Asforme，thoughIhavelatelycomeintothequarter，Ican，thankstotheinfluenceIenjoythroughcertainlegalbenefitsdonetothepoor，materiallyadvancehisinterests。Imight，perhaps，haveputmyselfforwardforthisposition；butservingthepoorbringsinbutlittlemoney；and，besides，themodestyofmylifeisoutofkeepingwithsuchdistinctions。Ihavedevotedmyself，monsieur，totheserviceoftheweak，likethelateCouncillorPopinot，——asublimeman，asyoujustlyremarked。IfIhadnotalreadychosenacareerwhichisinsomesortmonastic，andprecludesallideaofmarriageandpublicoffice，mytaste，mysecondvocation，wouldleadmetotheserviceofGod，totheChurch。IdonottrumpetwhatIdo，likethephilanthropists；Idonotwriteaboutit；Isimplyact；IampledgedtoChristiancharity。TheambitionofourfriendThuillierbecomingknowntome，Ihavewishedtocontributetothehappinessoftwoyoungpeoplewhoseemtomemadeforeachother，bysuggestingtoyouthemeansofwinningtherathercoldheartofMonsieurThuillier。"
Phellionwasbewilderedbythistirade，admirablydelivered；hewasdazzled，attracted；butheremainedPhellion；hewalkeduptothelawyerandheldouthishand，whichlaPeyradetook。
"Monsieur，"saidthecommander，withemotion，"Ihavemisjudgedyou。
WhatyouhavedonemethehonortoconfidetomewilldieTHERE，"
layinghishandonhisheart。"Youareoneofthemenofwhomwehavetoofew，——menwhoconsoleusformanyevilsinherentinoursocialstate。Righteousnessisseensoseldomthatourtoofeeblenaturesdistrustappearances。Youhaveinmeafriend，ifyouwillallowmethehonorofassumingthattitle。Butyoumustlearntoknowme，monsieur。IshouldlosemyownesteemifInominatedThuillier。No，mysonshallneverownhishappinesstoanevilactiononhisfather’spart。Ishallnotchangemycandidatebecausemyson’sinterestsdemandit。Thatiscivicvirtue，monsieur。"
LaPeyradepulledouthishandkerchiefandrubbeditinhiseyesothatitdrewatear，ashesaid，holdingouthishandtoPhellion，andturningasidehishead：——
"Ah！monsieur，howsublimeastrugglebetweenpublicandprivateduty！
HadIcomehereonlytoseethissight，myvisitwouldnothavebeenwasted。Youcannotdootherwise！Inyourplace，Ishoulddothesame。
YouarethatnoblestthingthatGodhasmade——arighteousman！acitizenoftheJean—Jacquestype！Withmanysuchcitizens，ohFrance！
mycountry！whatmightestthoubecome！ItisI，monsieur，whosolicit，humbly，thehonortobeyourfriend。"
"Whatcanbehappening？"saidMadamePhellion，watchingthescenethroughthewindow。"Doseeyourfatherandthathorridmanembracingeachother。"
PhellionandlaPeyradenowcameoutandjoinedthefamilyinthegarden。
"MydearFelix，"saidtheoldman，pointingtolaPeyrade，whowasbowingtoMadamePhellion，"beverygratefultothatadmirableyoungman；hewillprovemostusefultoyou。"
ThelawyerwalkedforaboutfiveminuteswithMadameBarniolandMadamePhellionbeneaththeleaflesslindens，andgavethem（inconsequenceoftheembarrassingcircumstancescreatedbyPhellion’spoliticalobstinacy）apieceofadvice，theeffectsofwhichweretobearfruitthatevening，whileitsfirstresultwastomakebothladiesadmirehistalents，hisfrankness，andhisinappreciablegoodqualities。Whenthelawyerdepartedthewholefamilyconductedhimtothestreetgate，andalleyesfollowedhimuntilhehadturnedthecorneroftherueduFaubourg—Saint—Jacques。MadamePhellionthentookthearmofherhusbandtoreturntothesalon，saying：——
"Hey！myfriend！whatdoesthismean？You，suchagoodfather，howcanyou，fromexcessivedelicacy，standinthewayofsuchafinemarriageforourFelix？"
"Mydear，"repliedPhellion，"thegreatmenofantiquity，Brutusandothers，wereneverfatherswhencalledupontobecitizens。Thebourgeoisiehas，evenmorethanthearistocracywhoseplaceithasbeencalledupontotake，theobligationsofthehighestvirtues。
MonsieurdeSaint—HilairedidnotthinkofhislostarminpresenceofthedeadTurenne。Wemustgiveproofofourworthiness；letusgiveitateverystateofthesocialhierarchy。ShallIinstructmyfamilyinthehighestcivicprinciplesonlytoignorethemmyselfatthemomentforapplyingthem？No，mydear；weep，ifyoumust，to—day，butto—morrowyouwillrespectme，"headded，seeingtearsintheeyesofhisstarchedbetterhalf。
Thesenoblewordsweresaidonthesillofthedoor，abovewhichwaswritten，"Aureamediocritas。"
"Ioughttohaveput，’etdigna，’"addedPhellion，pointingtothetablet，"butthosetwowordswouldimplyself—praise。"
"Father，"saidMarie—TheodorePhellion，thefutureengineerof"pontsetchaussees，"whenthefamilywereoncemoreseatedinthesalon，"itseemstomethatthereisnothingdishonorableinchangingone’sdeterminationaboutachoicewhichisofnorealconsequencetopublicwelfare。"
"Noconsequence，myson！"criedPhellion。"BetweenourselvesIwillsay，andFelixsharesmyopinion，MonsieurThuillierisabsolutelywithoutcapacity；heknowsnothing。MonsieurHoraceBianchonisanableman；hewillobtainathousandthingsforourarrondissement，andThuillierwillobtainnone！Rememberthis，myson；tochangeagooddeterminationforabadonefrommotivesofself—interestisoneofthoseinfamousactionswhichescapethecontrolofmenbutarepunishedbyGod。Iam，orIthinkIam，voidofallblamebeforemyconscience，andIoweittoyou，mychildren，toleavemymemoryunstainedamongyou。Nothing，therefore，canmakemechangemydetermination。"
"Oh，mygoodfather！"criedthelittleBarniolwoman，flingingherselfonacushionatPhellion’sknees，"don’trideyourhighhorse！Therearemanyfoolsandidiotsinthemunicipalcouncil，andFrancegetsalongallthesame。ThatoldThuillierwilladopttheopinionsofthoseabouthim。DoreflectthatCelestewillprobablyhavefivehundredthousandfrancs。"
"Shemighthavemillions，"saidPhellion，"andImightseethemthereatmyfeetbeforeIwouldproposeThuillier，whenIowetothememoryofthebestofmentonominate，ifpossible，HoraceBianchon，hisnephew。FromtheheavenaboveusPopinotiscontemplatingandapplaudingme！"criedPhellion，withexaltation。"ItisbysuchconsiderationsasyousuggestthatFranceisbeinglowered，andthebourgeoisiearebringingthemselvesintocontempt。"
"Myfatherisright，"saidFelix，comingoutofadeepreverie。"Hedeservesourrespectandlove；ashehasthroughoutthewholecourseofhismodestandhonoredlife。Iwouldnotowemyhappinesseithertoremorseinhisnoblesoul，ortoalowpoliticalbargain。IloveCelesteasIlovemyownfamily；but，aboveallthat，Iplacemyfather’shonor，andsincethisquestionisamatterofconsciencewithhimitmustnotbespokenofagain。"
Phellion，withhiseyesfulloftears，wentuptohiseldestsonandtookhiminhisarms，saying，"Myson！myson！"inachokingvoice。
"Allthatisnonsense，"whisperedMadamePhellioninMadameBarniol’sear。"Comeanddressme；Ishallmakeanendofthis；Iknowyourfather；hehasputhisfootdownnow。Tocarryouttheplanthatpiousyoungman，Theodose，suggested，Iwantyourhelp；holdyourselfreadytogiveit，mydaughter。"
Atthismoment，GenevievecameinandgavealettertoMonsieurPhellion。
"Aninvitationfordinnerto—day，forMadamePhellionandFelixandmyself，attheThuilliers’，"hesaid。
ThemagnificentandsurprisingideaofThuillier’smunicipaladvancement，putforthbythe"advocateofthepoor"wasnotlessupsettingintheThuillierhouseholdthanitwasinthePhellionsalon。JeromeThuillier，withoutactuallyconfidinganythingtohissister，forhemadeitapointofhonortoobeyhisMephistopheles，hadrushedtoheringreatexcitementtosay：——
"Mydearestgirl"（healwaystouchedherheartwiththosecaressingwords），"weshallhavesomebig—wigsatdinnerto—day。I’mgoingtoasktheMinards；thereforetakepainsaboutyourdinner。IhavewrittentoMonsieurandMadamePhellion；itisratherlate；butthere’snoneedofceremonywiththem。AsfortheMinards，Imustthrowalittledustintheireyes；Ihaveaparticularneedofthem。"
"FourMinards，threePhellions，fourCollevilles，andourselves；thatmakesthirteen——"
"LaPeyrade，fourteen；anditisworthwhiletoinviteDutocq；hemaybeusefultous。I’llgoupandseehim。"
"Whatareyouscheming？"criedhissister。"Fifteentodinner！There’sfortyfrancs，attheveryleast，waltzingoff。"
"Youwon’tregretthem，mydearest。Iwantyoutobeparticularlyagreeabletoouryoungfriend，laPeyrade。There’safriend，indeed！
you’llsoonhaveproofsofthat！Ifyouloveme，cossethimwell。"
Sosaying，hedeparted，leavingBrigittebewildered。
"Proofs，indeed！yes，I’lllookoutforproofs，"shesaid。"I’mnottobecaughtwithfinewords，notI！Heisanamiablefellow；butbeforeItakehimintomyheartIshallstudyhimalittlecloser。"
AfterinvitingDutocq，Thuillier，havingbedizenedhimself，wenttothehotelMinard，ruedesMacons—Sorbonne，tocapturethestoutZelie，andglossovertheshortnessoftheinvitation。
MinardhadpurchasedoneofthoselargeandsumptuoushabitationswhichtheoldreligiousordersbuiltabouttheSorbonne，andasThuilliermountedthebroadstonestepswithanironbalustrade，thatprovedhowartsofthesecondclassflourishedunderLouisXIII。，heenviedboththemansionanditsoccupant，——themayor。
Thisvastbuilding，standingbetweenacourtyardandgarden，isnoticeableasaspecimenofthestyle，bothnobleandelegant，ofthereignofLouisXIII。，comingsingularly，asitdid，betweenthebadtasteoftheexpiringrenaissanceandtheheavygrandeurofLouisXIV。，atitsdawn。Thistransitionperiodisshowninmanypublicbuildings。Themassivescroll—workofseveralfacades——thatoftheSorbonne，forinstance，——andcolumnsrectifiedaccordingtotherulesofGrecianart，werebeginningtoappearinthisarchitecture。
Agrocer，aluckyadulterator，nowtooktheplaceoftheformerecclesiasticalgovernorofaninstitutioncalledinformertimesL’Economat；anestablishmentconnectedwiththegeneralagencyoftheoldFrenchclergy，andfoundedbythelong—sightedgeniusofRichelieu。Thuillier’snameopenedforhimthedoorsofthesalon，wheresatenthronedinvelvetandgold，amidthemostmagnificent"Chineseries，"thepoorwomanwhoweighedwithallheravoirdupoisontheheartsandmindsofprincesandprincessesatthe"popularballs"
ofthepalace。
"Isn’tsheagoodsubjectfor’LaCaricature’？"saidaso—calledladyofthebedchambertoaduchess，whocouldhardlyhelplaughingattheaspectofZelie，glitteringwithdiamonds，redasapoppy，squeezedintoagoldbrocade，androllingalonglikethecastsofherformershop。
"Willyoupardonme，fairlady，"beganThuillier，twistinghisbody，andpausinginposenumbertwoofhisimperialrepertory，"forhavingallowedthisinvitationtoremaininmydesk，thinking，allthewhile，thatitwassent？Itisforto—day，butperhapsIamtoolate？"
Zelieexaminedherhusband’sfaceasheapproachedthemtoreceiveThuillier；thenshesaid：——
"Weintendedtodriveintothecountryanddineatsomechancerestaurant；butwe’llgiveupthatideaandallthemorereadilybecause，inmyopinion，itisgettingdevilishlyvulgartodriveoutofParisonSundays。"
"Wewillhavealittledancetothepianofortheyoungpeople，ifenoughcome，asIhopetheywill。IhavesentalinetoPhellion，whosewifeisintimatewithMadamePron，thesuccessor——"
"SuccessorESS，"interruptedMadameMinard。
"No，"saidThuillier，"itoughttobesuccess’ress；justaswesaymay’ress，droppingtheO，youknow。"
"Isitfulldress？"askedMadameMinard。
"Heavens！no，"repliedThuillier；"youwouldgetmefinelyscoldedbymysister。No，itisonlyafamilyparty。UndertheEmpire，madame，wealldevotedourselvestodancing。Atthatgreatepochofournationallifetheythoughtasmuchofafinedancerastheydidofagoodsoldier。Nowadaysthecountryissomatter—of—fact。"
"Well，wewon’ttalkpolitics，"saidthemayor，smiling。"TheKingisgrand；heisveryable。Ihaveadeepadmirationformyowntime，andfortheinstitutionswhichwehavegiventoourselves。TheKing，youmaybesure，knowsverywellwhatheisdoingbythedevelopmentofindustries。HeisstrugglinghandtohandagainstEngland；andwearedoinghimmoreharmduringthisfruitfulpeacethanallthewarsoftheEmpirewouldhavedone。"
"WhatadeputyMinardwouldmake！"criedZelie，naively。"Hepractisesspeechifyingathome。You’llhelpustogethimelected，won’tyou，Thuillier？"
"Wewon’ttalkpoliticsnow，"repliedThuillier。"Comeatfive。"
"WillthatlittleVinetbethere？"askedMinard；"hecomes，nodoubt，forCeleste。"
"Thenhemaygointomourning，"repliedThuillier。"Brigittewon’thearofhim。"
ZelieandMinardexchangedasmileofsatisfaction。
"Tothinkthatwemusthob—nobwithsuchcommonpeople，allforthesakeofourson！"criedZelie，whenThuillierwassafelydownthestaircase，towhichthemayorhadaccompaniedhim。
"Ha！hethinkstobedeputy！"thoughtThuillier，ashewalkedaway。
"Thesegrocers！nothingsatisfiesthem。Heavens！whatwouldNapoleonsayifhecouldseethegovernmentinthehandsofsuchpeople！I’matrainedadministrator，atanyrate。Whatacompetitor，tobesure！I
wonderwhatlaPeyradewillsay？"
Theambitiousex—beaunowwenttoinvitethewholeLaudigeoisfamilyfortheevening，afterwhichhewenttotheCollevilles’，tomakesurethatCelesteshouldwearabecominggown。HefoundFlavieratherpensive。Shehesitatedaboutcoming，butThuillierovercameherindecision。
"Myoldandeveryoungfriend，"hesaid，takingherroundthewaist，forshewasaloneinherlittlesalon，"Iwon’thaveanysecretfromyou。Agreataffairisinthewindforme。Ican’ttellyoumorethanthat，butIcanaskyoutobeparticularlycharmingtoacertainyoungman——"
"Whoisit？"
"LaPeyrade。"
"Why，Charles？"
"Heholdsmyfutureinhishands。Besides，he’samanofgenius。I
knowwhatthatis。He’sgotthissortofthing，"——andThuilliermadethegestureofadentistpullingoutabacktooth。"Wemustbindhimtous，Flavie。But，aboveall，don’tlethimseehispower。Asforme，Ishalljustgiveandtakewithhim。"
"Doyouwantmetobecoquettish？"
"Nottoomuchso，myangel，"repliedThuillier，withafoppishair。
Andhedeparted，notobservingthestuporwhichovercameFlavie。
"Thatyoungmanisapower，"shesaidtoherself。"Well，weshallsee！"
Forthesereasonsshedressedherhairwithmarabouts，putonherprettiestgownofgrayandpink，whichallowedherfineshoulderstobeseenbeneathapelerineofblacklace，andtookcaretokeepCelesteinalittlesilkfrockmadewithayokeandalargeplaitedcollarette，tellinghertodressherhairplainly，alaBerthe。
CHAPTERVIII
ADMAJOREMTHEODOSISGLORIAM
Athalf—pastfouro’clockTheodosewasathispost。Hehadputonhisvacant，half—servilemannerandsoftvoice，andhedrewThuillieratonceintothegarden。
"Myfriend，"hesaid，"Idon’tdoubtyourtriumph，butIfeelthenecessityofagainwarningyoutobeabsolutelysilent。Ifyouarequestionedaboutanything，especiallyaboutCeleste，makeevasiveanswerswhichwillkeepyourquestionersinsuspense。Youmusthavelearnedhowtodothatinagovernmentoffice。"
"Iunderstand！"saidThuillier。"Butwhatcertaintyhaveyou？"
"You’llseewhatafinedessertIhavepreparedforyou。Butpleasebemodest。TherecometheMinards；letmepipetothem。Bringthemouthere，andthendisappearyourself。"
Afterthefirstsalutations，laPeyradewascarefultokeepclosetothemayor，andpresentlyatanopportunemomenthedrewhimasidetosay：——
"Monsieurlemaire，amanofyourpoliticalimportancedoesn’tcometoborehimselfinahouseofthiskindwithoutanobject。Idon’twanttofathomyourmotives——which，indeed，Ihavenorighttodo——andmypartinthisworldiscertainlynottominglewithearthlypowers；butpleasepardonmyapparentpresumption，anddeigntolistentoapieceofadvicewhichIshallventuretogiveyou。IfIdoyouaserviceto—dayyouareinapositiontoreturnittometo—morrow；therefore，incaseIshouldbesofortunateastodoyouagoodturn，Iamreallyonlyobeyingthelawofself—interest。OurfriendThuillierisindespairatbeinganobody；hehastakenitintohisheadthathewantstobecomeapersonageinthisarrondissement——"
"Ah！ah！"exclaimedMinard。
"Oh！nothingveryexalted；hewantstobeelectedtothemunicipalcouncil。Now，IknowthatPhellion，seeingtheinfluencesuchaservicewouldhaveonhisfamilyinterests，intendstoproposeyourpoorfriendascandidate。Well，perhapsyoumightthinkitwise，inyourowninterests，tobebeforehandwithhim。Thuillier’snominationcouldonlybefavorableforyou——Imeanagreeable；andhe’llfillhisplaceinthecouncilverywell；therearesometherewhoarenotasstrongashe。Besides，owingtohisplacetoyoursupport，hewillseewithyoureyes；healreadylookstoyouasoneofthelightsofthetown。"
"Mydearfellow，Ithankyouverymuch，"repliedMinard。"YouaredoingmeaserviceIcannotsufficientlyacknowledge，andwhichprovestome——"
"ThatIdon’tlikethosePhellions，"saidlaPeyrade，takingadvantageofaslighthesitationonthepartofthemayor，whofearedtoexpressanideainwhichthelawyermightseecontempt。"Ihatepeoplewhomakecapitaloutoftheirhonestyandcoinmoneyfromfinesentiments。"
"Youknowthemwell，"saidMinard；"theyaresycophants。Thatman’swholelifeforthelasttenyearsisexplainedbythisbitofredribbon，"addedthemayor，pointingtohisownbuttonhole。
"Takecare！"saidthelawyer，"hissonisinlovewithCeleste，andhe’sfairlyintheheartofthefamily。"
"Yes，butmysonhastwelvethousandayearinhisownright。"
"Oh！"saidTheodose，withastart，"MademoiselleBrigittewassayingtheotherdaythatshewantedatleastasmuchasthatinCeleste’ssuitor。Moreover，sixmonthshenceyou’llprobablyhearthatThuillierhasapropertyworthfortythousandfrancsayear。"
"Thedevil！well，Ithoughtasmuch。Yes，certainly，heshallbemadeamemberofthemunicipalcouncil。"
"Inanycase，don’tsayanythingaboutmetohim，"saidtheadvocateofthepoor，whonowhastenedawaytospeaktoMadamePhellion。"Well，myfairlady，"hesaid，whenhereachedher，"haveyousucceeded？"
"Iwaitedtillfouro’clock，andthenthatworthyandexcellentmanwouldnotletmefinishwhatIhadtosay。Heismuchtobusytoacceptsuchanoffice，andhesentaletterwhichMonsieurPhellionhasread，sayingthathe，DoctorBianchon，thankedhimforhisgoodintentions，andassuredhimthathisowncandidatewasMonsieurThuillier。Hesaidthatheshoulduseallhisinfluenceinhisfavor，andbeggedmyhusbandtodothesame。"
"Andwhatdidyourexcellenthusbandsay？"
"’Ihavedonemyduty，’hesaid。’Ihavenotbeenfalsetomyconscience，andnowIamallforThuillier。’"
"Well，then，thethingissettled，"saidlaPeyrade。"Ignoremyvisit，andtakeallthecreditoftheideatoyourselves。"
ThenhewenttoMadameColleville，composinghimselfintheattitudeandmannerofthedeepestrespect。
"Madame，"hesaid，"havethegoodnesstosendouttomeherethatkindlypapaColleville。AsurpriseistobegiventoMonsieurThuillier，andIwantMonsieurCollevilletobeinthesecret。"
WhilelaPeyradeplayedthepartofmanoftheworldwithColleville，andallowedhimselfvariouswittysarcasmswhenexplainingtohimThuillier’scandidacy，tellinghimheoughttosupportit，ifonlytoexhibithisincapacity，Flaviewaslisteninginthesalontothefollowingconversation，whichbewilderedherforthemomentandmadeherearsring。
"IshouldliketoknowwhatMonsieurCollevilleandMonsieurdelaPeyradecanbesayingtoeachothertomakethemlaughlikethat，"
saidMadameThuillier，foolishly，lookingoutofthewindow。
"Alotofimproperthings，asmenalwaysdowhentheytalktogether，"
repliedMademoiselleThuillier，whooftenattackedmenwiththesortofinstinctnaturaltooldmaids。
"No，theyareincapableofthat，"saidPhellion，gravely。"MonsieurdelaPeyradeisoneofthemostvirtuousyoungmenIhaveevermet。
PeopleknowwhatIthinkofFelix；well，Iputthetwoonthesameline；indeed，IwishmysonhadalittlemoreofMonsieurdelaPeyrade’sbeautifulpiety。"
"Youareright；heisamanofgreatmerit，whoissuretosucceed，"
saidMinard。"Asforme，mysuffrages——forIreallyoughtnottosayprotection——arehis。"
"Hepaysmoreforoilthanforbread，"saidDutocq。"Iknowthat。"
"Hismother，ifhehasthehappinesstostillpossessher，mustbeproudofhim，"remarkedMadameThuillier，sententiously。
"Heisarealtreasureforus，"saidThuillier。"Ifyouonlyknewhowmodestheis！Hedoesn’tdohimselfjustice。"
"Icananswerforonething，"addedDutocq；"noyoungmanevermaintainedanoblerattitudeinpoverty；hetriumphedoverit；buthesuffered——itiseasytoseethat。"
"Pooryoungman！"criedZelie。"Suchthingsmakemyheartache！"
"Anyonecouldsafelytrustbothsecretsandfortunetohim，"saidThuillier；"andinthesedaysthatisthefinestthingthatcanbesaidofaman。"
"ItisCollevillewhoismakinghimlaugh，"criedDutocq。
JustthenCollevilleandlaPeyradereturnedfromthegardentheverybestfriendsintheworld。
"Messieurs，"saidBrigitte，"thesoupandtheKingmustneverbekeptwaiting；giveyourhandtotheladies。"
Fiveminutesafterthislittlepleasantry（issuingfromthelodgeofherfathertheporter）Brigittehadthesatisfactionofseeinghertablesurroundedbytheprincipalpersonagesofthisdrama；therest，withtheoneexceptionoftheodiousCerizet，arrivedlater。
Theportraitoftheformermakerofcanvasmoney—bagswouldbeincompleteifweomittedtogiveadescriptionofoneofherbestdinners。Thephysiognomyofthebourgeoiscookof1840is，moreover，oneofthosedetailsessentiallynecessarytoahistoryofmannersandcustoms，andcleverhousewivesmayfindsomelessonsinit。Awomandoesn’tmakeemptybagsfortwentyyearswithoutlookingoutforthemeanstofillafewofthem。NowBrigittehadonepeculiarcharacteristic。Sheunitedtheeconomytowhichsheowedherfortunewithafullunderstandingofnecessaryexpenses。Herrelativeprodigality，whenitconcernedherbrotherorCeleste，wastheantipodesofavarice。Infact，sheoftenbemoanedherselfthatshecouldn’tbemiserly。Atherlastdinnershehadrelatedhow，afterstrugglingtenminuteandenduringmartyrdom，shehadendedbygivingtenfrancstoapoorworkwomanwhomsheknew，positively，hadbeenwithoutfoodfortwodays。
"Nature，"shesaidnaively，"isstrongerthanreason。"
Thesoupwasaratherpalebouillon；for，evenonanoccasionlikethis，thecookhadbeenenjoinedtomakeagreatdealofbouillonoutofthebeefsupplied。Then，asthesaidbeefwastofeedthefamilyonthenextdayandthedayafterthat，thelessjuiceitexpendedinthebouillon，themoresubstantialwerethesubsequentdinners。Thebeef，littlecooked，wasalwaystakenawayatthefollowingspeechfromBrigitte，utteredassoonasThuillierputhisknifeintoit：——
"Ithinkitisrathertough；senditaway，Thuillier，nobodywilleatit；wehaveotherthings。"
Thesoupwas，infact，flankedbyfourviandsmountedonoldhot—waterchafing—dishes，withtheplatingwornoff。Atthisparticulardinner（afterwardscalledthatofthecandidacy）thefirstcourseconsistedofapairofduckswitholives，oppositetowhichwasalargepiewithforcemeatballs，whileadishofeels"alatartare"correspondedinlikemannerwithafricandeauonchicory。Thesecondcoursehadforitscentraldishamostdignifiedgoosestuffedwithchestnuts，asaladofvegetablesgarnishedwithroundsofbeetrootoppositetocustardsincups，whilelowerdownadishofturnips"ausucre"facedatimbaleofmacaroni。Thisgaladinneroftheconciergetypecost，attheutmost，twentyfrancs，andtheremainsofthefeastprovidedthehouseholdforacoupleofdays；nevertheless，Brigittewouldsay：——
"Pest！whenonehastohavecompanyhowthemoneygoes！Itisfearful！"
Thetablewaslightedbytwohideouscandlesticksofplatedsilverwithfourbrancheseach，inwhichshoneeightofthosethriftywax—
candlesthatgobythenameofAurora。Thelinenwasdazzlinginwhiteness，andthesilver，withbeadededges，wasthefruit，evidently，ofsomepurchasemadeduringtheRevolutionbyThuillier’sfather。Thusthefareandtheservicewereinkeepingwiththehouse，thedining—room，andtheThuilliersthemselves，whocouldnever，underanycircumstances，getthemselvesabovethisstyleofliving。TheMinards，Collevilles，andlaPeyradeexchangednowandthenasmilewhichbetrayedtheirmutuallysatiricalbutrepressedthoughts。LaPeyrade，seatedbesideFlavie，whisperedinherear：——
"Youmustadmitthattheyoughttobetaughthowtolive。ButthoseMinardsarenobetterintheirway。Whatcupidity！they’vecomeheresolelyafterCeleste。Yourdaughterwillbelosttoyouifyouletthemhaveher。Theseparvenushaveallthevicesofthegreatlordsofotherdayswithouttheirelegance。Minard’sson，whohastwelvethousandfrancsayearofhisown，couldverywellfindawifeelsewhere，insteadofpushinghisspeculatingrakeinhere。Whatfunitwouldbetoplayuponthosepeopleasonewouldonabass—violoraclarionet！"
Whilethedishesofthesecondcoursewerebeingremoved，Minard，afraidthatPhellionwouldprecedehim，saidtoThuillierwithagraveair：——
"MydearThuillier，inacceptingyourdinner，Ididsoforthepurposeofmakinganimportantcommunication，whichdoesyousomuchhonorthatallherepresentoughttobemadeparticipantsinit。"
Thuillierturnedpale。