第553章

RUIN.

It is the day after the death of Marshal Simon's daughters.Mdlle.de Cardoville is yet ignorant of the sad end of her young relatives.Her countenance is radiant with happiness, and never has she looked more beautiful; her eye has never been more brilliant, her complexion more dazzling white, her lip of a richer coral.According to her somewhat eccentric custom of dressing herself in her own house in a picturesque style, Adrienne wears to-day, though it is about three o'clock in the afternoon, a pale green watered-silk dress, with a very full skirt, the sleeves and bodice slashed with rose-colored ribbon, and adorned with white bugle-beads, of exquisite workmanship; while a slender network, also of white bugle-beads, concealing the thick plait of Adrienne's back-

hair, forms an oriental head-dress of charming originality, and contrasts agreeably with the long curls which fall in front almost to the swell of the bosom.To the expression of indescribable happiness which marks the features of Mdlle.de Cardoville, is added a certain resolute, cutting, satirical air, which is not habitual to her.Her charming head, and graceful, swan-like neck, are raised in an attitude of defiance; her small, rose-colored nostrils seem to dilate with ill-repressed ardor, and she waits with haughty impatience for the moment of an aggressive and ironical interview.Not far from Adrienne is Mother Bunch.She has resumed in the house the place which she at first occupied.The young sempstress is in mourning for her sister, but her countenance is expressive of a mild, calm sorrow.She looks at Mdlle.de Cardoville with surprise; for never, till now, has she seen the features of the fair patrician impressed with such a character of ironical audacity.Mdlle.

de Cardoville was exempt from the slightest coquetry, in the narrow and ordinary sense of the word.Yet she now cast an inquiring look at the glass before which she was standing, and, having restored the elastic smoothness to one of her long, golden curls, by rolling it for a moment round her ivory finger, she carefully effaced with her hands some almost imperceptible folds, which had formed themselves in the thick material of her elegant corsage.This movement, and that of turning her back to the glass, to see if her dress sat perfectly on all points, revealed, in serpentine undulations, all the charms and graces of her light and elegant figure; for, in spite of the rich fulness of her shoulders, white and firm as sculptured alabaster, Adrienne belonged to that class of privileged persons, who are able at need to make a girdle out of a garter.

Having performed, with indescribable grace, these charming evolutions of feminine coquetry, Adrienne turned towards Mother Bunch, whose surprise was still on the increase, and said to her, smiling: "My dear Magdalen, do not laugh at my question--but what would you say to a picture, that should represent me as I am now?"

"Why, lady--"

"There you are again, with your lady-ing," said Adrienne, in a tone of gentle reproach.

"Well, then, Adrienne," resumed Mother Bunch, "I think it would be a charming picture, for you are dressed, as usual with perfect taste."

"But am I not better dressed than on other days, my dear poetess? I began by telling you that I do not ask the question for my own sake,"

said Adrienne, gayly.

"Well, I suppose so," replied Mother Bunch, with a faint smile."It is certainly impossible to imagine anything that would suit you better.The light green and the pale rose-color, with the soft lustre of the white ornaments, harmonize so well with your golden hair, that I cannot conceive, I tell you, a more graceful picture."

The speaker felt what she said, and she was happy to be able to express it, for we know the intense admiration of that poetic soul for all that was beautiful.

"Well!" went on Adrienne, gayly, "I am glad, my dear, that you find me better dressed than usual."

"Only," said the hunchback, hesitating.

"Only?" repeated Adrienne, looking at her with an air of interrogation.

"Why, only," continued the other, "if I have never seen you look more pretty, I have also never observed in your features the resolute and ironical expression which they had just now.It was like an air of impatient defiance."

"And so it was, my dear little Magdalen," said Adrienne, throwing her arms round the girl's neck with joyous tenderness."I must kiss you, for having guessed it.You see, I expect a visit from my dear aunt."

"The Princess de Saint-Dizier?" cried Mother Bunch, in alarm."That wicked lady, who did you so much evil?"

"The very same.She has asked for an interview, and I shall be delighted to receive her."

"Delighted?"

"Yes--a somewhat ironical and malicious delight, it is true," answered Adrienne, still more gayly."You shall judge for yourself.She regrets her gallantries, her beauty, her youth--even her size afflicts the holy woman!--and she will see me young, fair, beloved--and above all thin--

yes, thin," added Mdlle.de Cardoville, laughing merrily."And you may imagine, my dear, how much envy and despair, the sight of a young, thin woman excites in a stout one of a certain age!"

"My friend," said Mother Bunch, gravely, "you speak in jest.And yet, I know not why, the coming of this princess alarms me."

"Dear, gentle soul, be satisfied!" answered Adrienne, affectionately."I do not fear this woman--I no longer have any fear of her--and to prove it to her confusion, I will treat her--a monster of hypocrisy and wickedness, who comes here, no doubt, on some abominable design--I will treat her as an inoffensive, ridiculous fat woman!" And Adrienne again laughed.

A servant here entered the room, and interrupted the mirth of Adrienne, by saying: "The Princess de Saint-Dizier wishes to know if you can receive her?"