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passed from single to wedded life under the protection of Antoine
Cornoiller； who was appointed keeper of all Mademoiselle Grandet's
estates。 Madame Cornoiller possessed one striking advantage over her
contemporaries。 Although she was fifty…nine years of age； she did not
look more than forty。 Her strong features had resisted the ravages of
time。 Thanks to the healthy customs of her semi…conventual life； she
laughed at old age from the vantage…ground of a rosy skin and an iron
constitution。 Perhaps she never looked as well in her life as she did
on her marriage…day。 She had all the benefits of her ugliness； and was
big and fat and strong； with a look of happiness on her indestructible
features which made a good many people envy Cornoiller。
〃Fast colors！〃 said the draper。
〃Quite likely to have children；〃 said the salt merchant。 〃She's
pickled in brine； saving your presence。〃
〃She is rich； and that fellow Cornoiller has done a good thing for
himself；〃 said a third man。
When she came forth from the old house on her way to the parish
church； Nanon； who was loved by all the neighborhood； received many
compliments as she walked down the tortuous street。 Eugenie had given
her three dozen silver forks and spoons as a wedding present。
Cornoiller； amazed at such magnificence； spoke of his mistress with
tears in his eyes； he would willingly have been hacked in pieces in
her behalf。 Madame Cornoiller； appointed housekeeper to Mademoiselle
Grandet； got as much happiness out of her new position as she did from
the possession of a husband。 She took charge of the weekly accounts；
she locked up the provisions and gave them out daily； after the manner
of her defunct master； she ruled over two servants；a cook； and a
maid whose business it was to mend the house…linen and make
mademoiselle's dresses。 Cornoiller combined the functions of keeper
and bailiff。 It is unnecessary to say that the women…servants selected
by Nanon were 〃perfect treasures。〃 Mademoiselle Grandet thus had four
servants； whose devotion was unbounded。 The farmers perceived no
change after Monsieur Grandet's death； the usages and customs he had
sternly established were scrupulously carried out by Monsieur and
Madame Cornoiller。
At thirty years of age Eugenie knew none of the joys of life。 Her
pale； sad childhood had glided on beside a mother whose heart； always
misunderstood and wounded； had known only suffering。 Leaving this life
joyfully； the mother pitied the daughter because she still must live；
and she left in her child's soul some fugitive remorse and many
lasting regrets。 Eugenie's first and only love was a wellspring of
sadness within her。 Meeting her lover for a few brief days； she had
given him her heart between two kisses furtively exchanged； then he
had left her； and a whole world lay between them。 This love； cursed by
her father； had cost the life of her mother and brought her only
sorrow； mingled with a few frail hopes。 Thus her upward spring towards
happiness had wasted her strength and given her nothing in exchange
for it。 In the life of the soul； as in the physical life； there is an
inspiration and a respiration； the soul needs to absorb the sentiments
of another soul and assimilate them； that it may render them back
enriched。 Were it not for this glorious human phenomenon； there would
be no life for the heart； air would be wanting； it would suffer； and
then perish。 Eugenie had begun to suffer。 For her； wealth was neither
a power nor a consolation； she could not live except through love；
through religion； through faith in the future。 Love explained to her
the mysteries of eternity。 Her heart and the Gospel taught her to know
two worlds； she bathed； night and day； in the depths of two infinite
thoughts； which for her may have had but one meaning。 She drew back
within herself； loving； and believing herself beloved。 For seven years
her passion had invaded everything。 Her treasuries were not the
millions whose revenues were rolling up； they were Charles's dressing…
case； the portraits hanging above her bed； the jewels recovered from
her father and proudly spread upon a bed of wool in a drawer of the
oaken cabinet； the thimble of her aunt； used for a while by her
mother； which she wore religiously as she worked at a piece of
embroidery；a Penelope's web； begun for the sole purpose of putting
upon her finger that gold so rich in memories。
It seemed unlikely that Mademoiselle Grandet would marry during the
period of her mourning。 Her genuine piety was well known。 Consequently
the Cruchots； whose policy was sagely guided by the old abbe；
contented themselves for the time being with surrounding the great
heiress and paying her the most affectionate attentions。 Every evening
the hall was filled with a party of devoted Cruchotines； who sang the
praises of its mistress in every key。 She had her doctor in ordinary；
her grand almoner； her chamberlain； her first lady of honor； her prime
minister； above all； her chancellor； a chancellor who would fain have
said much to her。 If the heiress had wished for a train…bearer； one
would instantly have been found。 She was a queen； obsequiously
flattered。 Flattery never emanates from noble souls； it is the gift of
little minds； who thus still further belittle themselves to worm their
way into the vital being of the persons around whom they crawl。
Flattery means self…interest。 So the people who； night after night；
assembled in Mademoiselle Grandet's house （they called her
Mademoiselle de Froidfond） outdid each other in expressions of
admiration。 This concert of praise； never before bestowed upon
Eugenie； made her blush under its novelty； but insensibly her ear
became habituated to the sound； and however coarse the compliments
might be； she soon was so accustomed to hear her beauty lauded that if
any new…comer had seemed to think her plain； she would have felt the
reproach far more than she might have done eight years earlier。 She
ended at last by loving the incense； which she secretly laid at the
feet of her idol。 By degrees she grew accustomed to be treated as a
sovereign and to see her court pressing around her every evening。
Monsieur de Bonfons was the hero of the little circle； where his wit；
his person； his education； his amiability； were perpetually praised。
One or another would remark that in seven years he had largely
increased his fortune； that Bonfons brought in at least ten thousand
francs a year； and was surrounded； like the other possessions of the
Cruchots； by the vast domains of the heiress。
〃Do you know； mademoiselle；〃 said an habitual visitor； 〃that the
Cruchots have an income of forty thousand francs among them！〃
〃And then； their savings！〃 exclaimed an elderly female Cruchotine；
Mademoiselle de Gribeaucourt。
〃A gentleman from Paris has lately offered Monsieur Cruchot two
hundred thousand francs for his practice；〃 said another。 〃He will sell
it if he is appointed /juge de paix/。〃
〃He wants to succeed Monsieur de Bonfons as president of the Civil
courts； and is taking measures；〃 replied Madame d'Orsonval。 〃Monsieur
le president will certainly be made councillor。〃
〃Yes； he is a very distinguished man；〃 said another；〃don't you think
so； mademoiselle？〃
Monsieur de Bonfons endeavored to put himself in keeping with the role
he sought to play。 In spite of his forty years； in spite of his dusky
and crabbed features； withered like most judicial faces； he dressed in
youthful fashions； toyed with a bamboo cane； never took snuff in
Mademoiselle de Froidfond's house； and came in a white cravat and a
shirt whose pleated frill gave him a family resemblance to the race of
turkeys。 He addressed the beautiful heiress familiarly； and spoke of
her as 〃Our dear Eugenie。〃 In short； except for the number of
visitors； the change from loto to whist； and the disappearance of
Monsieur and Madame Grandet； the scene was about the same as the one
with which this history opened。 The pack were still pursuing Eugenie
and her millions； but the hounds； more in number； lay better on the
scent； and beset the prey more unitedly。 If Charles could have dropped
from the Indian Isles； he would have found the same people and the
same interests。 Madame