an old maid-第21节
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her son； who could not be made to see the connection which existed
between his love and his political opinions。 It was the first quarrel
that had ever troubled that poor household。
CHAPTER VI
FINAL DISAPPOINTMENT AND ITS FIRST RESULT
The next day； Mademoiselle Cormon； packed into the old carriole with
Josette； and looking like a pyramid on a vast sea of parcels； drove up
the rue Saint…Blaise on her way to Prebaudet； where she was overtaken
by an event which hurried on her marriage；an event entirely unlooked
for by either Madame Granson； du Bousquier； Monsieur de Valois； or
Mademoiselle Cormon himself。 Chance is the greatest of all artificers。
The day after her arrival at Prebaudet； she was innocently employed；
about eight o'clock in the morning； in listening； as she breakfasted；
to the various reports of her keeper and her gardener； when Jacquelin
made a violent irruption into the dining…room。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 he cried； out of breath； 〃Monsieur l'abbe sends you an
express； the son of Mere Grosmort； with a letter。 The lad left Alencon
before daylight； and he has just arrived； he ran like Penelope！ Can't
I give him a glass of wine？〃
〃What can have happened； Josette？ Do you think my uncle can be〃
〃He couldn't write if he were；〃 said Josette； guessing her mistress's
fears。
〃Quick！ quick！〃 cried Mademoiselle Cormon； as soon as she had read the
first lines。 〃Tell Jacquelin to harness Penelope Get ready； Josette；
pack up everything in half an hour。 We must go back to town〃
〃Jacquelin！〃 called Josette； excited by the sentiment she saw on her
mistress's face。
Jacquelin； informed by Josette； came in to say；
〃But； mademoiselle； Penelope is eating her oats。〃
〃What does that signify？ I must start at once。〃
〃But； mademoiselle； it is going to rain。〃
〃Then we shall get wet。〃
〃The house is on fire！〃 muttered Josette； piqued at the silence her
mistress kept as to the contents of the letter； which she read and
reread。
〃Finish your coffee； at any rate； mademoiselle； don't excite your
blood； just see how red you are。〃
〃Am I red； Josette？〃 she said； going to a mirror； from which the
quicksilver was peeling； and which presented her features to her
upside down。
〃Good heavens！〃 thought Mademoiselle Cormon； 〃suppose I should look
ugly！ Come； Josette； come； my dear； dress me at once； I want to be
ready before Jacquelin has harnessed Penelope。 If you can't pack my
things in time； I will leave them here rather than lose a single
minute。〃
If you have thoroughly comprehended the positive monomania to which
the desire of marriage had brought Mademoiselle Cormon； you will share
her emotion。 The worthy uncle announced in this sudden missive that
Monsieur de Troisville； of the Russian army during the Emigration；
grandson of one of his best friends； was desirous of retiring to
Alencon； and asked his； the abbe's hospitality； on the ground of his
friendship for his grandfather； the Vicomte de Troisville。 The old
abbe； alarmed at the responsibility； entreated his niece to return
instantly and help him to receive this guest； and do the honors of the
house； for the viscount's letter had been delayed； and he might
descend upon his shoulders that very night。
After reading this missive could there be a question of the demands of
Prebaudet？ The keeper and the gardener； witnesses to Mademoiselle
Cormon's excitement； stood aside and awaited her orders。 But when； as
she was about to leave the room； they stopped her to ask for
instructions； for the first time in her life the despotic old maid；
who saw to everything at Prebaudet with her own eyes； said； to their
stupefaction； 〃Do what you like。〃 This from a mistress who carried her
administration to the point of counting her fruits； and marking them
so as to order their consumption according to the number and condition
of each！
〃I believe I'm dreaming；〃 thought Josette； as she saw her mistress
flying down the staircase like an elephant to which God has given
wings。
Presently； in spite of a driving rain； Mademoiselle Cormon drove away
from Prebaudet； leaving her factotums with the reins on their necks。
Jacquelin dared not take upon himself to hasten the usual little trot
of the peaceable Penelope； who； like the beautiful queen whose name
she bore； had an appearance of making as many steps backward as she
made forward。 Impatient with the pace； mademoiselle ordered Jacquelin
in a sharp voice to drive at a gallop； with the whip； if necessary； to
the great astonishment of the poor beast； so afraid was she of not
having time to arrange the house suitably to receive Monsieur de
Troisville。 She calculated that the grandson of her uncle's friend was
probably about forty years of age； a soldier just from service was
undoubtedly a bachelor； and she resolved； her uncle aiding； not to let
Monsieur de Troisville quit their house in the condition he entered
it。 Though Penelope galloped； Mademoiselle Cormon； absorbed in
thoughts of her trousseau and the wedding…day； declared again and
again that Jacquelin made no way at all。 She twisted about in the
carriole without replying to Josette's questions； and talked to
herself like a person who is mentally revolving important designs。
The carriole at last arrived in the main street of Alencon； called the
rue Saint…Blaise at the end toward Montagne； but near the hotel du
More it takes the name of the rue de la Porte…de…Seez； and becomes the
rue du Bercail as it enters the road to Brittany。 If the departure of
Mademoiselle Cormon made a great noise in Alencon； it is easy to
imagine the uproar caused by her sudden return on the following day；
in a pouring rain which beat her face without her apparently minding
it。 Penelope at a full gallop was observed by every one； and
Jacquelin's grin； the early hour； the parcels stuffed into the
carriole topsy…turvy； and the evident impatience of Mademoiselle
Cormon were all noted。
The property of the house of Troisville lay between Alencon and
Mortagne。 Josette knew the various branches of the family。 A word
dropped by mademoiselle as they entered Alencon had put Josette on the
scent of the affair； and a discussion having started between them； it
was settled that the expected de Troisville must be between forty and
forty…two years of age； a bachelor； and neither rich nor poor。
Mademoiselle Cormon beheld herself speedily Vicomtesse de Troisville。
〃And to think that my uncle told me nothing！ thinks of nothing！
inquires nothing！ That's my uncle all over。 He'd forget his own nose
if it wasn't fastened to his face。〃
Have you never remarked that； under circumstances such as these； old
maids become； like Richard III。； keen…witted； fierce； bold；
promissory；if one may so use the word；and； like inebriate clerks；
no longer in awe of anything？
Immediately the town of Alencon； speedily informed from the farther
end of the rue de Saint…Blaise to the gate of Seez of this precipitate
return； accompanied by singular circumstances； was perturbed
throughout its viscera； both public and domestic。 Cooks； shopkeepers；
street passengers； told the news from door to door； thence it rose to
the upper regions。 Soon the words： 〃Mademoiselle Cormon has returned！〃
burst like a bombshell into all households。 At that moment Jacquelin
was descending from his wooden seat （polished by a process unknown to
cabinet…makers）； on which he perched in front of the carriole。 He
opened the great green gate； round at the top； and closed in sign of
mourning； for during Mademoiselle Cormon's absence the evening
assemblies did not take place。 The faithful invited the Abbe de Sponde
to their several houses； and Monsieur de Valois paid his debt by
inviting him to dine at the Marquis d'Esgrignon's。 Jacquelin； having
opened the gate； called familiarly to Penelope； whom he had left in
the middle of the street。 That animal； accustomed to this proceeding；
turned in of herself； and circled round the courtyard in a manner to
avoid injuring the flower…bed。 Jacquelin then took her bridle； and led
the carriage to the portico。
〃Mariette！〃 cried Mademoiselle Cormon。
〃Mademoiselle！〃 exclaimed Mariette； who was occupied in closing the
gate。
〃Has the gentleman arrived？〃
〃No； mademoiselle。〃
〃Where's my uncle？〃
〃He is at church； mademoiselle。〃
Jacquelin and Josette were by this time on the first step of the
portico； holding out their hands to manoeuvre the exit of their
mistress from the carriole as she pulled herself up by the sides of
the vehicle and clung to the curtains。 Mademoiselle then threw herself
into their arms； because for the last two years she dared not risk her
weight on the iron step； affixed to the frame of the carriage by a
horrible mechanism of clumsy bolts。
When Mademoiselle Cormon reached the level of the portico she looked
about her courtyard w
