CHAPTER XL. THE HAPPY PAIR.

seforallhisiniquitiesstoodthere!”pointingtohisbride. AndthenthebridesenthimbacktoMadameBeck,andshetookmetoherself,andproceededliterallytosuffocatemewithherunrestrainedspirits,hergirlish,giddy,wildnonsense.SheshowedherringexultinglyshecalledherselfMadamelaComtessedeHamal,andaskedhowitsounded,ascoreoftimes.Isaidverylittle.Igaveheronlythecrustandrindofmynature.Nomattersheexpectedofmenothingbetter—sheknewmetoowelltolookforcompliments—mydrygibespleasedherwellenoughandthemoreimpassibleandprosaicmymien,themoremerrilyshelaughed. Soonafterhismarriage,M.deHamalwaspersuadedtoleavethearmyasthesurestwayofweaninghimfromcertainunprofitableassociatesandhabitsapostofattachéwasprocuredforhim,andheandhisyoungwifewentabroad.Ithoughtshewouldforgetmenow,butshedidnot.Formanyyears,shekeptupacapricious,fitfulsortofcorrespondence.Duringthefirstyearortwo,itwasonlyofherselfandAlfredshewrotethen,Alfredfadedinthebackgroundherselfandacertain,newcomerprevailedoneAlfredFanshawedeBassompierredeHamalbegantoreigninhisfather’sstead.Thereweregreatboastingsaboutthispersonage,extravagantamplificationsuponmiraclesofprecocity,mixedwithvehementobjurgationsagainstthephlegmaticincredulitywithwhichIreceivedthem.Ididn’tknow“whatitwastobeamother”“unfeelingthingthatIwas,thesensibilitiesofthematernalheartwereGreekandHebrewtome,”andsoon.Induecourseofnaturethisyounggentlemantookhisdegreesinteething,measles,hooping-cough:thatwasaterribletimeforme—themamma’slettersbecameaperfectshoutofafflictionneverwomanwassoputuponbycalamity:neverhumanbeingstoodinsuchneedofsympathy.Iwasfrightenedatfirst,andwrotebackpatheticallybutIsoonfoundouttherewasmorecrythanwoolinthebusiness,andrelapsedintomynaturalcruelinsensibility.Astotheyouthfulsufferer,heweatheredeachstormlikeahero.Fivetimeswasthatyouth“inarticulomortis,”andfivetimesdidhemiraculouslyrevive. InthecourseofyearstherearoseominousmurmuringsagainstAlfredtheFirstM.deBassompierrehadtobeappealedto,debtshadtobepaid,someofthemofthatdismalanddingyordercalled“debtsofhonour”ignobleplaintsanddifficultiesbecamefrequent.Undereverycloud,nomatterwhatitsnature,Ginevra,asofold,calledoutlustilyforsympathyandaid.Shehadnonotionofmeetinganydistresssingle-handed.Insomeshape,fromsomequarterorother,shewasprettysuretoobtainherwill,andsoshegoton—fightingthebattleoflifebyproxy,and,onthewhole,sufferingaslittleasanyhumanbeingIhaveeverknown.