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mission。 For the last hundred years the daughters of the family had
married nobles belonging to the provinces； consequently； this family
had thrown out so many suckers throughout the duchy as to appear on
nearly all the genealogical trees。 No bourgeois family had ever seemed
so like nobility。
The house in which Mademoiselle Cormon lived； build in Henri IV。's
time； by Pierre Cormon； the steward of the last Duc d'Alencon； had
always belonged to the family； and among the old maid's visible
possessions this one was particularly stimulating to the covetous
desires of the two old lovers。 Yet； far from producing revenue； the
house was a cause of expense。 But it is so rare to find in the very
centre of a provincial town a private dwelling without unpleasant
surroundings； handsome in outward structure and convenient within；
that Alencon shared the envy of the lovers。
This old mansion stands exactly in the middle of the rue du Val…Noble。
It is remarkable for the strength of its construction；a style of
building introduced by Marie de' Medici。 Though built of granite；a
stone which is hard to work；its angles； and the casings of the doors
and windows； are decorated with corner blocks cut into diamond facets。
It has only one clear story above the ground…floor； but the roof；
rising steeply； has several projecting windows； with carved spandrels
rather elegantly enclosed in oaken frames； and externally adorned with
balustrades。 Between each of these windows is a gargoyle presenting
the fantastic jaws of an animal without a body； vomiting the rain…
water upon large stones pierced with five holes。 The two gables are
surmounted by leaden bouquets；a symbol of the bourgeoisie； for
nobles alone had the privilege in former days of having weather…vanes。
To right of the courtyard are the stables and coach…house； to left；
the kitchen； wood…house； and laundry。
One side of the porte…cochere； being left open； allowed the passers in
the street to see in the midst of the vast courtyard a flower…bed； the
raised earth of which was held in place by a low privet hedge。 A few
monthly roses； pinkes； lilies； and Spanish broom filled this bed；
around which in the summer season boxes of paurestinus； pomegranates；
and myrtle were placed。 Struck by the scrupulous cleanliness of the
courtyard and its dependencies； a stranger would at once have divined
that the place belonged to an old maid。 The eye which presided there
must have been an unoccupied； ferreting eye； minutely careful； less
from nature than for want of something to do。 An old maid； forced to
employ her vacant days； could alone see to the grass being hoed from
between the paving stones； the tops of the walls kept clean； the broom
continually going； and the leather curtains of the coach…house always
closed。 She alone would have introduced； out of busy idleness； a sort
of Dutch cleanliness into a house on the confines of Bretagne and
Normandie；a region where they take pride in professing an utter
indifference to comfort。
Never did the Chevalier de Valois； or du Bousquier； mount the steps of
the double stairway leading to the portico of this house without
saying to himself； one； that it was fit for a peer of France； the
other； that the mayor of the town ought to live there。
A glass door gave entrance from this portico into an antechamber； a
species of gallery paved in red tiles and wainscoted； which served as
a hospital for the family portraits；some having an eye put out；
others suffering from a dislocated shoulder； this one held his hat in
a hand that no longer existed； that one was a case of amputation at
the knee。 Here were deposited the cloaks； clogs； overshoes； umbrellas；
hoods； and pelisses of the guests。 It was an arsenal where each
arrival left his baggage on arriving； and took it up when departing。
Along each wall was a bench for the servants who arrived with
lanterns； and a large stove； to counteract the north wind； which blew
through this hall from the garden to the courtyard。
The house was divided in two equal parts。 On one side； toward the
courtyard； was the well of the staircase； a large dining…room looking
to the garden； and an office or pantry which communicated with the
kitchen。 On the other side was the salon； with four windows； beyond
which were two smaller rooms；one looking on the garden； and used as
a boudoir； the other lighted from the courtyard； and used as a sort of
office。
The upper floor contained a complete apartment for a family household；
and a suite of rooms where the venerable Abbe de Sponde had his abode。
The garrets offered fine quarters to the rats and mice； whose
nocturnal performances were related by Mademoiselle Cormon to the
Chevalier de Valois； with many expressions of surprise at the
inutility of her efforts to get rid of them。 The garden； about half an
acre in size； is margined by the Brillante； so named from the
particles of mica which sparkle in its bed elsewhere than in the Val…
Noble； where its shallow waters are stained by the dyehouses； and
loaded with refuse from the other industries of the town。 The shore
opposite to Mademoiselle Cormon's garden is crowded with houses where
a variety of trades are carried on； happily for her； the occupants are
quiet people；a baker； a cleaner； an upholsterer； and several
bourgeois。 The garden； full of common flowers； ends in a natural
terrace； forming a quay； down which are several steps leading to the
river。 Imagine on the balustrade of this terrace a number of tall
vases of blue and white pottery； in which are gilliflowers； and to
right and left； along the neighboring walls； hedges of linden closely
trimmed in； and you will gain an idea of the landscape； full of
tranquil chastity； modest cheerfulness； but commonplace withal； which
surrounded the venerable edifice of the Cormon family。 What peace！
what tranquillity！ nothing pretentious； but nothing transitory； all
seems eternal there！
The ground…floor is devoted wholly to the reception…rooms。 The old；
unchangeable provincial spirit pervades them。 The great square salon
has four windows； modestly cased in woodwork painted gray。 A single
oblong mirror is placed above the fireplace； the top of its frame
represented the Dawn led by the Hours； and painted in camaieu （two
shades of one color）。 This style of painting infested the decorative
art of the day； especially above door…frames； where the artist
displayed his eternal Seasons； and made you； in most houses in the
centre of France； abhor the odious Cupids； endlessly employed in
skating； gleaning； twirling； or garlanding one another with flowers。
Each window was draped in green damask curtains； looped up by heavy
cords； which made them resemble a vast dais。 The furniture； covered
with tapestry； the woodwork； painted and varnished； and remarkable for
the twisted forms so much the fashion in the last century； bore scenes
from the fables of La Fontaine on the chair…backs； some of this
tapestry had