CHAPTER XIV. THE FêTE.

ionhadrevealeditselfaspartofmynaturetocherishandexercisethisnew-foundfacultymightgiftmewithaworldofdelight,butitwouldnotdoforamerelooker-onatlife:thestrengthandlongingmustbeputbyandIputthemby,andfastenedtheminwiththelockofaresolutionwhichneitherTimenorTemptationhassincepicked. Nosoonerwastheplayover,andwellover,thanthecholericandarbitraryM.Paulunderwentametamorphosis.Hishourofmanagerialresponsibilitypast,heatoncelaidasidehismagisterialausterityinamomenthestoodamongstus,vivacious,kind,andsocial,shookhandswithusallround,thankedusseparately,andannouncedhisdeterminationthateachofusshouldinturnbehispartnerinthecomingball.Onhisclaimingmypromise,ItoldhimIdidnotdance.“ForonceImust,”wastheanswerandifIhadnotslippedasideandkeptoutofhisway,hewouldhavecompelledmetothissecondperformance.ButIhadactedenoughforoneeveningitwastimeIretiredintomyselfandmyordinarylife.Mydun-coloureddressdidwellenoughunderapalet?tonthestage,butwouldnotsuitawaltzoraquadrille.Withdrawingtoaquietnook,whenceunobservedIcouldobserve—theball,itssplendoursanditspleasures,passedbeforemeasaspectacle. AgainGinevraFanshawewasthebelle,thefairestandthegayestpresentshewasselectedtoopentheball:verylovelyshelooked,verygracefullyshedanced,veryjoyouslyshesmiled.Suchsceneswerehertriumphs—shewasthechildofpleasure.Workorsufferingfoundherlistlessanddejected,powerlessandrepiningbutgaietyexpandedherbutterfly’swings,lituptheirgold-dustandbrightspots,madeherflashlikeagem,andflushlikeaflower.Atallordinarydietandplainbeverageshewouldpoutbutshefedoncreamsandiceslikeahumming-birdonhoney-paste:sweetwinewasherelement,andsweetcakeherdailybread.Ginevralivedherfulllifeinaball-roomelsewhereshedroopeddispirited. Thinknot,reader,thatshethusbloomedandsparkledforthemeresakeofM.Paul,herpartner,orthatshelavishedherbestgracesthatnightfortheedificationofhercompanionsonly,orforthatoftheparentsandgrand-parents,whofilledthecarré,andlinedtheball-roomundercircumstancessoinsipidandlimited,withmotivessochillyandvapid,Ginevrawouldscarcehavedeignedtowalkonequadrille,andwearinessandfretfulnesswouldhavereplacedanimationandgood-humour,butsheknewofaleavenintheotherwiseheavyfestalmasswhichlightedthewholeshetastedacondimentwhichgaveitzestsheperceivedreasonsjustifyingthedisplayofherchoicestattractions. Intheball-room,indeed,notasinglemalespectatorwastobeseenwhowasnotmarriedandafather—M.Paulexcepted—thatgentleman,too,beingthesolecreatureofhissexpermittedtoleadoutapupiltothedanceandthisexceptionalpartwasallowedhim,partlyasamatterofold-establishedcustom(forhewasakinsmanofMadameBeck’s,andhighinherconfidence),partlybecausehewouldalwayshavehisownwayanddoashepleased,andpartlybecause—wilful,passionate,partial,ashemightbe—hewasthesoulofhonour,andmightbetrustedwitharegimentofthefairestandpurestinperfectsecuritythatunderhisleadershiptheywouldcometonoharm.Manyofthegirls—itmaybenotedinparenthesis—werenotpure-mindedatall,verymuchotherwisebuttheynomoredarebetraytheirnaturalcoarsenessinM.Paul’spresence,thantheydaretreadpurposelyonhiscorns,laughinhisfaceduringastormyapostrophe,orspeakabovetheirbreathwhilesomecrisisofirritabilitywascoveringhishumanvisagewiththemaskofanintelligenttiger.M.Paul,then,mightdancewithwhomhewould—andwoebetotheinterferencewhichputhimoutofstep. Otherstherewereadmittedasspectators—with(seeming)reluctance,throughprayers,byinfluence,underrestriction,byspecialanddifficultexerciseofMadameBeck’sgraciousgood-nature,andwhomshealltheevening—withherownpersonalsurveillance—keptfaraloofattheremotest,drearest,coldest,darkestsideofthecarré—asmall,forlornbandof“jeunesgens”thesebeingallofthebestfamilies,grown-upsonsofmotherspresent,andwhosesisterswerepupilsintheschool.ThatwholeeveningwasMadameondutybesidethese“jeunesgens”—attentivetothemasamother,butstrictwiththemasadragon.Therewasasortofcordonstretchedbeforethem,whichtheyweariedherwithprayerstobepermittedtopass,andjusttorevivethemselvesbyonedancewiththat“belleblonde,”orthat“joliebrune,”or“cettejeunefillemagnifiqueauxcheveuxnoirscommelejais.” “Taisez-vous!”Madamewouldreply,heroicallyandinexorably.“Vousnepasserezpasàmoinsquecenesoitsurmoncadavre,etvousnedanserezqu’aveclanonnettedujardin”(alludingtothelegend).Andshemajesticallywalkedtoandfroalongtheirdisconsolateandimpatientline,likealittleBonaparteinamouse-colouredsilkgown. MadameknewsomethingoftheworldMadameknewmuchofhumannature.Idon’tthinkthatanotherdirectressinVillettewouldhavedaredtoadmita“jeunehomme”withinherwallsbutMadameknewthatbygrantingsuchadmission,onanoccasionlikethepresent,aboldstrokemightbestruck,andagreatpointgained. Inthefirstplace,theparentsweremadeaccomplicestothedeed,foritwasonlythroughtheirmediationitwasbroughtabout.Secondly:theadmissionoftheserattlesnakes,sofascinatingandsodangerous,servedtodrawoutMadamepreciselyinherstrongestcharacter—thatofafirst-ratesurveillante.Thirdly:theirpresencefurnishedamostpiquantingredienttotheentertainment:thepupilsknewit,andsawit,andtheviewofsuchgoldenapplesshiningafaroff,animatedthemwithaspiritnoothercircumstancecouldhavekindled.Thechildren’spleasurespreadtotheparentslifeandmirthcirculatedquicklyroundtheball-roomthe“jeunesgens”themselves,thoughrestrained,wereamused:forMadameneverpermittedthemtofeeldull—andthusMadameBeck’sfêteannuallyensuredasuccessunknowntothefêteofanyotherdirectressintheland. IobservedthatDr.Johnwasatfirstpermittedtowalkatlargethroughtheclasses:therewasabouthimamanly,responsiblelook,thatredeemedhisyouth,andhalf-expiatedhisbeautybutassoonastheballbegan,Madameranuptohim. “Come,Wolfcome,”saidshe,laughing:“youwearsheep’sclothing,butyoumustquitthefoldnotwithstanding.ComeIhaveafinemenagerieoftwentyhereinthecarré:letmeplaceyouamongstmycollection.” “Butfirstsuffermetohaveonedancewithonepupilofmychoice.” “Haveyouthefacetoasksuchathing?Itismadness:itisimpiety.Sortez,sortez,auplusvite.” Shedrovehimbeforeher,andsoonhadhimenclosedwithinthecordon. Ginevrabeing,Isuppose,tiredwithdancing,soughtmeoutinmyretreat.Shethrewherselfonthebenchbesideme,and(ademonstrationIcouldverywellhavedispensedwith)castherarmsroundmyneck. “LucySnowe!LucySnowe!”shecriedinasomewhatsobbingvoice,halfhysterical. “Whatintheworldisthematter?”Idrilysaid. “HowdoIlook—howdoIlookto-night?”shedemanded. “Asusual,”saidI“preposterouslyvain.” “Causticcreature!Youneverhaveakindwordformebutinspiteofyou,andallotherenviousdetractors,IknowIambeautifulIfeelit,Iseeit—forthereisagreatlooking-glassinthedressing-room,whereIcanviewmyshapefromheadtofoot.Willyougowithmenow,andletustwostandbeforeit?” “Iwill,MissFanshawe:youshallbehumouredeventothetopofyourbent.” Thedressing-roomwasverynear,andwesteppedin.Puttingherarmthroughmine,shedrewmetothemirror.Withoutresistanceremonstrance,orremark,Istoodandletherself-lovehaveitsfeastandtriumph:curioustoseehowmuchitcouldswallow—whetheritwaspossibleitcouldfeedtosatiety—whetheranywhisperofconsiderationforotherscouldpenetrateherheart,andmoderateitsvaingloriousexultation. Notatall.Sheturnedmeandherselfroundsheviewedusbothonallsidesshesmiled,shewavedhercurls,sheretouchedhersash,shespreadherdress,andfinally,lettinggomyarm,andcurtseyingwithmockrespect,shesaid:“Iwouldnotbeyouforakingdom.” Theremarkwastoona?vetorouseangerImerelysaid:“Verygood.” “AndwhatwouldyougivetobeME?”sheinquired. “Notabadsixpence—strangeasitmaysound,”Ireplied.“Youarebutapoorcreature.” “Youdon’tthinksoinyourheart.” “Noforinmyheartyouhavenottheoutlineofaplace:Ionlyoccasionallyturnyouoverinmybrain.” “Well,but,”saidshe,inanexpostulatorytone,“justlistentothedifferenceofourpositions,andthenseehowhappyamI,andhowmiserableareyou.” “GoonIlisten.” “Inthefirstplace:Iamthedaughterofagentlemanoffamily,andthoughmyfatherisnotrich,Ihaveexpectationsfromanuncle.Then,Iamjusteighteen,thefinestagepossible.Ihavehadacontinentaleducation,andthoughIcan’tspell,Ihaveabundantaccomplishments.Iamprettyyoucan’tdenythatImayhaveasmanyadmirersasIchoose.ThisverynightIhavebeenbreakingtheheartsoftwogentlemen,anditisthedyinglookIhadfromoneofthemjustnow,whichputsmeinsuchspirits.Idosoliketowatchthemturnredandpale,andscowlanddartfieryglancesateachother,andlanguishingonesatme.Thereisme—happyMEnowforyou,poorsoul! “Isupposeyouarenobody’sdaughter,sinceyoutookcareoflittlechildrenwhenyoufirstcametoVillette:youhavenorelationsyoucan’tcallyourselfyoungattwenty-threeyouhavenoattractiveaccomplishments—nobeauty.Astoadmirers,youhardlyknowwhattheyareyoucan’teventalkonthesubject:yousitdumbwhentheotherteachersquotetheirconquests.Ibelieveyouneverwereinlove,andneverwillbe:youdon’tknowthefeeling,andsomuchthebetter,forthoughyoumighthaveyourownheartbroken,nolivingheartwillyoueverbreak.Isn’titalltrue?” “Agooddealofitistrueasgospel,andshrewdbesides.Theremustbegoodinyou,Ginevra,tospeaksohonestlythatsnake,ZélieSt.Pierre,couldnotutterwhatyouhaveuttered.Still,MissFanshawe,haplessasIam,accordingtoyourshowing,sixpenceIwouldnotgivetopurchaseyou,bodyandsoul.” “JustbecauseIamnotclever,andthatisallyouthinkof.Nobodyintheworldbutyoucaresforcleverness.” “Onthecontrary,Iconsideryouareclever,inyourway—verysmartindeed.Butyouweretalkingofbreakinghearts—thatedifyingamusementintothemeritsofwhichIdon’tquiteenterprayonwhomdoesyourvanityleadyoutothinkyouhavedoneexecutionto-night?” Sheapproachedherlipstomyear—“IsidoreandAlfreddeHamalarebothhere,”shewhispered. “Oh!theyare?Ishouldliketoseethem.” “There’sadearcreature!yourcuriosityisrousedatlast.Followme,Iwillpointthemout.” Sheproudlyledtheway—“Butyoucannotseethemwellfromtheclasses,”saidshe,turning,“Madamekeepsthemtoofaroff.Letuscrossthegarden,enterbythecorridor,andgetclosetothembehind:weshallbescoldedifweareseen,butnevermind.” Foronce,Ididnotmind.Throughthegardenwewent—penetratedintothecorridorbyaquietprivateentrance,andapproachingthecarré,yetkeepinginthecorridorshade,commandedanearviewofthebandof“jeunesgens.” IbelieveIcouldhavepickedouttheconqueringdeHamalevenundirected.Hewasastraight-nosed,verycorrect-featuredlittledandy.Isaylittledandy,thoughhewasnotbeneaththemiddlestandardinstaturebuthislineamentsweresmall,andsowerehishandsandfeetandhewasprettyandsmooth,andastrimasadoll:sonicelydressed,sonicelycurled,sobootedandglovedandcravated—hewascharmingindeed.Isaidso.“What,adearpersonage!”criedI,andcommendedGinevra’stastewarmlyandaskedherwhatshethoughtdeHamalmighthavedonewiththepreciousfragmentsofthatheartshehadbroken—whetherhekepttheminascent-vial,andconservedtheminottoofroses?Iobserved,too,withdeepraptureofapprobation,thatthecolonel’shandsweresca