brother, he made no objection, but undertook to put
them all up for a night, and so on Saturday morning the eight-o'clock
express carried off Madame Tellier and her companions in a second-class
carriage. As far as Beuzeville they were alone, and chattered like
magpies, but at that station a couple got in. The man, an old peasant,
dressed in a blue blouse with a turned-down collar, wide sleeves tight at
the wrist, ornamented with white embroidery, wearing an old high hat with
long nap, held an enormous green umbrella in one hand, and a large basket
in the other, from which the heads of three frightened ducks protruded.
The woman, who sat up stiffly in her rustic finery, had a face like a
fowl, with a nose that was as pointed as a bill. She sat down opposite
her husband and did not stir, as she was startled at finding herself in
such smart company.

There was certainly an array of striking colors in the carriage. Madame
Tellier was dressed in blue silk from head to foot, and had on a dazzling
red imitation French cashmere shawl. Fernande was puffing in a Scotch
plaid dress, of which her companions had laced the bodice as tight as
they could, forcing up her full bust, that was continually heaving up and
down. Raphaele, with a bonnet covered with feathers, so that it looked
like a bird's nest, had on a lilac dress with gold spots on it, and there
was something Oriental about it that suited her Jewish face. Rosa had on
a pink skirt with largo flounces, and looked like a very fat child, an
obese dwarf; while the two Pumps looked as if they had cut their dresses
out of old flowered curtains dating from the Restoration.

As soon as they were no longer alone in the compartment, the ladies put
on staid looks, and began to talk of subjects which might give others a
high opinion of them. But at Bolbeck a gentleman with light whiskers, a
gold chain, and wearing two or three rings, got in, and put several
parcels wrapped in oilcloth on the rack over his head. He looked inclined
for a joke, and seemed a good-hearted fellow.

"Are you ladies changing your quarters?" he said, and that question
embarrassed them all considerably. Madame Tellier, however, quickly
regained her composure, and said sharply, to avenge the honor of her
corps:

"I think you might try and be polite!"

He excused himself, and said: "I beg your pardon, I ought to have said
your nunnery."

She could not think of a retort, so, perhaps thinking she had said
eno