CHAPTERXXVIII
MODESTEBEHAVESWITHDIGNITY
Onre—enteringthesalonErnestdeLaBrierefoundayoungofficerofthecompanyoftheguardd’Havre，theVicomtedeSerizy，whohadjustarrivedfromRosnytoannouncethatMADAMEwasobligedtobepresentattheopeningoftheChambers。Weknowtheimportancethenattachedtothisconstitutionalsolemnity，atwhichCharlesX。deliveredhisspeech，surroundedbytheroyalfamily，——MadamelaDauphineandMADAME
beingpresentintheirgallery。Thechoiceoftheemissarychargedwiththedutyofexpressingtheprincess’sregretswasanattentiontoDiane，whowasthenanobjectofadorationtothischarmingyoungman，sonofaministerofstate，gentlemaninordinaryofthechamber，onlysonandheirtoanimmensefortune。TheDuchessedeMaufrigneusepermittedhisattentionssolelyforthepurposeofattractingnoticetotheageofhismother，MadamedeSerizy，whowassaid，inthosechroniclesthatarewhisperedbehindthefans，tohavedeprivedheroftheheartofthehandsomeLuciendeRubempre。
\"Youwilldousthepleasure，Ihope，toremainatRosembray，\"saidthesevereduchesstotheyoungofficer。
Whilegivingeartoeveryscandal，thedevoutladyshuthereyestothederelictionsofherguestswhohadbeencarefullyselectedbytheduke;indeed，itissurprisinghowmuchtheseexcellentwomenwilltolerateunderpretenceofbringingthelostsheepbacktothefoldbytheirindulgence。
\"Wereckonedwithoutourconstitutionalgovernment，\"saidthegrandequerry;\"andRosembray，Madameladuchesse，willloseagreathonor。\"
\"Weshallbemoreatourease，\"saidatallthinoldman，aboutseventy—fiveyearsofage，dressedinbluecloth，andwearinghishunting—capbypermissionoftheladies。Thispersonage，whocloselyresembledtheDucdeBourbon，wasnolessthanthePrincedeCadignan，MasteroftheHunt，andoneofthelastofthegreatFrenchlords。
JustasLaBrierewasendeavoringtoslipbehindthesofaandobtainamoment’sintercoursewithModeste，amanofthirty—eight，short，fat，andverycommoninappearance，enteredtheroom。
\"Myson，thePrincedeLoudon，\"saidtheDuchessedeVerneuiltoModeste，whocouldnotrestraintheexpressionofamazementthatoverspreadheryoungfaceonseeingthemanwhoborethehistoricalnamethattheheroofLaVendeehadrenderedfamousbyhisbraveryandthemartyrdomofhisdeath。
\"Gaspard，\"saidtheduchess，callinghersontoher。Theyoungprincecameatonce，andhismothercontinued，motioningtoModeste，\"MademoiselledeLaBastie，myfriend。\"
Theheirpresumptive，whosemarriagewithDesplein’sonlydaughterhadlatelybeenarranged，bowedtotheyounggirlwithoutseemingstruck，ashisfatherhadbeen，withherbeauty。Modestewasthusenabledtocomparetheyouthofto—daywiththeoldageofapastepoch;fortheoldPrincedeCadignanhadalreadysaidafewwordswhichmadeherfeelthatherenderedastrueahomagetowomanhoodastoroyalty。TheDucdeRhetore，theeldestsonoftheDuchessedeChaulieu，chieflyremarkableformannersthatwereequallyimpertinentandfreeandeasy，bowedtoModesterathercavalierly。Thereasonofthiscontrastbetweenthefathersandthesonsistobefound，probably，inthefactthatyoungmennolongerfeelthemselvesgreatbeings，astheirforefathersdid，andtheydispensewiththedutiesofgreatness，knowingwellthattheyarenowbuttheshadowofit。Thefathersretaintheinherentpolitenessoftheirvanishedgrandeur，likethemountain—topsstillgildedbythesunwhenallistwilightinthevalley。
ErnestwasatlastabletoslipawordintoModeste’sear，andsheroseimmediately。
\"Mydear，\"saidtheduchesse，thinkingshewasgoingtodress，andpullingabell—rope，\"theyshallshowyouyourapartment。\"
ErnestaccompaniedModestetothefootofthegrandstaircase，presentingtherequestofthelucklesspoet，andendeavoringtotouchherfeelingsbydescribingMelchior’sagony。
\"Yousee，heloves——heisacaptivewhothoughthecouldbreakhischain。\"
\"Loveinsucharapidseekerafterfortune！\"retortedModeste。
\"Mademoiselle，youareattheentranceoflife;youdonotknowitsdefiles。Theinconsistenciesofamanwhofallsunderthedominionofawomanmucholderthanhimselfshouldbeforgiven，forheisreallynotaccountable。ThinkhowmanysacrificesCanalishasmadetoher。Hehassowntoomuchseedofthatkindtoresigntheharvest;theduchessrepresentstohimtenyearsofdevotionandhappiness。Youmadehimforgetallthat，andunfortunately，hehasmorevanitythanpride;hedidnotreflectonwhathewaslosinguntilhemetMadameChaulieuhereto—day。Ifyoureallyunderstoodhim，youwouldhelphim。Heisachild，alwaysmismanaginghislife。Youcallhimaseekerafterfortune，butheseeksverybadly;likeallpoets，heisavictimofsensations;heischildish，easilydazzledlikeachildbyanythingthatshines，andpursuingitsglitter。Heusedtolovehorsesandpictures，andhecravedfame，——well，hesoldhispicturestobuyarmorandoldfurnitureoftheRenaissanceandLouisXV。;justnowheisseekingpoliticalpower。Admitthathishobbiesarenoblethings。\"
\"Youhavesaidenough，\"repliedModeste;\"come，\"sheadded，seeingherfather，whomshecalledwithamotionofherheadtogiveherhisarm;
\"comewithme，andIwillgiveyouthatscrapofpaper;youshallcarryittothegreatmanandassurehimofmycondescensiontohiswishes，butononecondition，——youmustthankhiminmynameforthepleasureIhavetakeninseeingoneofthefinestoftheGermanplaysperformedinmyhonor。IhavelearnedthatGoethe’smasterpieceisneitherFaustnorEgmont——\"andthen，asErnestlookedatthemaliciousgirlwithapuzzledair，sheadded:\"ItisTorquatoTasso！
TellMonsieurdeCanalistore—readit，\"sheaddedsmiling;\"I
particularlydesirethatyouwillrepeattoyourfriendwordforwordwhatIsay;foritisnotanepigram，itisthejustificationofhisconduct，——withthistriflingdifference，thathewill，Itrust，becomemoreandmorereasonable，thankstothefollyofhisEleonore。\"
Theduchess’shead—womanconductedModesteandherfathertotheirapartment，whereFrancoiseCochethadalreadyputeverythinginorder，andthechoiceeleganceofwhichastoundedthecolonel，moreespeciallyafterheheardfromFrancoisethattherewerethirtyotherapartmentsinthechateaudecoratedwiththesametaste。
\"ThisiswhatIcallapropercountry—house，\"saidModeste。
\"TheComtedeLaBastiemustbuildyouonelikeit，\"repliedherfather。
\"Here，monsieur，\"saidModeste，givingthebitofpapertoErnest;
\"carryittoourfriendandputhimoutofhismisery。\"
ThewordOURfriendstrucktheyoungman’sheart。HelookedatModestetoseeiftherewasanythingrealinthecommunityofinterestswhichsheseemedtoadmit，andshe，understandingperfectlywhathislookmeant，added，\"Come，goatonce，yourfriendiswaiting。\"
LaBrierecoloredexcessively，andlefttheroominastateofdoubtandanxietylessendurablethandespair。Thepaththatapproacheshappinessis，tothetruelover，likethenarrowwaywhichCatholicpoetryhascalledtheentrancetoParadise，——expressingthusadarkandgloomypassage，echoingwiththelastcriesofearthlyanguish。
Anhourlaterthisillustriouscompanywereallassembledinthesalon;somewereplayingwhist，othersconversing;thewomenhadtheirembroideriesinhand，andallwerewaitingtheannouncementofdinner。
ThePrincedeCadignanwasdrawingMonsieurMignonoutuponChina，andhiscampaignsundertheempire，andmakinghimtalkaboutthePortendueres，theL’Estorades，andtheMaucombes，Provencalfamilies;
heblamedhimfornotseekingservice，andassuredhimthatnothingwouldbeeasierthantorestorehimtohisrankascoloneloftheGuard。
\"AmanofyourbirthandyourfortuneoughtnottobelongtothepresentOpposition，\"saidtheprince，smiling。
ThissocietyofdistinguishedpersonsnotonlypleasedModeste，butitenabledhertoacquire，duringherstay，aperfectionofmannerswhichwithoutthisrevelationshewouldhavelackedallherlife。Showaclocktoanembryomechanic，andyourevealtohimthewholemechanism;hethusdevelopsthegermsofhisfacultywhichliedormantwithinhim。InlikemannerModestehadtheinstincttoappropriatethedistinctivequalitiesofMadamedeMaufrigneuseandMadamedeChaulieu。Forher，thesightofthesewomenwasaneducation;whereasabourgeoiswouldmerelyhaveridiculedtheirwaysormadethemabsurdbyclumsyimitation。Awell—born，well—educated，andright—mindedyoungwomanlikeModestefellnaturallyintoconnectionwiththesepeople，andsawatoncethedifferencesthatseparatethearistocraticworldfromthebourgeoisworld，theprovincesfromthefaubourgSaint—
Germain;shecaughtthealmostimperceptibleshadings;inshort，sheperceivedthegraceofthe\"grandedame\"withoutdoubtingthatshecouldherselfacquireit。ShenoticedalsothatherfatherandLaBriereappearedinfinitelybetterinthisOlympusthanCanalis。Thegreatpoet，abdicatinghisrealandincontestablepower，thatofthemind，becamenothingmorethanacourtierseekingaministry，intriguingforanorder，andforcedtopleasethewholegalaxy。ErnestdeLaBriere，withoutambitions，wasabletobehimself;whileMelchiorbecame，touseavulgarexpression，ameretoady，andcourtedthePrincedeLoudon，theDucdeRhetore，theVicomtedeSerizy，ortheDucdeMaufrigneuse，likeamannotfreetoasserthimself，asdidColonelMignon，whowasjustlyproudofhiscampaigns，andoftheconfidenceoftheEmperorNapoleon。Modestetooknoteofthestrainedeffortsofthemanofrealtalent，seekingsomewitticismthatshouldraisealaugh，somecleverspeech，somecomplimentwithwhichtoflatterthesegrandpersonages，whomitwashisinteresttoplease。Inaword，toModeste’seyesthepeacockpluckedouthistail—feathers。
Towardthemiddleoftheeveningtheyounggirlsatdownwiththegrandequerryinacornerofthesalon。Sheledhimtherepurposelytoendasuitwhichshecouldnolongerencourageifshewishedtoretainherself—respect。
\"Monsieurleduc，ifyoureallyknewme，\"shesaid，\"youwouldunderstandhowdeeplyIamtouchedbyyourattentions。ItisbecauseoftheprofoundrespectIfeelforyourcharacter，andthefriendshipwhichasoullikeyoursinspiresinmine，thatIcannotenduretowoundyourself—love。BeforeyourarrivalinHavreIlovedsincerely，deeply，andforever，onewhoisworthyofbeingloved，andmyaffectionforwhomisstillasecret;butIwishyoutoknow——andinsayingthisIammoresincerethanmostyounggirls——thathadInotalreadyformedthisvoluntaryattachment，youwouldhavebeenmychoice，forIrecognizeyournobleandbeautifulqualities。Afewwordswhichyourauntandsisterhavesaidtomeastoyourintentionsleadmetomakethisfrankavowal。Ifyouthinkitdesirable，aletterfrommymothershallrecallme，onpretenceofherillness，to—morrowmorningbeforethehuntbegins。WithoutyourconsentIdonotchoosetobepresentatafetewhichIowetoyourkindness，andwhere，ifmysecretshouldescapeme，youmightfeelhurtanddefrauded。YouwillaskmewhyIhavecomehereatall。Icouldnotwithstandtheinvitation。Begenerousenoughnottoreproachmeforwhatwasalmostanecessarycuriosity。Butthisisnotthechief，notthemostdelicatethingIhavetosaytoyou。Youhavefirmfriendsinmyfatherandmyself，——moresothanperhapsyourealize;andasmyfortunewasthefirstcausethatbroughtyoutome，Iwishtosay——butwithoutintendingtouseitasasedativetocalmthegriefwhichgallantryrequiresyoutotestify——thatmyfatherhasthoughtovertheaffairofthemarshes，hisfriendDumaythinksyourprojectfeasible，andtheyhavealreadytakenstepstoformacompany。Gobenheim，Dumay，andmyfatherhavesubscribedfifteenhundredthousandfrancs，andundertaketogettherestfromcapitalists，whowillfeelitintheirinteresttotakeupthematter。IfIhavenotthehonorofbecomingtheDuchessed’Herouville，Ihavealmostthecertaintyofenablingyoutochooseher，freefromalltrammelsinyourchoice，andinahigherspherethanmine。Oh！letmefinish，\"shecried，atagesturefromtheduke。
\"Judgingbymynephew’semotion，\"whisperedMademoiselled’Herouvilletoherniece，\"itiseasytoseeyouhaveasister。\"
\"Monsieurleduc，allthiswassettledinmymindthedayofourfirstride，whenIheardyoudeploreyoursituation。ThisiswhatIhavewishedtosaytoyou。Thatdaydeterminedmyfuturelife。Thoughyoudidnotmaketheconquestofawoman，youhaveatleastgainedfaithfulfriendsatIngouville——ifyouwilldeigntoaccordusthattitle。\"
Thislittlediscourse，whichModestehadcarefullythoughtover，wassaidwithsomuchcharmofsoulthatthetearscametothegrandequerry’seyes;heseizedherhandandkissedit。
\"Stayduringthehunt，\"hesaid;\"mywantofmerithasaccustomedmetotheserefusals;butwhileacceptingyourfriendshipandthatofthecolonel，youmustletmesatisfymyselfbythejudgmentofcompetentscientificmen，thatthedrainingofthosemarsheswillbenorisktothecompanyyouspeakof，beforeIagreetothegenerousofferofyourfriends。Youareanoblegirl，andthoughmyheartachestothinkI
canonlybeyourfriend，Iwillgloryinthattitle，andproveittoyouatalltimesandinallseasons。\"
\"Inthatcase，Monsieurleduc，letuskeepoursecret。Mychoicewillnotbeknown，atleastIthinknot，untilaftermymother’scompleterecovery。Ishouldlikeourfirstblessingtocomefromhereyes。\"
CHAPTERXXIX
CONCLUSION
\"Ladies，\"saidthePrincedeCadignan，astheguestswereabouttoseparateforthenight，\"Iknowthatseveralofyouproposetofollowthehoundswithusto—morrow，anditbecomesmydutytotellyouthatifyouwillbeDianasyoumustrise，likeDiana，withthedawn。Themeetisforhalf—pasteighto’clock。Ihaveinthecourseofmylifeseenmanywomendisplaygreatercouragethanmen，butforafewsecondsonly;andyouwillneedastrongdoseofresolutiontokeepyouonhorsebackthewholeday，barringahaltforbreakfast，whichweshalltake，liketruehuntersandhuntresses，onthenail。Areyoustilldeterminedtoshowyourselvestrainedhorse—women？\"
\"Prince，itisnecessaryformetodoso，\"saidModeste，adroitly。
\"Ianswerformyself，\"saidtheDuchessedeChaulieu。
\"AndIformydaughterDiane;sheisworthyofhername，\"addedtheprince。\"So，then，youallpersistinyourintentions？However，I
shallarrange，forthesakeofMadameandMademoiselledeVerneuilandothersofthepartywhostayathome，todrivethestagtothefurtherendofthepond。\"
\"Makeyourselfquiteeasy，mesdames，\"saidthePrincedeLoudon，whentheRoyalHuntsmanhadlefttheroom;\"thatbreakfast’onthenail’
willtakeplaceunderacomfortabletent。\"
Thenextday，atdawn，allsignsgavepromiseofagloriousday。Theskies，veiledbyaslightgrayvapor，showedspacesofpurestblue，andwouldsurelybesweptclearbeforemid—daybythenorthwestwind，whichwasalreadyplayingwiththefleecycloudlets。Asthehuntingpartyleftthechateau，theMasteroftheHunt，theDucdeRhetore，andthePrincedeLoudon，whohadnoladiestoescort，rodeintheadvance，noticingthewhitemassesofthechateau，withitsrisingchimneysrelievedagainstthebrilliantred—brownfoliagewhichthetreesinNormandyputonatthecloseofafineautumn。
\"Theladiesarefortunateintheirweather，\"remarkedtheDucdeRhetore。
\"Oh，inspiteofalltheirboasting，\"repliedthePrincedeCadignan，\"Ithinktheywillletushuntwithoutthem！\"
\"Sotheymight，ifeachhadnotasquire，\"saidtheduke。
Atthismomenttheattentionofthesedeterminedhuntsmen——forthePrincedeLoudonandtheDucdeRhetoreareoftheraceofNimrod，andthebestshotsofthefaubourgSaint—Germain——wasattractedbyaloudaltercation;andtheyspurredtheirhorsestoanopenspaceattheentrancetotheforestofRosembray，famousforitsmossyturf，whichwasappointedforthemeet。Thecauseofthequarrelwassoonapparent。ThePrincedeLoudon，afflictedwithanglomania，hadbroughtouthisownhuntingestablishment，whichwasexclusivelyBritannic，andplaceditunderordersoftheMasteroftheHunt。Now，oneofhismen，alittleEnglishman，——fair，pale，insolent，andphlegmatic，scarcelyabletospeakawordofFrench，anddressedwithaneatnesswhichdistinguishesallBritons，eventhoseofthelowerclasses，——hadpostedhimselfononesideofthisopenspace。JohnBarryworeashortfrock—coat，buttonedtightlyatthewaist，madeofscarletcloth，withbuttonsbearingtheDeVerneuilarms，whiteleatherbreeches，top—
boots，astripedwaistcoat，andacollarandcapeofblackvelvet。Heheldinhishandasmallhunting—whip，andhangingtohiswristbyasilkencordwasabrasshorn。Thisman，thefirstwhipper—in，wasaccompaniedbytwothorough—breddogs，——fox—hounds，white，withliverspots，longintheleg，fineinthemuzzle，withslenderheads，andlittleearsattheircrests。Thehuntsman——famousintheEnglishcountyfromwhichthePrincedeLoudonhadobtainedhimatgreatcost——wasinchargeofanestablishmentoffifteenhorsesandsixtyEnglishhounds，whichcosttheDucdeVerneuil，whowasnothingofahuntsman，butchosetoindulgehissoninthisessentiallyroyaltaste，anenormoussumofmoneytokeepup。
Now，whenJohnarrivedontheground，hefoundhimselfforestalledbythreeotherwhippers—in，inchargeoftwooftheroyalpacksofhoundswhichhadbeenbroughtthereincarts。TheywerethethreebesthuntsmenofthePrincedeCadignan，andpresented，bothincharacterandintheirdistinctivelyFrenchcostume，amarkedcontrasttotherepresentativeofinsolentAlbion。ThesefavoritesofthePrince，eachwearingfull—brimmed，three—corneredhats，veryflatandverywide—
spreading，beneathwhichgrinnedtheirswarthy，tanned，andwrinkledfaces，lightedbythreepairsoftwinklingeyes，werenoticeablylean，sinewy，andvigorous，likemeninwhomsporthadbecomeapassion。AllthreeweresuppliedwithimmensehornsofDampierre，woundwithgreenworstedcords，leavingonlythebrasstubesvisible;buttheycontrolledtheirdogsbytheeyeandvoice。Thosenobleanimalswerefarmorefaithfulandsubmissivesubjectsthanthehumanliegeswhomthekingwasatthatmomentaddressing;allweremarkedwithwhite，black，orliverspots，eachhavingasdistinctiveacountenanceasthesoldiersofNapoleon，theireyesflashinglikediamondsattheslightestnoise。Oneofthem，broughtfromPoitou，wasshortintheback，deepintheshoulder，low—jointed，andlop—eared;theother，fromEngland，white，fineasagreyhoundwithnobelly，smallears，andbuiltforrunning。Bothwereyoung，impatient，andyelpingeagerly，whiletheoldhounds，onthecontrary，coveredwithscars，layquietlywiththeirheadsontheirforepaws，andtheirearstotheearthlikesavages。
AstheEnglishmancameup，theroyaldogsandhuntsmenlookedateachotherasthoughtheysaid，\"IfwecannothuntbyourselveshisMajesty’sserviceisinsulted。\"
Beginningwithjests，thequarrelpresentlygrewfiercerbetweenMonsieurJacquinLaRoulie，theoldFrenchwhipper—in，andJohnBarry，theyoungislander。Thetwoprincesguessedfromafarthesubjectofthealtercation，andtheMasteroftheHunt，settingspurstohishorse，broughtittoanendbysaying，inavoiceofauthority:——
\"Whodrewthewood？\"
\"I，monseigneur，\"saidtheEnglishman。
\"Verygood，\"saidthePrincedeCadignan，proceedingtotakeBarry’sreport。
DogsandmenbecamesilentandrespectfulbeforetheRoyalHuntsman，asthougheachrecognizedhisdignityassupreme。Theprincelaidouttheday’swork;foritiswithahuntasitiswithabattle，andtheMasterofCharlesX。’shoundswastheNapoleonofforests。ThankstotheadmirablesystemwhichhehasintroducedintoFrenchvenery，hewasabletoturnhisthoughtsexclusivelytothescienceandstrategyofit。HenowquietlyassignedaspecialdutytothePrincedeLoudon’sestablishment，thatofdrivingthestagtowater，when，asheexpected，theroyalhoundshadsentitintotheCrownforestwhichoutlinedthehorizondirectlyinfrontofthechateau。Theprinceknewwellhowtosoothetheself—loveofhisoldhuntsmenbygivingthemthemostarduouspartofthework，andalsothatoftheEnglishman，whomheemployedathisownspeciality，affordinghimachancetoshowthefleetnessofhishorsesanddogsintheopen。Thetwonationalsystemswerethusfacetofaceandallowedtodotheirbestundereachother’seyes。
\"Doesmonseigneurwishustowaitanylonger？\"saidLaRoulie，respectfully。
\"Iknowwhatyoumean，oldfriend，\"saidtheprince。\"Itislate，but——\"
\"Herecometheladies，\"saidthesecondwhipper—in。
Atthatmomentthecavalcadeofsixteenriderswasseentoapproachattheheadofwhichwerethegreenveilsofthefourladies。Modeste，accompaniedbyherfather，thegrandequerry，andLaBriere，wasintheadvance，besidetheDuchessedeMaufrigneusewhomtheVicomtedeSerizyescorted。BehindthemrodetheDuchessedeChaulieu，flankedbyCanalis，onwhomshewassmilingwithoutatraceofrancor。Whentheyhadreachedtheopenspacewherethehuntsmenwiththeirredcoatsandbrassbugles，surroundedbythehounds，madeapictureworthyofVanderMeulen，theDuchessedeChaulieu，who，inspiteofherembonpoint，satherhorseadmirably，rodeuptoModeste，findingitmoreforherdignitynottoavoidthatyoungperson，towhomtheeveningbeforeshehadnotsaidasingleword。
WhentheMasteroftheHuntfinishedhiscomplimentstotheladiesontheiramazingpunctuality，EleonoredeignedtoobservethemagnificentwhipwhichsparkedinModeste’slittlehand，andgraciouslyaskedleavetolookatit。
\"Ihaveneverseenanythingofthekindmorebeautiful，\"shesaid，showingittoDianedeMaufrigneuse。\"Itisinkeepingwithitspossessor，\"sheadded，returningittoModeste。
\"Youmustadmit，Madameladuchesse，\"answeredMademoiselledeLaBastie，withatenderandmaliciousglanceatLaBriere，\"thatitisaratherstrangegiftfromthehandofafuturehusband。\"
\"Ishouldtakeit，\"saidMadamedeMaufrigneuse，\"asadeclarationofmyrights，inremembranceofLouisXIV。\"
LaBriere’seyesweresuffused，andforamomenthedroppedhisreins;
butasecondglancefromModesteorderedhimnottobetrayhishappiness。Thehuntnowbegan。
TheDucd’Herouvilletookoccasiontosayinalowvoicetohisfortunaterival;\"Monsieur，Ihopethatyouwillmakeyourwifehappy;
ifIcanbeusefultoyouinanyway，commandmyservices;Ishouldbeonlytoogladtocontributetothehappinessofsocharmingapair。\"
Thisgreatday，inwhichsuchvastinterestsofheartandfortuneweredecided，causedbutoneanxietytotheMasteroftheHunt，——namely，whetherornotthestagwouldcrossthepondandbekilledonthelawnbeforethehouse;forhuntsmenofhiscalibrearelikegreatchess—
playerswhocanpredictacheckmateundercertaincircumstances。Thehappyoldmansucceededtotheheightofhiswishes;therunwasmagnificent，andtheladiesreleasedhimfromhisattendanceuponthemforthehuntofthenextdaybutone，——which，however，turnedouttoberainy。
TheDucdeVerneuil’sguestsstayedfivedaysatRosembray。OnthelastdaytheGazettedeFranceannouncedtheappointmentofMonsieurleBarondeCanalistotherankofcommanderoftheLegionofhonor，andtothepostofministeratCarlsruhe。
When，earlyinthemonthofDecember，MadamedeLaBastie，operateduponbyDesplein，recoveredhersightandsawErnestdeLaBriereforthefirsttime，shepressedModeste’shandandwhisperedinherear，\"Ishouldhavechosenhimmyself。\"
TowardthelastofFebruaryallthedeedsfortheestatesinProvenceweresignedbyLatournelle，andaboutthattimethefamilyofLaBastieobtainedthemarkedhonoroftheking’ssignaturetothemarriagecontractandtotheordinancetransmittingtheirtitleandarmstoLaBriere，whohenceforthtookthenameofLaBriere—LaBastie。TheestateofLaBastiewasentailedbyletters—patentissuedabouttheendofApril。LaBriere’switnessesontheoccasionofhismarriagewereCanalisandtheministerwhomhehadservedforfiveyearsassecretary。ThoseofthebrideweretheDucd’HerouvilleandDesplein，whomtheMignonslongheldingratefulremembrance，aftergivinghimmagnificentandsubstantialproofsoftheirregard。
Later，inthecourseofthislonghistoryofourmannersandcustoms，wemayagainmeetMonsieurandMadamedeLaBriere—LaBastie;andthosewhohavetheeyestosee，willthenbeholdhowsweet，howeasy，isthemarriageyokewithaneducatedandintelligentwoman;forModeste，whohadthewittoavoidthefolliesofpedantry，istheprideandhappinessofherhusband，assheisofherfamilyandofallthosewhosurroundher。
ADDENDUM
ThefollowingpersonagesappearinotherstoriesoftheHumanComedy。
Beaupre，FannyAStartinLifeTheMuseoftheDepartmentScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeBixiou，Jean—JacquesThePurseABachelor’sEstablishmentTheGovernmentClerksScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeTheFirmofNucingenTheMuseoftheDepartmentCousinBettyTheMemberforArcisBeatrixAManofBusinessGaudissartII。
TheUnconsciousHumoristsCousinPonsBlondet，EmileJealousiesofaCountryTownADistinguishedProvincialatParisScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeAnotherStudyofWomanTheSecretsofaPrincessADaughterofEveTheFirmofNucingenThePeasantryBridau，JosephThePurseABachelor’sEstablishmentADistinguishedProvincialatParisAStartinLifeAnotherStudyofWomanPierreGrassouLettersofTwoBridesCousinBettyTheMemberforArcisCadignan，PrincedeTheSecretsofaPrincessCanalis，Constant—Cyr—Melchior，BarondeLettersofTwoBridesADistinguishedProvincialatParisTheMagicSkinAnotherStudyofWomanAStartinLifeBeatrixTheUnconsciousHumoristsTheMemberforArcisChatillonest，DeAWomanofThirtyChaulieu，Henri，DucdeLettersofTwoBridesABachelor’sEstablishmentScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeTheThirteenDauriatADistinguishedProvincialatParisScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeDespleinTheAtheist’sMassCousinPonsLostIllusionsTheThirteenTheGovernmentClerksPierretteABachelor’sEstablishmentTheSeamySideofHistoryScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeHonorineEstourny，Charlesd’
ScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeAManofBusinessFontaine，ComtedeTheChouansTheBallatSceauxCesarBirotteauTheGovernmentClerksGrandlieu，DucFerdinanddeTheGondrevilleMysteryTheThirteenABachelor’sEstablishmentScenesfromaCourtesan’sLifeHerouville，Ducd’
TheHatedSonJealousiesofaCountryTownCousinBettyLaBastielaBriere，ErnestdeTheGovernmentClerksLaBastielaBriere，MadameErnestde（Modeste）
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