rooms a bed to match the hangings."

"You are right, Josette. Go yourself to Moreau; consult with him what
to do; I authorize you to get what is wanted. If the bed could be put up
to-night without Monsieur de Troisville observing it (in case Monsieur
de Troisville arrives while Moreau is here), I should like it. If Moreau
won't engage to do this, then I must put Monsieur de Troisville in the
green room, although Monsieur de Troisville would be so very near to
me."

Josette was departing when her mistress recalled her.

"Stop! explain the matter to Jacquelin," she cried, in a loud nervous
tone. "Tell _him_ to go to Moreau; I must be dressed! Fancy if Monsieur
de Troisville surprised me as I am now! and my uncle not here to receive
him! Oh, uncle, uncle! Come, Josette; come and dress me at once."

"But Penelope?" said Josette, imprudently.

"Always Penelope! Penelope this, Penelope that! Is Penelope the mistress
of this house?"

"But she is all of a lather, and she hasn't had time to eat her oats."

"Then let her starve!" cried Mademoiselle Cormon; "provided I marry,"
she thought to herself.

Hearing these words, which seemed to her like homicide, Josette stood
still for a moment, speechless. Then, at a gesture from her mistress,
she ran headlong down the steps of the portico.

"The devil is in her, Jacquelin," were the first words she uttered.

Thus all things conspired on this fateful day to produce the great
scenic effect which decided the future life of Mademoiselle Cormon.
The town was already topsy-turvy in mind, as a consequence of the five
extraordinary circumstances which accompanied Mademoiselle Cormon's
return; to wit, the pouring rain; Penelope at a gallop, in a lather, and
blown; the early hour; the parcels half-packed; and the singular air of
the excited old maid. But when Mariette made an invasion of the market,
and bought all the best things; when Jacquelin went to the principal
upholsterer in Alencon, two doors from the church, in search of a
bed,--there was matter for the gravest conjectures. These extraordinary
events were discussed on all sides; they occupied the minds of every
one, even Mademoiselle Armande herself, with whom was Monsieur de
Valois. Within two days the town of Alencon had been agitated by such
startling events that certain good women were heard to remark that the
world was coming to an end. This last news, however, resolved itself
into a single question, "What is happening