The Milkmaid of Montfermeil Part 33

"Go on! No, but I sold my furniture because I owed some money; I was four terms behind with my rent, and I had to pay."

"Why, I should say that, the term before the last, I----"

"No, I used that for something else. I am living with a friend until I get more furniture. Oh! you can't imagine----"

"What, pray?"

"I am going to be married."

"Nonsense! really?"

"Faith, yes! It's a man who's mad over me; he adores me; he's turning yellow with it."

"Try to marry him before he gets too dark."

"No, I was joking; but really, joking aside, he's a very good match--a magnificent man!"

"How old?"

"Forty."

"What does he do?"

"He's a government clerk; he has a very fine place."

"Well, my dear girl, marry at once; it seems to me that that is the very best thing that you can do."

"Ah! how happy I would make that man, if I married him!"

"Well said; that purpose does you honor."

"Oh, no! that's not it; you don't understand me. I mean that he would be enchanted if I would consent to take him for my husband."

"Ah! that makes a difference. But what deters you?"

"The trouble is that I don't love him."

"What's that? such a magnificent man!"

"Yes, but his legs are a little bowed."

"You must make him wear a frock coat."

"And then he has a nose of such length--my dear, you can't conceive what it is! His nose frightens me."

"I never knew you to be so timid."

"The fact is, I don't want to marry. Later, we'll see about it. Do you know, I am strongly inclined to go on the stage?"

"Ah! that's something new."

"Tell me, do you think I'd be very bad? You see, I have a good voice when I choose. Do you know that I'm as pretty as a love, on the stage?"

"You have no need to be on the stage for that, madame."

"Dieu! how genteel! But really, no joking, rouge and the bright light and the footlights--all those things make me a dazzling sight. I have tried on Iphigenie's costume, and it's surprising how becoming it is. I had an offer to go into the chorus at the Vaudeville, but that didn't tempt me much."

"Not to play Iphigenie?"

"No; how stupid you are! It was to get accustomed to the boards and the audience, as they say, and to looking into the auditorium. What do you advise me to do?"

"I? nothing; do what you choose; but, if you really have a chance to marry, that would be much better than going on the stage."

"Bless my soul! you talk like my aunt. But it's true that I could never be an actress; if I went on the stage and saw all those faces looking at me, I know that I should laugh like a lunatic. But I say, are we going to stand on this same spot till to-morrow? People will take us for spies. Where are you going?"

"I am going to Monsieur Destival's on a matter of business."

"He is that tall, lanky, ugly creature I've seen you with sometimes in a carriage?"

"It is quite possible."

"Ah! what a funny face he has! That man reminds me of one of Seraphin's marionettes--you know, the one that sings _tire lon pha_ in _Le Pont Ca.s.se_."

"You will always be the same, won't you?"

"Why, a body must laugh once in a while. Look you, Auguste, you can go to your Monsieur Destival's another day; to-day I don't propose to leave you."

"But, really, I have some business."

"So much the worse! It makes you very unhappy to think of pa.s.sing a day with me, don't it?"

"No, of course not; but there is to be a musical party at Madame de la Thoma.s.siniere's this evening, and I promised to be there."

"You can sing when you get up to-morrow, if you like music so much; but to-day, monsieur, you stay with me; we will go into the country to dinner, and to-night you will take me to the theatre; you've been promising me this for a long while."

It was impossible to resist Mademoiselle Virginie, and Auguste yielded with a good grace.

"We will take a cab," he said, "and go wherever you choose in the country."

"Why not take your cabriolet? why go in a cab with wretched nags, when you have a lovely horse that goes like the wind?"

Auguste, who chose to remain incognito with Virginie, preferred a cab, in which he would not be seen. There was a stand nearby; he helped his companion in, saying:

"Where shall we go?"

"Where you please."

"It makes no difference to me."