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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.
