\"Howlittlesheknowsthatayoungmanispassingbeforeherhousewholovesherwell，whowouldbefaithfultoher，whowouldnevercauseheranygrief；whowouldleavehertheentiremanagementofherfortunewithoutinterference。GoodGod!whatfatality!here，sidebyside，inthesametown，aretwopersonsinourmutualcondition，andyetnothingcanbringthemtogether。SupposeIweretospeaktoherthisevening？\"
DuringthistimeSuzannehadreturnedtohermother\'shousethinkingofAthanase；and，likemanyotherwomenwhohavelongedtohelpanadoredmanbeyondthelimitofhumanpowers，shefeltherselfcapableofmakingherbodyastepping-stoneonwhichhecouldrisetoattainhisthrone。
Itisnownecessarytoenterthehouseofthisoldmaidtowardwhomsomanyinterestsareconverging，wheretheactorsinthisscene，withtheexceptionofSuzanne，werealltomeetthisveryevening。AsforSuzanne，thathandsomeindividualboldenoughtoburnhershipslikeAlexanderatherstartinlife，andtobeginthebattlebyafalsehood，shedisappearsfromthestage，havingintroduceduponitaviolentelementofinterest。Herutmostwishesweregratified。Shequittedhernativetownafewdayslater，wellsuppliedwithmoneyandgoodclothes，amongwhichwasafinedressofgreenrepsandacharminggreenbonnetlinedwithpink，thegiftofMonsieurdeValois，——apresentwhichshepreferredtoalltherest，eventhemoney。IfthechevalierhadgonetoParisinthedaysofherfuturebrilliancy，shewouldcertainlyhavelefteveryoneforhim。LikethechasteSusannahoftheBible，whomtheEldershardlysaw，sheestablishedherselfjoyouslyandfullofhopeinParis，whileallAlenconwasdeploringhermisfortunes，forwhichtheladiesoftwoSocietiesCharityandMaternitymanifestedtheliveliestsympathy。ThoughSuzanneisafairspecimenofthosehandsomeNormanwomenwhomalearnedphysicianreckonsascomprisingonethirdofherfallenclasswhomourmonstrousParisabsorbs，itmustbestatedthatsheremainedintheupperandmoredecentregionsofgallantry。Atanepochwhen，asMonsieurdeValoissaid，Womannolongerexisted，shewassimply\"MadameduVal-Noble\"；inotherdaysshewouldhaverivalledtheRhodopes，theImperias，theNinonsofthepast。OneofthemostdistinguishedwritersoftheRestorationhastakenherunderhisprotection；perhapshemaymarryher。Heisajournalist，andconsequentlyabovepublicopinion，inasmuchashemanufacturesitafresheveryyearortwo。
CHAPTERIII
MADEMOISELLECORMON
Innearlyallthesecond-classprefecturesofFrancethereexistsonesalonwhichisthemeeting-groundofthoseconsiderableandwell-
consideredpersonsofthecommunitywhoare，nevertheless，NOTthecreamofthebestsociety。Themasterandmistressofsuchanestablishmentarecountedamongtheleadingpersonsofthetown；theyarereceivedwhereveritmaypleasethemtovisit；nofeteisgiven，noformalordiplomaticdinnertakesplace，towhichtheyarenotinvited。Butthechateaupeople，headsoffamiliespossessinggreatestates，inshort，thehighestpersonagesinthedepartment，donotgototheirhouses；socialintercoursebetweenthemiscarriedonbycardsfromonetotheother，andadinnerorsoireeacceptedandreturned。
Thissalon，inwhichthelessernobility，theclergy，andthemagistracymeettogether，exertsagreatinfluence。Thejudgmentandmindoftheregionresideinthatsolid，unostentatioussociety，whereeachmanknowstheresourcesofhisneighbor，wherecompleteindifferenceisshowntoluxuryanddress，——pleasureswhicharethoughtchildishincomparisontothatofobtainingtenortwelveacresofpastureland，——apurchasecovetedforyears，whichhasprobablygivenrisetoendlessdiplomaticcombinations。Immovableinitsprejudices，goodorevil，thissocialcirclefollowsabeatentrack，lookingneitherbeforeitnorbehindit。ItacceptsnothingfromPariswithoutlongexaminationandtrial；itrejectscashmeresasitdoesinvestmentsontheGrand-Livre；itscoffsatfashionsandnovelties；readsnothing，prefersignorance，whetherofscience，literature，orindustrialinventions。Itinsistsontheremovalofaprefectwhenthatofficialdoesnotsuitit；andiftheadministrationresists，itisolateshim，afterthemannerofbeeswhowallupasnailinwaxwhenitgetsintotheirhive。
Inthissocietygossipisoftenturnedintosolemnverdicts。Youngwomenareseldomseenthere；whentheycomeitistoseekapprobationoftheirconduct，——aconsecrationoftheirself-importance。Thissupremacygrantedtoonehouseisapttowoundthesensibilitiesofothernativesoftheregion，whoconsolethemselvesbyaddingupthecostitinvolves，andbywhichtheyprofit。Ifitsohappensthatthereisnofortunelargeenoughtokeepopenhouseinthisway，thebig-wigsoftheplacechooseaplaceofmeeting，astheydidatAlencon，inthehouseofsomeinoffensiveperson，whosesettledlifeandcharacterandpositionoffersnoumbragetothevanitiesortheinterestsofanyone。
ForsomeyearstheupperclassesofAlenconhadmetinthiswayatthehouseofanoldmaid，whosefortunewas，unknowntoherself，theaimandobjectofMadameGranson，hersecondcousin，andofthetwooldbachelorswhosesecrethopesinthatdirectionwehavejustunveiled。
Thisladylivedwithhermaternaluncle，aformergrand-vicarofthebishopricofSeez，onceherguardian，andwhoseheirshewas。ThefamilyofwhichRose-Marie-VictoireCormonwasthepresentrepresentativehadbeeninearlierdaysamongthemostconsiderableintheprovince。Thoughbelongingtothemiddleclasses，sheconsortedwiththenobility，amongwhomshewasmoreorlessallied，herfamilyhavingfurnished，inpastyears，stewardstotheDucd\'Alencon，manymagistratestothelongrobe，andvariousbishopstotheclergy。
MonsieurdeSponde，thematernalgrandfatherofMademoiselleCormon，waselectedbytheNobilitytotheStates-General，andMonsieurCormon，herfather，bytheTiers-Etat，thoughneitheracceptedthemission。Forthelasthundredyearsthedaughtersofthefamilyhadmarriednoblesbelongingtotheprovinces；consequently，thisfamilyhadthrownoutsomanysuckersthroughouttheduchyastoappearonnearlyallthegenealogicaltrees。Nobourgeoisfamilyhadeverseemedsolikenobility。
ThehouseinwhichMademoiselleCormonlived，buildinHenriIV。\'stime，byPierreCormon，thestewardofthelastDucd\'Alencon，hadalwaysbelongedtothefamily；andamongtheoldmaid\'svisiblepossessionsthisonewasparticularlystimulatingtothecovetousdesiresofthetwooldlovers。Yet，farfromproducingrevenue，thehousewasacauseofexpense。Butitissoraretofindintheverycentreofaprovincialtownaprivatedwellingwithoutunpleasantsurroundings，handsomeinoutwardstructureandconvenientwithin，thatAlenconsharedtheenvyofthelovers。
ThisoldmansionstandsexactlyinthemiddleoftherueduVal-Noble。
Itisremarkableforthestrengthofitsconstruction，——astyleofbuildingintroducedbyMariede\'Medici。Thoughbuiltofgranite，——astonewhichishardtowork，——itsangles，andthecasingsofthedoorsandwindows，aredecoratedwithcornerblockscutintodiamondfacets。
Ithasonlyoneclearstoryabovetheground-floor；buttheroof，risingsteeply，hasseveralprojectingwindows，withcarvedspandrelsratherelegantlyenclosedinoakenframes，andexternallyadornedwithbalustrades。Betweeneachofthesewindowsisagargoylepresentingthefantasticjawsofananimalwithoutabody，vomitingtherain-
wateruponlargestonespiercedwithfiveholes。Thetwogablesaresurmountedbyleadenbouquets，——asymbolofthebourgeoisie；fornoblesalonehadtheprivilegeinformerdaysofhavingweather-vanes。
Torightofthecourtyardarethestablesandcoach-house；toleft，thekitchen，wood-house，andlaundry。
Onesideoftheporte-cochere，beingleftopen，allowedthepassersinthestreettoseeinthemidstofthevastcourtyardaflower-bed，theraisedearthofwhichwasheldinplacebyalowprivethedge。Afewmonthlyroses，pinkes，lilies，andSpanishbroomfilledthisbed，aroundwhichinthesummerseasonboxesofpaurestinus，pomegranates，andmyrtlewereplaced。Struckbythescrupulouscleanlinessofthecourtyardanditsdependencies，astrangerwouldatoncehavedivinedthattheplacebelongedtoanoldmaid。Theeyewhichpresidedtheremusthavebeenanunoccupied，ferretingeye；minutelycareful，lessfromnaturethanforwantofsomethingtodo。Anoldmaid，forcedtoemployhervacantdays，couldaloneseetothegrassbeinghoedfrombetweenthepavingstones，thetopsofthewallskeptclean，thebroomcontinuallygoing，andtheleathercurtainsofthecoach-housealwaysclosed。Shealonewouldhaveintroduced，outofbusyidleness，asortofDutchcleanlinessintoahouseontheconfinesofBretagneandNormandie，——aregionwheretheytakeprideinprofessinganutterindifferencetocomfort。
NeverdidtheChevalierdeValois，orduBousquier，mountthestepsofthedoublestairwayleadingtotheporticoofthishousewithoutsayingtohimself，one，thatitwasfitforapeerofFrance，theother，thatthemayorofthetownoughttolivethere。
Aglassdoorgaveentrancefromthisporticointoanantechamber，aspeciesofgallerypavedinredtilesandwainscoted，whichservedasahospitalforthefamilyportraits，——somehavinganeyeputout，otherssufferingfromadislocatedshoulder；thisoneheldhishatinahandthatnolongerexisted；thatonewasacaseofamputationattheknee。Hereweredepositedthecloaks，clogs，overshoes，umbrellas，hoods，andpelissesoftheguests。Itwasanarsenalwhereeacharrivallefthisbaggageonarriving，andtookitupwhendeparting。
Alongeachwallwasabenchfortheservantswhoarrivedwithlanterns，andalargestove，tocounteractthenorthwind，whichblewthroughthishallfromthegardentothecourtyard。
Thehousewasdividedintwoequalparts。Ononeside，towardthecourtyard，wasthewellofthestaircase，alargedining-roomlookingtothegarden，andanofficeorpantrywhichcommunicatedwiththekitchen。Ontheothersidewasthesalon，withfourwindows，beyondwhichweretwosmallerrooms，——onelookingonthegarden，andusedasaboudoir，theotherlightedfromthecourtyard，andusedasasortofoffice。
Theupperfloorcontainedacompleteapartmentforafamilyhousehold，andasuiteofroomswherethevenerableAbbedeSpondehadhisabode。
Thegarretsofferedfinequarterstotheratsandmice，whosenocturnalperformanceswererelatedbyMademoiselleCormontotheChevalierdeValois，withmanyexpressionsofsurpriseattheinutilityofhereffortstogetridofthem。Thegarden，abouthalfanacreinsize，ismarginedbytheBrillante，sonamedfromtheparticlesofmicawhichsparkleinitsbedelsewherethanintheVal-
Noble，whereitsshallowwatersarestainedbythedyehouses，andloadedwithrefusefromtheotherindustriesofthetown。TheshoreoppositetoMademoiselleCormon\'sgardeniscrowdedwithhouseswhereavarietyoftradesarecarriedon；happilyforher，theoccupantsarequietpeople，——abaker，acleaner，anupholsterer，andseveralbourgeois。Thegarden，fullofcommonflowers，endsinanaturalterrace，formingaquay，downwhichareseveralstepsleadingtotheriver。Imagineonthebalustradeofthisterraceanumberoftallvasesofblueandwhitepottery，inwhicharegilliflowers；andtorightandleft，alongtheneighboringwalls，hedgesoflindencloselytrimmedin，andyouwillgainanideaofthelandscape，fulloftranquilchastity，modestcheerfulness，butcommonplacewithal，whichsurroundedthevenerableedificeoftheCormonfamily。Whatpeace!
whattranquillity!nothingpretentious，butnothingtransitory；allseemseternalthere!
Theground-floorisdevotedwhollytothereception-rooms。Theold，unchangeableprovincialspiritpervadesthem。Thegreatsquaresalonhasfourwindows，modestlycasedinwoodworkpaintedgray。Asingleoblongmirrorisplacedabovethefireplace；thetopofitsframerepresentedtheDawnledbytheHours，andpaintedincamaieutwoshadesofonecolor。Thisstyleofpaintinginfestedthedecorativeartoftheday，especiallyabovedoor-frames，wheretheartistdisplayedhiseternalSeasons，andmadeyou，inmosthousesinthecentreofFrance，abhortheodiousCupids，endlesslyemployedinskating，gleaning，twirling，orgarlandingoneanotherwithflowers。
Eachwindowwasdrapedingreendamaskcurtains，loopedupbyheavycords，whichmadethemresembleavastdais。Thefurniture，coveredwithtapestry，thewoodwork，paintedandvarnished，andremarkableforthetwistedformssomuchthefashioninthelastcentury，borescenesfromthefablesofLaFontaineonthechair-backs；someofthistapestryhadbeenmended。Theceilingwasdividedatthecentreoftheroombyahugebeam，fromwhichdependedanoldchandelierofrock-
crystalswathedingreengauze。OnthefireplaceweretwovasesinSevresblue，andtwooldgirandolesattachedtotheframeofthemirror，andaclock，thesubjectofwhich，takenfromthelastsceneofthe\"Deserteur，\"provedtheenormouspopularityofSedaine\'swork。
Thisclock，ofbronze-gilt，boreelevenpersonagesuponit，eachaboutfourinchestall。AtthebacktheDeserterwasseenissuingfromprisonbetweenthesoldiers；intheforegroundtheyoungwomanlayfainting，andpointingtohispardon。Onthewallsofthissalonwereseveralofthemorerecentportraitsofthefamily，——oneortwobyRigaud，andthreepastelsbyLatour。Fourcardtables，abackgammonboard，andapiquettableoccupiedthevastroom，theonlyoneinthehouse，bythebye，whichwasceiled。
Thedining-room，pavedinblackandwhitestone，notceiled，anditsbeamspainted，wasfurnishedwithoneofthoseenormoussideboardswithmarbletops，requiredbythewarwagedintheprovincesagainstthehumanstomach。Thewalls，paintedinfresco，representedaflowerytrellis。Theseatswereofvarnishedcane，andthedoorsofnaturalwood。Allthingsabouttheplacecarriedoutthepatriarchalairwhichemanatedfromtheinsideaswellastheoutsideofthehouse。Thegeniusoftheprovincespreservedeverything；nothingwasneworold，neitheryoungnordecrepit。Acoldprecisionmadeitselffeltthroughout。
TouristsinNormandy，Brittany，Maine，andAnjoumustallhaveseeninthecapitalsofthoseprovincesmanyhouseswhichresemblemoreorlessthatoftheCormons；foritis，initsway，anarchetypeoftheburgherhousesinthatregionofFrance，anditdeservesaplaceinthishistorybecauseitservestoexplainmannersandcustoms，andrepresentsideas。Whodoesnotalreadyfeelthatlifemusthavebeencalmandmonotonouslyregularinthisoldedifice？Itcontainedalibrary；butthatwasplacedbelowtheleveloftheriver。Thebookswerewellboundandshelved，andthedust，farfrominjuringthem，onlymadethemvaluable。Theywerepreservedwiththecaregivenintheseprovincesdeprivedofvineyardstoothernativeproducts，desirablefortheirantiqueperfume，andissuedbythepressesofBourgogne，Touraine，Gascogne，andtheSouth。Thecostoftransportationwastoogreattoallowanybutthebestproductstobeimported。
ThebasisofMademoiselleCormon\'ssocietyconsistedofaboutonehundredandfiftypersons；somewentattimestothecountry；otherswereoccasionallyill；afewtravelledaboutthedepartmentonbusiness；butcertainofthefaithfulcameeverynightunlessinvitedelsewhere，andsodidcertainotherscompelledbydutiesorbyhabittolivepermanentlyinthetown。Allthepersonageswereofripeage；
fewamongthemhadevertravelled；nearlyallhadspenttheirlivesintheprovinces，andsomehadtakenpartinthechouannerie。Thelatterwerebeginningtospeakfearlesslyofthatwar，nowthatrewardswerebeingshoweredonthedefendersofthegoodcause。MonsieurdeValois，oneofthemoversinthelastuprisingduringwhichtheMarquisdeMontauran，betrayedbyhismistress，perishedinspiteofthedevotionofMarche-a-Terre，nowtranquillyraisingcattleforthemarketnearMayenne，——MonsieurdeValoishad，duringthelastsixmonths，giventhekeytoseveralchoicestratagemspractiseduponanoldrepublicannamedHulot，thecommanderofademi-brigadestationedatAlenconfrom1798to1800，whohadleftmanymemoriesintheplace。[See\"TheChouans。\"]
Thewomenofthissocietytooklittlepainswiththeirdress，exceptonWednesdays，whenMademoiselleCormongaveadinner，onwhichoccasiontheguestsinvitedonthepreviousWednesdaypaidtheir\"visitofdigestion。\"Wednesdaysweregaladays:theassemblywasnumerous；guestsandvisitorsappearedinfiocchi；somewomenbroughttheirsewing，knitting，orworstedwork；theyounggirlswerenotashamedtomakepatternsfortheAlenconpointlace，withtheproceedsofwhichtheypaidfortheirpersonalexpenses。Certainhusbandsbroughttheirwivesoutofpolicy，foryoungmenwerefewinthathouse；notawordcouldbewhisperedinanyearwithoutattractingtheattentionofall；therewasthereforenodanger，eitherforyounggirlsorwives，oflove-making。
Everyevening，atsixo\'clock，thelongantechamberreceiveditsfurniture。Eachhabituebroughthiscane，hiscloak，hislantern。Allthesepersonskneweachothersowell，andtheirhabitsandwaysweresofamiliarlypatriarchal，thatifbychancetheoldAbbedeSpondewaslyingdown，orMademoiselleCormonwasinherchamber，neitherJosette，themaid，norJacquelin，theman-servant，norMariette，thecook，informedthem。Thefirstcomerreceivedthesecond；then，whenthecompanyweresufficientlynumerousforwhist，piquet，orboston，theybeganthegamewithoutawaitingeithertheAbbedeSpondeormademoiselle。Ifitwasdark，JosetteorJacquelinwouldhastentolightthecandlesassoonasthefirstbellrang。Seeingthesalonlightedup，theabbewouldslowlyhurrytocomedown。Everyeveningthebackgammonandthepiquettables，thethreebostontables，andthewhisttablewerefilled，——whichgaveoccupationtotwenty-fiveorthirtypersons；butasmanyasfortywereusuallypresent。Jacquelinwouldthenlightthecandlesintheotherrooms。
Betweeneightandnineo\'clocktheservantsbegantoarriveintheantechambertoaccompanytheirmastershome；and，shortofarevolution，nooneremainedinthesalonatteno\'clock。Atthathourtheguestsweredepartingingroupsalongthestreet，discoursingonthegame，orcontinuingconversationsonthelandtheywerecovetousofbuying，onthetermsofsomeone\'swill，onquarrelsamongheirs，onthehaughtyassumptionofthearistocraticportionofthecommunity。ItwaslikePariswhentheaudienceofatheatredisperses。
Certainpersonswhotalkmuchofpoesyandknownothingaboutit，declaimagainstthehabitsoflifeintheprovinces。Butputyourforeheadinyourlefthand，restonefootonthefender，andyourelbowonyourknee；then，ifyoucompasstheideaofthisquietanduniformscene，thishouseanditsinterior，thiscompanyanditsinterests，heightenedbythepettinessofitsintellectlikegoldleafbeatenbetweensheetsofparchment，askyourself，Whatishumanlife？
TrytodecidebetweenhimwhoscribblesjokesonEgyptianobelisks，andhimwhohas\"bostoned\"fortwentyyearswithDuBousquier，MonsieurdeValois，MademoiselleCormon，thejudgeofthecourt，theking\'sattorney，theAbbedeSponde，MadameGranson，andtuttiquanti。
Ifthedailyandpunctualreturnofthesamestepstothesamepathisnothappiness，itimitateshappinesssowellthatmendrivenbythestormsofanagitatedlifetoreflectupontheblessingsoftranquillitywouldsaythatherewashappinessENOUGH。
ToreckontheimportanceofMademoiselleCormon\'ssalonatitstruevalue，itwillsufficetosaythatthebornstatisticianofthesociety，duBousquier，hadestimatedthatthepersonswhofrequenteditcontrolledonehundredandthirty-onevotesintheelectoralcollege，andmusteredamongthemselveseighteenhundredthousandfrancsayearfromlandedestateintheneighborhood。
ThetownofAlencon，however，wasnotentirelyrepresentedbythissalon。Thehigheraristocracyhadasalonoftheirown；moreover，thatofthereceiver-generalwaslikeanadministrationinnkeptbythegovernment，wheresocietydanced，plotted，fluttered，loved，andsupped。ThesetwosalonscommunicatedbymeansofcertainmixedindividualswiththehouseofCormon，andvice-versa；buttheCormonestablishmentsatseverelyinjudgmentonthetwoothercamps。Theluxuryoftheirdinnerswascriticised；theicesattheirballswerepondered；thebehaviorofthewomen，thedresses，and\"novelties\"
thereproducedwerediscussedanddisapproved。
MademoiselleCormon，aspeciesoffirm，asonemightsay，underwhosenamewascomprisedanimposingcoterie，wasnaturallytheaimandobjectoftwoambitiousmenasdeepandwilyastheChevalierdeValoisandduBousquier。Totheoneaswellastotheother，shemeantelectionasdeputy，resulting，forthenoble，inthepeerage，forthepurveyor，inareceiver-generalship。Aleadingsalonisadifficultthingtocreate，whetherinParisortheprovinces，andherewasonealreadycreated。TomarryMademoiselleCormonwastoreigninAlencon。
AthanaseGranson，theonlyoneofthethreesuitorsforthehandoftheoldmaidwhonolongercalculatedprofits，nowlovedherpersonaswellasherfortune。
Toemploythejargonoftheday，istherenotasingulardramainthesituationofthesefourpersonages？Surelythereissomethingoddandfantasticinthreerivalriessilentlyencompassingawomanwhoneverguessedtheirexistence，inspiteofaneagerandlegitimatedesiretobemarried。Andyet，thoughallthesecircumstancesmakethespinsterhoodofthisoldmaidanextraordinarything，itisnotdifficulttoexplainhowandwhy，inspiteofherfortuneandherthreelovers，shewasstillunmarried。Inthefirstplace，MademoiselleCormon，followingthecustomandruleofherhouse，hadalwaysdesiredtomarryanobleman；butfrom1788to1798publiccircumstanceswereveryunfavorabletosuchpretensions。Thoughshewantedtobeawomanofcondition，asthesayingis，shewashorriblyafraidoftheRevolutionarytribunal。Thetwosentiments，equalinforce，keptherstationarybyalawastrueinethicsasitisinstatics。Thisstateofuncertainexpectationispleasingtounmarriedwomenaslongastheyfeelthemselvesyoung，andinapositiontochooseahusband。FranceknowsthatthepoliticalsystemofNapoleonresultedinmakingmanywidows。Underthatregimeheiresseswereentirelyoutofproportioninnumberstothebachelorswhowantedtomarry。WhentheConsulaterestoredinternalorder，externaldifficultiesmadethemarriageofMademoiselleCormonasdifficulttoarrangeasithadbeeninthepast。If，ontheonehand，Rose-Marie-
Victoirerefusedtomarryanoldman，ontheother，thefearofridiculeforbadehertomarryaveryyoungone。
Intheprovinces，familiesmarrytheirsonsearlytoescapetheconscription。Inadditiontoallthis，shewasobstinatelydeterminednottomarryasoldier:shedidnotintendtotakeamanandthengivehimuptotheEmperor；shewantedhimforherselfalone。Withtheseviews，shefounditthereforeimpossible，from1804to1815，toenterthelistswithyounggirlswhowererivallingeachotherforsuitablematches。
Besidesherpredilectionforthenobility，MademoiselleCormonhadanotherandveryexcusablemania:thatofbeinglovedforherself。Youcouldhardlybelievethelengthstowhichthisdesireledher。Sheemployedhermindonsettingtrapsforherpossiblelovers，inordertotesttheirrealsentiments。Hernetsweresowelllaidthatthelucklesssuitorswereallcaught，andsuccumbedtothetestsheappliedtothemwithouttheirknowledge。MademoiselleCormondidnotstudythem；shewatchedthem。Asinglewordsaidheedlessly，ajokethatsheoftenwasunabletounderstand，sufficedtomakeherrejectanaspirantasunworthy:thisonehadneitherheartnordelicacy；thatonetoldlies，andwasnotreligious；athirdonlywantedtocoinmoneyunderthecloakofmarriage；anotherwasnotofanaturetomakeawomanhappy；hereshesuspectedhereditarygout；therecertainimmoralantecedentsalarmedher。LiketheChurch，sherequiredanoblepriestatheraltar；sheevenwantedtobemarriedforimaginaryuglinessandpretendeddefects，justasotherwomenwishtobelovedforthegoodqualitiestheyhavenot，andforimaginarybeauties。
MademoiselleCormon\'sambitiontookitsriseinthemostdelicateandsensitivefemininefeeling；shelongedtorewardaloverbyrevealingtohimathousandvirtuesaftermarriage，asotherwomenthenbetraytheimperfectionstheyhavehithertoconcealed。Butshewasillunderstood。Thenoblewomanmetwithnonebutcommonsoulsinwhomthereckoningofactualinterestswasparamount，andwhoknewnothingofthenoblercalculationsofsentiment。
Thefarthersheadvancedtowardsthatfatalepochsoadroitlycalledthe\"secondyouth，\"themoreherdistrustincreased。Sheaffectedtopresentherselfinthemostunfavorablelight，andplayedherpartsowellthatthelastwooershesitatedtolinktheirfatetothatofapersonwhosevirtuousblind-man\'s-buffrequiredanamountofpenetrationthatmenwhowantthevirtuousready-madewouldnotbestowuponit。Theconstantfearofbeingmarriedforhermoneyrenderedhersuspiciousanduneasybeyondallreason。Sheturnedtotherichmen；
buttherichareinsearchofgreatmarriages；shefearedthepoormen，inwhomshedeniedthedisinterestednessshesoughtsoeagerly。
Aftereachdisappointmentinmarriage，thepoorlady，ledtodespisemankind，begantoseethemallinafalselight。Hercharacteracquired，necessarily，asecretmisanthropy，whichthrewatingeofbitternessintoherconversation，andsomeseverityintohereyes。
Celibacygavetohermannersandhabitsacertainincreasingrigidity；
forsheendeavoredtosanctifyherselfindespairoffate。Noblevengeance!shewascuttingforGodtheroughdiamondrejectedbyman。
Beforelongpublicopinionwasagainsther；forsocietyacceptstheverdictanindependentwomanrendersonherselfbynotmarrying，eitherthroughlosingsuitorsorrejectingthem。Everybodysupposedthattheserejectionswerefoundedonsecretreasons，alwaysillinterpreted。Onesaidshewasdeformed；anothersuggestedsomehiddenfault；butthepoorgirlwasreallyaspureasasaint，ashealthyasaninfant，andfulloflovingkindness；Naturehadintendedherforallthepleasures，allthejoys，andallthefatiguesofmotherhood。
MademoiselleCormondidnotpossessinherpersonanobligingauxiliarytoherdesires。Shehadnootherbeautythanthatveryimproperlycalledlabeautedudiable，whichconsistsofabuxomfreshnessofyouththatthedevil，theologicallyspeaking，couldneverhave，——thoughperhapstheexpressionmaybeexplainedbytheconstantdesirethatmustsurelypossesshimtocoolandrefreshhimself。Thefeetoftheheiresswerebroadandflat。Herleg，whichsheoftenexposedtosightbyhermannerbeitsaidwithoutmaliceofliftinghergownwhenitrained，couldneverhavebeentakenforthelegofawoman。Itwassinewy，withathickprojectingcalflikeasailor\'s。A