第3章 The Necklace (第1/4页)

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deMauassant

Shewasoneofthoserettyandcharminggirlsborn,asthoughfatehadblunderedoverher,intoafamilyofartisans.Shehadnomarriageortion,noexectations,nomeansofgettingknown,understood,loved,andweddedbyamanofwealthanddistinction;andsheletherselfbemarriedofftoalittleclerkintheMinistryofEducation.

Hertastesweresimlebecauseshehadneverbeenabletoaffordanyother,butshewasasunhayasthoughshehadmarriedbeneathher;forwomenhavenocasteorclass,theirbeauty,grace,andcharmservingthemforbirthorfamily.Theirnaturaldelicacy,theirinstinctiveelegance,theirnimblenessofwit,aretheironlymarkofrank,anduttheslumgirlonalevelwiththehighestladyintheland.

Shesufferedendlessly,feelingherselfbornforeverydelicacyandluxury.Shesufferedfromtheoornessofherhouse,fromitsmeanwalls,wornchairs,anduglycurtains.Allthesethings,ofwhichotherwomenofherclasswouldnotevenhavebeenaware,tormentedandinsultedher.ThesightofthelittleBretongirlwhocametodotheworkinherlittlehousearousedheart-brokenregretsandhoelessdreamsinhermind.Sheimaginedsilentantechambers,heavywithorientaltaestries,litbytorchesinloftybronzesockets,withtwofallfootmeninknee-breechessleeinginlargearm-chairs,overcomebytheheavywarmthofthestove.Sheimaginedvastsaloonshungwithantiquesilks,exquisiteiecesoffurnituresuortingricelessornaments,andsmall,charming,erfumedrooms,createdjustforlittleartiesofintimatefriends,menwhowerefamousandsoughtafter,whosehomagerousedeveryotherwoman&aos;senviouslongings.

Whenshesatdownfordinnerattheroundtablecoveredwithathree-day-oldcloth,oositeherhusband,whotookthecoveroffthesou-tureen,exclaimingdelightedly,

"Aha!Scotchbroth!Whatcouldbebetter?

"sheimagineddelicatemeals,gleamingsilver,taestrieseolingthewallswithfolkofaastageandstrangebirdsinfaeryforests;sheimagineddelicatefoodservedinmarvellousdishes,murmuredgallantries,listenedtowithaninscrutablesmileasonetrifledwiththerosyfleshoftroutorwingsofasaraguschicken.

Shehadnoclothes,nojewels,nothing.Andtheseweretheonlythingssheloved;shefeltthatshewasmadeforthem.Shehadlongedsoeagerlytocharm,tobedesired,tobewildlyattractiveandsoughtafter.

Shehadarichfriend,anoldschoolfriendwhomsherefusedtovisit,becauseshesufferedsokeenlywhenshereturnedhome.Shewouldweewholedays,withgrief,regret,desair,andmisery.

Oneeveningherhusbandcamehomewithanexultantair,holdingalargeenveloeinhishand.

"Here&aos;ssomethingforyou.

"hesaid.

Swiftlyshetoretheaeranddrewoutarintedcardonwhichwerethesewords:

TheMinisterofEducationandMadameRamonneaurequesttheleasureofthecomanyofMonsieurandMadameLoiselattheMinistryontheeveningofMonday,Januarythe8th.

Insteadofbeingdelighted,asherhusbandhoed,sheflungtheinvitationetulantlyacrossthetable,murmuring:

"Whatdoyouwantmetodowiththis?

"

"Why,darling,Ithoughtyou&aos;dbeleased.Younevergoout,andthisisagreatoccasion.Ihadtremendoustroubletogetit.Everyonewantsone;it&aos;sveryselect,andveryfewgototheclerks.You&aos;llseeallthereallybigeolethere.

"

Shelookedathimoutoffuriouseyes,andsaidimatiently:

"AndwhatdoyousuoseIamtowearatsuchanaffair?

"

Hehadnotthoughtaboutit;hestammered:

"Why,thedressyougotothetheatrein.Itlooksverynice,tome...

"

Hestoed,stuefiedandutterlyatalosswhenhesawthathiswifewasbeginningtocry.Twolargetearsranslowlydownfromthecornersofhereyestowardsthecornersofhermouth.

"What&aos;sthematterwithyou?What&aos;sthematterwithyou?

"hefaltered.

Butwithaviolenteffortsheovercamehergriefandreliedinacalmvoice,wiingherwetcheeks:

"Nothing.OnlyIhaven&aos;tadressandsoIcan&aos;tgotothisarty.GiveyourinvitationtosomefriendofyourswhosewifewillbeturnedoutbetterthanIshall.

"

Hewasheart-broken.

"Lookhere,Mathilde,

"heersisted.

"Whatwouldbethecostofasuitabledress,whichyoucoulduseonotheroccasionsaswell,somethingverysimle?

"

Shethoughtforseveralseconds,reckoninguricesandalsowonderingforhowlargeasumshecouldaskwithoutbringinguonherselfanimmediaterefusalandanexclamationofhorrorfromthecareful-mindedclerk.

Atlastshereliedwithsomehesitation:

"Idon&aos;tknowexactly,butIthinkIcoulddoitonfourhundredfrancs.

"

Hegrewslightlyale,forthiswasexactlytheamounthehadbeensavingforagun,intendingtogetalittleshootingnextsummeronthelainofNanterrewithsomefriendswhowentlark-shootingthereonSundays.

Neverthelesshesaid,

"Verywell.I&aos;llgiveyoufourhundredfrancs.Buttryandgetareallynicedresswiththemoney.

"

Thedayoftheartydrewnear,andMadameLoiselseemedsad,uneasyandanxious.Herdresswasready,however.Oneeveningherhusbandsaidtoher:

"What&aos;sthematterwithyou?You&aos;vebeenveryoddforthelastthreedays.