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。