaprofessorofmathematicsinaroyalcollege；hegavelecturesandprivatelessons，beingdevoted，sohisfatherwaswonttosay，topuremathematics。AsecondsonwasinthegovernmentSchoolofEngineering。Phellionhadapensionofninehundredfrancs，andhepossessedalittlepropertyofninethousandandafewoddhundredfrancs；thefruitofhiseconomyandthatofhiswifeduringthirtyyearsoftoilandprivation。Hewas，moreover，theownerofalittlehouseandgardenwherehelivedinthe"impasse"desFeuillantines，——inthirtyyearshehadneverusedtheold—fashionedword"cul—de—sac"！
Dutocq，theclerkofthejusticeofpeace，wasalsoaformeremployeeattheministryoffinance。Sacrificed，informerdays，tooneofthosenecessitieswhicharealwaysmetwithinrepresentativegovernment，hehadacceptedthepositionofscapegoat，receiving，privately，aroundsumofmoneyandtheopportunitytobuyhispresentpostofclerkinthearrondissement。Thisman，notveryhonorable，andknowntobeaspyinthegovernmentoffices，wasneverwelcomedashethoughtheoughttobebytheThuilliers；butthecoldnessofhislandlordsonlymadehimthemorepersistentingoingtoseethem。Hewasabachelorandhadvariousvices；hethereforeconcealedhislifecarefully，knowingwellhowtomaintainhispositionbyflatteringhissuperiors。ThejusticeofpeacewasmuchattachedtoDutocq。Thisman，baseashewas，managed，intheend，tomakehimselftoleratedbytheThuilliers，chieflybycoarseandcringingadulation。HeknewthefactsofThuillier’swholelife，hisrelationswithColleville，and，aboveall，withMadameColleville。Oneandalltheyfearedhistongue，andtheThuilliers，withoutadmittinghimtoanyintimacy，enduredhisvisits。
ThefamilywhichbecamethefloweroftheThuilliersalonwasthatofaformerministerialclerk，onceanobjectofpityinthegovernmentoffices，who，drivenbypoverty，leftthepublicservice，in1827，toflinghimselfintoabusinessenterprise，having，ashethought，anidea。Minard（thatwashisname）foresawafortuneinoneofthosewickedconceptionswhichreflectsuchdiscreditonFrenchcommerce，butwhich，intheyear1827，hadnotyetbeenexposedandblastedbypublicity。Minardboughtteaandmixeditwithtea—leavesalreadyused；alsoheadulteratedtheelementsofchocolateinamannerwhichenabledhimtosellthechocolateitselfverycheaply。Thistradeincolonialproducts，beguninthequartierSaint—Marcel，madeamerchantofMinard。Hestartedafactory，andthroughtheseearlyconnectionshewasabletoreachthesourcesofrawmaterial。Hethendidhonorably，andonalargescale，abusinessbeguninthefirstinstancedishonorably。Hebecameadistiller，workeduponuntoldquantitiesofproducts，and，bytheyear1835，wasconsideredtherichestmerchantintheregionofthePlaceMaubert。BythattimehehadboughtahandsomehouseintheruedesMacons—Sorbonne；hehadbeenassistantmayor，andin1839becamemayorofhisarrondissementandjudgeintheCourtofCommerce。Hekeptacarriage，hadacountry—
placenearLagny；hiswifeworediamondsatthecourtballs，andhepridedhimselfontherosetteofanofficeroftheLegionofhonorinhisbuttonhole。
Minardandhiswifewereexceedinglybenevolent。Perhapshewishedtoreturninretailtothepoorthesumshehadmulctedfromthepublicbythewholesale。Phellion，Colleville，andThuilliermettheiroldcomrade，Minard，atelection，andanintimacyfollowed；allthecloserwiththeThuilliersandCollevillesbecauseMadameMinardseemedenchantedtomakeanacquaintanceforherdaughterinCelesteColleville。ItwasatagrandballgivenbytheMinardsthatCelestemadeherfirstappearanceinsociety（beingatthattimesixteenandahalfyearsold），dressedasherChristiannameddemanded，whichseemedtobepropheticofhercominglife。DelightedtobefriendlywithMademoiselleMinard，herelderbyfouryears，shepersuadedherfatherandgodfathertocultivatetheMinardestablishment，withitsgildedsalonsandgreatopulence，wheremanypoliticalcelebritiesofthe"justemilieu"werewonttocongregate，suchasMonsieurPopinot，whobecame，afteratime，ministerofcommerce；Cochin，sincemadeBaronCochin，aformeremployeeattheministryoffinance，who，havingalargeinterestinthedrugbusiness，wasnowtheoracleoftheLombardandBourdonnaisquarters，conjointlywithMonsieurAnselmePopinot。
Minard’seldestson，alawyer，aimingtosucceedthosebarristerswhowereturneddownfromthePalaisforpoliticalreasonsin1830，wasthegeniusofthehousehold，andhismother，evenmorethanhisfather，aspiredtomarryhimwell。ZelieMinard，formerlyaflower—
maker，feltanardentpassionfortheuppersocialspheres，anddesiredtoenterthemthroughthemarriagesofhersonanddaughter；
whereasMinard，wiserthanshe，andimbuedwiththevigorofthemiddleclasses，whichtherevolutionofJulyhadinfiltratedintothefibresofgovernment，thoughtonlyofwealthandfortune。
HefrequentedtheThuilliersalontogaininformationastoCeleste’sprobableinheritance。Heknew，likeDutocqandPhellion，thereportsoccasionedbyThuillier’sformerintimacywithFlavie，andhesawataglancetheidolatryoftheThuilliersfortheirgodchild。Dutocq，togainadmittancetoMinard’shouse，fawneduponhimgrossly。WhenMinard，theRothschildofthearrondissement，appearedattheThuilliers’，hecomparedhimcleverlytoNapoleon，findinghimstout，fat，andblooming，havinglefthimattheministrythin，pale，andpuny。
"Youlooked，inthedivisionBillardiere，"hesaid，"likeNapoleonbeforethe18thBrumaire，andIbeholdyounowtheNapoleonoftheEmpire。"
Notwithstandingwhichflattery，MinardreceivedDutocqverycoldlyanddidnotinvitehimtohishouse；consequently，hemadeamortalenemyoftheformerclerk。
MonsieurandMadamePhellion，worthyastheywere，couldnotkeepthemselvesfrommakingcalculationsandcherishinghopes；theythoughtthatCelestewouldbetheverywifefortheirsontheprofessor；
therefore，tohave，asitwere，awatcherintheThuilliersalon，theyintroducedtheirson—in—law，MonsieurBarniol，amanmuchrespectedinthefaubourgSaint—Jacques，andalsoanoldemployeeatthemayor’soffice，anintimatefriendoftheirs，namedLaudigeois。ThusthePhellionsformedaphalanxofsevenpersons；theCollevilleswerenotlessnumerous；sothatonSundaysitoftenappearedthatthirtypersonswereassembledintheThuilliersalon。ThuillierrenewedacquaintancewiththeSaillards，Baudoyers，andFalleixs，——allpersonsofrespectabilityinthequarterofthePalais—Royal，whomtheyofteninvitedtodinner。
MadameCollevillewas，asawoman，themostdistinguishedmemberofthissociety，justasMinardjuniorandProfessorPhellionweresuperioramongthemen。Alltheothers，withoutideasoreducation，andissuingfromthelowerranks，presentedthetypesandtheabsurditiesofthelesserbourgeoisie。Thoughallsuccess，especiallyifwonfromdistantsources，seemstopresupposesomegenuinemerit，Minardwasreallyaninflatedballoon。Expressinghimselfinemptyphrases，mistakingsycophancyforpoliteness，andwordinessforwit，heutteredhiscommonplaceswithabriskassurancethatpassedforeloquence。Certainwordswhichsaidnothingbutansweredallthings，——
progress，steam，bitumen，Nationalguard，order，democraticelement，spiritofassociation，legality，movement，resistance，——seemed，aseachpoliticalphasedeveloped，tohavebeenactuallymadeforMinard，whosetalkwasaparaphraseontheideasofhisnewspaper。JulienMinard，theyounglawyer，sufferedfromhisfatherasmuchashisfathersufferedfromhiswife。Zeliehadgrownpretentiouswithwealth，without，atthesametime，learningtospeakFrench。Shewasnowveryfat，andgavetheidea，inherrichsurroundings，ofacookmarriedtohermaster。
Phellion，thattypeandmodelofthepettybourgeois，exhibitedasmanyvirtuesashedidabsurdities。Accustomedtosubordinationduringhisbureaucraticlife，herespectedallsocialsuperiority。HewasthereforesilentbeforeMinard。Duringthecriticalperiodofretirementfromoffice，hehadheldhisownadmirably，forthefollowingreason。Neveruntilnowhadthatworthyandexcellentmanbeenabletoindulgehisowntastes。HelovedthecityofParis；hewasinterestedinitsembellishment，inthelayingoutofitsstreets；
hewascapableofstandingforhourstowatchthedemolitionofhouses。Hemightnowhavebeenobserved，stolidlyplantedonhislegs，hisnoseintheair，watchingforthefallofastonewhichsomemasonwaslooseningatthetopofawall，andnevermovingtillthestonefell；whenithadfallenhewentawayashappyasanacademicianatthefallofaromanticdrama。Veritablesupernumerariesofthesocialcomedy，Phellion，Laudigeois，andtheirkind，fulfilledthefunctionsoftheantiquechorus。Theyweptwhenweepingwasinorder，laughedwhentheyshouldlaugh，andsanginpartsthepublicjoysandsorrows；
theytriumphedintheircornerwiththetriumphsofAlgiers，ofConstantine，ofLisbon，ofSainte—Jeand’Ulloa；theydeploredthedeathofNapoleonandthefatalcatastrophesoftheSaint—MerriandtherueTransnonnain，grievingovercelebratedmenwhowereutterlyunknowntothem。Phellionalonepresentsadoubleside：hedivideshimselfconscientiouslybetweenthereasonsoftheoppositionandthoseofthegovernment。Whenfightingwentoninthestreets，Phellionhadthecouragetodeclarehimselfbeforehisneighbors；hewenttothePlaceSaint—Michel，theplacewherehisbattalionassembled；hefeltforthegovernmentanddidhisduty。Beforeandduringtheriot，hesupportedthedynasty，theproductofJuly；but，assoonasthepoliticaltrialsbegan，hestoodbytheaccused。Thisinnocent"weather—cockism"prevailsinhispoliticalopinions；heproduces，inreplytoallarguments，the"colossusoftheNorth。"
Englandis，tohisthinking，astothatoftheold"Constitutionnel，"
acronewithtwofaces，——MachiavellianAlbion，andthemodelnation：
Machiavellian，whentheinterestsofFranceandofNapoleonareconcerned；themodelnationwhenthefaultsofthegovernmentareinquestion。Headmits，withhischosenpaper，thedemocraticelement，butrefusesinconversationallcompactwiththerepublicanspirit。
Therepublicanspirittohimmeans1793，rioting，theTerror，andagrarianlaw。Thedemocraticelementisthedevelopmentofthelesserbourgeoisie，thereignofPhellions。
Theworthyoldmanisalwaysdignified；dignityservestoexplainhislife。Hehasbroughtuphischildrenwithdignity；hehaskepthimselfafatherintheireyes；heinsistsonbeinghonoredinhishome，justashehimselfhonorspowerandhissuperiors。Hehasnevermadedebts。
Asajurymanhisconscienceobligeshimtosweatbloodandwaterintheefforttofollowthedebatesofatrial；heneverlaughs，notevenifthejudge，andaudience，andalltheofficialslaugh。Eminentlyuseful，hegiveshisservices，histime，everything——excepthismoney。
FelixPhellion，hisson，theprofessor，ishisidol；hethinkshimcapableofattainingtotheAcademyofSciences。Thuillier，betweentheaudaciousnullityofMinard，andthesolidsillinessofPhellion，wasaneutralsubstance，butconnectedwithboththroughhisdismalexperience。Hemanagedtoconcealtheemptinessofhisbrainbycommonplacetalk，justashecoveredtheyellowskinofhisbaldpatewiththreadylocksofhisgrayhair，broughtfromthebackofhisheadwithinfiniteartbythecombofhishairdresser。
"Inanyothercareer，"hewaswonttosay，speakingofthegovernmentemploy，"Ishouldhavemadeaverydifferentfortune。"
HehadseentheRIGHT，whichispossibleintheoryandimpossibleinpractice，——resultsprovingcontrarytopremises，——andherelatedtheintriguesandtheinjusticesoftheRabourdinaffair。
"Afterthat，onecanbelieveall，andbelievenothing，"hewouldsay。
"Ah！itisaqueerthing，government！I’mverygladnottohaveason，andnevertoseehiminthecareerofaplace—hunter。"
Colleville，evergay，rotund，andgood—humored，asayerof"quodlibets，"amakerofanagrams，alwaysbusy，representedthecapableandbanteringbourgeois，withfacultywithoutsuccess，obstinatetoilwithoutresult；hewasalsotheembodimentofjovialresignation，mindwithoutobject，artwithusefulness，for，excellentmusicianthathewas，heneverplayednowexceptforhisdaughter。
TheThuilliersalonwasinsomesortaprovincialsalon，lighted，however，bycontinualflashesfromtheParisianconflagration；itsmediocrityanditsplatitudesfollowedthecurrentofthetimes。Thepopularsayingandthing（forinParisthethinganditssayingarelikethehorseanditsrider）ricochetted，sotospeak，tothiscompany。MonsieurMinardwasalwaysimpatientlyexpected，forhewascertaintoknowthetruthofimportantcircumstances。ThewomenoftheThuilliersalonheldbytheJesuits；themendefendedtheUniversity；
and，asageneralthing，thewomenlistened。Amanofintelligence（couldhehavebornethedulnessoftheseevenings）wouldhavelaughed，ashewouldatacomedyofMoliere，onhearing，amidendlessdiscussion，suchremarksasthefollowing：——
"HowcouldtheRevolutionof1789havebeenavoided？TheloansofLouisXIV。preparedthewayforit。LouisXV。，anegotist，amanofnarrowmind（didn’thesay，’IfIwerelieutenantofpoliceIwouldsuppresscabriolets’？），thatdissoluteking——yourememberhisParcauxCerfs？——didmuchtoopentheabyssofrevolution。MonsieurdeNecker，anevil—mindedGenovese，setthethinga—going。ForeignershavealwaystriedtoinjureFrance。ThemaximumdidgreatharmtotheRevolution。
LegallyLouisXVI。shouldneverhavebeencondemned；ajurywouldhaveacquittedhim。WhydidCharlesX。fall？Napoleonwasagreatman，andthefactsthatprovehisgeniusareanecdotal：hetookfivepinchesofsnuffaminuteoutofapocketlinedwithleathermadeinhiswaistcoat。Helookedintoallhistradesmen’saccounts；hewenttoSaint—Denistojudgeforhimselfthepricesofthings。Talmawashisfriend；Talmataughthimhisgestures；nevertheless，healwaysrefusedtogiveTalmatheLegionofhonor！Theemperormountedguardforasentinelwhowenttosleep，tosavehimfrombeingshot。Thosewerethethingsthatmadehissoldiersadorehim。LouisXVIII。，whocertainlyhadsomesense，wasveryunjustincallinghimMonsieurdeBuonaparte。Thedefectofthepresentgovernmentisinlettingitselfbeledinsteadofleading。Itholdsitselftoolow。Itisafraidofmenofenergy。Itoughttohavetornupallthetreatiesof1815anddemandedtheRhine。Theykeepthesamementoolongintheministry"；
etc。，etc。
"Come，you’veexertedyourmindslongenough，"saidMademoiselleThuillier，interruptingoneoftheseluminoustalks；"thealtarisdressed；beginyourlittlegame。"
IftheseanteriorfactsandallthesegeneralitieswerenotplacedhereastheframeofthepresentScene，togiveanideaofthespiritofthissociety，thefollowingdramawouldcertainlyhavesufferedgreatly。Moreover，thissketchishistoricallyfaithful；itshowsasocialstratumofimportanceinanyportrayalofmannersandmorals，especiallywhenwereflectthatthepoliticalsystemoftheYoungerbranchrestsalmostwhollyuponit。
Thewinteroftheyear1839was，itmaybesaid，theperiodwhentheThuilliersalonwasinitsgreatestglory。TheMinardscamenearlyeverySunday，andbegantheireveningbyspendinganhourthere，iftheyhadotherengagementselsewhere。OftenMinardwouldleavehiswifeattheThuilliersandtakehissonanddaughtertootherhouses。
ThisassiduityonthepartoftheMinardswasbroughtaboutbyasomewhattardymeetingbetweenMessieursMetivier，Barbet，andMinardonaneveningwhenthetwoformer，beingtenantsofMademoiselleThuillier，remainedratherlongerthanusualindiscussingbusinesswithher。FromBarbet，MinardlearnedthattheoldmaidhadmoneytransactionswithhimselfandMetiviertotheamountofsixtythousandfrancs，besideshavingalargedepositintheBank。
"HassheanaccountattheBank？"askedMinard。
"Ibelieveso，"repliedBarbet。"Igiveheratleasteightythousandfrancsthere。"
BeingonintimatetermswithagovernoroftheBank，MinardascertainedthatMademoiselleThuillierhad，inpointoffact，anaccountofovertwohundredthousandfrancs，theresultofherquarterlydepositsformanyyears。Besidesthis，sheownedthehousetheylivedin，whichwasnotmortgaged，andwasworthatleastonehundredthousandfrancs，ifnotmore。
"WhyshouldMademoiselleThuillierworkinthisway？"saidMinardtoMetivier。"She’dbeagoodmatchforyou，"headded。
"I？oh，no，"repliedMetivier。"Ishalldobetterbymarryingacousin；myuncleMetivierhasgivenmethesuccessiontohisbusiness；
hehasahundredthousandfrancsayearandonlytwodaughters。"
HoweversecretiveMademoiselleThuilliermightbe，——andshesaidnothingofherinvestmentstoanyone，noteventoherbrother，althoughalargeamountofMadameThuillier’sfortunewenttoswelltheamountofherownsavings，——itwasdifficulttopreventsomerayoflightfromglidingunderthebushelwhichcoveredhertreasure。
Dutocq，whofrequentedBarbet，withwhomhehadsomeresemblanceincharacterandcountenance，hadappraised，evenmorecorrectlythanMinard，theThuillierfinances。Heknewthattheirsavingsamounted，in1838，toonehundredandfiftythousandfrancs，andhefollowedtheirprogresssecretly，calculatingprofitsbythehelpofthatall—
wisemoney—lender，Barbet。
"Celestewillhavefrommybrotherandmyselftwohundredthousandfrancsinreadymoney，"theoldmaidhadsaidtoBarbetinconfidence，"andMadameThuillierwishestosecuretoherbythemarriagecontracttheultimatepossessionofherownfortune。Asforme，mywillismade。Mybrotherwillhaveeverythingduringhislifetime，andCelestewillbemyheiresswiththatreservation。MonsieurCardot，thenotary，ismyexecutor。"
MademoiselleThuilliernowinstigatedherbrothertorenewhisformerrelationswiththeSaillards，Baudoyers，andothers，whoheldapositionsimilartothatoftheThuilliersinthequartierSaint—
Antoine，ofwhichMonsieurSaillardwasmayor。Cardot，thenotary，hadproducedhisaspirantforCeleste’shandinthepersonofMonsieurGodeschal，attorneyandsuccessortoDerville；anableman，thirty—sixyearsofage，whohadpaidonehundredthousandfrancsforhispractice，whichthetwohundredthousandofthe"dot"woulddoublyclearoff。Minard，however，gotridofGodeschalbyinformingMademoiselleThuillierthatCeleste’ssister—in—lawwouldbethefamousMarietteoftheOpera。
"Shecamefromthestage，"saidColleville，alludingtohiswife，"andthere’snoneedsheshouldreturntoit。"
"Besides，MonsieurGodeschalistoooldforCeleste，"remarkedBrigitte。
"Andoughtwenot，"addedMadameThuillier，timidly，"tolethermarryaccordingtoherowntaste，soastobehappy？"
ThepoorwomanhaddetectedinFelixPhellionatrueloveforCeleste；
thelovethatawomancrushedbyBrigitteandwoundedbyherhusband’sindifference（forThuilliercaredlessforhiswifethanhedidforaservant）haddreamedthatlovemightbe，——boldinheart，timidexternally，sureofitself，reserved，hiddenfromothers，butexpandingtowardheaven。Attwenty—threeyearsofage，FelixPhellionwasagentle，pure—mindedyoungman，likealltruescholarswhocultivateknowledgeforknowledge’ssake。Hehadbeensacredlybroughtupbyhisfather，who，viewingallthingsseriously，hadgivenhimnonebutgoodexamplesaccompaniedbytrivialmaxims。Hewasayoungmanofmediumheight，withlightchestnuthair，grayeyes，andaskinfulloffreckles；giftedwithacharmingvoice，atranquilmanner；
makingfewgestures；thoughtful，sayinglittle，andthatlittlesensible；contradictingnoone，andquiteincapableofasordidthoughtoraselfishcalculation。
"That，"thoughtMadameThuillier，"iswhatIshouldhavelikedmyhusbandtobe。"
Oneevening，inthemonthofFebruary，1840，theThuilliersaloncontainedthevariouspersonageswhosesilhouetteswehavejusttracedout，togetherwithsomeothers。Itwasnearlytheendofthemonth。
BarbetandMetivierhavingbusinesswithmademoiselleBrigitte，wereplayingwhistwithMinardandPhellion。atanothertablewereJulientheadvocate（anicknamegivenbyCollevilletoyoungMinard），MadameColleville，MonsieurBarniol，andMadamePhellion。"Bouillotte，"atfivesousastake，occupiedMadameMinard，whoknewnoothergame，Colleville，oldMonsieurSaillard，andBandoze，hisson—in—law。ThesubstituteswereLaudigeoisandDutocq。MesdamesFalleix，Baudoyer，Barniol，andMademoiselleMinardwereplayingboston，andCelestewassittingbesidePrudenceMinard。YoungPhellionwaslisteningtoMadameThuillierandlookingatCeleste。
AtacornerofthefireplacesatenthronedonasofatheQueenElizabethofthefamily，assimplydressedasshehadbeenforthelastthirtyyears；fornoprosperitycouldhavemadeherchangeherhabits。Sheworeonherchinchillahairablackgauzecap，adornedwiththegeraniumcalledCharlesX。；hergown，ofplum—coloredstuff，madewithayoke，costfifteenfrancs，herembroideredcollarettewasworthsix，anditilldisguisedthedeepwrinkleproducedbythetwomuscleswhichfastenedtheheadtothevertebralcolumn。Theactor，Monvel，playingAugustusCaesarinhisoldage，didnotpresentaharderandsternerprofilethanthatofthisfemaleautocrat，knittingsocksforherbrother。BeforethefireplacestoodThuillierinanattitude，readytogoforwardandmeetthearrivingguests；nearhimwasayoungmanwhoseentrancehadproducedagreateffect，whentheporter（whoonSundaysworehisbestclothesandwaitedonthecompany）announcedMonsieurOlivierVinet。