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world seems made。〃
When he met the Evangelistas he felt proud of the particular
distinction which mother and daughter imparted to their bows。 If Paul
had not secretly； within his heart； fallen in love with Mademoiselle
Natalie； society would certainly have married him to her in spite of
himself。 Society； which never causes good； is the accomplice of much
evil； then when it beholds the evil it has hatched maternally； it
rejects and revenges it。 Society in Bordeaux； attributing a 〃dot〃 of a
million to Mademoiselle Evangelista； bestowed it upon Paul without
awaiting the consent of either party。 Their fortunes； so it was said；
agreed as well as their persons。 Paul had the same habits of luxury
and elegance in the midst of which Natalie had been brought up。 He had
just arranged for himself a house such as no other man in Bordeaux
could have offered her。 Accustomed to Parisian expenses and the
caprices of Parisian women； he alone was fitted to meet the pecuniary
difficulties which were likely to follow this marriage with a girl who
was as much of a Creole and a great lady as her mother。 Where they
themselves； remarked the marriageable men； would have been ruined； the
Comte de Manerville； rich as he was； could evade disaster。 In short；
the marriage was made。 Persons in the highest royalist circles said a
few engaging words to Paul which flattered his vanity：
〃Every one gives you Mademoiselle Evangelista。 If you marry her you
will do well。 You could not find； even in Paris； a more delightful
girl。 She is beautiful； graceful； elegant； and takes after the Casa…
Reales through her mother。 You will make a charming couple； you have
the same tastes； the same desires in life； and you will certainly have
the most agreeable house in Bordeaux。 Your wife need only bring her
night…cap； all is ready for her。 You are fortunate indeed in such a
mother…in…law。 A woman of intelligence； and very adroit； she will be a
great help to you in public life； to which you ought to aspire。
Besides； she has sacrificed everything to her daughter； whom she
adores； and Natalie will； no doubt； prove a good wife； for she loves
her mother。 You must soon bring the matter to a conclusion。〃
〃That is all very well；〃 replied Paul； who； in spite of his love； was
desirous of keeping his freedom of action； 〃but I must be sure that
the conclusion shall be a happy one。〃
He now went frequently to Madame Evangelista's； partly to occupy his
vacant hours； which were harder for him to employ than for most men。
There alone he breathed the atmosphere of grandeur and luxury to which
he was accustomed。
At forty years of age； Madame Evangelista was beautiful； with the
beauty of those glorious summer sunsets which crown a cloudless day。
Her spotless reputation had given an endless topic of conversation to
the Bordeaux cliques； the curiosity of the women was all the more
lively because the widow gave signs of the temperament which makes a
Spanish woman and a Creole particularly noted。 She had black eyes and
hair； the feet and form of a Spanish woman；that swaying form the
movements of which have a name in Spain。 Her face； still beautiful；
was particularly seductive for its Creole complexion； the vividness of
which can be described only by comparing it to muslin overlying
crimson； so equally is the whiteness suffused with color。 Her figure；
which was full and rounded； attracted the eye by a grace which united
nonchalance with vivacity； strength with ease。 She attracted and she
imposed； she seduced； but promised nothing。 She was tall； which gave
her at times the air and carriage of a queen。 Men were taken by her
conversation like birds in a snare； for she had by nature that genius
which necessity bestows on schemes； she advanced from concession to
concession； strengthening herself with what she gained to ask for
more； knowing well how to retreat with rapid steps when concessions
were demanded in return。 Though ignorant of facts； she had known the
courts of Spain and Naples； the celebrated men of the two Americas；
many illustrious families of England and the continent； all of which
gave her so extensive an education superficially that it seemed
immense。 She received her society with the grace and dignity which are
never learned； but which come to certain naturally fine spirits like a
second nature； assimilating choice things wherever they are met。 If
her reputation for virtue was unexplained； it gave at any rate much
authority to her actions； her conversation； and her character。
Mother and daughter had a true friendship for each other； beyond the
filial and maternal sentiment。 They suited one another； and their
perpetual contact had never produced the slightest jar。 Consequently
many persons explained Madame Evangelista's actions by maternal love。
But although Natalie consoled her mother's persistent widowhood； she
may not have been the only motive for it。 Madame Evangelista had been；
it was said； in love with a man who recovered his titles and property
under the Restoration。 This man； desirous of marrying her in 1814 had
discreetly severed the connection in 1816。 Madame Evangelista； to all
appearance the best…hearted woman in the world； had； in the depths of
her nature； a fearful quality； explainable only by Catherine de
Medici's device： 〃Odiate e aspettate〃〃Hate and wait。〃 Accustomed to
rule； having always been obeyed； she was like other royalties；
amiable； gentle； easy and pleasant in ordinary life； but terrible；
implacable； if the pride of the woman； the Spaniard； and the Casa…
Reale was touched。 She never forgave。 This woman believed in the power
of her hatred； she made an evil fate of it and bade it hover above her
enemy。 This fatal power she employed against the man who had jilted
her。 Events which seemed to prove the influence of her 〃jettatura〃
the casting of an evil eyeconfirmed her superstitious faith in
herself。 Though a minister and peer of France； this man began to ruin
himself； and soon came to total ruin。 His property； his personal and
public honor were doomed to perish。 At this crisis Madame Evangelista
in her brilliant equipage passed her faithless lover walking on foot
in the Champes Elysees； and crushed him with a look which flamed with
triumph。 This misadventure； which occupied her mind for two years； was
the original cause of her not remarrying。 Later； her pride had drawn
comparisons between the suitors who presented themselves and the
husband who had loved her so sincerely and so well。
She had thus reached； through mistaken calculations and disappointed
hopes； that period of life when women have no other part to take in
life than that of mother； a part which involves the sacrifice of
themselves to their children； the placing of their interests outside
of self upon another household；the last refuge of human affections。
Madame Evangelista divined Paul's nature intuitively； and hid her own
from his perception。 Paul was the very man she desire