第7章

Asforme，thoughIhavelatelycomeintothequarter，Ican，thankstotheinfluenceIenjoythroughcertainlegalbenefitsdonetothepoor，materiallyadvancehisinterests。Imight，perhaps，haveputmyselfforwardforthisposition；butservingthepoorbringsinbutlittlemoney；and，besides，themodestyofmylifeisoutofkeepingwithsuchdistinctions。Ihavedevotedmyself，monsieur，totheserviceoftheweak，likethelateCouncillorPopinot，——asublimeman，asyoujustlyremarked。IfIhadnotalreadychosenacareerwhichisinsomesortmonastic，andprecludesallideaofmarriageandpublicoffice，mytaste，mysecondvocation，wouldleadmetotheserviceofGod，totheChurch。IdonottrumpetwhatIdo，likethephilanthropists；Idonotwriteaboutit；Isimplyact；IampledgedtoChristiancharity。TheambitionofourfriendThuillierbecomingknowntome，Ihavewishedtocontributetothehappinessoftwoyoungpeoplewhoseemtomemadeforeachother，bysuggestingtoyouthemeansofwinningtherathercoldheartofMonsieurThuillier。"

Phellionwasbewilderedbythistirade，admirablydelivered；hewasdazzled，attracted；butheremainedPhellion；hewalkeduptothelawyerandheldouthishand，whichlaPeyradetook。

"Monsieur，"saidthecommander，withemotion，"Ihavemisjudgedyou。

WhatyouhavedonemethehonortoconfidetomewilldieTHERE，"

layinghishandonhisheart。"Youareoneofthemenofwhomwehavetoofew，——menwhoconsoleusformanyevilsinherentinoursocialstate。Righteousnessisseensoseldomthatourtoofeeblenaturesdistrustappearances。Youhaveinmeafriend，ifyouwillallowmethehonorofassumingthattitle。Butyoumustlearntoknowme，monsieur。IshouldlosemyownesteemifInominatedThuillier。No，mysonshallneverownhishappinesstoanevilactiononhisfather’spart。Ishallnotchangemycandidatebecausemyson’sinterestsdemandit。Thatiscivicvirtue，monsieur。"

LaPeyradepulledouthishandkerchiefandrubbeditinhiseyesothatitdrewatear，ashesaid，holdingouthishandtoPhellion，andturningasidehishead：——

"Ah！monsieur，howsublimeastrugglebetweenpublicandprivateduty！

HadIcomehereonlytoseethissight，myvisitwouldnothavebeenwasted。Youcannotdootherwise！Inyourplace，Ishoulddothesame。

YouarethatnoblestthingthatGodhasmade——arighteousman！acitizenoftheJean—Jacquestype！Withmanysuchcitizens，ohFrance！

mycountry！whatmightestthoubecome！ItisI，monsieur，whosolicit，humbly，thehonortobeyourfriend。"

"Whatcanbehappening？"saidMadamePhellion，watchingthescenethroughthewindow。"Doseeyourfatherandthathorridmanembracingeachother。"

PhellionandlaPeyradenowcameoutandjoinedthefamilyinthegarden。

"MydearFelix，"saidtheoldman，pointingtolaPeyrade，whowasbowingtoMadamePhellion，"beverygratefultothatadmirableyoungman；hewillprovemostusefultoyou。"

ThelawyerwalkedforaboutfiveminuteswithMadameBarniolandMadamePhellionbeneaththeleaflesslindens，andgavethem（inconsequenceoftheembarrassingcircumstancescreatedbyPhellion’spoliticalobstinacy）apieceofadvice，theeffectsofwhichweretobearfruitthatevening，whileitsfirstresultwastomakebothladiesadmirehistalents，hisfrankness，andhisinappreciablegoodqualities。Whenthelawyerdepartedthewholefamilyconductedhimtothestreetgate，andalleyesfollowedhimuntilhehadturnedthecorneroftherueduFaubourg—Saint—Jacques。MadamePhellionthentookthearmofherhusbandtoreturntothesalon，saying：——

"Hey！myfriend！whatdoesthismean？You，suchagoodfather，howcanyou，fromexcessivedelicacy，standinthewayofsuchafinemarriageforourFelix？"

"Mydear，"repliedPhellion，"thegreatmenofantiquity，Brutusandothers，wereneverfatherswhencalledupontobecitizens。Thebourgeoisiehas，evenmorethanthearistocracywhoseplaceithasbeencalledupontotake，theobligationsofthehighestvirtues。

MonsieurdeSaint—HilairedidnotthinkofhislostarminpresenceofthedeadTurenne。Wemustgiveproofofourworthiness；letusgiveitateverystateofthesocialhierarchy。ShallIinstructmyfamilyinthehighestcivicprinciplesonlytoignorethemmyselfatthemomentforapplyingthem？No，mydear；weep，ifyoumust，to—day，butto—morrowyouwillrespectme，"headded，seeingtearsintheeyesofhisstarchedbetterhalf。

Thesenoblewordsweresaidonthesillofthedoor，abovewhichwaswritten，"Aureamediocritas。"

"Ioughttohaveput，’etdigna，’"addedPhellion，pointingtothetablet，"butthosetwowordswouldimplyself—praise。"

"Father，"saidMarie—TheodorePhellion，thefutureengineerof"pontsetchaussees，"whenthefamilywereoncemoreseatedinthesalon，"itseemstomethatthereisnothingdishonorableinchangingone’sdeterminationaboutachoicewhichisofnorealconsequencetopublicwelfare。"

"Noconsequence，myson！"criedPhellion。"BetweenourselvesIwillsay，andFelixsharesmyopinion，MonsieurThuillierisabsolutelywithoutcapacity；heknowsnothing。MonsieurHoraceBianchonisanableman；hewillobtainathousandthingsforourarrondissement，andThuillierwillobtainnone！Rememberthis，myson；tochangeagooddeterminationforabadonefrommotivesofself—interestisoneofthoseinfamousactionswhichescapethecontrolofmenbutarepunishedbyGod。Iam，orIthinkIam，voidofallblamebeforemyconscience，andIoweittoyou，mychildren，toleavemymemoryunstainedamongyou。Nothing，therefore，canmakemechangemydetermination。"

"Oh，mygoodfather！"criedthelittleBarniolwoman，flingingherselfonacushionatPhellion’sknees，"don’trideyourhighhorse！Therearemanyfoolsandidiotsinthemunicipalcouncil，andFrancegetsalongallthesame。ThatoldThuillierwilladopttheopinionsofthoseabouthim。DoreflectthatCelestewillprobablyhavefivehundredthousandfrancs。"

"Shemighthavemillions，"saidPhellion，"andImightseethemthereatmyfeetbeforeIwouldproposeThuillier，whenIowetothememoryofthebestofmentonominate，ifpossible，HoraceBianchon，hisnephew。FromtheheavenaboveusPopinotiscontemplatingandapplaudingme！"criedPhellion，withexaltation。"ItisbysuchconsiderationsasyousuggestthatFranceisbeinglowered，andthebourgeoisiearebringingthemselvesintocontempt。"

"Myfatherisright，"saidFelix，comingoutofadeepreverie。"Hedeservesourrespectandlove；ashehasthroughoutthewholecourseofhismodestandhonoredlife。Iwouldnotowemyhappinesseithertoremorseinhisnoblesoul，ortoalowpoliticalbargain。IloveCelesteasIlovemyownfamily；but，aboveallthat，Iplacemyfather’shonor，andsincethisquestionisamatterofconsciencewithhimitmustnotbespokenofagain。"

Phellion，withhiseyesfulloftears，wentuptohiseldestsonandtookhiminhisarms，saying，"Myson！myson！"inachokingvoice。

"Allthatisnonsense，"whisperedMadamePhellioninMadameBarniol’sear。"Comeanddressme；Ishallmakeanendofthis；Iknowyourfather；hehasputhisfootdownnow。Tocarryouttheplanthatpiousyoungman，Theodose，suggested，Iwantyourhelp；holdyourselfreadytogiveit，mydaughter。"

Atthismoment，GenevievecameinandgavealettertoMonsieurPhellion。

"Aninvitationfordinnerto—day，forMadamePhellionandFelixandmyself，attheThuilliers’，"hesaid。

ThemagnificentandsurprisingideaofThuillier’smunicipaladvancement，putforthbythe"advocateofthepoor"wasnotlessupsettingintheThuillierhouseholdthanitwasinthePhellionsalon。JeromeThuillier，withoutactuallyconfidinganythingtohissister，forhemadeitapointofhonortoobeyhisMephistopheles，hadrushedtoheringreatexcitementtosay：——

"Mydearestgirl"（healwaystouchedherheartwiththosecaressingwords），"weshallhavesomebig—wigsatdinnerto—day。I’mgoingtoasktheMinards；thereforetakepainsaboutyourdinner。IhavewrittentoMonsieurandMadamePhellion；itisratherlate；butthere’snoneedofceremonywiththem。AsfortheMinards，Imustthrowalittledustintheireyes；Ihaveaparticularneedofthem。"

"FourMinards，threePhellions，fourCollevilles，andourselves；thatmakesthirteen——"

"LaPeyrade，fourteen；anditisworthwhiletoinviteDutocq；hemaybeusefultous。I’llgoupandseehim。"

"Whatareyouscheming？"criedhissister。"Fifteentodinner！There’sfortyfrancs，attheveryleast，waltzingoff。"

"Youwon’tregretthem，mydearest。Iwantyoutobeparticularlyagreeabletoouryoungfriend，laPeyrade。There’safriend，indeed！

you’llsoonhaveproofsofthat！Ifyouloveme，cossethimwell。"

Sosaying，hedeparted，leavingBrigittebewildered。

"Proofs，indeed！yes，I’lllookoutforproofs，"shesaid。"I’mnottobecaughtwithfinewords，notI！Heisanamiablefellow；butbeforeItakehimintomyheartIshallstudyhimalittlecloser。"

AfterinvitingDutocq，Thuillier，havingbedizenedhimself，wenttothehotelMinard，ruedesMacons—Sorbonne，tocapturethestoutZelie，andglossovertheshortnessoftheinvitation。

MinardhadpurchasedoneofthoselargeandsumptuoushabitationswhichtheoldreligiousordersbuiltabouttheSorbonne，andasThuilliermountedthebroadstonestepswithanironbalustrade，thatprovedhowartsofthesecondclassflourishedunderLouisXIII。，heenviedboththemansionanditsoccupant，——themayor。

Thisvastbuilding，standingbetweenacourtyardandgarden，isnoticeableasaspecimenofthestyle，bothnobleandelegant，ofthereignofLouisXIII。，comingsingularly，asitdid，betweenthebadtasteoftheexpiringrenaissanceandtheheavygrandeurofLouisXIV。，atitsdawn。Thistransitionperiodisshowninmanypublicbuildings。Themassivescroll—workofseveralfacades——thatoftheSorbonne，forinstance，——andcolumnsrectifiedaccordingtotherulesofGrecianart，werebeginningtoappearinthisarchitecture。

Agrocer，aluckyadulterator，nowtooktheplaceoftheformerecclesiasticalgovernorofaninstitutioncalledinformertimesL’Economat；anestablishmentconnectedwiththegeneralagencyoftheoldFrenchclergy，andfoundedbythelong—sightedgeniusofRichelieu。Thuillier’snameopenedforhimthedoorsofthesalon，wheresatenthronedinvelvetandgold，amidthemostmagnificent"Chineseries，"thepoorwomanwhoweighedwithallheravoirdupoisontheheartsandmindsofprincesandprincessesatthe"popularballs"

ofthepalace。

"Isn’tsheagoodsubjectfor’LaCaricature’？"saidaso—calledladyofthebedchambertoaduchess，whocouldhardlyhelplaughingattheaspectofZelie，glitteringwithdiamonds，redasapoppy，squeezedintoagoldbrocade，androllingalonglikethecastsofherformershop。

"Willyoupardonme，fairlady，"beganThuillier，twistinghisbody，andpausinginposenumbertwoofhisimperialrepertory，"forhavingallowedthisinvitationtoremaininmydesk，thinking，allthewhile，thatitwassent？Itisforto—day，butperhapsIamtoolate？"

Zelieexaminedherhusband’sfaceasheapproachedthemtoreceiveThuillier；thenshesaid：——

"Weintendedtodriveintothecountryanddineatsomechancerestaurant；butwe’llgiveupthatideaandallthemorereadilybecause，inmyopinion，itisgettingdevilishlyvulgartodriveoutofParisonSundays。"

"Wewillhavealittledancetothepianofortheyoungpeople，ifenoughcome，asIhopetheywill。IhavesentalinetoPhellion，whosewifeisintimatewithMadamePron，thesuccessor——"

"SuccessorESS，"interruptedMadameMinard。

"No，"saidThuillier，"itoughttobesuccess’ress；justaswesaymay’ress，droppingtheO，youknow。"

"Isitfulldress？"askedMadameMinard。

"Heavens！no，"repliedThuillier；"youwouldgetmefinelyscoldedbymysister。No，itisonlyafamilyparty。UndertheEmpire，madame，wealldevotedourselvestodancing。Atthatgreatepochofournationallifetheythoughtasmuchofafinedancerastheydidofagoodsoldier。Nowadaysthecountryissomatter—of—fact。"

"Well，wewon’ttalkpolitics，"saidthemayor，smiling。"TheKingisgrand；heisveryable。Ihaveadeepadmirationformyowntime，andfortheinstitutionswhichwehavegiventoourselves。TheKing，youmaybesure，knowsverywellwhatheisdoingbythedevelopmentofindustries。HeisstrugglinghandtohandagainstEngland；andwearedoinghimmoreharmduringthisfruitfulpeacethanallthewarsoftheEmpirewouldhavedone。"

"WhatadeputyMinardwouldmake！"criedZelie，naively。"Hepractisesspeechifyingathome。You’llhelpustogethimelected，won’tyou，Thuillier？"

"Wewon’ttalkpoliticsnow，"repliedThuillier。"Comeatfive。"

"WillthatlittleVinetbethere？"askedMinard；"hecomes，nodoubt，forCeleste。"

"Thenhemaygointomourning，"repliedThuillier。"Brigittewon’thearofhim。"

ZelieandMinardexchangedasmileofsatisfaction。

"Tothinkthatwemusthob—nobwithsuchcommonpeople，allforthesakeofourson！"criedZelie，whenThuillierwassafelydownthestaircase，towhichthemayorhadaccompaniedhim。

"Ha！hethinkstobedeputy！"thoughtThuillier，ashewalkedaway。

"Thesegrocers！nothingsatisfiesthem。Heavens！whatwouldNapoleonsayifhecouldseethegovernmentinthehandsofsuchpeople！I’matrainedadministrator，atanyrate。Whatacompetitor，tobesure！I

wonderwhatlaPeyradewillsay？"

Theambitiousex—beaunowwenttoinvitethewholeLaudigeoisfamilyfortheevening，afterwhichhewenttotheCollevilles’，tomakesurethatCelesteshouldwearabecominggown。HefoundFlavieratherpensive。Shehesitatedaboutcoming，butThuillierovercameherindecision。

"Myoldandeveryoungfriend，"hesaid，takingherroundthewaist，forshewasaloneinherlittlesalon，"Iwon’thaveanysecretfromyou。Agreataffairisinthewindforme。Ican’ttellyoumorethanthat，butIcanaskyoutobeparticularlycharmingtoacertainyoungman——"

"Whoisit？"

"LaPeyrade。"

"Why，Charles？"

"Heholdsmyfutureinhishands。Besides，he’samanofgenius。I

knowwhatthatis。He’sgotthissortofthing，"——andThuilliermadethegestureofadentistpullingoutabacktooth。"Wemustbindhimtous，Flavie。But，aboveall，don’tlethimseehispower。Asforme，Ishalljustgiveandtakewithhim。"

"Doyouwantmetobecoquettish？"

"Nottoomuchso，myangel，"repliedThuillier，withafoppishair。

Andhedeparted，notobservingthestuporwhichovercameFlavie。

"Thatyoungmanisapower，"shesaidtoherself。"Well，weshallsee！"

Forthesereasonsshedressedherhairwithmarabouts，putonherprettiestgownofgrayandpink，whichallowedherfineshoulderstobeseenbeneathapelerineofblacklace，andtookcaretokeepCelesteinalittlesilkfrockmadewithayokeandalargeplaitedcollarette，tellinghertodressherhairplainly，alaBerthe。

CHAPTERVIII

ADMAJOREMTHEODOSISGLORIAM

Athalf—pastfouro’clockTheodosewasathispost。Hehadputonhisvacant，half—servilemannerandsoftvoice，andhedrewThuillieratonceintothegarden。

"Myfriend，"hesaid，"Idon’tdoubtyourtriumph，butIfeelthenecessityofagainwarningyoutobeabsolutelysilent。Ifyouarequestionedaboutanything，especiallyaboutCeleste，makeevasiveanswerswhichwillkeepyourquestionersinsuspense。Youmusthavelearnedhowtodothatinagovernmentoffice。"

"Iunderstand！"saidThuillier。"Butwhatcertaintyhaveyou？"

"You’llseewhatafinedessertIhavepreparedforyou。Butpleasebemodest。TherecometheMinards；letmepipetothem。Bringthemouthere，andthendisappearyourself。"

Afterthefirstsalutations，laPeyradewascarefultokeepclosetothemayor，andpresentlyatanopportunemomenthedrewhimasidetosay：——

"Monsieurlemaire，amanofyourpoliticalimportancedoesn’tcometoborehimselfinahouseofthiskindwithoutanobject。Idon’twanttofathomyourmotives——which，indeed，Ihavenorighttodo——andmypartinthisworldiscertainlynottominglewithearthlypowers；butpleasepardonmyapparentpresumption，anddeigntolistentoapieceofadvicewhichIshallventuretogiveyou。IfIdoyouaserviceto—dayyouareinapositiontoreturnittometo—morrow；therefore，incaseIshouldbesofortunateastodoyouagoodturn，Iamreallyonlyobeyingthelawofself—interest。OurfriendThuillierisindespairatbeinganobody；hehastakenitintohisheadthathewantstobecomeapersonageinthisarrondissement——"

"Ah！ah！"exclaimedMinard。

"Oh！nothingveryexalted；hewantstobeelectedtothemunicipalcouncil。Now，IknowthatPhellion，seeingtheinfluencesuchaservicewouldhaveonhisfamilyinterests，intendstoproposeyourpoorfriendascandidate。Well，perhapsyoumightthinkitwise，inyourowninterests，tobebeforehandwithhim。Thuillier’snominationcouldonlybefavorableforyou——Imeanagreeable；andhe’llfillhisplaceinthecouncilverywell；therearesometherewhoarenotasstrongashe。Besides，owingtohisplacetoyoursupport，hewillseewithyoureyes；healreadylookstoyouasoneofthelightsofthetown。"

"Mydearfellow，Ithankyouverymuch，"repliedMinard。"YouaredoingmeaserviceIcannotsufficientlyacknowledge，andwhichprovestome——"

"ThatIdon’tlikethosePhellions，"saidlaPeyrade，takingadvantageofaslighthesitationonthepartofthemayor，whofearedtoexpressanideainwhichthelawyermightseecontempt。"Ihatepeoplewhomakecapitaloutoftheirhonestyandcoinmoneyfromfinesentiments。"

"Youknowthemwell，"saidMinard；"theyaresycophants。Thatman’swholelifeforthelasttenyearsisexplainedbythisbitofredribbon，"addedthemayor，pointingtohisownbuttonhole。

"Takecare！"saidthelawyer，"hissonisinlovewithCeleste，andhe’sfairlyintheheartofthefamily。"

"Yes，butmysonhastwelvethousandayearinhisownright。"

"Oh！"saidTheodose，withastart，"MademoiselleBrigittewassayingtheotherdaythatshewantedatleastasmuchasthatinCeleste’ssuitor。Moreover，sixmonthshenceyou’llprobablyhearthatThuillierhasapropertyworthfortythousandfrancsayear。"

"Thedevil！well，Ithoughtasmuch。Yes，certainly，heshallbemadeamemberofthemunicipalcouncil。"

"Inanycase，don’tsayanythingaboutmetohim，"saidtheadvocateofthepoor，whonowhastenedawaytospeaktoMadamePhellion。"Well，myfairlady，"hesaid，whenhereachedher，"haveyousucceeded？"

"Iwaitedtillfouro’clock，andthenthatworthyandexcellentmanwouldnotletmefinishwhatIhadtosay。Heismuchtobusytoacceptsuchanoffice，andhesentaletterwhichMonsieurPhellionhasread，sayingthathe，DoctorBianchon，thankedhimforhisgoodintentions，andassuredhimthathisowncandidatewasMonsieurThuillier。Hesaidthatheshoulduseallhisinfluenceinhisfavor，andbeggedmyhusbandtodothesame。"

"Andwhatdidyourexcellenthusbandsay？"

"’Ihavedonemyduty，’hesaid。’Ihavenotbeenfalsetomyconscience，andnowIamallforThuillier。’"

"Well，then，thethingissettled，"saidlaPeyrade。"Ignoremyvisit，andtakeallthecreditoftheideatoyourselves。"

ThenhewenttoMadameColleville，composinghimselfintheattitudeandmannerofthedeepestrespect。

"Madame，"hesaid，"havethegoodnesstosendouttomeherethatkindlypapaColleville。AsurpriseistobegiventoMonsieurThuillier，andIwantMonsieurCollevilletobeinthesecret。"

WhilelaPeyradeplayedthepartofmanoftheworldwithColleville，andallowedhimselfvariouswittysarcasmswhenexplainingtohimThuillier’scandidacy，tellinghimheoughttosupportit，ifonlytoexhibithisincapacity，Flaviewaslisteninginthesalontothefollowingconversation，whichbewilderedherforthemomentandmadeherearsring。

"IshouldliketoknowwhatMonsieurCollevilleandMonsieurdelaPeyradecanbesayingtoeachothertomakethemlaughlikethat，"

saidMadameThuillier，foolishly，lookingoutofthewindow。

"Alotofimproperthings，asmenalwaysdowhentheytalktogether，"

repliedMademoiselleThuillier，whooftenattackedmenwiththesortofinstinctnaturaltooldmaids。

"No，theyareincapableofthat，"saidPhellion，gravely。"MonsieurdelaPeyradeisoneofthemostvirtuousyoungmenIhaveevermet。

PeopleknowwhatIthinkofFelix；well，Iputthetwoonthesameline；indeed，IwishmysonhadalittlemoreofMonsieurdelaPeyrade’sbeautifulpiety。"

"Youareright；heisamanofgreatmerit，whoissuretosucceed，"

saidMinard。"Asforme，mysuffrages——forIreallyoughtnottosayprotection——arehis。"

"Hepaysmoreforoilthanforbread，"saidDutocq。"Iknowthat。"

"Hismother，ifhehasthehappinesstostillpossessher，mustbeproudofhim，"remarkedMadameThuillier，sententiously。

"Heisarealtreasureforus，"saidThuillier。"Ifyouonlyknewhowmodestheis！Hedoesn’tdohimselfjustice。"

"Icananswerforonething，"addedDutocq；"noyoungmanevermaintainedanoblerattitudeinpoverty；hetriumphedoverit；buthesuffered——itiseasytoseethat。"

"Pooryoungman！"criedZelie。"Suchthingsmakemyheartache！"

"Anyonecouldsafelytrustbothsecretsandfortunetohim，"saidThuillier；"andinthesedaysthatisthefinestthingthatcanbesaidofaman。"

"ItisCollevillewhoismakinghimlaugh，"criedDutocq。

JustthenCollevilleandlaPeyradereturnedfromthegardentheverybestfriendsintheworld。

"Messieurs，"saidBrigitte，"thesoupandtheKingmustneverbekeptwaiting；giveyourhandtotheladies。"

Fiveminutesafterthislittlepleasantry（issuingfromthelodgeofherfathertheporter）Brigittehadthesatisfactionofseeinghertablesurroundedbytheprincipalpersonagesofthisdrama；therest，withtheoneexceptionoftheodiousCerizet，arrivedlater。

Theportraitoftheformermakerofcanvasmoney—bagswouldbeincompleteifweomittedtogiveadescriptionofoneofherbestdinners。Thephysiognomyofthebourgeoiscookof1840is，moreover，oneofthosedetailsessentiallynecessarytoahistoryofmannersandcustoms，andcleverhousewivesmayfindsomelessonsinit。Awomandoesn’tmakeemptybagsfortwentyyearswithoutlookingoutforthemeanstofillafewofthem。NowBrigittehadonepeculiarcharacteristic。Sheunitedtheeconomytowhichsheowedherfortunewithafullunderstandingofnecessaryexpenses。Herrelativeprodigality，whenitconcernedherbrotherorCeleste，wastheantipodesofavarice。Infact，sheoftenbemoanedherselfthatshecouldn’tbemiserly。Atherlastdinnershehadrelatedhow，afterstrugglingtenminuteandenduringmartyrdom，shehadendedbygivingtenfrancstoapoorworkwomanwhomsheknew，positively，hadbeenwithoutfoodfortwodays。

"Nature，"shesaidnaively，"isstrongerthanreason。"

Thesoupwasaratherpalebouillon；for，evenonanoccasionlikethis，thecookhadbeenenjoinedtomakeagreatdealofbouillonoutofthebeefsupplied。Then，asthesaidbeefwastofeedthefamilyonthenextdayandthedayafterthat，thelessjuiceitexpendedinthebouillon，themoresubstantialwerethesubsequentdinners。Thebeef，littlecooked，wasalwaystakenawayatthefollowingspeechfromBrigitte，utteredassoonasThuillierputhisknifeintoit：——

"Ithinkitisrathertough；senditaway，Thuillier，nobodywilleatit；wehaveotherthings。"

Thesoupwas，infact，flankedbyfourviandsmountedonoldhot—waterchafing—dishes，withtheplatingwornoff。Atthisparticulardinner（afterwardscalledthatofthecandidacy）thefirstcourseconsistedofapairofduckswitholives，oppositetowhichwasalargepiewithforcemeatballs，whileadishofeels"alatartare"correspondedinlikemannerwithafricandeauonchicory。Thesecondcoursehadforitscentraldishamostdignifiedgoosestuffedwithchestnuts，asaladofvegetablesgarnishedwithroundsofbeetrootoppositetocustardsincups，whilelowerdownadishofturnips"ausucre"facedatimbaleofmacaroni。Thisgaladinneroftheconciergetypecost，attheutmost，twentyfrancs，andtheremainsofthefeastprovidedthehouseholdforacoupleofdays；nevertheless，Brigittewouldsay：——

"Pest！whenonehastohavecompanyhowthemoneygoes！Itisfearful！"

Thetablewaslightedbytwohideouscandlesticksofplatedsilverwithfourbrancheseach，inwhichshoneeightofthosethriftywax—

candlesthatgobythenameofAurora。Thelinenwasdazzlinginwhiteness，andthesilver，withbeadededges，wasthefruit，evidently，ofsomepurchasemadeduringtheRevolutionbyThuillier’sfather。Thusthefareandtheservicewereinkeepingwiththehouse，thedining—room，andtheThuilliersthemselves，whocouldnever，underanycircumstances，getthemselvesabovethisstyleofliving。TheMinards，Collevilles，andlaPeyradeexchangednowandthenasmilewhichbetrayedtheirmutuallysatiricalbutrepressedthoughts。LaPeyrade，seatedbesideFlavie，whisperedinherear：——

"Youmustadmitthattheyoughttobetaughthowtolive。ButthoseMinardsarenobetterintheirway。Whatcupidity！they’vecomeheresolelyafterCeleste。Yourdaughterwillbelosttoyouifyouletthemhaveher。Theseparvenushaveallthevicesofthegreatlordsofotherdayswithouttheirelegance。Minard’sson，whohastwelvethousandfrancsayearofhisown，couldverywellfindawifeelsewhere，insteadofpushinghisspeculatingrakeinhere。Whatfunitwouldbetoplayuponthosepeopleasonewouldonabass—violoraclarionet！"

Whilethedishesofthesecondcoursewerebeingremoved，Minard，afraidthatPhellionwouldprecedehim，saidtoThuillierwithagraveair：——

"MydearThuillier，inacceptingyourdinner，Ididsoforthepurposeofmakinganimportantcommunication，whichdoesyousomuchhonorthatallherepresentoughttobemadeparticipantsinit。"

Thuillierturnedpale。