Astoaccessories，inthefirstplace，MadameSoudrywassurroundedby，themagnificentgiftsaccumulatedbyherlatemistress，whichtheex-
Benedictinecalled“fructusbelli。”Thenshemadethemostofher，uglinessbyexaggeratingit，andbyassumingthatindescribableair，andmannerwhichbelongsonlytoParisianwomen，thesecretofwhich，isknowneventothemostvulgaramongthem，——whoarealwaysmoreor，lessmimics。Shelacedtight，woreanenormousbustle，alsodiamond，earrings，andherfingerswerecoveredwithrings。Atthetopofher，corsage，betweentwomoundsoffleshwellplasteredwithpearl-white，shoneabeetlemadeoftopazwithadiamondhead，thegiftofdear，mistress，——ajewelrenownedthroughoutthedepartment。Likethelate，dearmistress，sheworeshortsleevesandbarearms，andflirtedan，ivoryfan，paintedbyBoucherwithtwolittlerose-diamondsinthe，handle。
WhenshewentoutMadameSoudrycarriedaparasolofthetrue，eighteenth-centurystyle;thatistosay，atallcaneattheendof，whichopenedagreensun-shadewithagreenfringe。Whenshewalked，abouttheterraceastrangeronthehigh-road，seeingherfromafar，mighthavethoughtheroneofWatteau’sdames。
Inhersalon，hungwithreddamask，withcurtainsofthesamelined，withsilk，afireonthehearth，amantel-shelfadornedwithbibelots，ofthegoodtimeofLouisXV。andbearingcandelabraintheformof，liliesupheldbyCupids——inthissalon，filledwithfurniturein，gildedwoodofthe“pieddebiche“pattern，itisnotimpossibleto，understandwhythepeopleofSoulangescalledthemistressofthe，house，“ThebeautifulMadameSoulanges。”Themansionhadactually，becomethecivicprideofthiscapitalofacanton。
Iftheleadingsocietyofthelittletownbelievedinitsqueen，the，queenassurelybelievedinherself。Byaphenomenonnotintheleast，rare，whichthevanityofmothersandauthorscarriesonatall，momentsunderourveryeyesinbehalfoftheirliteraryworksortheir，marriageabledaughters，thelateMademoiselleCochetwas，attheend，ofsevenyears，socompletelyburiedunderMadameSoudry，the，mayoress，thatshenotonlydidnotrememberherpast，butshe，actuallybelievedherselfawell-bredwoman。Shehadstudiedtheairs，andgraces，thedulcettones，thegestures，thewaysofhermistress，solongthatwhenshefoundherselfinthemidstofanopulenceofher，ownshewasabletopracticethenaturalinsolenceofit。Sheknewher，eighteenthcentury，andthetalesofitsgreatlordsandalltheir，belongings，byheart。Thisback-stairseruditiongavetoher，conversationaflavorof“oeil-de-boeuf“;hersoubrettegossippassed，musterforcourtlywit。Morally，themayoresswas，ifyouwishtosay，so，tinsel;buttosavagespastediamondsareasgoodasrealones。