English
Thegirlwasoneofthoseprettyandcharmingyoungcreatureswhosometimesareborn,asifbyaslipoffate,intoafamilyofclerks.
Shehadnodowry,noexpectations,nowayofbeingknown,understood,loved,marriedbyanyrichanddistinguishedman;sosheletherselfbemarriedtoalittleclerkoftheMinistryofPublicInstruction.
Shedressedplainlybecauseshecouldnotdresswell,butshewasunhappyasifshehadreallyfallenfromahigherstation;sincewithwomenthereisneithercastenorrank,forbeauty,graceandcharmtaketheplaceoffamilyandbirth.
Naturalingenuity,instinctforwhatiselegant,asupplemindaretheirsolehierarchy,andoftenmakeofwomenofthepeopletheequalsoftheverygreatestladies.
Mathildesufferedceaselessly,feelingherselfborntoenjoyalldelicaciesandallluxuries.
Shewasdistressedatthepovertyofherdwelling,atthebarenessofthewalls,attheshabbychairs,theuglinessofthecurtains.Allthosethings,ofwhichanotherwomanofherrankwouldneverevenhavebeenconscious,torturedherandmadeherangry.
ThesightofthelittleBretonpeasantwhodidherhumblehouseworkarousedinherdespairingregretsandbewilderingdreams.
ShethoughtofsilentantechambershungwithOrientaltapestry,illuminedbytallbronzecandelabra,andoftwogreatfootmeninkneebreecheswhosleepinthebigarmchairs,madedrowsybytheoppressiveheatofthestove.
Shethoughtoflongreceptionhallshungwithancientsilk,ofthedaintycabinetscontainingpricelesscuriositiesandofthelittlecoquettishperfumedreceptionroomsmadeforchattingatfiveo'clockwithintimatefriends,withmenfamousandsoughtafter,whomallwomenenvyandwhoseattentiontheyalldesire.
Whenshesatdowntodinner,beforetheroundtablecoveredwithatableclothinusethreedays,oppositeherhusband,whouncoveredthesouptureenanddeclaredwithadelightedair,"Ah,thegoodsoup!Idon'tknowanythingbetterthanthat,"
shethoughtofdaintydinners,ofshiningsilverware,oftapestrythatpeopledthewallswithancientpersonagesandwithstrangebirdsflyinginthemidstofafairyforest;
andshethoughtofdeliciousdishesservedonmarvellousplatesandofthewhisperedgallantriestowhichyoulistenwithasphinxlikesmilewhileyouareeatingthepinkmeatofatroutorthewingsofaquail.
Shehadnogowns,nojewels,nothing.Andshelovednothingbutthat.Shefeltmadeforthat.Shewouldhavelikedsomuchtoplease,tobeenvied,tobecharming,tobesoughtafter.
Shehadafriend,aformerschoolmateattheconvent,whowasrich,andwhomshedidnotliketogotoseeanymorebecauseshefeltsosadwhenshecamehome.
Butoneeveningherhusbandreachedhomewithatriumphantairandholdingalargeenvelopeinhishand.
"There,"saidhe,"thereissomethingforyou."
Shetorethepaperquicklyanddrewoutaprintedcardwhichborethesewords:
TheMinisterofPublicInstructionandMadameGeorgesRamponneaurequestthehonorofM.andMadameLoisel'scompanyatthepalaceoftheMinistryonMondayevening,January18th.
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