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out to seek society； and considered that at her age she had a right to
expect some return； or that her pride was wounded at receiving no
company in her house； or that her self…love craved the compliments she
saw her various hostesses receive；certain it is that her whole
ambition was to make her salon a centre towards which a given number
of persons should nightly make their way with pleasure。 One morning as
she left Saint…Gatien； after Birotteau and his friend Mademoiselle
Salomon had spent a few evenings with her and with the faithful and
patient Troubert； she said to certain of her good friends whom she met
at the church door； and whose slave she had hitherto considered
herself； that those who wished to see her could certainly come once a
week to her house； where she had friends enough to make a card…table；
she could not leave the Abbe Birotteau； Mademoiselle Salomon had not
missed a single evening that week； she was devoted to friends； andet
cetera； et cetera。 Her speech was all the more humbly haughty and
softly persuasive because Mademoiselle Salomon de Villenoix belonged
to the most aristocatic society in Tours。 For though Mademoiselle
Salomon came to Mademoiselle Gamard's house solely out of friendship
for the vicar； the old maid triumphed in receiving her； and saw that；
thanks to Birotteau； she was on the point of succeeding in her great
desire to form a circle as numerous and as agreeable as those of
Madame de Listomere； Mademoiselle Merlin de la Blottiere； and other
devout ladies who were in the habit of receiving the pious and
ecclesiastical society of Tours。
But alas！ the abbe Birotteau himself caused this cherished hope to
miscarry。 Now if those persons who in the course of their lives have
attained to the enjoyment of a long desired happiness and have
therefore comprehended the joy of the vicar when he stepped into
Chapeloud's vacant place； they will also have gained some faint idea
of Mademoiselle Gamard's distress at the overthrow of her favorite
plan。
After accepting his happiness in the old maid's salon for six months
with tolerable patience； Birotteau deserted the house of an evening；
carrying with him Mademoiselle Salomon。 In spite of her utmost efforts
the ambitious Gamard had recruited barely six visitors； whose faithful
attendance was more than problematical； and boston could not be played
night after night unless at least four persons were present。 The
defection of her two principal guests obliged her therefore to make
suitable apologies and return to her evening visiting among former
friends； for old maids find their own company so distasteful that they
prefer to seek the doubtful pleasures of society。
The cause of this desertion is plain enough。 Although the vicar was
one of those to whom heaven is hereafter to belong in virtue of the
decree 〃Blessed are the poor in spirit；〃 he could not； like some
fools； endure the annoyance that other fools caused him。 Persons
without minds are like weeds that delight in good earth； they want to
be amused by others； all the more because they are dull within。 The
incarnation of ennui to which they are victims； joined to the need
they feel of getting a divorce from themselves； produces that passion
for moving about； for being somewhere else than where they are； which
distinguishes their species；and also that of all beings devoid of
sensitiveness； and those who have missed their destiny； or who suffer
by their own fault。
Without really fathoming the vacuity and emptiness of Mademoiselle
Gamard's mind； or stating to himself the pettiness of her ideas； the
poor abbe perceived； unfortunately too late； the defects which she
shared with all old maids； and those which were peculiar to herself。
The bad points of others show out so strongly against the good that
they usually strike our eyes before they wound us。 This moral
phenomenon might； at a pinch； be made to excuse the tendency we all
have； more or less； to gossip。 It is so natural； socially speaking； to
laugh at the failings of others that we ought to forgive the ridicule
our own absurdities excite； and be annoyed only by calumny。 But in
this instance the eyes of the good vicar never reached the optical
range which enables men of the world to see and evade their
neighbours' rough points。 Before he could be brought to perceive the
faults of his landlady he was forced to undergo the warning which
Nature gives to all her creaturespain。
Old maids who have never yielded in their habits of life or in their
characters to other lives and other characters； as the fate of woman
exacts； have； as a general thing； a mania for making others give way
to them。 In Mademoiselle Gamard this sentiment had degenerated into
despotism； but a despotism that could only exercise itself on little
things。 For instance （among a hundred other examples）； the basket of
counters placed on the card…table for the Abbe Birotteau was to stand
exactly where she placed it； and the abbe annoyed her terribly by
moving it； which he did nearly every evening。 How is this
sensitiveness stupidly spent on nothings to be accounted for？ what is
the object of it？ No one could have told in this case； Mademoiselle
Gamard herself knew no reason for it。 The vicar； though a sheep by
nature； did not like； any more than other sheep； to feel the crook too
often； especially when it bristled with spikes。 Not seeking to explain
to himself the patience of the Abbe Troubert； Birotteau simply
withdrew from the happiness which Mademoiselle Gamard believed that
she seasoned to his liking；for she regarded happiness as a thing to
be made； like her preserves。 But the luckless abbe made the break in a
clumsy way； the natural way of his own naive character； and it was not
carried out without much nagging and sharp…shooting； which the Abbe
Birotteau endeavored to bear as if he did not feel them。
By the end of the first year of his sojourn under Mademoiselle
Gamard's roof the vicar had resumed his former habits； spending two
evenings a week with Madame de Listomere； three with Mademoiselle
Salomon； and the other two with Mademoiselle Merlin de la Blottiere。
These ladies belonged to the aristocratic circles of Tourainean
society； to which Mademoiselle Gamard was not admitted。 Therefore the
abbe's abandonment was the more insulting； because it made her feel
her want of social value； all choice implies contempt for the thing
rejected。
〃Monsieur Birotteau does not find us agreeable enough；〃 said the Abbe
Troubert to Mademoiselle Gamard's friends when she was forced to tell
them that her 〃evenings〃 must be given up。 〃He is a man of the world；
and a good liver！ He wants fashion； luxury； witty conversation； and
the scandals of the town。〃
These words of course obliged Mademoiselle Gamard to defend herself at
Birotteau's expense。
〃He is not much a man of the world；〃 she said。 〃If it had not been for
the Abbe Chapeloud he would never have been received at M