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president of the Maternity Society。 As for the innocent du Bousquier；
he was taking a walk on the promenade； and beginning to suspect that
Suzanne had tricked him； this suspicion confirmed him in his
principles as to women。
On gala days the table was laid at Mademoiselle Cormon's about half…
past three o'clock。 At that period the fashionable people of Alencon
dined at four。 Under the Empire they still dined as in former times at
half…past two； but then they supped！ One of the pleasures which
Mademoiselle Cormon valued most was （without meaning any malice；
although the fact certainly rests on egotism） the unspeakable
satisfaction she derived from seeing herself dressed as mistress of
the house to receive her guests。 When she was thus under arms a ray of
hope would glide into the darkness of her heart； a voice told her that
nature had not so abundantly provided for her in vain； and that some
man； brave and enterprising； would surely present himself。 Her desire
was refreshed like her person； she contemplated herself in her heavy
stuffs with a sort of intoxication； and this satisfaction continued
when she descended the stairs to cast her redoubtable eye on the
salon； the dinner…table； and the boudoir。 She would then walk about
with the naive contentment of the rich；who remember at all moments
that they are rich and will never want for anything。 She looked at her
eternal furniture； her curiosities； her lacquers； and said to herself
that all these fine things wanted was a master。 After admiring the
dining…room； and the oblong dinner…table； on which was spread a snow…
white cloth adorned with twenty covers placed at equal distances；
after verifying the squadron of bottles she had ordered to be brought
up； and which all bore honorable labels； after carefully verifying the
names written on little bits of paper in the trembling handwriting of
the abbe （the only duty he assumed in the household； and one which
gave rise to grave discussions on the place of each guest）；after
going through all these preliminary acts mademoiselle went； in her
fine clothes； to her uncle； who was accustomed at this； the best hour
in the day； to take his walk on the terrace which overlooked the
Brillante； where he could listen to the warble of birds which were
resting in the coppice； unafraid of either sportsmen or children。 At
such times of waiting she never joined the Abbe de Sponde without
asking him some ridiculous question； in order to draw the old man into
a discussion which might serve to amuse him。 And her reason was this；
which will serve to complete our picture of this excellent woman's
nature：
Mademoiselle Cormon regarded it as one of her duties to talk； not that
she was talkative； for she had unfortunately too few ideas； and did
not know enough phrases to converse readily。 But she believed she was
accomplishing one of the social duties enjoined by religion； which
orders us to make ourselves agreeable to our neighbor。 This obligation
cost her so much that she consulted her director； the Abbe Couturier；
upon the subject of this honest but puerile civility。 In spite of the
humble remark of his penitent； confessing the inward labor of her mind
in finding anything to say； the old priest； rigid on the point of
discipline； read her a passage from Saint…Francois de Sales on the
duties of women in society； which dwelt on the decent gayety of pious
Christian women； who were bound to reserve their sternness for
themselves； and to be amiable and pleasing in their homes； and see
that their neighbors enjoyed themselves。 Thus； filled with a sense of
duty； and wishing； at all costs； to obey her director； who bade her
converse with amenity； the poor soul perspired in her corset when the
talk around her languished； so much did she suffer from the effort of
emitting ideas in order to revive it。 Under such circumstances she
would put forth the silliest statements； such as： 〃No one can be in
two places at onceunless it is a little bird；〃 by which she one day
roused； and not without success； a discussion on the ubiquity of the
apostles； which she was unable to comprehend。 Such efforts at
conversation won her the appellation of 〃that good Mademoiselle
Cormon；〃 which； from the lips of the beaux esprits of society； means
that she was as ignorant as a carp； and rather a poor fool； but many
persons of her own calibre took the remark in its literal sense； and
answered：
〃Yes； oh yes！ Mademoiselle Cormon is an excellent woman。〃
Sometimes she would put such absurd questions （always for the purpose
of fulfilling her duties to society； and making herself agreeable to
her guests） that everybody burst out laughing。 She asked； for
instance； what the government did with the taxes they were always
receiving； and why the Bible had not been printed in the days of Jesus
Christ； inasmuch as it was written by Moses。 Her mental powers were
those of the English 〃country gentleman〃 who； hearing constant mention
of 〃posterity〃 in the House of Commons； rose to make the speech that
has since become celebrated： 〃Gentlemen；〃 he said； 〃I hear much talk
in this place about Posterity。 I should be glad to know what that
power has ever done for England。〃
Under these circumstances the heroic Chevalier de Valois would bring
to the succor of the old maid all the powers of his clever diplomacy；
whenever he saw the pitiless smile of wiser heads。 The old gentleman；
who loved to assist women； turned Mademoiselle Cormon's sayings into
wit by sustaining them paradoxically； and he often covered the retreat
so well that it seemed as if the good woman had said nothing silly。
She asserted very seriously one evening that she did not see any
difference between an ox and a bull。 The dear chevalier instantly
arrested the peals of laughter by asserting that there was only the
difference between a sheep and a lamb。
But the Chevalier de Valois served an ungrateful dame； for never did
Mademoiselle Cormon comprehend his chivalrous services。 Observing that
the conversation grew lively； she simply thought that she was not so
stupid as she was；the result being that she settled down into her
ignorance with some complacency； she lost her timidity； and acquired a
self…possession which gave to her 〃speeches〃 something of the
solemnity with which the British enunciate their patriotic
absurdities；the self…conceit of stupidity； as it may be called。
As she approached her uncle； on this occasion； with a majestic step；
she was ruminating over a question that might draw him from a silence；
which always troubled her； for she feared he was dull。
〃Uncle；〃 she said； leaning on his arm and clinging to his side （this
was one of her fictions； for she said to herself 〃If I had a husband I
should do just so〃）；〃uncle； if everything here below happens
according to the will of God； there must be a reason for everything。〃
〃Certainly；〃 replied the abbe； gravely。 The worthy man； who cherished
his niece； always allowed her to tear him from his meditations with
angelic patience。
〃Then if I remain unmarried；supposing that I do；God wills it？〃
〃Yes； my child；〃 replied the abbe。
〃And yet； as nothing prevents me from marrying to…morrow if I choose；
His will can be destroyed by mine？〃
〃That would be true if we knew what was really the will of God；〃
replied the former prior of the Sorbonne。 〃Observe； my daughter； that
you put in an IF。〃
The poor woman； who expected to draw her uncle into a matrimonial
discussion by an argument ad omnipotentem； was stupefied； but persons
of obtuse mind have the terrible logic of children； which consists in
turning from answer to question；a logic that is frequently
embarrassing。
〃But； uncle； God did not make women intending them not to marry；
otherwise they ought all to stay unmarried； if not； they ought all to
marry。 There's great injustice in the distribution of parts。〃
〃Daughter；〃 said the worthy abbe； 〃you are blaming the Church； which
declares celibacy to be the better way to God。〃
〃But if the Church is right； and all the world were good Catholics；
wouldn't the human race come to an end； uncle？〃
〃You have too much mind； Rose； you don't need so much to be happy。〃
That remark brought a smile of satisfaction to the lips of the poor
woman； and confirmed her in the good opinion she was beginning to
acquire about herself。 That is how the world； our friends； and our
enemies are the accomplices of our defects！
At this moment the conversation was interrupted by the successive
arrival of the guests。 On these ceremonial days； friendly
familiarities were exchanged between the servants of the house and the
company。 Mariette remarked to the chief…justice as he passed the
kitchen：
〃Ah； Monsieur du Ronceret； I've cooked the cauliflowers au gratin
expressly for you； for mademoiselle knows how you like them； and she
said to me： 'Now don't forget； Mariette； for Mon