小说园

第3章 the neckce（第1页）

deMauassant

Shewasoneofthoserettyandcharminggirlsborn，asthoughfatehadblunderedoverher，intoafamilyofartisans。Shehadnomarriageortion，noexectations，nomeansofgettingknown，understood，loved，andweddedbyamanofwealthanddistinction;andsheletherselfbemarriedofftoalittleclerkintheMinistryofEducation。

Hertastesweresimlebecauseshehadneverbeenabletoaffordanyother，butshewasasunhayasthoughshehadmarriedbeneathher;forwomenhavenocasteorclass，theirbeauty，grace，andcharmservingthemforbirthorfamily。Theirnaturaldelicacy，theirinstinctiveelegance，theirnimblenessofwit，aretheironlymarkofrank，anduttheslumgirlonalevelwiththehighestladyintheland。

Shesufferedendlessly，feelingherselfbornforeverydelicacyandluxury。Shesufferedfromtheoornessofherhouse，fromitsmeanwalls，wornchairs，anduglycurtains。Allthesethings，ofwhichotherwomenofherclasswouldnotevenhavebeenaware，tormentedandinsultedher。ThesightofthelittleBretongirlwhocametodotheworkinherlittlehousearousedheart-brokenregretsandhoelessdreamsinhermind。Sheimaginedsilentantechambers，heavywithorientaltaestries，litbytorchesinloftybronzesockets，withtwofallfootmeninknee-breechessleeinginlargearm-chairs，overcomebytheheavywarmthofthestove。Sheimaginedvastsaloonshungwithantiquesilks，exquisiteiecesoffurnituresuortingricelessornaments，andsmall，charming，erfumedrooms，createdjustforlittleartiesofintimatefriends，menwhowerefamousandsoughtafter，whosehomagerousedeveryotherwoman&aos;senviouslongings。

Whenshesatdownfordinnerattheroundtablecoveredwithathree-day-oldcloth，oositeherhusband，whotookthecoveroffthesou-tureen，exclaimingdelightedly，

"Aha!Scotchbroth!Whatcouldbebetter?

"sheimagineddelicatemeals，gleamingsilver，taestrieseolingthewallswithfolkofaastageandstrangebirdsinfaeryforests;sheimagineddelicatefoodservedinmarvellousdishes，murmuredgallantries，listenedtowithaninscrutablesmileasonetrifledwiththerosyfleshoftroutorwingsofasaraguschicken。

Shehadnoclothes，nojewels，nothing。Andtheseweretheonlythingssheloved;shefeltthatshewasmadeforthem。Shehadlongedsoeagerlytocharm，tobedesired，tobewildlyattractiveandsoughtafter。

Shehadarichfriend，anoldschoolfriendwhomsherefusedtovisit，becauseshesufferedsokeenlywhenshereturnedhome。Shewouldweewholedays，withgrief，regret，desair，andmisery。

Oneeveningherhusbandcamehomewithanexultantair，holdingalargeenveloeinhishand。

"Here&aos;ssomethingforyou。

"hesaid。

Swiftlyshetoretheaeranddrewoutarintedcardonwhichwerethesewords:

TheMinisterofEducationandMadameRamonneaurequesttheleasureofthecomanyofMonsieurandMadameLoiselattheMinistryontheeveningofMonday，Januarythe8th。

Insteadofbeingdelighted，asherhusbandhoed，sheflungtheinvitationetulantlyacrossthetable，murmuring:

"Whatdoyouwantmetodowiththis?

"

"Why，darling，Ithoughtyou&aos;dbeleased。Younevergoout，andthisisagreatoccasion。Ihadtremendoustroubletogetit。Everyonewantsone;it&aos;sveryselect，andveryfewgototheclerks。You&aos;llseeallthereallybigeolethere。

"

Shelookedathimoutoffuriouseyes，andsaidimatiently:

"AndwhatdoyousuoseIamtowearatsuchanaffair?

"

Hehadnotthoughtaboutit;hestammered:

"Why，thedressyougotothetheatrein。Itlooksverynice，tome。。。

"

Hestoed，stuefiedandutterlyatalosswhenhesawthathiswifewasbeginningtocry。Twolargetearsranslowlydownfromthecornersofhereyestowardsthecornersofhermouth。

"What&aos;sthematterwithyou?What&aos;sthematterwithyou?

"hefaltered。

Butwithaviolenteffortsheovercamehergriefandreliedinacalmvoice，wiingherwetcheeks:

"Nothing。OnlyIhaven&aos;tadressandsoIcan&aos;tgotothisarty。GiveyourinvitationtosomefriendofyourswhosewifewillbeturnedoutbetterthanIshall。

"

Hewasheart-broken。

"Lookhere，Mathilde，

"heersisted。

"Whatwouldbethecostofasuitabledress，whichyoucoulduseonotheroccasionsaswell，somethingverysimle?

"

Shethoughtforseveralseconds，reckoninguricesandalsowonderingforhowlargeasumshecouldaskwithoutbringinguonherselfanimmediaterefusalandanexclamationofhorrorfromthecareful-mindedclerk。