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those of the English 〃country gentleman〃 who； hearing constant mention
of 〃posterity〃 in the House of Commons； rose to make the speech that
has since become celebrated： 〃Gentlemen；〃 he said； 〃I hear much talk
in this place about Posterity。 I should be glad to know what that
power has ever done for England。〃
Under these circumstances the heroic Chevalier de Valois would bring
to the succor of the old maid all the powers of his clever diplomacy；
whenever he saw the pitiless smile of wiser heads。 The old gentleman；
who loved to assist women； turned Mademoiselle Cormon's sayings into
wit by sustaining them paradoxically； and he often covered the retreat
so well that it seemed as if the good woman had said nothing silly。
She asserted very seriously one evening that she did not see any
difference between an ox and a bull。 The dear chevalier instantly
arrested the peals of laughter by asserting that there was only the
difference between a sheep and a lamb。
But the Chevalier de Valois served an ungrateful dame； for never did
Mademoiselle Cormon comprehend his chivalrous services。 Observing that
the conversation grew lively； she simply thought that she was not so
stupid as she was；the result being that she settled down into her
ignorance with some complacency； she lost her timidity； and acquired a
self…possession which gave to her 〃speeches〃 something of the
solemnity with which the British enunciate their patriotic
absurdities；the self…conceit of stupidity； as it may be called。
As she approached her uncle； on this occasion； with a majestic step；
she was ruminating over a question that might draw him from a silence；
which always troubled her； for she feared he was dull。
〃Uncle；〃 she said； leaning on his arm and clinging to his side （this
was one of her fictions； for she said to herself 〃If I had a husband I
should do just so〃）；〃uncle； if everything here below happens
according to the will of God； there must be a reason for everything。〃
〃Certainly；〃 replied the abbe； gravely。 The worthy man； who cherished
his niece； always allowed her to tear him from his meditations with
angelic patience。
〃Then if I remain unmarried；supposing that I do；God wills it？〃
〃Yes； my child；〃 replied the abbe。
〃And yet； as nothing prevents me from marrying to…morrow if I choose；
His will can be destroyed by mine？〃
〃That would be true if we knew what was really the will of God；〃
replied the former prior of the Sorbonne。 〃Observe； my daughter； that
you put in an IF。〃
The poor woman； who expected to draw her uncle into a matrimonial
discussion by an argument ad omnipotentem； was stupefied； but persons
of obtuse mind have the terrible logic of children； which consists in
turning from answer to question；a logic that is frequently
embarrassing。
〃But； uncle； God did not make women intending them not to marry；
otherwise they ought all to stay unmarried； if not； they ought all to
marry。 There's great injustice in the distribution of parts。〃
〃Daughter；〃 said the worthy abbe； 〃you are blaming the Church； which
declares celibacy to be the better way to God。〃
〃But if the Church is right； and all the world were good Catholics；
wouldn't the human race come to an end； uncle？〃
〃You have too much mind； Rose； you don't need so much to be happy。〃
That remark brought a smile of satisfaction to the lips of the poor
woman； and confirmed her in the good opinion she was beginning to
acquire about herself。 That is how the world； our friends； and our
enemies are the accomplices of our defects！
At this moment the conversation was interrupted by the successive
arrival of the guests。 On these ceremonial days； friendly
familiarities were exchanged between the servants of the house and the
company。 Mariette remarked to the chief…justice as he passed the
kitchen：
〃Ah； Monsieur du Ronceret； I've cooked the cauliflowers au gratin
expressly for you； for mademoiselle knows how you like them； and she
said to me： 'Now don't forget； Mariette； for Monsieur du Ronceret is
coming。'〃
〃That good Mademoiselle Cormon！〃 ejaculated the chief legal authority
of the town。 〃Mariette； did you steep them in gravy instead of soup…
stock？ it is much richer。〃
The chief…justice was not above entering the chamber of council where
Mariette held court； he cast the eye of a gastronome around it； and
offered the advice of a past master in cookery。
〃Good…day； madame；〃 said Josette to Madame Granson； who courted the
maid。 〃Mademoiselle has thought of you； and there's fish for dinner。〃
As for the Chevalier de Valois； he remarked to Mariette； in the easy
tone of a great seigneur who condescends to be familiar：
〃Well； my dear cordon…bleu； to whom I should give the cross of the
Legion of honor； is there some little dainty for which I had better
reserve myself？〃
〃Yes； yes； Monsieur de Valois；a hare sent from Prebaudet； weighs
fourteen pounds。〃
Du Bousquier was not invited。 Mademoiselle Cormon； faithful to the
system which we know of； treated that fifty…year…old suitor extremely
ill； although she felt inexplicable sentiments towards him in the
depths of her heart。 She had refused him； yet at times she repented；
and a presentiment that she should yet marry him； together with a
terror at the idea which prevented her from wishing for the marriage；
assailed her。 Her mind； stimulated by these feelings； was much
occupied by du Bousquier。 Without being aware of it； she was
influenced by the herculean form of the republican。 Madame Granson and
the Chevalier de Valois； although they could not explain to themselves
Mademoiselle Cormon's inconsistencies； had detected her naive glances
in that direction； the meaning of which seemed clear enough to make
them both resolve to ruin the hopes of the already rejected purveyor；
hopes which it was evident he still indulged。
Two guests； whose functions excused them； kept the dinner waiting。 One
was Monsieur du Coudrai； the recorder of mortgages； the other Monsieur
Choisnel； former bailiff to the house of Esgrignon； and now the notary
of the upper aristocracy； by whom he was received with a distinction
due to his virtues； he was also a man of considerable wealth。 When the
two belated guests arrived； Jacquelin said to them as he saw them
about to enter the salon：
〃THEY are all in the garden。〃
No doubt the assembled stomachs were impatient； for on the appearance
of the register of mortgageswho had no defect except that of having
married for her money an intolerable old woman； and of perpetrating
endless puns； at which he was the first to laughthe gentle murmur by
which such late…comers are welcomed arose。 While awaiting the official
announcement of dinner； the company were sauntering on the terrace
above the river； and gazing at the water…plants； the mosaic of the
currents； and the various pretty details of the houses clustering
across the river； their old wooden galleries；