, 1872-10-20

There, doubtless, some hiding-place had beo1
very skillfully made; thero were put away hif
le-dceds; there hung the scales for weighing
ceipts and calculations, so tlat business people
always seeing Graudet ready for everything
might fancy that he had q fairy or demon q
his orders. There, no doubt, when Nanon snoret
go to shake the floors, when the wolf-dos
watched and gaped in the court, when MADAME
and A1ademoiselie GrauGot wero sound asleep
camo the old cooper to fonale, carcss, brood
over, and hug his gold. The walls were thick
tue blinds discreet He alone had the key ot
plans on which his fruit-trces were marked
down, and where he figured out his crops to q
vine.sprig, or almost to fagot The entrance
! to Eugeuie's room faced this Walled-up door,
room Of the husband and wife, which occupied
the entire front OF the house. Madame Grandet
had room adjoining that Of Eugenie, and con
nectcd with it by glass door. Tho room OF the
m.ster WIS separated from that of his wife by a
partition, aud from tho mysterious closet by q
| thic. wall. Father Grandet had lodged his
nephew Oh the second story, in the high man
sald above his own room, 80 that he could hear
him it ho took fancy to so in and out. When
Eugenie and her mother reached the middle Of
| the landing, they gave each other goodnight
kiss; then, after having snid some parting
words to CHARLES, cold On the lips, but certainly
warm in the heart Of the girl, they went into
their respective rooms.
| - I1tIG YOU Ait, lQJ u6pu6Wy dG1U EaLu6I
Grandet to Charles, as he opened his door.
Nanon. Without her, I tell you, sir, the
dog would devour you without saying
word Sleep ,aoundly;; Good night;
! Ha, ha! these ladies have made fire for you."
added he. Just then Nanon appeared with 3
warrning-pan. ''And here is something else,"
said Monsieur Grandet. ''Do you take my
nephew for q woman in childbed2 just carry
! back your Goals, Nanon."
fl,1t osr +1,aG civ n+o ,4
! tleman is as delicate as q woman"
"Very Wc11, so ahead, since you are set on it,
said Grandet, pushing her by the shoulders
! "but take care not to set tire to anything"
| Then the niser went down, mumbling undiB-
| tinguishable words.
Charles stood, painting, in the midst OF his
baggage After having looked at the walls of
garrot-room, covered with that yellow paper,
with punches OF flowers, with which country
taverns are papered at fireplace Of fntea
freo-stone the mere OF which was chilling; at
yellow wooden chairs, with vanished cane-seats,
and which seemed to have more than four cor
ners; ut an open wash-stand, large enough to
hold . small Sergeant, Of ,Voltigeurs; at the
scanty list-carpct, placed at the foot Of canopy
bed, whose cloth-curtains shook as II they were
about to fall, finished by the WORMS, ,-he looked
gragely at Grnnde Nanon, and said to her, 'sSee
here, my dear child, am really with Monsieur
Grandet of Paris :"
;Yes, eir, with very kind, q very mild, a
very perfect gentleman. shall1 help ycu un-
"on my word, wish you would, ny old
tISSoRer Ss R1e4 hiGs n2t YRn served IN the marines of
"oh! oh u" said Nanon, "what is that?
The marines Of the guard? Ia it something
salt2 Does it so On the water ?"
Here, look for my dressing-gown in that va
liEe- Here is the Key
Nanon was perfectly amazed to see q dress-
ing::goTn OF green elk, with flowers Of gold and
antique figures.
:.Are you going to put that on to go to bed ?"
said she.
"Yes"
sHoly Virgin what beautiful altar-cloth that
would make for the parish. But my dear, pretty
gentleman, give it to the Church, and you will
save your soul; otherwise it will cause you to
lose it. Oh how fine you look nov. / must
call MademoiRelle to look at you"
Come, Nanon,-since Nanon it is,-will you
please keep quiet? Let me go to bed, and will
arrange my clothes tomorrow; and. if my dress
ing-gown pleases you 80 much, you shall save
your soul l am too good Christian to refuse
it to you when / leave, and you can do What you
please with it."
Nanon remained, standing still, staring at
Charles, and unable to believe what he said.
:'Give me- that beautiful dress!' said she, as
ing. Good night"
Good night, Nanon."
s'What have I come here for?" said Charles |
to himself, as he fell asleep. MY father is not
fool, and my trip must have some purpose. |
head observed"
*Holy Virgin! but my cousin is handsome"
said Eugene, inter1uptlng her prayers, which |
were not finished that evening.
Madame Grandet had no particular thought |
when she went to bed. She heard, through the |
connecting door in the middle Of the partition, |
the 1niser walking back and forth in his room.
Like all timid women, abe had studied the char |
acter Of her lord. As the seaman foresees
%lnu eHo 1-rf ot1 had
foreseen the internal storm which stirred Gran
det, and, to employ the expression she used, she
played the dead person. Grandet looked at the |
interior door, with two thicknesses Of cloth, |
which he had made for his closet, and said to !
himself, s:What odd idea did my brother have
in bequeathing me his son !? 4 pretty Inherit
ance! have not twenty croWuR to give away. |
But what aro twenty CROWNS to this dandy, who |
looked at my barometer as II he wanted to burn
it up? 7"
Az he thought Of the consequences of this
legacy OF sorrow Grandet was, perhaps, more
agitated than his brother was when he wrote it. /
:" Shall have that robe OF gold ?" said Nanon,
who fell asleep dressed in her altaE-coth, dream
ing Of flowers, tapestry, and damask, for tue
first time in her Life, IS Eugene dreamed OF
love.
In the pure and monotonous life Of young
women, there comes delicious hour, when the
flower conveys thoughts to them, when the pal
pitations Of the heart impart their formulating
heat to the brain, and blend ideas in vague de-
sire; day OF innocent melancholy and sweet
joys. When children begin to see they smile;
when girl begins to see glinpsea Of feeling in
Nature, she smiles as she did when q
child. II light is the first love of life,
is not love the light Of the heart? The time for
seeing clearly things here below had come to
Eugenie. An early riser, like all country girls,
her toilet an operation which thenceforth was
to have meaning. She first brushed her chest
nut locks; wound their great braids above her
head with the greatest care, being careful lest
the hairs should escape from their plaits; and
gave to her head-dress q symmetry which
heightened the timid candor OF her face by har-
monizing the simplicity Of its odjuncts with the
naivete Of its lines. As she repeatedly washed
her hands in pure water, which hardened and
Redeemed the skin, she looked at her
Ine, round arms, and asked herself what
her cousin did to have his hands
40 softly white, and his nails SO we'll shaped.
She put on new stockings and her prettiest shoes.
She laced herself tight, skipping no eyelets.
Finally, wishing, for the first time in her life, to
anneaI To advantage, she kneM the happinass Of