Chapter VI

by Emile Zola

　　Count Muffat, accompanied by his wife and daughter, had arrivedovernight at Les Fondettes, where Mme Hugon, who was staying therewith only her son Georges, had invited them to come and spend aweek. The house, which had been built at the end of the eighteenthcentury, stood in the middle of a huge square enclosure. It wasperfectly unadorned, but the garden possessed magnificent shadytrees and a chain of tanks fed by running spring water. It stood atthe side of the road which leads from Orleans to Paris and with itsrich verdure and high-embowered trees broke the monotony of thatflat countryside, where fields stretched to the horizon's verge.At eleven o'clock, when the second lunch bell had called the wholehousehold together, Mme Hugon, smiling in her kindly maternal way,gave Sabine two great kisses, one on each cheek, and said as she didso:"You know it's my custom in the country. Oh, seeing you here makesme feel twenty years younger. Did you sleep well in your old room?"Then without waiting for her reply she turned to Estelle:"And this little one, has she had a nap too? Give me a kiss, mychild."They had taken their seats in the vast dining room, the windows ofwhich looked out on the park. But they only occupied one end of thelong table, where they sat somewhat crowded together for company'ssake. Sabine, in high good spirits, dwelt on various childishmemories which had been stirred up within her--memories of monthspassed at Les Fondettes, of long walks, of a tumble into one of thetanks on a summer evening, of an old romance of chivalry discoveredby her on the top of a cupboard and read during the winter beforefires made of vine branches. And Georges, who had not seen thecountess for some months, thought there was something curious abouther. Her face seemed changed, somehow, while, on the other hand,that stick of an Estelle seemed more insignificant and dumb andawkward than ever.While such simple fare as cutlets and boiled eggs was beingdiscussed by the company, Mme Hugon, as became a good housekeeper,launched out into complaints. The butchers, she said, were becomingimpossible. She bought everything at Orleans, and yet they neverbrought her the pieces she asked for. Yet, alas, if her guests hadnothing worth eating it was their own fault: they had come too latein the season."There's no sense in it," she said. "I've been expecting you sinceJune, and now we're half through September. You see, it doesn'tlook pretty."And with a movement she pointed to the trees on the grass outside,the leaves of which were beginning to turn yellow. The day wascovered, and the distance was hidden by a bluish haze which wasfraught with a sweet and melancholy peacefulness."Oh, I'm expecting company," she continued. "We shall be gayerthen! The first to come will be two gentlemen whom Georges hasinvited--Monsieur Fauchery and Monsieur Daguenet; you know them, doyou not? Then we shall have Monsieur de Vandeuvres, who haspromised me a visit these five years past. This time, perhaps,he'll make up his mind!""Oh, well and good!" said the countess, laughing. "If we only canget Monsieur de Vandeuvres! But he's too much engaged.""And Philippe?" queried Muffat."Philippe has asked for a furlough," replied the old lady, "butwithout doubt you won't be at Les Fondettes any longer when hearrives."The coffee was served. Paris was now the subject of conversation,and Steiner's name was mentioned, at which Mme Hugon gave a littlecry."Let me see," she said; "Monsieur Steiner is that stout man I met atyour house one evening. He's a banker, is he not? Now there's adetestable man for you! Why, he's gone and bought an actress anestate about a league from here, over Gumieres way, beyond theChoue. The whole countryside's scandalized. Did you know aboutthat, my friend?""I knew nothing about it," replied Muffat. "Ah, then, Steiner'sbought a country place in the neighborhood!"Hearing his mother broach the subject, Georges looked into hiscoffee cup, but in his astonishment at the count's answer he glancedup at him and stared. Why was he lying so glibly? The count, onhis side, noticed the young fellow's movement and gave him asuspicious glance. Mme Hugon continued to go into details: thecountry place was called La Mignotte. In order to get there one hadto go up the bank of the Choue as far as Gumieres in order to crossthe bridge; otherwise one got one's feet wet and ran the risk of aducking."And what is the actress's name?" asked the countess."Oh, I wasn't told," murmured the old lady. "Georges, you werethere the morning the gardener spoke to us about it."Georges appeared to rack his brains. Muffat waited, twirling ateaspoon between his fingers. Then the countess addressed herhusband:"Isn't Monsieur Steiner with that singer at the Varietes, thatNana?""Nana, that's the name! A horrible woman!" cried Mme Hugon withgrowing annoyance. "And they are expecting her at La Mignotte.I've heard all about it from the gardener. Didn't the gardener saythey were expecting her this evening, Georges?"The count gave a little start of astonishment, but Georges repliedwith much vivacity:"Oh, Mother, the gardener spoke without knowing anything about it.Directly afterward the coachman said just the opposite. Nobody'sexpected at La Mignotte before the day after tomorrow."He tried hard to assume a natural expression while he slyly watchedthe effect of his remarks on the count. The latter was twirling hisspoon again as though reassured. The countess, her eyes fixeddreamily on the blue distances of the park, seemed to have lost allinterest in the conversation. The shadow of a smile on her lips,she seemed to be following up a secret thought which had beensuddenly awakened within her. Estelle, on the other hand, sittingstiffly on her chair, had heard all that had been said about Nana,but her white, virginal face had not betrayed a trace of emotion."Dear me, dear me! I've got no right to grow angry," murmured MmeHugon after a pause, and with a return to her old good humor sheadded:"Everybody's got a right to live. If we meet this said lady on theroad we shall not bow to her--that's all!"And as they got up from table she once more gently upbraided theCountess Sabine for having been so long in coming to her that year.But the countess defended herself and threw the blame of the delaysupon her husband's shoulders. Twice on the eve of departure, whenall the trunks were locked, he counterordered their journey on theplea of urgent business. Then he had suddenly decided to start justwhen the trip seemed shelved. Thereupon the old lady told them howGeorges in the same way had twice announced his arrival withoutarriving and had finally cropped up at Les Fondettes the day beforeyesterday, when she was no longer expecting him. They had come downinto the garden, and the two men, walking beside the ladies, werelistening to them in consequential silence."Never mind," said Mme Hugon, kissing her son's sunny locks, "Ziziis a very good boy to come and bury himself in the country with hismother. He's a dear Zizi not to forget me!"In the afternoon she expressed some anxiety, for Georges, directlyafter leaving the table, had complained of a heavy feeling in hishead and now seemed in for an atrocious sick headache. Toward fouro'clock he said he would go upstairs to bed: it was the only remedy.After sleeping till tomorrow morning he would be perfectly himselfagain. His mother was bent on putting him to bed herself, but asshe left the room he ran and locked the door, explaining that he wasshutting himself in so that no one should come and disturb him.Then caressingly he shouted, "Good night till tomorrow, littleMother!" and promised to take a nap. But he did not go to bed againand with flushed cheeks and bright eyes noiselessly put on hisclothes. Then he sat on a chair and waited. When the dinner bellrang he listened for Count Muffat, who was on his way to the diningroom, and ten minutes later, when he was certain that no one wouldsee him, he slipped from the window to the ground with theassistance of a rain pipe. His bedroom was situated on the firstfloor and looked out upon the rear of the house. He threw himselfamong some bushes and got out of the park and then galloped acrossthe fields with empty stomach and heart beating with excitement.Night was closing in, and a small fine rain was beginning to fall.It was the very evening that Nana was due at La Mignotte. Eversince in the preceding May Steiner had bought her this country placeshe had from time to time been so filled with the desire of takingpossession that she had wept hot tears about, but on each of theseoccasions Bordenave had refused to give her even the shortest leaveand had deferred her holiday till September on the plea that he didnot intend putting an understudy in her place, even for one evening,now that the exhibition was on. Toward the close of August he spokeof October. Nana was furious and declared that she would be at LaMignotte in the middle of September. Nay, in order to dareBordenave, she even invited a crowd of guests in his very presence.One afternoon in her rooms, as Muffat, whose advances she stilladroitly resisted, was beseeching her with tremulous emotion toyield to his entreaties, she at length promised to be kind, but notin Paris, and to him, too, she named the middle of September. Thenon the twelfth she was seized by a desire to be off forthwith withZoe as her sole companion. It might be that Bordenave had got windof her intentions and was about to discover some means of detainingher. She was delighted at the notion of putting him in a fix, andshe sent him a doctor's certificate. When once the idea had enteredher head of being the first to get to La Mignotte and of livingthere two days without anybody knowing anything about it, she rushedZoe through the operation of packing and finally pushed her into acab, where in a sudden burst of extreme contrition she kissed herand begged her pardon. It was only when they got to the stationrefreshment room that she thought of writing Steiner of hermovements. She begged him to wait till the day after tomorrowbefore rejoining her if he wanted to find her quite bright andfresh. And then, suddenly conceiving another project, she wrote asecond letter, in which she besought her aunt to bring little Louisto her at once. It would do Baby so much good! And how happy theywould be together in the shade of the trees! In the railwaycarriage between Paris and Orleans she spoke of nothing else; hereyes were full of tears; she had an unexpected attack of maternaltenderness and mingled together flowers, birds and child in herevery sentence.La Mignotte was more than three leagues away from the station, andNana lost a good hour over the hire of a carriage, a huge,dilapidated calash, which rumbled slowly along to an accompanimentof rattling old iron. She had at once taken possession of thecoachman, a little taciturn old man whom she overwhelmed withquestions. Had he often passed by La Mignotte? It was behind thishill then? There ought to be lots of trees there, eh? And thehouse could one see it at a distance? The little old man answeredwith a succession of grunts. Down in the calash Nana was almostdancing with impatience, while Zoe, in her annoyance at having leftParis in such a hurry, sat stiffly sulking beside her. The horsesuddenly stopped short, and the young woman thought they had reachedtheir destination. She put her head out of the carriage door andasked:"Are we there, eh?"By way of answer the driver whipped up his horse, which was in theact of painfully climbing a hill. Nana gazed ecstatically at thevast plain beneath the gray sky where great clouds were banked up."Oh, do look, Zoe! There's greenery! Now, is that all wheat? Goodlord, how pretty it is!""One can quite see that Madame doesn't come from the country," wasthe servant's prim and tardy rejoinder. "As for me, I knew thecountry only too well when I was with my dentist. He had a house atBougival. No, it's cold, too, this evening. It's damp in theseparts."They were driving under the shadow of a wood, and Nana sniffed upthe scent of the leaves as a young dog might. All of a sudden at aturn of the road she caught sight of the corner of a house among thetrees. Perhaps it was there! And with that she began aconversation with the driver, who continued shaking his head by wayof saying no. Then as they drove down the other side of the hill hecontented himself by holding out his whip and muttering, "'Tis downthere."She got up and stretched herself almost bodily out of the carriagedoor."Where is it? Where is it?" she cried with pale cheeks, but as yetshe saw nothing.At last she caught sight of a bit of wall. And then followed asuccession of little cries and jumps, the ecstatic behavior of awoman overcome by a new and vivid sensation."I see it! I see it, Zoe! Look out at the other side. Oh, there'sa terrace with brick ornaments on the roof! And there's a hothousedown there! But the place is immense. Oh, how happy I am! Dolook, Zoe! Now, do look!"The carriage had bthin a wall. Then the viewof the kitchen garden entirely engrossed her attention. She dartedback, jostling the lady's maid at the top of the stairs and burstingout:"It's full of cabbages! Oh, such woppers! And lettuces and sorreland onions and everything! Come along, make haste!"The rain was falling more heavily now, and she opened her white silksunshade and ran down the garden walks. "Madame will catch cold," cried Zoe, who had stayed quietly behindunder the awning over the garden door.But Madame wanted to see things, and at each new discovery there wasa burst of wonderment."Zoe, here's spinach! Do come. Oh, look at the artichokes! Theyare funny. So they grow in the ground, do they? Now, what can thatbe? I don't know it. Do come, Zoe, perhaps you know."The lady's maid never budged an inch. Madame must really be ravingmad. For now the rain was coming down in torrents, and the littlewhite silk sunshade was aly this time pulled up before the park gates. Aside door was opened, and the gardener, a tall, dry fellow, made hisappearance, cap in hand. Nana made an effort to regain her dignity,for the driver seemed now to be suppressing a laugh behind his dry,speechless lips. She refrained from setting off at a run andlistened to the gardener, who was a very talkative fellow. Hebegged Madame to excuse the disorder in which she found everything,seeing that he had only received Madame's letter that very morning.But despite all his efforts, she flew off at a tangent and walked soquickly that Zoe could scarcely follow her. At the end of theavenue she paused for a moment in order to take the house in at aglance. It was a great pavilionlike building in the Italian manner,and it was flanked by a smaller construction, which a richEnglishman, after two years' residence in Naples, had caused to beerected and had forthwith become disgusted with."I'll take Madame over the house," said the gardener.But she had outrun him entirely, and she shouted back that he wasnot to put himself out and that she would go over the house byherself. She preferred doing that, she said. And without removingher hat she dashed into the different rooms, calling to Zoe as shedid so, shouting her impressions from one end of each corridor tothe other and filling the empty house, which for long months hadbeen uninhabited, with exclamations and bursts of laughter. In thefirst place, there was the hall. It was a little damp, but thatdidn't matter; one wasn't going to sleep in it. Then came thedrawing room, quite the thing, the drawing room, with its windowsopening on the lawn. Only the red upholsteries there were hideous;she would alter all that. As to the dining room-well, it was alovely dining room, eh? What big blowouts you might give in Parisif you had a dining room as large as that! As she was goingupstairs to the first floor it occurred to her that she had not seenthe kitchen, and she went down again and indulged in ecstaticexclamations. Zoe ought to admire the beautiful dimensions of thesink and the width of the hearth, where you might have roasted asheep! When she had gone upstairs again her bedroom especiallyenchanted her. It had been hung with delicate rose-colored LouisXVI cretonne by an Orleans upholsterer. Dear me, yes! One ought tosleep jolly sound in such a room as that; why, it was a real bestbedroom! Then came four or five guest chambers and then somesplendid garrets, which would be extremely convenient for trunks andboxes. Zoe looked very gruff and cast a frigid glance into each ofthe rooms as she lingered in Madame's wake. She saw Nanadisappearing up the steep garret ladder and said, "Thanks, I haven'tthe least wish to break my legs." But the sound of a voice reachedher from far away; indeed, it seemed to come whistling down achimney."Zoe, Zoe, where are you? Come up, do! You've no idea! It's likefairyland!"Zoe went up, grumbling. On the roof she found her mistress leaningagainst the brickwork balustrade and gazing at the valley whichspread out into the silence. The horizon was immeasurably wide, butit was now covered by masses of gray vapor, and a fierce wind wasdriving fine rain before it. Nana had to hold her hat on with bothhands to keep it from being blown away while her petticoats streamedout behind her, flapping like a flag."Not if I know it!" said Zoe, drawing her head in at once. "Madamewill be blown away. What beastly weather!"Madame did not hear what she said. With her head over thebalustrade she was gazing at the grounds beneath. They consisted ofseven or eight acres of land enclosed wiready dark with it. Nor did it shelterMadame, whose skirts were wringing wet. But that didn't put her outin the smallest degree, and in the pouring rain she visited thekitchen garden and the orchard, stopping in front of every fruittree and bending over every bed of vegetables. Then she ran andlooked down the well and lifted up a frame to see what wasunderneath it and was lost in the contemplation of a huge pumpkin.She wanted to go along every single garden walk and to takeimmediate possession of all the things she had been wont to dream ofin the old days, when she was a slipshod work-girl on the Parispavements. The rain redoubled, but she never heeded it and was onlymiserable at the thought that the daylight was fading. She couldnot see clearly now and touched things with her fingers to find outwhat they were. Suddenly in the twilight she caught sight of a bedof strawberries, and all that was childish in her awoke."Strawberries! Strawberries! There are some here; I can feel them.A plate, Zoe! Come and pick strawberries."And dropping her sunshade, Nana crouched down in the mire under thefull force of the downpour. With drenched hands she began gatheringthe fruit among the leaves. But Zoe in the meantime brought noplate, and when the young woman rose to her feet again she wasfrightened. She thought she had seen a shadow close to her."It's some beast!" she screamed.But she stood rooted to the path in utter amazement. It was a man,and she recognized him."Gracious me, it's Baby! What are you doing there, baby?""'Gad, I've come--that's all!" replied Georges.Her head swam."You knew I'd come through the gardener telling you? Oh, that poorchild! Why, he's soaking!""Oh, I'll explain that to you! The rain caught me on my way here,and then, as I didn't wish to go upstream as far as Gumieres, Icrossed the Choue and fell into a blessed hole."Nana forgot the strawberries forthwith. She was trembling and fullof pity. That poor dear Zizi in a hole full of water! And she drewhim with her in the direction of the house and spoke of making up aroaring fire."You know," he murmured, stopping her among the shadows, "I was inhiding because I was afraid of being scolded, like in Paris, when Icome and see you and you're not expecting me."She made no reply but burst out laughing and gave him a kiss on theforehead. Up till today she had always treated him like a naughtyurchin, never taking his declarations seriously and amusing herselfat his expense as though he were a little man of no consequencewhatever. There was much ado to install him in the house. Sheabsolutely insisted on the fire being lit in her bedroom, as beingthe most comfortable place for his reception. Georges had notsurprised Zoe, who was used to all kinds of encounters, but thegardener, who brought the wood upstairs, was greatly nonplused atsight of this dripping gentleman to whom he was certain he had notopened the front door. He was, however, dismissed, as he was nolonger wanted.A lamp lit up the room, and the fire burned with a great brightflame."He'll never get dry, and he'll catch cold," said Nana, seeingGeorges beginning to shiver.And there and with hisdelicate young arms showing and his bright damp hair falling almostto his shoulders, he looked just like a girl."Why, he's as slim as I am!" said Nana, putting her arm round hiswaist. "Zoe, just come here and see how it suits him. It's were no men's trousers in her house!She was on the pointof calling the gardener back when an idea struck her. Zoe, who wasunpacking the trunks in the dressing room, brought her mistress achange of underwear, consisting of a shift and some petticoats witha dressing jacket."Oh, that's first rate!" cried the young woman. "Zizi can put 'emall on. You're not angry with me, eh? When your clothes are dryyou can put them on again, and then off with you, as fast as fastcan be, so as not to have a scolding from your mamma. Make haste!I'm going to change my things, too, in the dressing room."Ten minutes afterward, when she reappeared in a tea gown, sheclasped her hands in a perfect ecstasy."Oh, the darling! How sweet he looks dressed like a little woman!"He had simply slipped on a long nightgown with an insertion front, apair of worked drawers and the dressing jacket, which was a longcambric garment trimmed with lace. Thus attiredmadefor him, eh? All except the bodice part, which is too large. Hehasn't got as much as I have, poor, dear Zizi!""Oh, to be sure, I'm a bit wanting there," murmured Georges with asmile.All three grew very merry about it. Nana had set to work buttoningthe dressing jacket from top to bottom so as to make him quitedecent. Then she turned him round as though he were a doll, gavehim little thumps, made the skirt stand well out behind. Afterwhich she asked him questions. Was he comfortable? Did he feelwarm? Zounds, yes, he was comfortable! Nothing fitted more closelyand warmly than a woman's shift; had he been able, he would alwayshave worn one. He moved round and about therein, delighted with thefine linen and the soft touch of that unmanly garment, in the foldsof which he thought he discovered some of Nana's own warm life.Meanwhile Zoe had taken the soaked clothes down to the kitchen inorder to dry them as quickly as possible in front of a vine-branchfire. Then Georges, as he lounged in an easy chair, ventured tomake a confession."I say, are you going to feed this evening? I'm dying of hunger. Ihaven't dined."Nana was vexed. The great silly thing to go sloping off fromMamma's with an empty stomach, just to chuck himself into a holefull of water! But she was as hungry as a hunter too. Theycertainly must feed! Only they would have to eat what they couldget. Whereupon a round table was rolled up in front of the fire,and the queerest of dinners was improvised thereon. Zoe ran down tothe gardener's, he having cooked a mess of cabbage soup in caseMadame should not dine at Orleans before her arrival. Madame,indeed, had forgotten to tell him what he was to get ready in theletter she had sent him. Fortunately the cellar was well furnished.Accordingly they had cabbage soup, followed by a piece of bacon.Then Nana rummaged in her handbag and found quite a heap ofprovisions which she had taken the precaution of stuffing into it.There was a Strasbourg pate, for instance, and a bag of sweet-meatsand some oranges. So they both ate away like ogres and, while theysatisfied their healthy young appetites, treated one another witheasy good fellowship. Nana kept calling Georges "dear old girl," aform of address which struck her as at once tender and familiar. Atdessert, in order not to give Zoe any more trouble, they used thesame spoon turn and turn about while demolishing a pot of preservesthey had discovered at the top of a cupboard."Oh, you dear old girl!" said Nana, pushing back the round table."I haven't made such a good dinner these ten years past!"Yet it was growing late, and she wanted to send her boy off for fearhe should be suspected of all sorts of things. But he keptdeclaring that he had plenty of time to spare. For the matter ofthat, his clothes were not drying well, and Zoe averred that itwould take an hour longer at least, and as she was dropping withsleep after the fatigues of the journey, they sent her off to bed.After which they were alone in the silent house.It was a very charming evening. The fire was dying out amid glowingembers, and in the great blue room, where Zoe had made up the bedbefore going upstairs, the air felt a little oppressive. Nana,overcome by the heavy warmth, got up to open the window for a fewminutes, and as she did so she uttered a little cry."Great heavens, how beautiful it is! Look, dear old girl!"Georges had come up, and as though the window bar had not beensufficiently wide, he put his arm round Nana's waist and rested hishead against her shoulder. The weather had undergone a briskchange: the skies were clearing, and a full moon lit up the countrywith its golden disk of light. A sovereign quiet reigned over thevalley. It seemed wider and larger as it opened on the immensedistances of the plain, where the trees loomed like little shadowyislands amid a shining and waveless lake. And Nana grewtenderhearted, felt herself a child again. Most surely she haddreamed of nights like this at an epoch which she could not recall.Since leaving the train every object of sensation--the widecountryside, the green things with their pungent scents, the house,the vegetables--had stirred her to such a degree that now it seemedto her as if she had left Paris twenty years ago. Yesterday'sexistence was far, far away, and she was full of sensations of whichshe had no previous experience. Georges, meanwhile, was giving herneck little coaxing kisses, and this again added to her sweetunrest. With hesitating hand she pushed him from her, as though hewere a child whose affectionate advances were fatiguing, and oncemore she told him that he ought to take his departure. He did notgainsay her. All in good time--he would go all in good time!But a bird raised its song and again was silent. It was a robin inan elder tree below the window."Wait one moment," whispered Georges; "the lamp's frightening him.I'll put it out."And when he came back and took her waist again he added:"We'll relight it in a minute."Then as she listened to the robin and the boy pressed against herside, Nana remembered. Ah yes, it was in novels that she had got toknow all this! In other days she would have given her heart to havea full moon and robins and a lad dying of love for her. Great God,she could have cried, so good and charming did it all seem to her!Beyond a doubt she had been born to live honestly! So she pushedGeorges away again, and he grew yet bolder."No, let me be. I don't care about it. It would be very wicked atyour age. Now listen--I'll always be your mamma."A sudden feeling of shame overcame her. She was blushingexceedingly, and yet not a soul could see her. The room behind themwas full of black night while the country stretched before them insilence and lifeless solitude. Never had she known such a sense ofshame before. Little by little she felt her power of resistanceebbing away, and that despite her embarrassed efforts to thecontrary. That disguise of his, that woman's shift and thatdressing jacket set her laughing again. It was as though a girlfriend were teasing her."Oh, it's not right; it's not right!" she stammered after a lasteffort.And with that, in face of the lovely night, she sank like a youngvirgin into the arms of this mere child. The house slept.Next morning at Les Fondettes, when the bell rang for lunch, thedining-room table was no longer too big for the company. Faucheryand Daguenet had been driven up together in one carriage, and afterthem another had arrived with the Count de Vandeuvres, who hadfollowed by the next train. Georges was the last to comedownstairs. He was looking a little pale, and his eyes were sunken,but in answer to questions he said that he was much better, thoughhe was still somewhat shaken by the violence of the attack. MmeHugon looked into his eyes with an anxious smile and adjusted hishair which had been carelessly combed that morning, but he drew backas though embarrassed by this tender little action. During the mealshe chaffed Vandeuvres very pleasantly and declared that she hadexpected him for five years past."Well, here you are at last! How have you managed it?"Vandeuvres took her remarks with equal pleasantry. He told her thathe had lost a fabulous sum of money at the club yesterday andthereupon had come away with the intention of ending up in thecountry."'Pon my word, yes, if only you can find me an heiress in theserustic parts! There must be delightful women hereabouts."The old lady rendered equal thanks to Daguenet and Fauchery forhaving been so good as to accept her son's invitation, and then toher great and joyful surprise she saw the Marquis de Chouard enterthe room. A third carriage had brought him."Dear me, you've made this your trysting place today!" she cried."You've passed word round! But what's happening? For years I'venever succeeded in bringing you all together, and now you all dropin at once. Oh, I certainly don't complain."Another place was laid. Fauchery found himself next the CountessSabine, whose liveliness and gaiety surprised him when he rememberedher drooping, languid state in the austere Rue Miromesnil drawingroom. Daguenet, on the other hand, who was seated on Estelle'sleft, seemed slightly put out by his propinquity to that tall,silent girl. The angularity of her elbows was disagreeable to him.Muffat and Chouard had exchanged a sly glance while Vandeuvrescontinued joking about his coming marriage."Talking of ladies," Mme Hugon ended by saying, "I have a newneighbor whom you probably know."And she mentioned Nana. Vandeuvres affected the liveliestastonishment."Well, that is strange! Nana's property near here!"Fauchery and Daguenet indulged in a similar demonstration while theMarquis de Chouard discussed the breast of a chicken withoutappearing to comprehend their meaning. Not one of the men hadsmiled."Certainly," continued the old lady, "and the person in questionarrived at La Mignotte yesterday evening, as I was saying she would.I got my information from the gardener this morning."At these words the gentlemen could not conceal their very realsurprise. They all looked up. Eh? What? Nana had come down! Butthey were only expecting her next day; they were privately under theimpression that they would arrive before her! Georges alone satlooking at his glass with drooped eyelids and a tired expression.Ever since the beginning of lunch he had seemed to be sleeping withopen eyes and a vague smile on his lips."Are you still in pain, my Zizi?" asked his mother, who had beengazing at him throughout the meal.He started and blushed as he said that he was very well now, but theworn-out insatiate expression of a girl who has danced too much didnot fade from his face."What's the matter with your neck?" resumed Mme Hugon in an alarmedtone. "It's all red."He was embarrassed and stammered. He did not know--he had nothingthe matter with his neck. Then drawing his shirt collar up:"Ah yes, some insect stung me there!"The Marquis de Chouard had cast a sidelong glance at the little redplace. Muffat, too, looked at Georges. The company was finishinglunch and planning various excursions. Fauchery was growingincreasingly excited with the Countess Sabine's laughter. As he waspassing her a dish of fruit their hands touched, and for one secondshe looked at him with eyes so full of dark meaning that he oncemore thought of the secret which had been communicated to him oneevening after an uproarious dinner. Then, too, she was no longerthe same woman. Something was more pronounced than of old, and hergray foulard gown which fitted loosely over her shoulders added atouch of license to her delicate, high-strung elegance.When they rose from the table Daguenet remained behind with Faucheryin order to impart to him the following crude witticism aboutEstelle: "A nice broomstick that to shove into a man's hands!"Nevertheless, he grew serious when the journalist told him theamount she was worth in the way of dowry."Four hundred thousand francs.""And the mother?" queried Fauchery. "She's all right, eh?""Oh, she'll work the oracle! But it's no go, my dear man!""Bah! How are we to know? We must wait and see."It was impossible to go out that day, for the rain was still fallingin heavy showers. Georges had made haste to disappear from thescene and had double-locked his door. These gentlemen avoidedmutual explanations, though they were none of them deceived as tothe reasons which had brought them together. Vandeuvres, who hadhad a very bad time at play, had really conceived the notion oflying fallow for a season, and he was counting on Nana's presence inthe neighborhood as a safeguard against excessive boredom. Faucheryhad taken advantage of the holidays granted him by Rose, who justthen was extremely busy. He was thinking of discussing a secondnotice with Nana, in case country air should render themreciprocally affectionate. Daguenet, who had been just a littlesulky with her since Steiner had come upon the scene, was dreamingof resuming the old connection or at least of snatching somedelightful opportunities if occasion offered. As to the Marquis deChouard, he was watching for times and seasons. But among all thosemen who were busy following in the tracks of Venus--a Venus with therouge scarce washed from her cheeks--Muffat was at once the mostardent and the most tortured by the novel sensations of desire andfear and anger warring in his anguished members. A formal promisehad been made him; Nana was awaiting him. Why then had she takenher departure two days sooner than was expected?He resolved to betake himself to La Mignotte after dinner that sameevening. At night as the count was leaving the park Georges fledforth after him. He left him to follow the road to Gumieres,crossed the Choue, rushed into Nana's presence, breathless, furiousand with tears in his eyes. Ah yes, he understood everything! Thatold fellow now on his way to her was coming to keep an appointment!Nana was dumfounded by this ebullition of jealousy, and, greatlymoved by the way things were turning out, she took him in her armsand comforted him to the best of her ability. Oh no, he was quitebeside the mark; she was expecting no one. If the gentleman came itwould not be her fault. What a great ninny that Zizi was to betaking on so about nothing at all! By her child's soul she sworeshe loved nobody except her own Georges. And with that she kissedhim and wiped away his tears."Now just listen! You'll see that it's all for your sake," she wenton when he had grown somewhat calmer. "Steiner has arrived--he's upabove there now. You know, duckie, I can't turn him out of doors.""Yes, I know; I'm not talking of him," whispered the boy."Very well then, I've stuck him into the room at the end. I said Iwas out of sorts. He's unpacking his trunk. Since nobody's seenyou, be quick and run up and hide in my room and wait for me.Georges sprang at her and threw his arms round her neck. It wastrue after all! She loved him a little! So they would put the lampout as they did yesterday and be in the dark till daytime! Then asthe front-door bell sounded he quietly slipped away. Upstairs inthe bedroom he at once took off his shoes so as not to make anynoise and straightway crouched down behind a curtain and waitedsoberly.Nana welcomed Count Muffat, who, though still shaken with passion,was now somewhat embarrassed. She had pledged her word to him andwould even have liked to keep it since he struck her as a serious,practicable lover. But truly, who could have foreseen all thathappened yesterday? There was the voyage and the house she hadnever set eyes on before and the arrival of the drenched littlelover! How sweet it had all seemed to her, and how delightful itwould be to continue in it! So much the worse for the gentleman!For three months past she had been keeping him dangling after herwhile she affected conventionality in order the further to inflamehim. Well, well! He would have to continue dangling, and if hedidn't like that he could go! She would sooner have thrown upeverything than have played false to Georges.The count had seated himself with all the ceremonious politenessbecoming a country caller. Only his hands were trembling slightly.Lust, which Nana's skillful tactics daily exasperated, had at lastwrought terrible havoc in that sanguine, uncontaminated nature. Thegrave man, the chamberlain who was wont to tread the stateapartments at the Tuileries with slow and dignified step, was nownightly driven to plunge his teeth into his bolster, while with sobsof exasperation he pictured to himself a sensual shape which neverchanged. But this time he was determined to make an end of thetorture. Coming along the highroad in the deep quiet of thegloaming, he had meditated a fierce course of action. And themoment he had finished his opening remarks he tried to take hold ofNana with both hands."No, no! Take care!" she said simply. She was not vexed; nay, sheeven smiled.He caught her again, clenching his teeth as he did so. Then as shestruggled to get free he coarsely and crudely reminded her that hehad come to stay the night. Though much embarrassed at this, Nanadid not cease to smile. She took his hands and spoke veryfamiliarly in order to soften her refusal."Come now, darling, do be quiet! Honor bright, I can't: Steiner'supstairs."But he was beside himself. Never yet had she seen a man in such astate. She grew frightened and put her hand over his mouth in orderto stifle his cries. Then in lowered tones she besought him to bequiet and to let her alone. Steiner was coming downstairs. Thingswere getting stupid, to be sure! When Steiner entered the room heheard Nana remarking:"I adore the country."She was lounging comfortably back in her deep easy chair, and sheturned round and interrupted herself."It's Monsieur le Comte Muffat, darling. He saw a light here whilehe was strolling past, and he came in to bid us welcome."The two men clasped hands. Muffat, with his face in shadow, stoodsilent for a moment or two. Steiner seemed sulky. Then theychatted about Paris: business there was at a standstill; abominablethings had been happening on 'change. When a quarter of an hour hadelapsed Muffat took his departure, and, as the young woman wasseeing him to the door, he tried without success to make anassignation for the following night. Steiner went up to bed almostdirectly afterward, grumbling, as he did so, at the everlastinglittle ailments that seemed to afflict the genus courtesan. The twoold boys had been packed off at last! When she was able to rejoinhim Nana found Georges still hiding exemplarily behind the curtain.The room was dark. He pulled her down onto the floor as she satnear him, and together they began playfully rolling on the ground,stopping now and again and smothering their laughter with kisseswhenever they struck their bare feet against some piece offurniture. Far away, on the road to Gumieres, Count Muffat walkedslowly home and, hat in hand, bathed his burning forehead in thefreshness and silence of the night.During the days that followed Nana found life adorable. In thelad's arms she was once more a girl of fifteen, and under thecaressing influence of this renewed childhood love's white floweronce more blossomed forth in a nature which had grown hackneyed anddisgusted in the service of the other sex. She would experiencesudden fits of shame, sudden vivid emotions, which left hertrembling. She wanted to laugh and to cry, and she was beset bynervous, maidenly feelings, mingled with warm desires that made herblush again. Never yet had she felt anything comparable to this.The country filled her with tender thoughts. As a little girl shehad long wished to dwell in a meadow, tending a goat, because oneday on the talus of the fortifications she had seen a goat bleatingat the end of its tether. Now this estate, this stretch of landbelonging to her, simply swelled her heart to bursting, so utterlyhad her old ambition been surpassed. Once again she tasted thenovel sensations experienced by chits of girls, and at night whenshe went upstairs, dizzy with her day in the open air andintoxicated by the scent of green leaves, and rejoined her Zizibehind the curtain, she fancied herself a schoolgirl enjoying aholiday escapade. It was an amour, she thought, with a young cousinto whom she was going to be married. And so she trembled at theslightest noise and dread lest parents should hear her, while makingthe delicious experiments and suffering the voluptuous terrorsattendant on a girl's first slip from the path of virtue.Nana in those days was subject to the fancies a sentimental girlwill indulge in. She would gaze at the moon for hours. One nightshe had a mind to go down into the garden with Georges when all thehousehold was asleep. When there they strolled under the trees,their arms round each other's waists, and finally went and laid downin the grass, where the dew soaked them through and through. Onanother occasion, after a long silence up in the bedroom, she fellsobbing on the lad's neck, declaring in broken accents that she wasafraid of dying. She would often croon a favorite ballad of MmeLerat's, which was full of flowers and birds. The song would melther to tears, and she would break off in order to clasp Georges in apassionate embrace and to extract from him vows of undyingaffection. In short she was extremely silly, as she herself wouldadmit when they both became jolly good fellows again and sat upsmoking cigarettes on the edge of the bed, dangling their bare legsover it the while and tapping their heels against its wooden side.But what utterly melted the young woman's heart was Louiset'sarrival. She had an access of maternal affection which was asviolent as a mad fit. She would carry off her boy into the sunshineoutside to watch him kicking about; she would dress him like alittle prince and roll with him in the grass. The moment he arrivedshe decided that he was to sleep near her, in the room next hers,where Mme Lerat, whom the country greatly affected, used to beginsnoring the moment her head touched the pillow. Louiset did nothurt Zizi's position in the least. On the contrary, Nana said thatshe had now two children, and she treated them with the same waywardtenderness. At night, more than ten times running, she would leaveZizi to go and see if Louiset were breathing properly, but on herreturn she would re-embrace her Zizi and lavish on him the caressesthat had been destined for the child. She played at being Mammawhile he wickedly enjoyed being dandled in the arms of the greatwench and allowed himself to be rocked to and fro like a baby thatis being sent to sleep. It was all so delightful, and Nana was socharmed with her present existence, that she seriously proposed tohim never to leave the country. They would send all the otherpeople away, and he, she and the child would live alone. And withthat they would make a thousand plans till daybreak and never oncehear Mme Lerat as she snored vigorously after the fatigues of a dayspent in picking country flowers.This charming existence lasted nearly a week. Count Muffat used tocome every evening and go away again with disordered face andburning hands. One evening he was not even received, as Steiner hadbeen obliged to run up to Paris. He was told that Madame was notwell. Nana grew daily more disgusted at the notion of deceivingGeorges. He was such an innocent lad, and he had such faith in her!She would have looked on herself as the lowest of the low had sheplayed him false. Besides, it would have sickened her to do so!Zoe, who took her part in this affair in mute disdain, believed thatMadame was growing senseless.On the sixth day a band of visitors suddenly blundered into Nana'sidyl. She had, indeed, invited a whole swarm of people under thebelief that none of them would come. And so one fine afternoon shewas vastly astonished and annoyed to see an omnibus full of peoplepulling up outside the gate of La Mignotte."It's us!" cried Mignon, getting down first from the conveyance andextracting then his sons Henri and Charles.Labordette thereupon appeared and began handing out an interminablefile of ladies--Lucy Stewart, Caroline Hequet, Tatan Nene, MariaBlond. Nana was in hopes that they would end there, when La Faloisesprang from the step in order to receive Gaga and her daughterAmelie in his trembling arms. That brought the number up to elevenpeople. Their installation proved a laborious undertaking. Therewere five spare rooms at La Mignotte, one of which was alreadyoccupied by Mme Lerat and Louiset. The largest was devoted to theGaga and La Faloise establishment, and it was decided that Amelieshould sleep on a truckle bed in the dressing room at the side.Mignon and his two sons had the third room. Labordette the fourth.There thus remained one room which was transformed into a dormitorywith four beds in it for Lucy, Caroline, Tatan and Maria. As toSteiner, he would sleep on the divan in the drawing room. At theend of an hour, when everyone was duly settled, Nana, who had begunby being furious, grew enchanted at the thought of playing hostesson a grand scale. The ladies complimented her on La Mignotte."It's a stunning property, my dear!" And then, too, they broughther quite a whiff of Parisian air, and talking all together withbursts of laughter and exclamation and emphatic little gestures,they gave her all the petty gossip of the week just past. By theby, and how about Bordenave? What had he said about her prank? Oh,nothing much! After bawling about having her brought back by thepolice, he had simply put somebody else in her place at night.Little Violaine was the understudy, and she had even obtained a verypretty success as the Blonde Venus. Which piece of news made Nanarather serious.It was only four o'clock in the afternoon, and there was some talkof taking a stroll around."Oh, I haven't told you," said Nana, "I was just off to get uppotatoes when you arrived."Thereupon they all wanted to go and dig potatoes without evenchanging their dresses first. It was quite a party. The gardenerand two helpers were already in the potato field at the end of thegrounds. The ladies knelt down and began fumbling in the mold withtheir beringed fingers, shouting gaily whenever they discovered apotato of exceptional size. It struck them as so amusing! ButTatan Nene was in a state of triumph! So many were the potatoes shehad gathered in her youth that she forgot herself entirely and gavethe others much good advice, treating them like geese the while.The gentlemen toiled less strenuously. Mignon looked every inch thegood citizen and father and made his stay in the country an occasionfor completing his boys' education. Indeed, he spoke to them ofParmentier!Dinner that evening was wildly hilarious. The company ateravenously. Nana, in a state of great elevation, had a warmdisagreement with her butler, an individual who had been in serviceat the bishop's palace in Orleans. The ladies smoked over theircoffee. An earsplitting noise of merrymaking issued from the openwindows and died out far away under the serene evening sky whilepeasants, belated in the lanes, turned and looked at the flaringrooms."It's most tiresome that you're going back the day after tomorrow,"said Nana. "But never mind, we'll get up an excursion all thesame!"They decided to go on the morrow, Sunday, and visit the ruins of theold Abbey of Chamont, which were some seven kilometers distant.Five carriages would come out from Orleans, take up the companyafter lunch and bring them back to dinner at La Mignotte at aboutseven. It would be delightful.That evening, as his wont was, Count Muffat mounted the hill to ringat the outer gate. But the brightly lit windows and the shouts oflaughter astonished him. When, however, he recognized Mignon'svoice, he understood it all and went off, raging at this newobstacle, driven to extremities, bent on some violent act. Georgespassed through a little door of which he had the key, slipped alongthe staircase walls and went quietly up into Nana's room. Only hehad to wait for her till past midnight. She appeared at last in ahigh state of intoxication and more maternal even than on theprevious nights. Whenever she had drunk anything she became soamorous as to be absurd. Accordingly she now insisted on hisaccompanying her to the Abbey of Chamont. But he stood out againstthis; he was afraid of being seen. If he were to be seen drivingwith her there would be an atrocious scandal. But she burst intotears and evinced the noisy despair of a slighted woman. And hethereupon consoled her and formally promised to be one of the party."So you do love me very much," she blurted out. "Say you love mevery much. Oh, my darling old bear, if I were to die would you feelit very much? Confess!"At Les Fondettes the near neighborhood of Nana had utterlydisorganized the party. Every morning during lunch good Mme Hugonreturned to the subject despite herself, told her guests the newsthe gardener had brought her and gave evidence of the absorbingcuriosity with which notorious courtesans are able to inspire eventhe worthiest old ladies. Tolerant though she was, she was revoltedand maddened by a vague presentiment of coming ill, which frightenedher in the evenings as thoroughly as if a wild beast had escapedfrom a menagerie and were known to be lurking in the countryside.She began trying to pick a little quarrel with her guests, whom sheeach and all accused of prowling round La Mignotte. CountVandeuvres had been seen laughing on the highroad with a golden-haired lady, but he defended himself against the accusation; hedenied that it was Nana, the fact being that Lucy had been with himand had told him how she had just turned her third prince out ofdoors. The Marquis de Chouard used also to go out every day, buthis excuse was doctor's orders. Toward Daguenet and Fauchery MmeHugon behaved unjustly too. The former especially never left LesFondettes, for he had given up the idea of renewing the oldconnection and was busy paying the most respectful attentions toEstelle. Fauchery also stayed with the Muffat ladies. On oneoccasion only he had met Mignon with an armful of flowers, puttinghis sons through a course of botanical instruction in a by-path.The two men had shaken hands and given each other the news aboutRose. She was perfectly well and happy; they had both received aletter from her that morning in which she besought them to profit bythe fresh country air for some days longer. Among all her gueststhe old lady spared only Count Muffat and Georges. The count, whosaid he had serious business in Orleans, could certainly not berunning after the bad woman, and as to Georges, the poor child wasat last causing her grave anxiety, seeing that every evening he wasseized with atrocious sick headaches which kept him to his bed inbroad daylight.Meanwhile Fauchery had become the Countess Sabine's faithfulattendant in the absence during each afternoon of Count Muffat.Whenever they went to the end of the park he carried her campstooland her sunshade. Besides, he amused her with the originalwitticisms peculiar to a second-rate journalist, and in so doing heprompted her to one of those sudden intimacies which are allowablein the country. She had apparently consented to it from the first,for she had grown quite a girl again in the society of a young manwhose noisy humor seemed unlikely to compromize her. But now andagain, when for a second or two they found themselves alone behindthe shrubs, their eyes would meet; they would pause amid theirlaughter, grow suddenly serious and view one another darkly, asthough they had fathomed and divined their inmost hearts.On Friday a fresh place had to be laid at lunch time. M. TheophileVenot, whom Mme Hugon remembered to have invited at the Muffats'last winter, had just arrived. He sat stooping humbly forward andbehaved with much good nature, as became a man of no account, nordid he seem to notice the anxious deference with which he wastreated. When he had succeeded in getting the company to forget hispresence he sat nibbling small lumps of sugar during dessert,looking sharply up at Daguenet as the latter handed Estellestrawberries and listening to Fauchery, who was making the countessvery merry over one of his anecdotes. Whenever anyone looked at himhe smiled in his quiet way. When the guests rose from table he tookthe count's arm and drew him into the park. He was known to haveexercised great influence over the latter ever since the death ofhis mother. Indeed, singular stories were told about the kind ofdominion which the ex-lawyer enjoyed in that household. Fauchery,whom his arrival doubtless embarrassed, began explaining to Georgesand Daguenet the origin of the man's wealth. It was a big lawsuitwith the management of which the Jesuits had entrusted him in daysgone by. In his opinion the worthy man was a terrible fellowdespite his gentle, plump face and at this time of day had hisfinger in all the intrigues of the priesthood. The two young menhad begun joking at this, for they thought the little old gentlemanhad an idiotic expression. The idea of an unknown Venot, a giganticVenot, acting for the whole body of the clergy, struck them in thelight of a comical invention. But they were silenced when, stillleaning on the old man's arm, Count Muffat reappeared with blanchedcheeks and eyes reddened as if by recent weeping.I bet they've been chatting about hell," muttered Fauchery in abantering tone.The Countess Sabine overheard the remark. She turned her headslowly, and their eyes met in that long gaze with which they wereaccustomed to sound one another prudently before venturing once forall.After the breakfast it was the guests' custom to betake themselvesto a little flower garden on a terrace overlooking the plain. ThisSunday afternoon was exquisitely mild. There had been signs of raintoward ten in the morning, but the sky, without ceasing to becovered, had, as it were, melted into milky fog, which now hung likea cloud of luminous dust in the golden sunlight. Soon Mme Hugonproposed that they should step down through a little doorway belowthe terrace and take a walk on foot in the direction of Gumieres andas far as the Choue. She was fond of walking and, considering herthreescore years, was very active. Besides, all her guests declaredthat there was no need to drive. So in a somewhat straggling orderthey reached the wooden bridge over the river. Fauchery andDaguenet headed the column with the Muffat ladies and were followedby the count and the marquis, walking on either side of Mme Hugon,while Vandeuvres, looking fashionable and out of his element on thehighroad, marched in the rear, smoking a cigar. M. Venot, nowslackening, now hastening his pace, passed smilingly from group togroup, as though bent on losing no scrap of conversation."To think of poor dear Georges at Orleans!" said Mme Hugon. "He wasanxious to consult old Doctor Tavernier, who never goes out now, onthe subject of his sick headaches. Yes, you were not up, as he wentoff before seven o'clock. But it'll be a change for him all thesame."She broke off, exclaiming:"Why, what's making them stop on the bridge?"The fact was the ladies and Fauchery and Daguenet were standingstock-still on the crown of the bridge. They seemed to behesitating as though some obstacle or other rendered them uneasy andyet the way lay clear before them."Go on!" cried the count.They never moved and seemed to be watching the approach of somethingwhich the rest had not yet observed. Indeed the road woundconsiderably and was bordered by a thick screen of poplar trees.Nevertheless, a dull sound began to grow momentarily louder, andsoon there was a noise of wheels, mingled with shouts of laughterand the cracking of whips. Then suddenly five carriages came intoview, driving one behind the other. They were crowded to bursting,and bright with a galaxy of white, blue and pink costumes."What is it?" said Mme Hugon in some surprise.Then her instinct told her, and she felt indignant at such anuntoward invasion of her road."Oh, that woman!" she murmured. "Walk on, pray walk on. Don'tappear to notice."But it was too late. The five carriages which were taking Nana andher circle to the ruins of Chamont rolled on to the narrow woodenbridge. Fauchery, Daguenet and the Muffat ladies were forced tostep backward, while Mme Hugon and the others had also to stop inIndian file along the roadside. It was a superb ride past! Thelaughter in the carriages had ceased, and faces were turned with anexpression of curiosity. The rival parties took stock of each otheramid a silence broken only by the measured trot of the horses. Inthe first carriage Maria Blond and Tatan Nene were lolling backwardlike a pair of duchesses, their skirts swelling forth over thewheels, and as they passed they cast disdainful glances at thehonest women who were walking afoot. Then came Gaga, filling up awhole seat and half smothering La Faloise beside her so that littlebut his small anxious face was visible. Next followed CarolineHequet with Labordette, Lucy Stewart with Mignon and his boys and atthe close of all Nana in a victoria with Steiner and on a bracketseat in front of her that poor, darling Zizi, with his knees jammedagainst her own."It's the last of them, isn't it?" the countess placidly askedFauchery, pretending at the same time not to recognize Nana.The wheel of the victoria came near grazing her, but she did notstep back. The two women had exchanged a deeply significant glance.It was, in fact, one of those momentary scrutinies which are at oncecomplete and definite. As to the men, they behaved unexceptionably.Fauchery and Daguenet looked icy and recognized no one. Themarquis, more nervous than they and afraid of some farcicalebullition on the part of the ladies, had plucked a blade of grassand was rolling it between his fingers. Only Vandeuvres, who hadstayed somewhat apart from the rest of the company, winkedimperceptibly at Lucy, who smiled at him as she passed."Be careful!" M. Venot had whispered as he stood behind CountMuffat.The latter in extreme agitation gazed after this illusive vision ofNana while his wife turned slowly round and scrutinized him. Thenhe cast his eyes on the ground as though to escape the sound ofgalloping hoofs which were sweeping away both his senses and hisheart. He could have cried aloud in his agony, for, seeing Georgesamong Nana's skirts, he understood it all now. A mere child! Hewas brokenhearted at the thought that she should have preferred amere child to him! Steiner was his equal, but that child!Mme Hugon, in the meantime, had not at once recognized Georges.Crossing the bridge, he was fain to jump into the river, but Nana'sknees restrained him. Then white as a sheet and icy cold, he satrigidly up in his place and looked at no one. It was just possibleno one would notice him."Oh, my God!" said the old lady suddenly. "Georges is with her!"The carriages had passed quite through the uncomfortable crowd ofpeople who recognized and yet gave no sign of recognition. Theshort critical encounter seemed to have been going on for ages. Andnow the wheels whirled away the carriageloads of girls more gailythan ever. Toward the fair open country they went, amid thebuffetings of the fresh air of heaven. Bright-colored fabricsfluttered in the wind, and the merry laughter burst forth anew asthe voyagers began jesting and glancing back at the respectablefolks halting with looks of annoyance at the roadside. Turninground, Nana could see the walking party hesitating and thenreturning the way they had come without crossing the bridge. MmeHugon was leaning silently on Count Muffat's arm, and so sad was herlook that no one dared comfort her."I say, did you see Fauchery, dear?" Nana shouted to Lucy, who wasleaning out of the carriage in front. "What a brute he was! Heshall pay out for that. And Paul, too, a fellow I've been so kindto! Not a sign! They're polite, I'm sure."And with that she gave Steiner a terrible dressing, he havingventured to suggest that the gentlemen's attitude had been quite asit should be. So then they weren't even worth a bow? The firstblackguard that came by might insult them? Thanks! He was theright sort, too, he was! It couldn't be better! One ought alwaysto bow to a woman."Who's the tall one?" asked Lucy at random, shouting through thenoise of the wheels."It's the Countess Muffat," answered Steiner."There now! I suspected as much," said Nana. "Now, my dear fellow,it's all very well her being a countess, for she's no better thanshe should be. Yes, yes, she's no better that she should be. Youknow, I've got an eye for such things, I have! And now I know yourcountess as well as if I had been at the making of her! I'll betyou that she's the mistress of that viper Fauchery! I tell you,she's his mistress! Between women you guess that sort of thing atonce!"Steiner shrugged his shoulders. Since the previous day hisirritation had been hourly increasing. He had received letterswhich necessitated his leaving the following morning, added to whichhe did not much appreciate coming down to the country in order tosleep on the drawing-room divan."And this poor baby boy!" Nana continued, melting suddenly at sightof Georges's pale face as he still sat rigid and breathless in frontof her."D'you think Mamma recognized me?" he stammered at last."Oh, most surely she did! Why, she cried out! But it's my fault.He didn't want to come with us; I forced him to. Now listen, Zizi,would you like me to write to your mamma? She looks such a kind,decent sort of lady! I'll tell her that I never saw you before andthat it was Steiner who brought you with him for the first timetoday.""No, no, don't write," said Georges in great anxiety. "I'll explainit all myself. Besides, if they bother me about it I shan't go homeagain."But he continued plunged in thought, racking his brains for excusesagainst his return home in the evening. The five carriages wererolling through a flat country along an interminable straight roadbordered by fine trees. The country was bathed in a silvery-grayatmosphere. The ladies still continued shouting remarks fromcarriage to carriage behind the backs of the drivers, who chuckledover their extraordinary fares. Occasionally one of them would riseto her feet to look at the landscape and, supporting herself on herneighbor's shoulder, would grow extremely excited till a sudden joltbrought her down to the seat again. Caroline Hequet in the meantimewas having a warm discussion with Labordette. Both of them wereagreed that Nana would be selling her country house before threemonths were out, and Caroline was urging Labordette to buy it backfor her for as little as it was likely to fetch. In front of themLa Faloise, who was very amorous and could not get at Gaga'sapoplectic neck, was imprinting kisses on her spine through herdress, the strained fabric of which was nigh splitting, whileAmelie, perching stiffly on the bracket seat, was bidding them bequiet, for she was horrified to be sitting idly by, watching hermother being kissed. In the next carriage Mignon, in order toastonish Lucy, was making his sons recite a fable by La Fontaine.Henri was prodigious at this exercise; he could spout you onewithout pause or hesitation. But Maria Blond, at the head of theprocession, was beginning to feel extremely bored. She was tired ofhoaxing that blockhead of a Tatan Nene with a story to the effectthat the Parisian dairywomen were wont to fabricate eggs with amixture of paste and saffron. The distance was too great: were theynever going to get to their destination? And the question wastransmitted from carriage to carriage and finally reached Nana, who,after questioning her driver, got up and shouted:"We've not got a quarter of an hour more to go. You see that churchbehind the trees down there?"Then she continued:"Do you know, it appears the owner of the Chateau de Chamont is anold lady of Napoleon's time? Oh, she was a merry one! At least, soJoseph told me, and he heard it from the servants at the bishop'spalace. There's no one like it nowadays, and for the matter ofthat, she's become goody-goody.""What's her name?" asked Lucy."Madame d'Anglars.""Irma d'Anglars--I knew her!" cried Gaga.Admiring exclamations burst from the line of carriages and wereborne down the wind as the horses quickened their trot. Heads werestretched out in Gaga's direction; Maria Blond and Tatan Nene turnedround and knelt on the seat while they leaned over the carriagehood, and the air was full of questions and cutting remarks,tempered by a certain obscure admiration. Gaga had known her! Theidea filled them all with respect for that far-off past."Dear me, I was young then," continued Gaga. "But never mind, Iremember it all. I saw her pass. They said she was disgusting inher own house, but, driving in her carriage, she was just smart!And the stunning tales about her! Dirty doings and money flungabout like one o'clock! I don't wonder at all that she's got a fineplace. Why, she used to clean out a man's pockets as soon as lookat him. Irma d'Anglars still in the land of the living! Why, mylittle pets, she must be near ninety."At this the ladies became suddenly serious. Ninety years old! Thedeuce, there wasn't one of them, as Lucy loudly declared, who wouldlive to that age. They were all done for. Besides, Nana said shedidn't want to make old bones; it wouldn't be amusing. They weredrawing near their destination, and the conversation was interruptedby the cracking of whips as the drivers put their horses to theirbest paces. Yet amid all the noise Lucy continued talking and,suddenly changing the subject, urged Nana to come to town with themall to-morrow. The exhibition was soon to close, and the ladiesmust really return to Paris, where the season was surpassing theirexpectations. But Nana was obstinate. She loathed Paris; shewouldn't set foot there yet!"Eh, darling, we'll stay?" she said, giving Georges's knees asqueeze, as though Steiner were of no account.The carriages had pulled up abruptly, and in some surprise thecompany got out on some waste ground at the bottom of a small hill.With his whip one of the drivers had to point them out the ruins ofthe old Abbey of Chamont where they lay hidden among trees. It wasa great sell! The ladies voted them silly. Why, they were only aheap of old stones with briers growing over them and part of atumble-down tower. It really wasn't worth coming a couple ofleagues to see that! Then the driver pointed out to them thecountryseat, the park of which stretched away from the abbey, and headvised them to take a little path and follow the walls surroundingit. They would thus make the tour of the place while the carriageswould go and await them in the village square. It was a delightfulwalk, and the company agreed to the proposition."Lord love me, Irma knows how to take care of herself!" said Gaga,halting before a gate at the corner of the park wall abutting on thehighroad.All of them stood silently gazing at the enormous bush which stoppedup the gateway. Then following the little path, they skirted thepark wall, looking up from time to time to admire the trees, whoselofty branches stretched out over them and formed a dense vault ofgreenery. After three minutes or so they found themselves in frontof a second gate. Through this a wide lawn was visible, over whichtwo venerable oaks cast dark masses of shadow. Three minutesfarther on yet another gate afforded them an extensive view of agreat avenue, a perfect corridor of shadow, at the end of which abright spot of sunlight gleamed like a star. They stood in silent,wondering admiration, and then little by little exclamations burstfrom their lips. They had been trying hard to joke about it allwith a touch of envy at heart, but this decidedly and immeasurablyimpressed them. What a genius that Irma was! A sight like thisgave you a rattling notion of the woman! The trees stretched awayand away, and there were endlessly recurrent patches of ivy alongthe wall with glimpses of lofty roofs and screens of poplarsinterspersed with dense masses of elms and aspens. Was there no endto it then? The ladies would have liked to catch sight of themansion house, for they were weary of circling on and on, weary ofseeing nothing but leafy recesses through every opening they cameto. They took the rails of the gate in their hands and pressedtheir faces against the ironwork. And thus excluded and isolated, afeeling of respect began to overcome them as they thought of thecastle lost to view in surrounding immensity. Soon, being quiteunused to walking, they grew tired. And the wall did not leave off;at every turn of the small deserted path the same range of graystones stretched ahead of them. Some of them began to despair ofever getting to the end of it and began talking of returning. Butthe more their long walk fatigued them, the more respectful theybecame, for at each successive step they were increasingly impressedby the tranquil, lordly dignity of the domain."It's getting silly, this is!" said Caroline Hequet, grinding herteeth.Nana silenced her with a shrug. For some moments past she had beenrather pale and extremely serious and had not spoken a single word.Suddenly the path gave a final turn; the wall ended, and as theycame out on the village square the mansion house stood before themon the farther side of its grand outer court. All stopped to admirethe proud sweep of the wide steps, the twenty frontage windows, thearrangement of the three wings, which were built of brick framed bycourses of stone. Henri IV had erewhile inhabited this historicmansion, and his room, with its great bed hung with Genoa velvet,was still preserved there. Breathless with admiration, Nana gave alittle childish sigh."Great God!" she whispered very quietly to herself.But the party were deeply moved when Gaga suddenly announced thatIrma herself was standing yonder in front of the church. Sherecognized her perfectly. She was as upright as of old, the hoarycampaigner, and that despite her age, and she still had those eyeswhich flashed when she moved in that proud way of hers! Vesperswere just over, and for a second or two Madame stood in the churchporch. She was dressed in a dark brown silk and looked very simpleand very tall, her venerable face reminding one of some old marquisewho had survived the horrors of the Great Revolution. In her righthand a huge Book of Hours shone in the sunlight, and very slowly shecrossed the square, followed some fifteen paces off by a footman inlivery. The church was emptying, and all the inhabitants of Chamontbowed before her with extreme respect. An old man even kissed herhand, and a woman wanted to fall on her knees. Truly this was apotent queen, full of years and honors. She mounted her flight ofsteps and vanished from view."That's what one attains to when one has methodical habits!" saidMignon with an air of conviction, looking at his sons and improvingthe occasion.Then everybody said his say. Labordette thought her extraordinarilywell preserved. Maria Blond let slip a foul expression and vexedLucy, who declared that one ought to honor gray hairs. All thewomen, to sum up, agreed that she was a perfect marvel. Then thecompany got into their conveyances again. From Chamont all the wayto La Mignotte Nana remained silent. She had twice turned round tolook back at the house, and now, lulled by the sound of the wheels,she forgot that Steiner was at her side and that Georges was infront of her. A vision had come up out of the twilight, and thegreat lady seemed still to be sweeping by with all the majesty of apotent queen, full of years and of honors.That evening Georges re-entered Les Fondettes in time for dinner.Nana, who had grown increasingly absent-minded and singular in pointof manner, had sent him to ask his mamma's forgiveness. It was hisplain duty, she remarked severely, growing suddenly solicitous forthe decencies of family life. She even made him swear not to returnfor the night; she was tired, and in showing proper obedience he wasdoing no more than his duty. Much bored by this moral discourse,Georges appeared in his mother's presence with heavy heart anddowncast head.Fortunately for him his brother Philippe, a great merry devil of amilitary man, had arrived during the day, a fact which greatlycurtailed the scene he was dreading. Mme Hugon was content to lookat him with eyes full of tears while Philippe, who had been put inpossession of the facts, threatened to go and drag him home by thescruff of the neck if ever he went back into that woman's society.Somewhat comforted, Georges began slyly planning how to make hisescape toward two o'clock next day in order to arrange about futuremeetings with Nana.Nevertheless, at dinnertime the house party at Les Fondettes seemednot a little embarrassed. Vandeuvres had given notice of departure,for he was anxious to take Lucy back to Paris with him. He wasamused at the idea of carrying off this girl whom he had known forten years yet never desired. The Marquis de Chouard bent over hisplate and meditated on Gaga's young lady. He could well rememberdandling Lili on his knee. What a way children had of shooting up!This little thing was becoming extremely plump! But Count Muffatespecially was silent and absorbed. His cheeks glowed, and he hadgiven Georges one long look. Dinner over, he went upstairs,intending to shut himself in his bedroom, his pretext being a slightfeverish attack. M. Venot had rushed after him, and upstairs in thebedroom a scene ensued. The count threw himself upon the bed andstrove to stifle a fit of nervous sobbing in the folds of the pillowwhile M. Venot, in a soft voice, called him brother and advised himto implore heaven for mercy. But he heard nothing: there was arattle in his throat. Suddenly he sprang off the bed and stammered:"I am going there. I can't resist any longer.""Very well," said the old man, "I go with you."As they left the house two shadows were vanishing into the darkdepths of a garden walk, for every evening now Fauchery and theCountess Sabine left Daguenet to help Estelle make tea. Once on thehighroad the count walked so rapidly that his companion had to runin order to follow him. Though utterly out of breath, the latternever ceased showering on him the most conclusive arguments againstthe temptations of the flesh. But the other never opened his mouthas he hurried away into the night. Arrived in front of La Mignotte,he said simply:"I can't resist any longer. Go!""God's will be done then!" muttered M. Venot. "He uses every methodto assure His final triumph. Your sin will become His weapon."At La Mignotte there was much wrangling during the evening meal.Nana had found a letter from Bordenave awaiting her, in which headvised rest, just as though he were anxious to be rid of her.Little Violaine, he said, was being encored twice nightly. But whenMignon continued urging her to come away with them on the morrowNana grew exasperated and declared that she did not intend takingadvice from anybody. In other ways, too, her behavior at table wasridiculously stuck up. Mme Lerat having made some sharp littlespeech or other, she loudly announced that, God willing, she wasn'tgoing to let anyone--no, not even her own aunt--make improperremarks in her presence. After which she dreed her guests withhonorable sentiments. She seemed to be suffering from a fit ofstupid right-mindedness, and she treated them all to projects ofreligious education for Louiset and to a complete scheme ofregeneration for herself. When the company began laughing she gavevent to profound opinions, nodding her head like a grocer's wife whoknows what she is saying. Nothing but order could lead to fortune!And so far as she was concerned, she had no wish to die like abeggar! She set the ladies' teeth on edge. They burst out inprotest. Could anyone have been converting Nana? No, it wasimpossible! But she sat quite still and with absent looks once moreplunged into dreamland, where the vision of an extremely wealthy andgreatly courted Nana rose up before her.The household were going upstairs to bed when Muffat put in anappearance. It was Labordette who caught sight of him in thegarden. He understood it all at once and did him a service, for hegot Steiner out of the way and, taking his hand, led him along thedark corridor as far as Nana's bedroom. In affairs of this kindLabordette was wont to display the most perfect tact and cleverness.Indeed, he seemed delighted to be making other people happy. Nanashowed no surprise; she was only somewhat annoyed by the excessiveheat of Muffat's pursuit. Life was a serious affair, was it not?Love was too silly: it led to nothing. Besides, she had herscruples in view of Zizi's tender age. Indeed, she had scarcelybehaved quite fairly toward him. Dear me, yes, she was choosing theproper course again in taking up with an old fellow."Zoe," she said to the lady's maid, who was enchanted at the thoughtof leaving the country, "pack the trunks when you get up tomorrow.We are going back to Paris."And she went to bed with Muffat but experienced no pleasure.