The next day, Mademoiselle Cormon, packed into the old carriole wit Josette, and looking like a pyramid on a vast sea of parcels, drove u the rue Saint-Blaise on her way to Prebaudet, where she was overtaken b an event which hurried on her marriage,--an event entirely unlooke for by either Madame Granson, du Bousquier, Monsieur de Valois, o 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, t the various reports of her keeper and her gardener, when Jacquelin mad a violent irruption into the dining-room

"Mademoiselle," he cried, out of breath, "Monsieur l'abbe sends you a express, the son of Mere Grosmort, with a letter. The lad left Alenco before daylight, and he has just arrived; he ran like Penelope! Can't 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' fears

"Quick! quick!" cried Mademoiselle Cormon, as soon as she had read th 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 he 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 he mistress kept as to the contents of the letter, which she read an 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 th quicksilver was peeling, and which presented her features to her upsid down

"Good heavens!" thought Mademoiselle Cormon, "suppose I should loo ugly! Come, Josette; come, my dear, dress me at once; I want to be read before Jacquelin has harnessed Penelope. If you can't pack my things i time, I will leave them here rather than lose a single minute.

If you have thoroughly comprehended the positive monomania to which th desire of marriage had brought Mademoiselle Cormon, you will share he emotion. The worthy uncle announced in this sudden missive that Monsieu de Troisville, of the Russian army during the Emigration, grandson o one of his best friends, was desirous of retiring to Alencon, and aske his, the abbe's hospitality, on the ground of his friendship for hi grandfather, the Vicomte de Troisville. The old abbe, alarmed at th responsibility, entreated his niece to return instantly and help him t receive this guest, and do the honors of the house; for the viscount' letter had been delayed, and he might descend upon his shoulders tha very night

After reading this missive could there be a question of the demand of Prebaudet? The keeper and the gardener, witnesses to Mademoisell Cormon's excitement, stood aside and awaited her orders. But when as she was about to leave the room, they stopped her to ask fo instructions, for the first time in her life the despotic old maid who saw to everything at Prebaudet with her own eyes, said, to thei stupefaction, "Do what you like." This from a mistress who carried he administration to the point of counting her fruits, and marking them s as to order their consumption according to the number and condition o each

"I believe I'm dreaming," thought Josette, as she saw her mistres flying down the staircase like an elephant to which God has given wings

Presently, in spite of a driving rain, Mademoiselle Cormon drove awa from Prebaudet, leaving her factotums with the reins on their necks Jacquelin dared not take upon himself to hasten the usual little tro of the peaceable Penelope, who, like the beautiful queen whose name sh bore, had an appearance of making as many steps backward as she mad forward. Impatient with the pace, mademoiselle ordered Jacquelin in sharp voice to drive at a gallop, with the whip, if necessary, to th great astonishment of the poor beast, so afraid was she of not havin time to arrange the house suitably to receive Monsieur de Troisville She calculated that the grandson of her uncle's friend was probabl about forty years of age; a soldier just from service was undoubtedl a bachelor; and she resolved, her uncle aiding, not to let Monsieu de Troisville quit their house in the condition he entered it. Thoug Penelope galloped, Mademoiselle Cormon, absorbed in thoughts of he trousseau and the wedding-day, declared again and again that Jacqueli made no way at all. She twisted about in the carriole without replyin to Josette's questions, and talked to herself like a person who i mentally revolving important designs

The carriole at last arrived in the main street of Alencon, called th rue Saint-Blaise at the end toward Montagne, but near the hotel du Mor it takes the name of the rue de la Porte-de-Seez, and becomes the ru du Bercail as it enters the road to Brittany. If the departure o Mademoiselle Cormon made a great noise in Alencon, it is easy to imagin the uproar caused by her sudden return on the following day, in pouring rain which beat her face without her apparently minding it Penelope at a full gallop was observed by every one, and Jacquelin' 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 an Mortagne. Josette knew the various branches of the family. A wor dropped by mademoiselle as they entered Alencon had put Josette on th scent of the affair; and a discussion having started between them, i was settled that the expected de Troisville must be between fort 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! inquire nothing! That's my uncle all over. He'd forget his own nose if it wasn' 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, n longer in awe of anything

Immediately the town of Alencon, speedily informed from the farthe end of the rue de Saint-Blaise to the gate of Seez of this precipitat return, accompanied by singular circumstances, was perturbed throughou its viscera, both public and domestic. Cooks, shopkeepers, stree passengers, told the news from door to door; thence it rose to the uppe regions. Soon the words: "Mademoiselle Cormon has returned!" burst lik a bombshell into all households. At that moment Jacquelin was descendin 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 gree gate, round at the top, and closed in sign of mourning; for durin Mademoiselle Cormon's absence the evening assemblies did not take place The faithful invited the Abbe de Sponde to their several houses; an Monsieur de Valois paid his debt by inviting him to dine at the Marqui d'Esgrignon's. Jacquelin, having opened the gate, called familiarly t Penelope, whom he had left in the middle of the street. That animal accustomed to this proceeding, turned in of herself, and circled roun the courtyard in a manner to avoid injuring the flower-bed. Jacqueli then took her bridle, and led the carriage to the portico

"Mariette!" cried Mademoiselle Cormon

"Mademoiselle!" exclaimed Mariette, who was occupied in closing th 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 th portico, holding out their hands to manoeuvre the exit of their mistres from the carriole as she pulled herself up by the sides of the vehicl and clung to the curtains. Mademoiselle then threw herself into thei arms; because for the last two years she dared not risk her weigh on the iron step, affixed to the frame of the carriage by a horribl mechanism of clumsy bolts

When Mademoiselle Cormon reached the level of the portico she looke about her courtyard with an air of satisfaction

"Come, come, Mariette, leave that gate alone; I want you.

"There's something in the wind," whispered Jacquelin, as Mariette passe the carriole

"Mariette, what provisions have you in the house?" asked Mademoisell Cormon, sitting down on the bench in the long antechamber like a perso overcome with fatigue

"I haven't anything," replied Mariette, with her hands on her hips "Mademoiselle knows very well that during her absence Monsieur l'abb dines out every day. Yesterday I went to fetch him from Mademoisell Armande's.

"Where is he now?

"Monsieur l'abbe? Why, at church; he won't be in before three o'clock.

"He thinks of nothing! he ought to have told you to go to market Mariette, go at once; and without wasting money, don't spare it; get al there is that is good and delicate. Go to the diligence office and se if you can send for pates; and I want shrimps from the Brillante. Wha o'clock is it?

"A quarter to nine.

"Good heavens! Mariette, don't stop to chatter. The person my uncl expects may arrive at any moment. If we had to give him breakfast, wher should we be with nothing in the house?

Mariette turned back to Penelope in a lather, and looked at Jacqueli as if she would say, "Mademoiselle has put her hand on a husband _this time.

"Now, Josette," continued the old maid, "let us see where we had bette put Monsieur de Troisville to sleep.

With what joy she said the words, "Put Monsieur de Troisville (pronounced Treville) "to sleep." How many ideas in those few words! Th old maid was bathed in hope

"Will you put him in the green chamber?

"The bishop's room? No; that's too near mine," said Mademoiselle Cormon "All very well for monseigneur; he's a saintly man.

"Give him your uncle's room.

"Oh, that's so bare; it is actually indecent.

"Well, then, mademoiselle, why not arrange a bed in your boudoir? It i easily done; and there's a fire-place. Moreau can certainly find in hi warerooms a bed to match the hangings.

"You are right, Josette. Go yourself to Moreau; consult with him wha to do; I authorize you to get what is wanted. If the bed could be put u to-night without Monsieur de Troisville observing it (in case Monsieu de Troisville arrives while Moreau is here), I should like it. If Morea won't engage to do this, then I must put Monsieur de Troisville in th green room, although Monsieur de Troisville would be so very near t me.

Josette was departing when her mistress recalled her

"Stop! explain the matter to Jacquelin," she cried, in a loud nervou tone. "Tell _him_ to go to Moreau; I must be dressed! Fancy if Monsieu de Troisville surprised me as I am now! and my uncle not here to receiv him! Oh, uncle, uncle! Come, Josette; come and dress me at once.

"But Penelope?" said Josette, imprudently

"Always Penelope! Penelope this, Penelope that! Is Penelope the mistres of this house?

"But she is all of a lather, and she hasn't had time to eat her oats.

"Then let her starve!" cried Mademoiselle Cormon; "provided I marry, she thought to herself

Hearing these words, which seemed to her like homicide, Josette stoo still for a moment, speechless. Then, at a gesture from her mistress she ran headlong down the steps of the portico

"The devil is in her, Jacquelin," were the first words she uttered

Thus all things conspired on this fateful day to produce the grea scenic effect which decided the future life of Mademoiselle Cormon The town was already topsy-turvy in mind, as a consequence of the fiv extraordinary circumstances which accompanied Mademoiselle Cormon' return; to wit, the pouring rain; Penelope at a gallop, in a lather, an blown; the early hour; the parcels half-packed; and the singular air o the excited old maid. But when Mariette made an invasion of the market and bought all the best things; when Jacquelin went to the principa upholsterer in Alencon, two doors from the church, in search of bed,--there was matter for the gravest conjectures. These extraordinar events were discussed on all sides; they occupied the minds of ever one, even Mademoiselle Armande herself, with whom was Monsieur d Valois. Within two days the town of Alencon had been agitated by suc startling events that certain good women were heard to remark that th world was coming to an end. This last news, however, resolved itsel into a single question, "What is happening at the Cormons?

The Abbe de Sponde, adroitly questioned when he left Saint-Leonard' to take his daily walk with the Abbe Couturier, replied with his usua kindliness that he expected the Vicomte de Troisville, a nobleman in th service of Russia during the Emigration, who was returning to Alenco to settle there. From two to five o'clock a species of labial telegraph went on throughout the town; and all the inhabitants learned tha Mademoiselle Cormon had at last found a husband by letter, and was abou to marry the Vicomte de Troisville. Some said, "Moreau has sold them bed." The bed was six feet wide in that quarter; it was four feet wid at Madame Granson's, in the rue du Bercail; but it was reduced to simple couch at Monsieur du Ronceret's, where du Bousquier was dining The lesser bourgeoisie declared that the cost was eleven hundred francs But generally it was thought that, as to this, rumor was counting th chickens before they were hatched. In other quarters it was said tha Mariette had made such a raid on the market that the price of carp ha risen. At the end of the rue Saint-Blaise, Penelope had dropped dead This decease was doubted in the house of the receiver-general; but a the Prefecture it was authenticated that the poor beast had expired a she turned into the courtyard of the hotel Cormon, with such velocit had the old maid flown to meet her husband. The harness-maker, who live at the corner of the rue de Seez, was bold enough to call at the hous and ask if anything had happened to Mademoiselle Cormon's carriage, i order to discover whether Penelope was really dead. From the end o the rue Saint-Blaise to the end of the rue du Bercail, it was then mad known that, thanks to Jacquelin's devotion, Penelope, that silent victi of her mistress's impetuosity, still lived, though she seemed to b suffering

Along the road to Brittany the Vicomte de Troisville was stated to be younger son without a penny, for the estates in Perche belonged to th Marquis de Troisville, peer of France, who had children; the marriag would be, therefore, an enormous piece of luck for a poor emigre. Th aristocracy along that road approved of the marriage; Mademoisell Cormon could not do better with her money. But among the Bourgeoisie the Vicomte de Troisville was a Russian general who had fought agains France, and was now returning with a great fortune made at the court o Saint-Petersburg; he was a _foreigner_; one of those _allies_ so hate by the liberals; the Abbe de Sponde had slyly negotiated this marriage All the persons who had a right to call upon Mademoiselle Cormo determined to do so that very evening

During this transurban excitement, which made that of Suzanne almos a forgotten affair, Mademoiselle was not less agitated; she was fille with a variety of novel emotions. Looking about her salon, dining-room and boudoir, cruel apprehensions took possession of her. A species o demon showed her with a sneer her old-fashioned luxury. The handsom things she had admired from her youth up she suddenly suspected of ag and absurdity. In short, she felt that fear which takes possession o nearly all authors when they read over a work they have hitherto though proof against every exacting or blase critic: new situations see timeworn; the best-turned and most highly polished phrases limp an squint; metaphors and images grin or contradict each other; whatsoeve is false strikes the eye. In like manner this poor woman trembled les she should see on the lips of Monsieur de Troisville a smile of contemp for this episcopal salon; she dreaded the cold look he might cast ove that ancient dining-room; in short, she feared the frame might injur and age the portrait. Suppose these antiquities should cast a reflecte light of old age upon herself? This question made her flesh creep. Sh would gladly, at that moment, spend half her savings on refitting he house if some fairy wand could do it in a moment. Where is the genera who has not trembled on the eve of a battle? The poor woman was no between her Austerlitz and her Waterloo

"Madame la Vicomtesse de Troisville," she said to herself; "a nobl name! Our property will go to a good family, at any rate.

She fell a prey to an irritation which made every fibre of her nerve quiver to all their papillae, long sunk in flesh. Her blood, lashe by this new hope, was in motion. She felt the strength to converse, i necessary, with Monsieur de Troisville

It is useless to relate the activity with which Josette, Jacquelin Mariette, Moreau, and his agents went about their functions. It was lik the busyness of ants about their eggs. All that daily care had alread rendered neat and clean was again gone over and brushed and rubbed an scrubbed. The china of ceremony saw the light; the damask linen marke "A, B, C" was drawn from depths where it lay under a triple guard o wrappings, still further defended by formidable lines of pins. Abov all, Mademoiselle Cormon sacrificed on the altar of her hopes thre bottles of the famous liqueurs of Madame Amphoux, the most illustriou of all the distillers of the tropics,--a name very dear to gourmets Thanks to the devotion of her lieutenants, mademoiselle was soon read for the conflict. The different weapons--furniture, cookery, provisions in short, all the various munitions of war, together with a body o reserve forces--were ready along the whole line. Jacquelin, Mariette and Josette received orders to appear in full dress. The garden wa raked. The old maid regretted that she couldn't come to an understandin with the nightingales nesting in the trees, in order to obtain thei finest trilling

At last, about four o'clock, at the very moment when the Abbe de Spond returned home, and just as mademoiselle began to think she had set th table with the best plate and linen and prepared the choicest dishes t no purpose, the click-clack of a postilion was heard in the Val-Noble

"'Tis he!" she said to herself, the snap of the whip echoing in he heart

True enough; heralded by all this gossip, a post-chaise, in which wa a single gentleman, made so great a sensation coming down the ru Saint-Blaise and turning into the rue du Cours that several littl gamains and some grown persons followed it, and stood in groups abou the gate of the hotel Cormon to see it enter. Jacquelin, who foresaw hi own marriage in that of his mistress, had also heard the click-clack i the rue Saint-Blaise, and had opened wide the gates into the courtyard The postilion, a friend of his, took pride in making a fine turn-in, an drew up sharply before the portico. The abbe came forward to greet hi guest, whose carriage was emptied with a speed that highwaymen might pu into the operation; the chaise itself was rolled into the coach-house the gates closed, and in a few moments all signs of Monsieur d Troisville's arrival had disappeared. Never did two chemicals blen into each other with greater rapidity than the hotel Cormon displayed i absorbing the Vicomte de Troisville

Mademoiselle, whose heart was beating like a lizard caught by herdsman, sat heroically still on her sofa, beside the fire in th salon. Josette opened the door; and the Vicomte de Troisville, followe by the Abbe de Sponde, presented himself to the eyes of the spinster

"Niece, this is Monsieur le Vicomte de Troisville, the grandson of on of my old schoolmates; Monsieur de Troisville, my niece, Mademoisell Cormon.

"Ah! that good uncle; how well he does it!" thought Rose-Marie-Victoire

The Vicomte de Troisville was, to paint him in two words, du Bousquie ennobled. Between the two men there was precisely the difference whic separates the vulgar style from the noble style. If they had both bee present, the most fanatic liberal would not have denied the existenc of aristocracy. The viscount's strength had all the distinction o elegance; his figure had preserved its magnificent dignity. He had blu eyes, black hair, an olive skin, and looked to be about forty-six year of age. You might have thought him a handsome Spaniard preserved i the ice of Russia. His manner, carriage, and attitude, all denote a diplomat who had seen Europe. His dress was that of a well-bre traveller. As he seemed fatigued, the abbe offered to show him to hi room, and was much amazed when his niece threw open the door of th boudoir, transformed into a bedroom

Mademoiselle Cormon and her uncle then left the noble stranger to atten to his own affairs, aided by Jacquelin, who brought up his luggage, an went themselves to walk beside the river until their guest had mad his toilet. Although the Abbe de Sponde chanced to be even mor absent-minded than usual, Mademoiselle Cormon was not less preoccupied They both walked on in silence. The old maid had never before met an man as seductive as this Olympean viscount. She might have said t herself, as the Germans do, "This is my ideal!" instead of which sh felt herself bound from head to foot, and could only say, "Here's m affair!" Then she flew to Mariette to know if the dinner could be pu back a while without loss of excellence

"Uncle, your Monsieur de Troisville is very amiable," she said, o returning

"Why, niece, he hasn't as yet said a word.

"But you can see it in his ways, his manners, his face. Is he bachelor?

"I'm sure I don't know," replied the abbe, who was thinking of discussion on mercy, lately begun between the Abbe Couturier an himself. "Monsieur de Troisville wrote me that he wanted to buy a hous here. If he was married, he wouldn't come alone on such an errand, added the abbe, carelessly, not conceiving the idea that his niece coul be thinking of marriage

"Is he rich?

"He is a younger son of the younger branch," replied her uncle. "Hi grandfather commanded a squadron, but the father of this young man mad a bad marriage.

"Young man!" exclaimed the old maid. "It seems to me, uncle, that h must be at least forty-five." She felt the strongest desire to put thei years on a par

"Yes," said the abbe; "but to a poor priest of seventy, Rose, a man o forty seems a youth.

All Alencon knew by this time that Monsieur de Troisville had arrived a the Cormons. The traveller soon rejoined his hosts, and began to admir the Brillante, the garden, and the house

"Monsieur l'abbe," he said, "my whole ambition is to have a house lik this." The old maid fancied a declaration lurked in that speech, and sh lowered her eyes. "You must enjoy it very much, mademoiselle," added th viscount

"How could it be otherwise? It has been in our family since 1574, th period at which one of our ancestors, steward to the Duc d'Alencon acquired the land and built the house," replied Mademoiselle Cormon. "I is built on piles," she added

Jacquelin announced dinner. Monsieur de Troisville offered his arm t the happy woman, who endeavored not to lean too heavily upon it; sh feared, as usual, to seem to make advances

"Everything is so harmonious here," said the viscount, as he seate himself at table

"Yes, our trees are full of birds, which give us concerts for nothing no one ever frightens them; and the nightingales sing at night," sai Mademoiselle Cormon

"I was speaking of the interior of the house," remarked the viscount who did not trouble himself to observe Mademoiselle Cormon, an therefore did not perceive the dulness of her mind. "Everything is so i keeping,--the tones of color, the furniture, the general character.

"But it costs a great deal; taxes are enormous," responded the excellen woman

"Ah! taxes are high, are they?" said the viscount, preoccupied with hi own ideas

"I don't know," replied the abbe. "My niece manages the property of eac of us.

"Taxes are not of much importance to the rich," said Mademoisell Cormon, not wishing to be thought miserly. "As for the furniture, shall leave it as it is, and change nothing,--unless I marry; and then of course, everything here must suit the husband.

"You have noble principles, mademoiselle," said the viscount, smiling "You will make one happy man.

"No one ever made to me such a pretty speech," thought the old maid

The viscount complimented Mademoiselle Cormon on the excellence of he service and the admirable arrangements of the house, remarking that h had supposed the provinces behind the age in that respect; but, on th contrary, he found them, as the English say, "very comfortable.

"What can that word mean?" she thought. "Oh, where is the chevalier t explain it to me? 'Comfortable,'--there seem to be several words in it Well, courage!" she said to herself. "I can't be expected to answer foreign language--But," she continued aloud, feeling her tongue untie by the eloquence which nearly all human creatures find in momentou circumstances, "we have a very brilliant society here, monsieur. I assembles at my house, and you shall judge of it this evening, fo some of my faithful friends have no doubt heard of my return and you arrival. Among them is the Chevalier de Valois, a seigneur of th old court, a man of infinite wit and taste; then there is Monsieur l Marquis d'Esgrignon and Mademoiselle Armande, his sister" (she bit he tongue with vexation),--"a woman remarkable in her way," she added. "Sh resolved to remain unmarried in order to leave all her fortune to he brother and nephew.

"Ah!" exclaimed the viscount. "Yes, the d'Esgrignons,--I remember them.

"Alencon is very gay," continued the old maid, now fairly launched "There's much amusement: the receiver-general gives balls; the prefec is an amiable man; and Monseigneur the bishop sometimes honors us with visit--

"Well, then," said the viscount, smiling, "I have done wisely to com back, like the hare, to die in my form.

"Yes," she said. "I, too, attach myself or I die.

The viscount smiled

"Ah!" thought the old maid, "all is well; he understands me.

The conversation continued on generalities. By one of those mysteriou unknown and undefinable faculties, Mademoiselle Cormon found in he brain, under the pressure of her desire to be agreeable, all the phrase and opinions of the Chevalier de Valois. It was like a duel in which th devil himself pointed the pistol. Never was any adversary better aime at. The viscount was far too well-bred to speak of the excellence o the dinner; but his silence was praise. As he drank the delicious wine which Jacquelin served to him profusely, he seemed to feel he was wit friends, and to meet them with pleasure; for the true connoisseur doe not applaud, he enjoys. He inquired the price of land, of houses, o estates; he made Mademoiselle Cormon describe at length the confluenc of the Sarthe and the Brillante; he expressed surprise that the town wa placed so far from the river, and seemed to be much interested in th topography of the place

The silent abbe left his niece to throw the dice of conversation; an she truly felt that she pleased Monsieur de Troisville, who smiled a her gracefully, and committed himself during this dinner far more tha her most eager suitors had ever done in ten days. Imagine, therefore the little attentions with which he was petted; you might have though him a cherished lover, whose return brought joy to the household Mademoiselle foresaw the moment when the viscount wanted bread; sh watched his every look; when he turned his head she adroitly put upo his plate a portion of some dish he seemed to like; had he been gourmand, she would almost have killed him; but what a delightfu specimen of the attentions she would show to a husband! She did no commit the folly of depreciating herself; on the contrary, she set ever sail bravely, ran up all her flags, assumed the bearing of the queen o Alencon, and boasted of her excellent preserves. In fact, she fishe for compliments in speaking of herself, for she saw that she pleased th viscount; the truth being that her eager desire had so transformed he that she became almost a woman

At dessert she heard, not without emotions of delight, certain sounds i the antechamber and salon which denoted the arrival of her usual guests She called the attention of her uncle and Monsieur de Troisville to thi prompt attendance as a proof of the affection that was felt for her whereas it was really the result of the poignant curiosity which ha seized upon the town. Impatient to show herself in all her glory Mademoiselle Cormon told Jacquelin to serve coffee and liqueurs i the salon, where he presently set out, in view of the whole company a magnificent liqueur-stand of Dresden china which saw the light onl twice a year. This circumstance was taken note of by the company standing ready to gossip over the merest trifle:-

"The deuce!" muttered du Bousquier. "Actually Madame Amphoux's liqueurs which they only serve at the four church festivals!

"Undoubtedly the marriage was arranged a year ago by letter," sai the chief-justice du Ronceret. "The postmaster tells me his office ha received letters postmarked Odessa for more than a year.

Madame Granson trembled. The Chevalier de Valois, though he had dine with the appetite of four men, turned pale even to the left sectio of his face. Feeling that he was about to betray himself, he sai hastily,-

"Don't you think it is very cold to-day? I am almost frozen.

"The neighborhood of Russia, perhaps," said du Bousquier

The chevalier looked at him as if to say, "Well played!

Mademoiselle Cormon appeared so radiant, so triumphant, that the compan thought her handsome. This extraordinary brilliancy was not the effec of sentiment only. Since early morning her blood had been whirlin tempestuously within her, and her nerves were agitated by th presentiment of some great crisis. It required all these circumstance combined to make her so unlike herself. With what joy did she now mak her solemn presentation of the viscount to the chevalier, the chevalie to the viscount, and all Alencon to Monsieur de Troisville, and Monsieu de Troisville to all Alencon

By an accident wholly explainable, the viscount and chevalier aristocrats by nature, came instantly into unison; they recognized eac other at once as men belonging to the same sphere. Accordingly, the began to converse together, standing before the fireplace. A circl formed around them; and their conversation, though uttered in a lo voice, was listened to in religious silence. To give the effect o this scene it is necessary to dramatize it, and to picture Mademoisell Cormon occupied in pouring out the coffee of her imaginary suitor, wit her back to the fireplace

Monsieur de Valois. "Monsieur le vicomte has come, I am told, to settl in Alencon?

Monsieur de Troisville. "Yes, monsieur, I am looking for a house. [Mademoiselle Cormon, cup in hand, turns round.] "It must be a larg house" [Mademoiselle Cormon offers him the cup] "to lodge my whol family." [The eyes of the old maid are troubled.

Monsieur de Valois. "Are you married?

Monsieur de Troisville. "Yes, for the last sixteen years, to a daughte of the Princess Scherbellof.

Mademoiselle Cormon fainted; du Bousquier, who saw her stagger, spran forward and received her in his arms; some one opened the door an allowed him to pass out with his enormous burden. The fiery republican instructed by Josette, found strength to carry the old maid to he bedroom, where he laid her out on the bed. Josette, armed with scissors cut the corset, which was terribly tight. Du Bousquier flung water o Mademoiselle Cormon's face and bosom, which, released from the corset overflowed like the Loire in flood. The poor woman opened her eyes saw du Bousquier, and gave a cry of modesty at the sight of him. D Bousquier retired at once, leaving six women, at the head of whom wa Madame Granson, radiant with joy, to take care of the invalid

What had the Chevalier de Valois been about all this time? Faithful t his system, he had covered the retreat

"That poor Mademoiselle Cormon," he said to Monsieur de Troisville gazing at the assembly, whose laughter was repressed by his coo aristocratic glances, "her blood is horribly out of order; she wouldn' be bled before going to Prebaudet (her estate),--and see the result!

"She came back this morning in the rain," said the Abbe de Sponde, "an she may have taken cold. It won't be anything; it is only a little upse she is subject to.

"She told me yesterday she had not had one for three months, adding tha she was afraid it would play her a trick at last," said the chevalier

"Ha! so you are married?" said Jacquelin to himself as he looked a Monsieur de Troisville, who was quietly sipping his coffee

The faithful servant espoused his mistress's disappointment; he divine it, and he promptly carried away the liqueurs of Madame Amphoux, whic were offered to a bachelor, and not to the husband of a Russian woman

All these details were noticed and laughed at. The Abbe de Sponde kne the object of Monsieur de Troisville's journey; but, absent-minde as usual, he forgot it, not supposing that his niece could have th slightest interest in Monsieur de Troisville's marriage. As for th viscount, preoccupied with the object of his journey, and, like man husbands, not eager to talk about his wife, he had had no occasio to say he was married; besides, he would naturally suppose tha Mademoiselle Cormon knew it

Du Bousquier reappeared, and was questioned furiously. One of the si women came down soon after, and announced that Mademoiselle Cormon wa much better, and that the doctor had come. She intended to stay in bed as it was necessary to bleed her. The salon was now full. Mademoisell Cormon's absence allowed the ladies present to discuss the tragi-comi scene--embellished, extended, historified, embroidered, wreathed colored, and adorned--which had just taken place, and which, on th morrow, was destined to occupy all Alencon

"That good Monsieur du Bousquier! how well he carried you!" said Josett to her mistress. "He was really pale at the sight of you; he loves yo still.

That speech served as closure to this solemn and terrible evening

Throughout the morning of the next day every circumstance of the lat comedy was known in the household of Alencon, and--let us say it to th shame of that town,--they caused inextinguishable laughter. But on tha day Mademoiselle Cormon (much benefited by the bleeding) would hav seemed sublime even to the boldest scoffers, had they witnessed th noble dignity, the splendid Christian resignation which influenced he as she gave her arm to her involuntary deceiver to go into breakfast Cruel jesters! why could you not have seen her as she said to th viscount,-

"Madame de Troisville will have difficulty in finding a suitable house do me the favor, monsieur, of accepting the use of mine during the tim you are in search of yours.

"But, mademoiselle, I have two sons and two daughters; we should greatl inconvenience you.

"Pray do not refuse me," she said earnestly

"I made you the same offer in the answer I wrote to your letter," sai the abbe; "but you did not receive it.

"What, uncle! then you knew--

The poor woman stopped. Josette sighed. Neither the viscount nor th abbe observed anything amiss. After breakfast the Abbe de Sponde carrie off his guest, as agreed upon the previous evening, to show him th various houses in Alencon which could be bought, and the lots of land on which he might build

Left alone in the salon, Mademoiselle Cormon said to Josette, with deeply distressed air, "My child, I am now the talk of the whole town.

"Well, then, mademoiselle, you should marry.

"But I am not prepared to make a choice.

"Bah! if I were in your place, I should take Monsieur du Bousquier.

"Josette, Monsieur de Valois says he is so republican.

"They don't know what they say, your gentlemen: sometimes they declar that he robbed the republic; he couldn't love it if he did that," sai Josette, departing

"That girl has an amazing amount of sense," thought Mademoiselle Cormon who remained alone, a prey to her perplexities

She saw plainly that a prompt marriage was the only way to silence th town. This last checkmate, so evidently mortifying, was of a nature t drive her into some extreme action; for persons deficient in mind fin difficulty in getting out of any path, either good or evil, into whic they have entered

Each of the two old bachelors had fully understood the situation i which Mademoiselle Cormon was about to find herself; consequently, eac resolved to call in the course of that morning to ask after her health and take occasion, in bachelor language, to "press his point." Monsieu de Valois considered that such an occasion demanded a painstakin toilet; he therefore took a bath and groomed himself with extraordinar care. For the first and last time Cesarine observed him putting on wit incredible art a suspicion of rouge. Du Bousquier, on the other hand that coarse republican, spurred by a brisk will, paid no attention t his dress, and arrived the first

Such little things decide the fortunes of men, as they do of empires Kellerman's charge at Marengo, Blucher's arrival at Waterloo, Loui XIV.'s disdain for Prince Eugene, the rector of Denain,--all these grea causes of fortune or catastrophe history has recorded; but no on ever profits by them to avoid the small neglects of their own life Consequently, observe what happens: the Duchesse de Langeais (se "History of the Thirteen") makes herself a nun for the lack of te minutes' patience; Judge Popinot (see "Commission in Lunacy") puts of till the morrow the duty of examining the Marquis d'Espard; Charle Grandet (see "Eugenie Grandet") goes to Paris from Bordeaux instead o returning by Nantes; and such events are called chance or fatality! touch of rouge carefully applied destroyed the hopes of the Chevalier d Valois; could that nobleman perish in any other way? He had lived by th Graces, and he was doomed to die by their hand. While the chevalier wa giving this last touch to his toilet the rough du Bousquier was enterin the salon of the desolate old maid. This entrance produced a though in Mademoiselle Cormon's mind which was favorable to the republican although in all other respects the Chevalier de Valois held th advantages

"God wills it!" she said piously, on seeing du Bousquier

"Mademoiselle, you will not, I trust, think my eagerness importunate. could not trust to my stupid Rene to bring news of your condition, an therefore I have come myself.

"I am perfectly recovered," she replied, in a tone of emotion. "I than you, Monsieur du Bousquier," she added, after a slight pause, and in significant tone of voice, "for the trouble you have taken, and for tha which I gave you yesterday--

She remembered having been in his arms, and that again seemed to her a order from heaven. She had been seen for the first time by a man wit her laces cut, her treasures violently bursting from their casket

"I carried you with such joy that you seemed to me light.

Here Mademoiselle Cormon looked at du Bousquier as she had never ye looked at any man in the world. Thus encouraged, the purveyor cast upo the old maid a glance which reached her heart

"I would," he said, "that that moment had given me the right to kee you as mine forever" [she listened with a delighted air]; "as you la fainting upon that bed, you were enchanting. I have never in my lif seen a more beautiful person,--and I have seen many handsome women Plump ladies have this advantage: they are superb to look upon; the have only to show themselves and they triumph.

"I fear you are making fun of me," said the old maid, "and that is no kind when all the town will probably misinterpret what happened to m yesterday.

"As true as my name is du Bousquier, mademoiselle, I have never change in my feelings toward you; and your first refusal has not discourage me.

The old maid's eyes were lowered. There was a moment of cruel silenc for du Bousquier, and then Mademoiselle Cormon decided on her course She raised her eyelids; tears flowed from her eyes, and she gave d Bousquier a tender glance

"If that is so, monsieur," she said, in a trembling voice, "promise m to live in a Christian manner, and not oppose my religious customs, bu to leave me the right to select my confessors, and I will grant you m hand"; as she said the words, she held it out to him

Du Bousquier seized the good fat hand so full of money, and kissed i solemnly

"But," she said, allowing him to kiss it, "one thing more I must requir of you.

"If it is a possible thing, it is granted," replied the purveyor

"Alas!" returned the old maid. "For my sake, I must ask you to take upo yourself a sin which I feel to be enormous,--for to lie is one of th capital sins. But you will confess it, will you not? We will do penanc for it together" [they looked at each other tenderly]. "Besides, it ma be one of those lies which the Church permits as necessary--

"Can she be as Suzanne says she is?" thought du Bousquier. "What luck Well, mademoiselle, what is it?" he said aloud

"That you will take upon yourself to--

"What?

"To say that this marriage has been agreed upon between us for the las six months.

"Charming woman," said the purveyor, in the tone of a man willing t devote himself, "such sacrifices can be made only for a creature adore these ten years.

"In spite of my harshness?" she said

"Yes, in spite of your harshness.

"Monsieur du Bousquier, I have misjudged you.

Again she held out the fat red hand, which du Bousquier kissed again

At this moment the door opened; the betrothed pair, looking round to se who entered, beheld the delightful, but tardy Chevalier de Valois

"Ah!" he said, on entering, "I see you are about to be up, fair queen.

She smiled at the chevalier, feeling a weight upon her heart. Monsieu de Valois, remarkably young and seductive, had the air of a Lauzu re-entering the apartments of the Grande Mademoiselle in th Palais-Royal

"Hey! dear du Bousquier," said he, in a jaunty tone, so sure was he o success, "Monsieur de Troisville and the Abbe de Sponde are examinin your house like appraisers.

"Faith!" said du Bousquier, "if the Vicomte de Troisville wants it it it is his for forty thousand francs. It is useless to me now. I mademoiselle will permit--it must soon be known--Mademoiselle, may tell it?--Yes! Well, then, be the first, _my dear Chevalier_, to hear [Mademoiselle Cormon dropped her eyes] "of the honor that mademoisell has done me, the secret of which I have kept for some months. We shal be married in a few days; the contract is already drawn, and we shal sign it to-morrow. You see, therefore, that my house in the rue du Cygn is useless to me. I have been privately looking for a purchaser for som time; and the Abbe de Sponde, who knew that fact, has naturally take Monsieur de Troisville to see the house.

This falsehood bore such an appearance of truth that the chevalier wa taken in by it. That "my dear chevalier" was like the revenge taken b Peter the Great on Charles XII. at Pultawa for all his past defeats. D Bousquier revenged himself deliciously for the thousand little shafts h had long borne in silence; but in his triumph he made a livel youthful gesture by running his hands through his hair, and in so doin he--knocked aside his false front

"I congratulate you both," said the chevalier, with an agreeable air "and I wish that the marriage may end like a fairy tale: _They wer happy ever after, and had--many--children_!" So saying, he took a pinc of snuff. "But, monsieur," he added satirically, "you forget--that yo are wearing a false front.

Du Bousquier blushed. The false front was hanging half a dozen inche from his skull. Mademoiselle Cormon raised her eyes, saw that skull i all its nudity, and lowered them, abashed. Du Bousquier cast upon th chevalier the most venomous look that toad ever darted on its prey

"Dogs of aristocrats who despise me," thought he, "I'll crush you som day.

The chevalier thought he had recovered his advantage. But Mademoisell Cormon was not a woman to understand the connection which the chevalie intimated between his congratulatory wish and the false front. Besides even if she had comprehended it, her word was passed, her hand given Monsieur de Valois saw at once that all was lost. The innocent woman with the two now silent men before her, wished, true to her sense o duty, to amuse them

"Why not play a game of piquet together?" she said artlessly, withou the slightest malice

Du Bousquier smiled, and went, as the future master of the house, t fetch the piquet table. Whether the Chevalier de Valois lost his head or whether he wanted to stay and study the causes of his disaster an remedy it, certain it is that he allowed himself to be led like a lam to the slaughter. He had received the most violent knock-down blow tha ever struck a man; any nobleman would have lost his senses for less

The Abbe de Sponde and the Vicomte de Troisville soon returned Mademoiselle Cormon instantly rose, hurried into the antechamber, an took her uncle apart to tell him her resolution. Learning that the hous in the rue du Cygne exactly suited the viscount, she begged her futur husband to do her the kindness to tell him that her uncle knew i was for sale. She dared not confide that lie to the abbe, fearing hi absent-mindedness. The lie, however, prospered better than if it ha been a virtuous action. In the course of that evening all Alencon hear the news. For the last four days the town had had as much to think o as during the fatal days of 1814 and 1815. Some laughed; others admitte the marriage. These blamed it; those approved it. The middle classe of Alencon rejoiced; they regarded it as a victory. The next day, amon friends, the Chevalier de Valois said a cruel thing:-

"The Cormons end as they began; there's only a hand's breadth between steward and a purveyor.