CHAPTERXXVI
TRUELOVE
Thehuntwasdestinedtobenotonlyameetofthehounds，butameetingofallthepassionsexcitedbythecolonel’smillionsandModeste’sbeauty;andwhileitwasinprospecttherewastrucebetweentheadversaries。Duringthedaysrequiredforthearrangementofthisforestrialsolemnity，thesalonofthevillaMignonpresentedthetranquilpictureofaunitedfamily。Canalis，cutshortinhisroleofinjuredlovebyModeste’squickperceptions，wishedtoappearcourteous;helaidasidehispretensions，gavenofurtherspecimensofhisoratory，andbecame，whatallmenofintellectcanbewhentheyrenounceaffectation，perfectlycharming。HetalkedfinanceswithGobenheim，andwarwiththecolonel，GermanywithMadameMignon，andhousekeepingwithMadameLatournelle，——endeavoringtobiasthemallinfavorofLaBriere。TheDucd’Herouvilleleftthefieldtohisrivals，forhewasobligedtogotoRosembraytoconsultwiththeDucdeVerneuil，andseethattheordersoftheRoyalHuntsman，thePrincedeCadignan，werecarriedout。Andyetthecomicelementwasnotaltogetherwanting。ModestefoundherselfbetweenthedepreciatoryhintsofCanalisastothegallantryofthegrandequerry，andtheexaggerationsofthetwoMesdemoisellesd’Herouville，whopassedeveryeveningatthevilla。CanalismadeModestetakenoticethat，insteadofbeingtheheroineofthehunt，shewouldbescarcelynoticed。
MADAMEwouldbeattendedbytheDuchessedeMaufrigneuse，daughter—in—
lawofthePrincedeCadignan，bytheDuchessedeChaulieu，andothergreatladiesoftheCourt，amongwhomshecouldproducenosensation;
nodoubttheofficersingarrisonatRouenwouldbeinvited，etc。
Helene，ontheotherhand，wasincessantlytellinghernewfriend，whomshealreadylookeduponasasister—in—law，thatshewastobepresentedtoMADAME;undoubtedlytheDucdeVerneuilwouldinviteherfatherandherselftostayatRosembray;ifthecolonelwishedtoobtainafavoroftheking，——apeerage，forinstance，——theopportunitywasunique，fortherewashopeofthekinghimselfbeingpresentonthethirdday;shewouldbedelightedwiththecharmingwelcomewithwhichthebeautiesoftheCourt，theDuchessesdeChaulieu，deMaufrigneuse，deLenoncourt—Chaulieu，andotherladies，werepreparedtomeether。Itwasinfactanexcessivelyamusinglittlewarfare，withitsmarchesandcountermarchesandstratagems，——allofwhichwerekeenlyenjoyedbytheDumays，theLatournelles，Gobenheim，andButscha，who，inconclaveassembled，saidhorriblethingsofthesenoblepersonages，cruellynotingandintelligentlystudyingalltheirlittlemeannesses。
Thepromisesonthed’Herouvillesidewere，however，confirmedbythearrivalofaninvitation，couchedinflatteringterms，fromtheDucdeVerneuilandtheMasteroftheHunttoMonsieurleComtedeLaBastieandhisdaughter，tostayatRosembrayandbepresentatagrandhuntontheseventh，eighth，ninth，andtenth，ofNovemberfollowing。
LaBriere，fullofdarkpresentiments，cravedthepresenceofModestewithaneagernesswhosebitterjoysareknownonlytoloverswhofeelthattheyareparted，andpartedfatallyfromthosetheylove。Flashesofjoycametohimintermingledwithmelancholymeditationsontheonetheme，\"Ihavelosther，\"andmadehimallthemoreinterestingtothosewhowatchedhim，becausehisfaceandhiswholepersonwereinkeepingwithhisprofoundfeeling。Thereisnothingmorepoeticthanalivingelegy，animatedbyapairofeyes，walkingabout，andsighingwithoutrhymes。
TheDucd’HerouvillearrivedatlasttoarrangeforModeste’sdeparture;aftercrossingtheSeineshewastobeconveyedintheduke’scaleche，accompaniedbytheDemoisellesd’Herouville。Thedukewascharminglycourteous，hebeggedCanalisandLaBrieretobeoftheparty，assuringthem，ashedidthecolonel，thathehadtakenparticularcarethathuntersshouldbeprovidedforthem。Thecolonelinvitedthethreeloverstobreakfastonthemorningofthestart。
Canalisthenbegantoputintoexecutionaplanthathehadbeenmaturinginhisownmindforthelastfewdays;namely，toquietlyreconquerModeste，andthrowovertheduchess，LaBriere，andtheduke。Agraduateofdiplomacycouldhardlyremainstuckinthepositioninwhichhefoundhimself。OntheotherhandLaBrierehadcometotheresolutionofbiddingModesteaneternalfarewell。Eachsuitorwasthereforeonthewatchtoslipinalastword，likethedefendant’scounseltothecourtbeforejudgmentispronounced;forallfeltthatthethreeweeks’strugglewasapproachingitsconclusion。Afterdinnerontheeveningbeforethestartwastobemade，thecolonelhadtakenhisdaughterbythearmandmadeherfeelthenecessityofdeciding。
\"Ourpositionwiththed’HerouvillefamilywillbequiteintolerableatRosembray，\"hesaidtoher。\"Doyoumeantobeaduchess？\"
\"No，father，\"sheanswered。
\"ThendoyouloveCanalis？\"
\"No，papa，athousandtimesno！\"sheexclaimedwiththeimpatienceofachild。
Thecolonellookedatherwithasortofjoy。
\"Ah，Ihavenotinfluencedyou，\"criedthetruefather，\"andIwillnowconfessthatIchosemyson—in—lawinPariswhen，havingmadehimbelievethatIhadbutlittlefortune，hegraspedmyhandandtoldmeItookaweightfromhismind——\"
\"Whoisityoumean？\"askedModeste，coloring。
\"THEMANOFFIXEDPRINCIPLESANDSOUNDMORALITIES，\"saidherfather，slyly，repeatingthewordswhichhaddissolvedpoorModeste’sdreamonthedayafterhisreturn。
\"Iwasnoteventhinkingofhim，papa。Pleaseleavemeatlibertytorefusethedukemyself;Iunderstandhim，andIknowhowtosoothehim。\"
\"Thenyourchoiceisnotmade？\"
\"Notyet;thereisanothersyllableortwointhecharadeofmydestinystilltobeguessed;butafterIhavehadaglimpseofcourtlifeatRosembrayIwilltellyoumysecret。\"
\"Ah！MonsieurdeLaBriere，\"criedthecolonel，astheyoungmanapproachedthemalongthegardenpathinwhichtheywerewalking，\"I
hopeyouaregoingtothishunt？\"
\"No，colonel，\"answeredErnest。\"Ihavecometotakeleaveofyouandofmademoiselle;IreturntoParis——\"
\"Youhavenocuriosity，\"saidModeste，interrupting，andlookingathim。
\"Awish——thatIcannotexpect——wouldsufficetokeepme，\"hereplied。
\"Ifthatisall，youmuststaytopleaseme;Iwishit，\"saidthecolonel，goingforwardtomeetCanalis，andleavinghisdaughterandLaBrieretogetherforamoment。
\"Mademoiselle，\"saidtheyoungman，raisinghiseyestoherswiththeboldnessofamanwithouthope，\"Ihaveanentreatytomaketoyou。\"
\"Tome？\"
\"Letmecarryawaywithmeyourforgiveness。Mylifecanneverbehappy;itmustbefullofremorseforhavinglostmyhappiness——nodoubtbymyownfault;but，atleast，——\"
\"Beforewepartforever，\"saidModeste，interruptingalaCanalis，andspeakinginavoiceofsomeemotion，\"Iwishtoaskyouonething;andthoughyouoncedisguisedyourself，Ithinkyoucannotbesobaseastodeceivemenow。\"
Thetauntmadehimturnpale，andhecriedout，\"Oh，youarepitiless！\"
\"Willyoubefrank？\"
\"Youhavetherighttoaskmethatdegradingquestion，\"hesaid，inavoiceweakenedbytheviolentpalpitationofhisheart。
\"Well，then，didyoureadmyletterstoMonsieurdeCanalis？\"
\"No，mademoiselle;andIallowedyourfathertoreadthemitwastojustifymylovebyshowinghimhowitwasborn，andhowsinceremyeffortsweretocureyouofyourfancy。\"
\"Buthowcametheideaofthatunworthymasqueradeevertoarise？\"shesaid，withasortofimpatience。
LaBriererelatedtruthfullythesceneinthepoet’sstudywhichModeste’sfirstletterhadoccasioned，andthesortofchallengethatresultedfromhisexpressingafavorableopinionofayounggirlthusledtowardapoet’sfame，asaplantseeksitsshareofthesun。
\"Youhavesaidenough，\"saidModeste，restrainingsomeemotion。\"Ifyouhavenotmyheart，monsieur，youhaveatleastmyesteem。\"
Thesesimplewordsgavetheyoungmanaviolentshock;feelinghimselfstagger，heleanedagainstatree，likeamandeprivedforamomentofreason。Modest，whohadlefthim，turnedherheadandcamehastilyback。
\"Whatisthematter？\"sheasked，takinghishandtopreventhimfromfalling。
\"Forgiveme——Ithoughtyoudespisedme。\"
\"But，\"sheanswered，withadistantanddisdainfulmanner，\"IdidnotsaythatIlovedyou。\"
Andshelefthimagain。Butthistime，inspiteofherharshness，LaBrierethoughthewalkedonair;theearthsoftenedunderhisfeet，thetreesboreflowers;theskieswererosy，theaircerulean，astheyareinthetemplesofHymeninthosefairypantomimeswhichfinishhappily。InsuchsituationseverywomanisaJanus，andseesbehindherwithoutturninground;andthusModesteperceivedonthefaceofherlovertheindubitablesymptomsofalovelikeButscha’s，——surelythe\"neplusultra\"ofawoman’shope。Moreover，thegreatvaluewhichLaBriereattachedtoheropinionfilledModestewithanemotionthatwasinestimablysweet。
\"Mademoiselle，\"saidCanalis，leavingthecolonelandwaylayingModeste，\"inspiteofthelittlevalueyouattachtomysentiments，myhonorisconcernedineffacingastainunderwhichIhavesufferedtoolong。HereisaletterwhichIreceivedfromtheDuchessedeChaulieufivedaysaftermyarrivalinHavre。\"
HeletModestereadthefirstlinesoftheletterwehaveseen，whichtheduchessbeganbysayingthatshehadseenMongenod，andnowwishedtomarryherpoettoModeste;thenhetorethatpassagefromthebodyoftheletter，andplacedthefragmentinherhand。
\"Icannotletyoureadtherest，\"hesaid，puttingthepaperinhispocket;\"butIconfidethesefewlinestoyourdiscretion，sothatyoumayverifythewriting。Ayounggirlwhocouldaccusemeofignoblesentimentsisquitecapableofsuspectingsomecollusion，sometrickery。Ah，Modeste，\"hesaid，withtearsinhisvoice，\"yourpoet，thepoetofMadamedeChaulieu，hasnolesspoetryinhisheartthaninhismind。Youareabouttoseetheduchess;suspendyourjudgmentofmetillthen。\"
HeleftModestehalfbewildered。
\"Oh，dear！\"shesaidtoherself;\"itseemstheyareallangels——andnotmarriageable;thedukeistheonlyonethatbelongstohumanity。\"
\"MademoiselleModeste，\"saidButscha，appearingwithaparcelunderhisarm，\"thishuntmakesmeveryuneasy。Idreamedyourhorseranawaywithyou，andIhavebeentoRouentoseeifIcouldgetaSpanishbitwhich，theytellme，ahorsecan’ttakebetweenhisteeth。
Ientreatyoutouseit。Ihaveshownittothecolonel，andhehasthankedmemorethanthereisanyoccasionfor。\"
\"Poor，dearButscha！\"criedModeste，movedtotearsbythismaternalcare。
Butschawentskippingofflikeamanwhohasjustheardofthedeathofarichuncle。
\"Mydearfather，\"saidModeste，returningtothesalon;\"Ishouldliketohavethatbeautifulwhip，——supposeyouweretoaskMonsieurdeLaBrieretoexchangeitforyourpicturebyVanOstade。\"
ModestelookedfurtivelyatErnest，whilethecolonelmadehimthisproposition，standingbeforethepicturewhichwasthesolethinghepossessedinmemoryofhiscampaigns，havingboughtitofaburgheratRabiston;andshesaidtoherselfasLaBrierelefttheroomprecipitately，\"Hewillbeatthehunt。\"
Acuriousthinghappened。Modeste’sthreeloverseachandallwenttoRosembraywiththeirheartsfullofhope，andcaptivatedbyhermanyperfections。
Rosembray，——anestatelatelypurchasedbytheDucdeVerneuil，withthemoneywhichfelltohimashisshareofthethousandmillionsvotedasindemnityforthesaleofthelandsoftheemigres，——isremarkableforitschateau，whosemagnificencecomparesonlywiththatofMesniereorofBalleroy。Thisimposingandnobleedificeisapproachedbyawideavenueoffourrowsofvenerableelms，fromwhichthevisitorentersanimmenserisingcourt—yard，likethatatVersailles，withmagnificentironrailingsandtwolodges，andadornedwithrowsoflargeorange—treesintheirtubs。Facingthiscourt—yard，thechateaupresents，betweentwofrontsofthemainbuildingwhichretreatoneithersideofthisprojection，adoublerowofnineteentallwindows，withcarvedarchesanddiamondpanes，dividedfromeachotherbyaseriesofflutedpilasterssurmountedbyanentablaturewhichhidesanItalianroof，fromwhichriseseveralstonechimneysmaskedbycarvedtrophiesofarms。Rosembraywasbuilt，underLouisXIV。，bya\"fermier—general\"namedCottin。Thefacadetowardtheparkdiffersfromthatonthecourt—yardbyhavinganarrowerprojectioninthecentre，withcolumnsbetweenfivewindows，abovewhichrisesamagnificentpediment。ThefamilyofMarigny，towhomtheestatesofthisCottinwerebroughtinmarriagebyMademoiselleCottin，herfather’ssoleheiress，orderedasunrisetobecarvedonthispedimentbyCoysevox。Beneathitaretwoangelsunwindingascroll，onwhichiscutthismottoinhonoroftheGrandMonarch，\"Solnobisbenignus。\"
Fromtheportico，reachedbytwograndcircularandbalustradedflightsofsteps，theviewextendsoveranimmensefish—pond，aslongandwideasthegrandcanalatVersailles，beginningatthefootofagrass—plotwhichcompareswellwiththefinestEnglishlawns，andborderedwithbedsandbasketsnowfilledwiththebrilliantflowersofautumn。Oneithersideofthepieceofwatertwogardens，laidoutintheFrenchstyle，displaytheirsquaresandlongstraightpaths，likebrilliantpageswrittenintheciphersofLenotre。Thesegardensarebackedtotheirwholelengthbyaborderofnearlythirtyacresofwoodland。FromtheterracetheviewisboundedbyaforestbelongingtoRosembrayandcontiguoustotwootherforests，oneofwhichbelongstotheCrown，theothertotheState。Itwouldbedifficulttofindanoblerlandscape。
CHAPTERXXVII
AGIRL’SREVENGE
Modeste’sarrivalatRosembraymadeacertainsensationintheavenuewhenthecarriagewiththeliveriesofFrancecameinsight，accompaniedbythegrandequerry，thecolonel，Canalis，andLaBriereonhorseback，precededbyanoutriderinfulldress，andfollowedbysixservants，——amongwhomweretheNegroesandthemulatto，——andthebritzkaofthecolonelforthetwowaiting—womenandtheluggage。Thecarriagewasdrawnbyfourhorses，riddenbypostilionsdressedwithanelegancespeciallycommandedbythegrandequerry，whowasoftenbetterservedthanthekinghimself。AsModeste，dazzledbythemagnificenceofthegreatlords，enteredandbeheldthislesserVersailles，shesuddenlyrememberedherapproachinginterviewwiththecelebratedduchesses，andbegantofearthatshemightseemawkward，orprovincial，orparvenue;infact，shelostherself—possession，andheartilyrepentedhavingwishedforahunt。
Fortunately，however，asthecarriagedrewup，Modestesawanoldman，inablondwigfrizzedintolittlecurls，whosecalm，plump，smoothfaceworeafatherlysmileandanexpressionofmonasticcheerfulnesswhichthehalf—veiledglanceoftheeyerenderedalmostnoble。ThiswastheDucdeVerneuil，masterofRosembray。Theduchess，awomanofextremepiety，theonlydaughterofarichanddeceasedchief—justice，spareanderect，andthemotheroffourchildren，resembledMadameLatournelle，——iftheimaginationcangosofarastoadornthenotary’swifewiththegracesofabearingthatwastrulyabbatial。
\"Ah，goodmorning，dearHortense！\"saidMademoiselled’Herouville，kissingtheduchesswiththesympathythatunitedtheirhaughtynatures;\"letmepresenttoyouandtothedeardukeourlittleangel，MademoiselledeLaBastie。\"
\"Wehaveheardsomuchofyou，mademoiselle，\"saidtheduchess，\"thatwewereinhastetoreceiveyou。\"
\"Andregretthetimelost，\"addedtheDucdeVerneuil，withcourteousadmiration。
\"MonsieurleComtedeLaBastie，\"saidthegrandequerry，takingthecolonelbythearmandpresentinghimtothedukeandduchess，withanairofrespectinhistoneandgesture。
\"Iamgladtowelcomeyou，Monsieurlecomte！\"saidMonsieurdeVerneuil。\"Youpossessmorethanonetreasure，\"headded，lookingatModeste。
TheduchesstookModesteunderherarmandledherintoanimmensesalon，whereadozenormorewomenweregroupedaboutthefireplace。
Themenofthepartyremainedwiththedukeontheterrace，exceptCanalis，whorespectfullymadehiswaytothesuperbEleonore。TheDuchessedeChaulieu，seatedatanembroidery—frame，wasshowingMademoiselledeVerneuilhowtoshadeaflower。
IfModestehadrunaneedlethroughherfingerwhenhandlingapin—
cushionshecouldnothavefeltasharperprickthanshereceivedfromthecoldandhaughtyandcontemptuousstarewithwhichMadamedeChaulieufavoredher。Foraninstantshesawnothingbutthatonewoman，andshesawthroughher。Tounderstandthedepthsofcrueltytowhichthesecharmingcreatures，whomourpassionsdeify，cango，wemustseewomenwitheachother。ModestewouldhavedisarmedalmostanyotherthanEleonorebytheperfectlystupidandinvoluntaryadmirationwhichherfacebetrayed。Hadshenotknowntheduchess’sageshewouldhavethoughtherawomanofthirty—six;butotherandgreaterastonishmentsawaitedher。
Thepoethadrunplumpagainstagreatlady’sanger。Suchangeristheworstofsphinxes;thefaceisradiant，alltherestmenacing。Kingsthemselvescannotmaketheexquisitepolitenessofamistress’scoldangercapitulatewhensheguardsitwithsteelarmor。Canalistriedtoclingtothesteel，buthisfingersslippedonthepolishedsurface，likehiswordsontheheart;andthegraciousface，thegraciouswords，thegraciousbearingoftheduchesshidthesteelofherwrath，nowfallentotwenty—fivebelowzero，fromallobservers。TheappearanceofModesteinhersublimebeauty，anddressedaswellasDianedeMaufrigneuseherself，hadfiredthetrainofgunpowderwhichreflectionhadbeenlayinginEleonore’smind。
Allthewomenhadgonetothewindowstoseethenewwondergetoutoftheroyalcarriage，attendedbyherthreesuitors。
\"Donotletusseemsocurious，\"MadamedeChaulieuhadsaid，cuttotheheartbyDiane’sexclamation，——\"Sheisdivine！whereintheworlddoesshecomefrom？\"——andwiththatthebevyflewbacktotheirseats，resumingtheircomposure，thoughEleonore’sheartwasfullofhungryvipersallclamorousforameal。
Mademoiselled’HerouvillesaidinalowvoiceandwithmuchmeaningtotheDuchessedeVerneuil，\"EleonorereceivesherMelchiorveryungraciously。\"
\"TheDuchessedeMaufrigneusethinksthereisacoolnessbetweenthem，\"saidLauredeVerneuil，withsimplicity。
Charmingphrase！sooftenusedintheworldofsociety，——howthenorthwindblowsthroughit。
\"Whyso？\"askedModesteoftheprettyyounggirlwhohadlatelylefttheSacre—Coeur。
\"Thegreatpoet，\"saidthepiousduchess——makingasigntoherdaughtertobesilent——\"leftMadamedeChaulieuwithoutaletterformorethantwoweeksafterhewenttoHavre，havingtoldherthathewentthereforhishealth——\"
Modestemadeahastymovement，whichcaughttheattentionofLaure，Helene，andMademoiselled’Herouville。
\"——andduringthattime，\"continuedthedevoutduchess，\"shewasendeavoringtohavehimappointedcommanderoftheLegionofhonor，andministeratBaden。\"
\"Oh，thatwasshamefulinCanalis;heoweseverythingtoher，\"
exclaimedMademoiselled’Herouville。
\"WhydidnotMadamedeChaulieucometoHavre？\"askedModesteofHelene，innocently。
\"Mydear，\"saidtheDuchessedeVerneuil，\"shewouldletherselfbecutinlittlepieceswithoutsayingaword。Lookather，——sheisregal;herheadwouldsmile，likeMaryStuart’s，afteritwascutoff;
infact，shehassomeofthatbloodinherveins。\"
\"Didshenotwritetohim？\"askedModeste。
\"Dianetellsme，\"answeredtheduchess，promptedbyanudgefromMademoiselled’Herouville，\"thatinanswertoCanalis’sfirstlettershemadeacuttingreplyafewdaysago。\"
ThisexplanationmadeModesteblushwithshameforthemanbeforeher;
shelonged，nottocrushhimunderherfeet，buttorevengeherselfbyoneofthosemaliciousactsthataresharperthanadagger’sthrust。
ShelookedhaughtilyattheDuchessedeChaulieu——
\"MonsieurMelchior！\"shesaid。
Allthewomensnuffedtheairandlookedalternatelyattheduchess，whowastalkinginanundertonetoCanalisovertheembroidery—frame，andthenattheyounggirlsoillbroughtupastodisturbalovers’
meeting，——athinknotpermissibleinanysociety。DianedeMaufrigneusenodded，however，asmuchastosay，\"Thechildisintherightofit。\"Allthewomenendedbysmilingateachother;theywereenragedwithawomanwhowasfifty—sixyearsoldandstillhandsomeenoughtoputherfingersintothetreasuryandstealtheduesofyouth。MelchiorlookedatModestewithfeverishimpatience，andmadethegestureofamastertoavalet，whiletheduchessloweredherheadwiththemovementofalionessdisturbedatameal;hereyes，fastenedonthecanvas，emittedredflamesinthedirectionofthepoet，whichstabbedlikeepigrams，foreachwordrevealedtoheratripleinsult。
\"MonsieurMelchior！\"saidModesteagaininavoicethatasserteditsrighttobeheard。
\"What，mademoiselle？\"demandedthepoet。
Forcedtorise，heremainedstandinghalf—waybetweentheembroideryframe，whichwasnearawindow，andthefireplacewhereModestewasseatedwiththeDuchessedeVerneuilonasofa。Whatbitterreflectionscameintohisambitiousmind，ashecaughtaglancefromEleonore。IfheobeyedModesteallwasover，andforever，betweenhimselfandhisprotectress。Nottoobeyherwastoavowhisslavery，tolosethechancesofhistwenty—fivedaysofbasemanoeuvring，andtodisregardtheplainestlawsofdecencyandcivility。Thegreaterthefolly，themoreimperativelytheduchessexactedit。Modeste’sbeautyandmoneythuspittedagainstEleonore’srightsandinfluencemadethishesitationbetweenthemanandhishonorasterribletowitnessastheperilofamatadorinthearena。AmanseldomfeelssuchpalpitationsasthosewhichnowcamenearcausingCanalisananeurism，except，perhaps，beforethegreentable，wherehisfortuneorhisruinisabouttobedecided。
\"Mademoiselled’Herouvillehurriedmefromthecarriage，andIleftbehindme，\"saidModestetoCanalis，\"myhandkerchief——\"
Canalisshruggedhisshoulderssignificantly。
\"And，\"continuedModeste，takingnonoticeofhisgesture，\"Ihadtiedintoonecornerofitthekeyofadeskwhichcontainsthefragmentofanimportantletter;havethekindness，MonsieurMelchior，togetitforme。\"
BetweenanangelandatigerequallyenragedCanalis，whohadturnedlivid，nolongerhesitated，——thetigerseemedtohimtheleastdangerousofthetwo;andhewasabouttodoashewastold，andcommithimselfirretrievably，whenLaBriereappearedatthedoorofthesalon，seemingtohisanguishedmindlikethearchangelGabrieltumblingfromheaven。
\"Ernest，here，MademoiselledeLaBastiewantsyou，\"saidthepoet，hastilyreturningtohischairbytheembroideryframe。
ErnestrushedtoModestewithoutbowingtoanyone;hesawonlyher，tookhiscommissionwithundisguisedjoy，anddartedfromtheroom，withthesecretapprobationofeverywomanpresent。
\"Whatanoccupationforapoet！\"saidModestetoHelened’Herouville，glancingtowardtheembroideryatwhichtheduchesswasnowworkingsavagely。
\"Ifyouspeaktoher，ifyoueverlookather，allisoverbetweenus，\"saidtheduchesstothepoetinalowvoice，notatallsatisfiedwiththeverydoubtfulterminationwhichErnest’sarrivalhadputtothescene;\"andremember，ifIamnotpresent，Ileavebehindmeeyesthatwillwatchyou。\"
Sosaying，theduchess，awomanofmediumheight，butalittletoostout，likeallwomenoverfiftywhoretaintheirbeauty，roseandwalkedtowardthegroupwhichsurroundedDianedeMaufrigneuse，steppingdaintilyonlittlefeetthatwereasslenderandnervousasadeer’s。Beneathherplumpnesscouldbeseentheexquisitedelicacyofsuchwomen，whichcomesfromthevigoroftheirnervoussystemscontrollingandvitalizingthedevelopmentofflesh。Thereisnootherwaytoexplainthelightnessofherstep，andtheincomparablenobilityofherbearing。NonebutthewomenwhosequarteringsbeginwithNoahknow，asEleonoredid，howtobemajesticinspiteofabuxomtendency。AphilosophermighthavepitiedPhiloxene，whileadmiringthegracefullinesofthebustandtheminutecarebestoweduponamorningdress，whichwaswornwiththeeleganceofaqueenandtheeasygraceofayounggirl。Herabundanthair，stillundyed，wassimplywoundaboutherheadinplaits;shebaredhersnowythroatandshoulders，exquisitelymodelled，andhercelebratedhandandarm，withpardonablepride。Modeste，togetherwithallotherantagonistsoftheduchess，recognizedinherawomanofwhomtheywereforcedtosay，\"Sheeclipsesus。\"Infact，Eleonorewasoneofthe\"grandesdames\"
nowsorare。Toendeavortoexplainwhataugustqualitytherewasinthecarriageofthehead，whatrefinementanddelicacyinthecurveofthethroat，whatharmonyinhermovements，andnobilityinherbearing，whatgrandeurintheperfectaccordofdetailswiththewholebeing，andinthearts，nowasecondnature，whichrenderawomangrandandevensacred，——toexplainallthesethingswouldsimplybetoattempttoanalyzethesublime。PeopleenjoysuchpoetryastheyenjoythatofPaganini;theydonotexplaintothemselvesthemedium，theyknowthecauseisinthespiritthatremainsinvisible。
MadamedeChaulieubowedherheadinsalutationofHeleneandheraunt;then，sayingtoDiane，inapureandequabletoneofvoice，withoutatraceofemotion，\"Isitnottimetodress，duchess？\"shemadeherexit，accompaniedbyherdaughter—in—lawandMademoiselled’Herouville。Asshelefttheroomshespokeinanundertonetotheoldmaid，whopressedherarm，saying，\"Youarecharming，\"——whichmeant，\"Iamallgratitudefortheserviceyouhavejustdoneus。\"
Afterthat，Mademoiselled’Herouvillereturnedtothesalontoplayherpartofspy，andherfirstglanceapprisedCanalisthattheduchesshadmadehimnoemptythreat。Thatapprenticeindiplomacybecameawarethathissciencewasnotsufficientforastruggleofthiskind，andhiswitservedhimtotakeamorehonestposition，ifnotaworthierone。WhenErnestreturned，bringingModeste’shandkerchief，thepoetseizedhisarmandtookhimoutontheterrace。
\"Mydearfriend，\"hesaid，\"Iamnotonlythemostunfortunatemanintheworld，butIamalsothemostridiculous;andIcometoyoutogetmeoutofthehornet’snestintowhichIhaverunmyself。Modesteisademon;sheseesmydifficultyandshelaughsatit;shehasjustspokentomeofafragmentofaletterofMadamedeChaulieu，whichI
hadthefollytogiveher;ifsheshowsitIcannevermakemypeacewithEleonore。Therefore，willyouatonceaskModestetosendmebackthatpaper，andtellher，fromme，thatImakenopretensionstoherhand。SayIcountuponherdelicacy，uponherproprietyasayounggirl，tobehavetomeasifwehadneverknowneachother。Ibeghernottospeaktome;Iimplorehertotreatmeharshly，——thoughI
hardlydareaskhertofeignajealousanger，whichwouldhelpmyinterestsamazingly。Go，Iwillwaithereforananswer。\"
