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tapers in the tall candlesticks were yellow with smoke； and at
each corner of the shelf stood a porcelain vase crowned with
artificial flowers full of dust and stuck into moss。
In the middle of the room Hippolyte remarked a card…table ready
for play； with new packs of cards。 For an observer there was
something heartrending in the sight of this misery painted up
like an old woman who wants to falsify her face。 At such a sight
every man of sense must at once have stated to himself this
obvious dilemmaeither these two women are honesty itself； or
they live by intrigue and gambling。 But on looking at Adelaide； a
man so pure…minded as Schinner could not but believe in her
perfect innocence； and ascribe the incoherence of the furniture
to honorable causes。
〃My dear；〃 said the old lady to the young one； 〃I am cold； make a
little fire； and give me my shawl。〃
Adelaide went into a room next the drawing…room； where she no
doubt slept； and returned bringing her mother a cashmere shawl；
which when new must have been very costly； the pattern was
Indian； but it was old； faded and full of darns； and matched the
furniture。 Madame Leseigneur wrapped herself in it very
artistically； and with the readiness of an old woman who wishes
to make her words seem truth。 The young girl ran lightly off to
the lumber…room and reappeared with a bundle of small wood； which
she gallantly threw on the fire to revive it。
It would be rather difficult to reproduce the conversation which
followed among these three persons。 Hippolyte； guided by the tact
which is almost always the outcome of misfortune suffered in
early youth； dared not allow himself to make the least remark as
to his neighbors' situation； as he saw all about him the signs of
ill…disguised poverty。 The simplest question would have been an
indiscretion； and could only be ventured on by old friendship。
The painter was nevertheless absorbed in the thought of this
concealed penury； it pained his generous soul； but knowing how
offensive every kind of pity may be； even the friendliest； the
disparity between his thoughts and his words made him feel
uncomfortable。
The two ladies at first talked of painting； for women easily
guess the secret embarrassment of a first call； they themselves
feel it perhaps； and the nature of their mind supplies them with
a thousand devices to put an end to it。 By questioning the young
man as to the material exercise of his art； and as to his
studies； Adelaide and her mother emboldened him to talk。 The
indefinable nothings of their chat； animated by kind feeling；
naturally led Hippolyte to flash forth remarks or reflections
which showed the character of his habits and of his mind。 Trouble
had prematurely faded the old lady's face； formerly handsome； no
doubt； nothing was left but the more prominent features； the
outline； in a word； the skeleton of a countenance of which the
whole effect indicated great shrewdness with much grace in the
play of the eyes； in which could be discerned the expression
peculiar to women of the old Court； an expression that cannot be
defined in words。 Those fine and mobile features might quite as
well indicate bad feelings； and suggest astuteness and womanly
artifice carried to a high pitch of wickedness； as reveal the
refined delicacy of a beautiful soul。
Indeed； the face of a woman has this element of mystery to puzzle
the ordinary observer； that the difference between frankness and
duplicity； the genius for intrigue and the genius of the heart；
is there inscrutable。 A man gifted with the penetrating eye can
read the intangible shade of difference produced by a more or
less curved line； a more or less deep dimple； a more or less
prominent feature。 The appreciation of these indications lies
entirely in the domain of intuition； this alone can lead to the
discovery of what everyone is interested in concealing。 The old
lady's face was like the room she inhabited； it seemed as
difficult to detect whether this squalor covered vice or the
highest virtue； as to decide whether Adelaide's mother was an old
coquette accustomed to weigh； to calculate； to sell everything；
or a loving woman； full of noble feeling and amiable qualities。
But at Schinner's age the first impulse of the heart is to
believe in goodness。 And indeed； as he studied Adelaide's noble
and almost haughty brow； as he looked into her eyes full of soul
and thought； he breathed； so to speak； the sweet and modest
fragrance of virtue。 In the course of the conversation he seized
an opportunity of discussing portraits in general； to give
himself a pretext for examining the frightful pastel； of which
the color had flown； and the chalk in many places fallen away。
〃You are attached to that picture for the sake of the likeness；
no doubt； mesdames； for the drawing is dreadful？〃 he said；
looking at Adelaide。
〃It was done at Calcutta； in great haste；〃 replied the mother in
an agitated voice。
She gazed at the formless sketch with the deep absorption which
memories of happiness produce when they are roused and fall on
the heart like a beneficent dew to whose refreshing touch we love
to yield ourselves up； but in the expression of the old lady's
face there were traces too of perennial regret。 At least； it was
thus that the painter chose to interpret her attitude and
countenance； and he presently sat down again by her side。
〃Madame；〃 he said； 〃in a very short time the colors of that
pastel will have disappeared。 The portrait will only survive in
your memory。 Where you will still see the face that is dear to
you； others will see nothing at all。 Will you allow me to
reproduce the likeness on canvas？ It will be more permanently
recorded then than on that sheet of paper。 Grant me； I beg； as a
neighborly favor； the pleasure of doing you this service。 There
are times when an artist is glad of a respite from his greater
undertakings by doing work of less lofty pretensions； so it will
be a recreation for me to paint that head。〃
The old lady flushed as she heard the painter's words； and
Adelaide shot one of those glances of deep feeling which seem to
flash from the soul。 Hippolyte wanted to feel some tie linking
him with his two neighbors； to conquer a right to mingle in their
life。 His offer； appealing as it did to the liveliest affections
of the heart； was the only one he could possibly make； it
gratified his pride as an artist； and could not hurt the feelings
of the ladies。 Madame Leseigneur accepted； without eagerness or
reluctance； but with the self…possession of a noble soul； fully
aware of the character of bonds formed by such an obligation；
while； at the same time； they are its highest glory as a proof of
esteem。
〃I fancy；〃 said the painter； 〃that the uniform is that of a naval
officer。〃
Yes；〃 she said； 〃that of a captain in command of a vessel。
Monsieur de Rouvillemy husbanddied at Batavia in consequence
of a wound received in a fight with an English ship they fell in
with off the Asiatic coast。 He commanded a frigate of fifty…six
guns and the Revenge carried ninety…six。 The struggle was very
unequal； but he defended his ship so bravely that he held out
till nightfall and got away。 When I came back to France Bonaparte
was not yet in power； and I was refused a pension。 When I applied
again for it； quite lately； I was sternly informed that if the
Baron de Rouville had emigrated I should not have lost him； that
by this time he would have been a rear…admiral； finally； his
Excellency quoted I know not what degree of forfeiture。 I took
this step； to which I was urged by my friends； only for the sake
of my poor Adelaide。 I have always hated the idea of holding out
my hand as a beggar in the name of a grief which deprives a woman
of voice and strength。 I do not like this money valuation for
blood irreparably spilt〃
〃Dear mother； this subject always does you harm。〃
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