light as the vine-leaves themselves, and the artist had not forgotten
the graceful tendrils, which twined in the wearer's curls just as,
in nature, they catch upon the branches. The bracelets, necklace, and
earrings were all what is called Berlin iron-work; but these delicate
arabesques were made in Vienna, and seemed to have been fashioned by the
fairies who, the stories tell us, are condemned by a jealous Carabosse
to collect the eyes of ants, or weave a fabric so diaphanous that a
nutshell can contain it. Madame Rabourdin's graceful figure, made
more slender still by the black draperies, was shown to advantage by a
carefully cut dress, the two sides of which met at the shoulders in
a single strap without sleeves. At every motion she seemed, like a
butterfly, to be about to leave her covering; but the gown held firmly
on by some contrivance of the wonderful dressmaker. The robe was of
mousseline de laine--a material which the manufacturers had not yet sent
to the Paris markets; a delightful stuff which some months later was to
have a wild success, a success which went further and lasted longer than
most French fashions. The actual economy of mousseline de laine, which
needs no washing, has since injured the sale of cotton fabrics enough to
revolutionize the Rouen manufactories. Celestine's little feet, covered
with fine silk stockings and turk-satin shoes (for silk-satin is
inadmissible in deep mourning) were of elegant proportions. Thus
dressed, she was very handsome. Her complexion, beautified by a
bran-bath, was softly radiant. Her eyes, suffused with the light of
hope, and sparkling with intelligence, justified her claims to the
superiority which des Lupeaulx, proud and happy on this occasion,
asserted for her.

She entered the room well (women will understand the meaning of that
expression), bowed gracefully to the minister's wife, with a happy
mixture of deference and of self-respect, and gave no offence by a
certain reliance on her own dignity; for every beautiful woman has the
right to seem a queen. With the minister himself she took the pretty air
of sauciness which women may properly allow themselves with men, even
when they are grand dukes. She reconnoitred the field, as it were,
while taking her seat, and saw that she was in the midst of one of those
select parties of few persons, where the women eye and appraise each
other, and every word said echoes in all ears; where every glance is
a stab, and conversa