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Evangelista； established himself in Bordeaux； where his letters of
recommendation； as well as his large fortune； gave him an entrance to
the salons of the nobility。 His wife contributed greatly to maintain
him in the good graces of an aristocracy which may perhaps have
adopted him in the first instance merely to pique the society of the
class below them。 Madame Evangelista； who belonged to the Casa…Reale；
an illustrious family of Spain； was a Creole； and； like all women
served by slaves； she lived as a great lady； knew nothing of the value
of money； repressed no whims； even the most expensive； finding them
ever satisfied by an adoring husband who generously concealed from her
knowledge the running…gear of the financial machine。 Happy in finding
her pleased with Bordeaux； where his interests obliged him to live；
the Spaniard bought a house； set up a household； received in much
style； and gave many proofs of possessing a fine taste in all things。
Thus； from 1800 to 1812； Monsieur and Madame Evangelista were objects
of great interest to the community of Bordeaux。
The Spaniard died in 1813； leaving his wife a widow at thirty…two
years of age； with an immense fortune and the prettiest little girl in
the world； a child of eleven； who promised to be； and did actually
become； a most accomplished young woman。 Clever as Madame Evangelista
was； the Restoration altered her position； the royalist party cleared
its ranks and several of the old families left Bordeaux。 Though the
head and hand of her husband were lacking in the direction of her
affairs； for which she had hitherto shown the indifference of a Creole
and the inaptitude of a lackadaisical woman； she was determined to
make no change in her manner of living。 At the period when Paul
resolved to return to his native town； Mademoiselle Natalie
Evangelista was a remarkably beautiful young girl； and； apparently；
the richest match in Bordeaux； where the steady diminution of her
mother's capital was unknown。 In order to prolong her reign； Madame
Evangelista had squandered enormous sums。 Brilliant fetes and the
continuation of an almost regal style of living kept the public in its
past belief as to the wealth of the Spanish family。
Natalie was now in her nineteenth year； but no proposal of marriage
had as yet reached her mother's ear。 Accustomed to gratify her
fancies； Mademoiselle Evangelista wore cashmeres and jewels； and lived
in a style of luxury which alarmed all speculative suitors in a region
and at a period when sons were as calculating as their parents。 The
fatal remark； 〃None but a prince can afford to marry Mademoiselle
Evangelista；〃 circulated among the salons and the cliques。 Mothers of
families； dowagers who had granddaughters to establish； young girls
jealous of Natalie； whose elegance and tyrannical beauty annoyed them；
took pains to envenom this opinion with treacherous remarks。 When they
heard a possible suitor say with ecstatic admiration； as Natalie
entered a ball…room； 〃Heavens； how beautiful she is！〃 〃Yes；〃 the
mammas would answer； 〃but expensive。〃 If some new…comer thought
Mademoiselle Evangelista bewitching and said to a marriageable man
that he couldn't do it better； 〃Who would be bold enough；〃 some woman
would reply； 〃to marry a girl whose mother gives her a thousand francs
a month for her toilet；a girl who has horses and a maid of her own；
and wears laces？ Yes； her 'peignoirs' are trimmed with mechlin。 The
price of her washing would support the household of a clerk。 She wears
pelerines in the morning which actually cost six francs to get up。〃
These； and other speeches said occasionally in the form of praise
extinguished the desires that some men might have had to marry the
beautiful Spanish girl。 Queen of every ball； accustomed to flattery；
〃blasee〃 with the smiles and the admiration which followed her every
step； Natalie； nevertheless； knew nothing of life。 She lived as the
bird which flies； as the flower that blooms； finding every one about
her eager to do her will。 She was ignorant of the price of things； she
knew neither the value of money； nor whence it came； how it should be
managed； and how spent。 Possibly she thought that every household had
cooks and coachmen； lady's…maids and footmen； as the fields have hay
and the trees their fruits。 To her； beggars and paupers； fallen trees
and waste lands seemed in the same category。 Pampered and petted as
her mother's hope； no fatigue was allowed to spoil her pleasure。 Thus
she bounded through life as a courser on his steppe； unbridled and
unshod。
Six month's after Paul's arrival the Pink of Fashion and the Queen of
Balls met in presence of the highest society of the town of Bordeaux。
The two flowers looked at each other with apparent coldness； and
mutually thought each other charming。 Interested in watching the
effects of the meeting； Madame Evangelista divined in the expression
of Paul's eyes the feelings within him； and she muttered to herself；
〃He will be my son…in…law。〃 Paul； on the other hand； said to himself；
as he looked at Natalie； 〃She will be my wife。〃
The wealth of the Evangelistas； proverbial in Bordeaux； had remained
in Paul's mind as a memory of his childhood。 Thus the pecuniary
conditions were known to him from the start； without necessitating
those discussions and inquiries which are as repugnant to a timid mind
as to a proud one。 When some persons attempting to say to Paul a few
flattering phrases as to Natalie's manner； language； and beauty；
ending by remarks； cruelly calculated to deter him； on the lavish
extravagance of the Evangelistas； the Pink of Fashion replied with a
disdain that was well…deserved by such provincial pettiness。 This
method of receiving such speeches soon silenced them； for he now set
the tone to the ideas and language as well as to the manners of those
about him。 He had imported from his travels a certain development of
the Britannic personality with its icy barriers； also a tone of
Byronic pessimism as to life； together with English plate； boot…
polish； ponies； yellow gloves； cigars； and the habit of galloping。
It thus happened that Paul escaped the discouragements hitherto
presented to marriageable men by dowagers and young girls。 Madame
Evangelista began by asking him to formal dinners on various
occasions。 The Pink of Fashion would not； of course； miss festivities
to which none but the most distinguished young men of the town were
bidden。 In spite of the coldness that Paul assumed； which deceived
neither mother nor daughter； he was drawn； step by step； into the path
of marriage。 Sometimes as he passed in his tilbury； or rode by on his
fine English horse； he heard the young men of his acquaintance say to
one another：
〃There's a lucky man。 He is rich and handsome； and is to marry； so
they say； Mademoiselle Evangelista。 There are some men for whom the
world seems made。〃
When he met the Evangelistas he felt proud of the particular
distinc