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her good…bye； the salon was thronged； and every one said farewell as
though she were starting for Calcutta。 The next day the shopkeepers
would stand at their doors to see the old carriole pass； and they
seemed to be telling one another some news by repeating from shop to
shop：
〃So Mademoiselle Cormon is going to Prebaudet！〃
Some said： 〃HER bread is baked。〃
〃Hey！ my lad；〃 replied the next man。 〃She's a worthy woman； if money
always came into such hands we shouldn't see a beggar in the country。〃
Another said： 〃Dear me； I shouldn't be surprised if the vineyards were
in bloom； here's Mademoiselle Cormon going to Prebaudet。 How happens
it she doesn't marry？〃
〃I'd marry her myself；〃 said a wag； 〃in fact； the marriage is half…
made； for here's one consenting party； but the other side won't。 Pooh！
the oven is heating for Monsieur du Bousquier。〃
〃Monsieur du Bousquier！ Why； she has refused him。〃
That evening at all the gatherings it was told gravely：
〃Mademoiselle Cormon has gone。〃
Or：
〃So you have really let Mademoiselle Cormon go。〃
The Wednesday chosen by Suzanne to make known her scandal happened to
be this farewell Wednesday；a day on which Mademoiselle Cormon drove
Josette distracted on the subject of packing。 During the morning；
therefore； things had been said and done in the town which lent the
utmost interest to this farewell meeting。 Madame Granson had gone the
round of a dozen houses while the old maid was deliberating on the
things she needed for the journey； and the malicious Chevalier de
Valois was playing piquet with Mademoiselle Armande； sister of a
distinguished old marquis； and the queen of the salon of the
aristocrats。 If it was not uninteresting to any one to see what figure
the seducer would cut that evening； it was all important for the
chevalier and Madame Granson to know how Mademoiselle Cormon would
take the news in her double capacity of marriageable woman and
president of the Maternity Society。 As for the innocent du Bousquier；
he was taking a walk on the promenade； and beginning to suspect that
Suzanne had tricked him； this suspicion confirmed him in his
principles as to women。
On gala days the table was laid at Mademoiselle Cormon's about half…
past three o'clock。 At that period the fashionable people of Alencon
dined at four。 Under the Empire they still dined as in former times at
half…past two； but then they supped！ One of the pleasures which
Mademoiselle Cormon valued most was （without meaning any malice；
although the fact certainly rests on egotism） the unspeakable
satisfaction she derived from seeing herself dressed as mistress of
the house to receive her guests。 When she was thus under arms a ray of
hope would glide into the darkness of her heart； a voice told her that
nature had not so abundantly provided for her in vain； and that some
man； brave and enterprising； would surely present himself。 Her desire
was refreshed like her person； she contemplated herself in her heavy
stuffs with a sort of intoxication； and this satisfaction continued
when she descended the stairs to cast her redoubtable eye on the
salon； the dinner…table； and the boudoir。 She would then walk about
with the naive contentment of the rich；who remember at all moments
that they are rich and will never want for anything。 She looked at her
eternal furniture； her curiosities； her lacquers； and said to herself
that all these fine things wanted was a master。 After admiring the
dining…room； and the oblong dinner…table； on which was spread a snow…
white cloth adorned with twenty covers placed at equal distances；
after verifying the squadron of bottles she had ordered to be brought
up； and which all bore honorable labels； after carefully verifying the
names written on little bits of paper in the trembling handwriting of
the abbe （the only duty he assumed in the household； and one which
gave rise to grave discussions on the place of each guest）；after
going through all these preliminary acts mademoiselle went； in her
fine clothes； to her uncle； who was accustomed at this； the best hour
in the day； to take his walk on the terrace which overlooked the
Brillante； where he could listen to the warble of birds which were
resting in the coppice； unafraid of either sportsmen or children。 At
such times of waiting she never joined the Abbe de Sponde without
asking him some ridiculous question； in order to draw the old man into
a discussion which might serve to amuse him。 And her reason was this；
which will serve to complete our picture of this excellent woman's
nature：
Mademoiselle Cormon regarded it as one of her duties to talk； not that
she was talkative； for she had unfortunately too few ideas； and did
not know enough phrases to converse readily。 But she believed she was
accomplishing one of the social duties enjoined by religion； which
orders us to make ourselves agreeable to our neighbor。 This obligation
cost her so much that she consulted her director； the Abbe Couturier；
upon the subject of this honest but puerile civility。 In spite of the
humble remark of his penitent； confessing the inward labor of her mind
in finding anything to say； the old priest； rigid on the point of
discipline； read her a passage from Saint…Francois de Sales on the
duties of women in society； which dwelt on the decent gayety of pious
Christian women； who were bound to reserve their sternness for
themselves； and to be amiable and pleasing in their homes； and see
that their neighbors enjoyed themselves。 Thus； filled with a sense of
duty； and wishing； at all costs； to obey her director； who bade her
converse with amenity； the poor soul perspired in her corset when the
talk around her languished； so much did she suffer from the effort of
emitting ideas in order to revive it。 Under such circumstances she
would put forth the silliest statements； such as： 〃No one can be in
two places at onceunless it is a little bird；〃 by which she one day
roused； and not without success； a discussion on the ubiquity of the
apostles； which she was unable to comprehend。 Such efforts at
conversation won her the appellation of 〃that good Mademoiselle
Cormon；〃 which； from the lips of the beaux esprits of society； means
that she was as ignorant as a carp； and rather a poor fool； but many
persons of her own calibre took the remark in its literal sense； and
answered：
〃Yes； oh yes！ Mademoiselle Cormon is an excellent woman。〃
Sometimes she would put such absurd questions （always for the purpose
of fulfilling her duties to society； and making herself agreeable to
her guests） that everybody burst out laughing。 She asked； for
instance； what the government did with the taxes they were always
receiving； and why the Bible had not been printed in the days of Jesus
Christ； inasmuch as it was written by Moses。 Her mental powers were
those of the English 〃country gentleman〃 who； hearing constant mention
of 〃posterity〃 in the House of Commons