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herself listened to with rapture； she soon began to listen to herself；
enjoyed haranguing her audience； and at last regarded her friends as
the chorus in a tragedy； there only to give her her cues。 In fact； she
had a very fine collection of phrases and ideas； derived either from
books or by assimilating the opinions of her companions； and thus
became a sort of mechanical instrument； going off on a round of
phrases as soon as some chance remark released the spring。 To do her
justice； Dinah was choke full of knowledge； and read everything； even
medical books； statistics； science； and jurisprudence； for she did not
know how to spend her days when she had reviewed her flower…beds and
given her orders to the gardener。 Gifted with an excellent memory； and
the talent which some women have for hitting on the right word； she
could talk on any subject with the lucidity of a studied style。 And so
men came from Cosne； from la Charite； and from Nevers； on the right
bank； from Lere； Vailly； Argent； Blancafort； and Aubigny； on the left
bank； to be introduced to Madame de la Baudraye； as they used in
Switzerland； to be introduced to Madame de Stael。 Those who only once
heard the round of tunes emitted by this musical snuff…box went away
amazed； and told such wonders of Dinah as made all the women jealous
for ten leagues round。
There is an indescribable mental headiness in the admiration we
inspire； or in the effect of playing a part； which fends off criticism
from reaching the idol。 An atmosphere； produced perhaps by unceasing
nervous tension； forms a sort of halo； through which the world below
is seen。 How otherwise can we account for the perennial good faith
which leads to so many repeated presentments of the same effects； and
the constant ignoring of warnings given by children； such a terror to
their parents； or by husbands； so familiar as they are with the
peacock airs of their wives？ Monsieur de la Baudraye had the frankness
of a man who opens an umbrella at the first drop of rain。 When his
wife was started on the subject of Negro emancipation or the
improvement of convict prisons； he would take up his little blue cap
and vanish without a sound； in the certainty of being able to get to
Saint…Thibault to see off a cargo of puncheons； and return an hour
later to find the discussion approaching a close。 Or； if he had no
business to attend to； he would go for a walk on the Mall； whence he
commanded the lovely panorama of the Loire valley； and take a draught
of fresh air while his wife was performing a sonata in words； or a
dialectical duet。
Once fairly established as a Superior Woman； Dinah was eager to prove
her devotion to the most remarkable creations of art。 She threw
herself into the propaganda of the romantic school； including； under
Art； poetry and painting； literature and sculpture； furniture and the
opera。 Thus she became a mediaevalist。 She was also interested in any
treasures that dated from the Renaissance； and employed her allies as
so many devoted commission agents。 Soon after she was married； she had
become possessed of the Rougets' furniture； sold at Issoudun early in
1824。 She purchased some very good things at Nivernais and the Haute…
Loire。 At the New Year and on her birthday her friends never failed to
give her some curiosities。 These fancies found favor in the eyes of
Monsieur de la Baudraye； they gave him an appearance of sacrificing a
few crowns to his wife's taste。 In point of fact； his land mania
allowed him to think of nothing but the estate of Anzy。
These 〃antiquities〃 at that time cost much less than modern furniture。
By the end of five or six years the ante…room； the dining…room； the
two drawing…rooms； and the boudoir which Dinah had arranged on the
ground floor of La Baudraye； every spot even to the staircase； were
crammed with masterpieces collected in the four adjacent departments。
These surroundings； which were called /queer/ by the neighbors； were
quite in harmony with Dinah。 All these Marvels； so soon to be the
rage； struck the imagination of the strangers introduced to her； they
came expecting something unusual； and they found their expectations
surpassed when； behind a bower of flowers； they saw these catacombs
full of old things； piled up as Sommerard used to pile themthat 〃Old
Mortality〃 of furniture。 And then these finds served as so many
springs which； turned on by a question； played off an essay on Jean
Goujon； Michel Columb； Germain Pilon； Boulle； Van Huysum； and Boucher；
the great native painter of Le Berry； on Clodion； the carver of wood；
on Venetian mirrors； on Brustolone； an Italian tenor who was the
Michael…Angelo of boxwood and holm oak； on the thirteenth； fourteenth；
fifteenth； sixteenth； and seventeenth centuries； on the glazes of
Bernard de Palissy； the enamels of Petitot； the engravings of Albrecht
Durerwhom she called Dur； on illuminations on vellum； on Gothic
architecture； early decorated； flamboyant and pureenough to turn an
old man's brain and fire a young man with enthusiasm。
Madame de la Baudraye； possessed with the idea of waking up Sancerre；
tried to form a so…called literary circle。 The Presiding Judge；
Monsieur Boirouge； who happened to have a house and garden on his
hands； part of the Popinot…Chandier property； favored the notion of
this /coterie/。 The wily Judge talked over the rules of the society
with Madame de la Baudraye； he proposed to figure as one of the
founders； and to let the house for fifteen years to the literary club。
By the time it had existed a year the members were playing dominoes；
billiards； and bouillotte； and drinking mulled wine； punch； and
liqueurs。 A few elegant little suppers were then given； and some
masked balls during the Carnival。 As to literaturethere were the
newspapers。 Politics and business were discussed。 Monsieur de la
Baudraye was constantly thereon his wife's account； as she said
jestingly。
This result deeply grieved the Superior Woman； who despaired of
Sancerre； and collected the wit of the neighborhood in her own
drawing…room。 Nevertheless； and in spite of the efforts of Messieurs
de Chargeboeuf； Gravier； and de Clagny； of the Abbe Duret and the two
chief magistrates； of a young doctor； and a young Assistant Judgeall
blind admirers of Dinah'sthere were occasions when； weary of
discussion； they allowed themselves an excursion into the domain of
agreeable frivolity which constitutes the common basis of worldly
conversation。 Monsieur Gravier called this 〃from grave to gay。〃 The
Abbe Duret's rubber made another pleasing variety on the monologues of
the oracle。 The three rivals； tired of keeping their minds up to the
level of the 〃high range of discussion〃as they called their
conversationbut not daring to confess it； would sometimes turn with
ingratiating hints to the old priest。
〃Monsieur le Cure is dying for his game；〃 they would say。
The wily priest lent himself very readily to the little trick。 He
protested。
〃We should lose too much by ceasing to listen to our inspired
hostess！〃 and so he would incite Dinah's magnanimity to take pity at
last on her dear Abbe。
This bold manoeuvre； a device of the Sous…prefet's； was repeat