ns beneath
which to read my breviary?"

Like Kant, who was unable to collect his thoughts after the fir-tree at
which he was accustomed to gaze while meditating was cut down, so the
poor abbe could never attain the ardor of his former prayers while
walking up and down the shadeless paths. Du Bousquier had planted an
English garden.

"It was best," said Madame du Bousquier, without thinking so; but the
Abbe Couterier had authorized her to commit many wrongs to please her
husband.

These restorations destroyed all the venerable dignity, cordiality, and
patriarchal air of the old house. Like the Chevalier de Valois, whose
personal neglect might be called an abdication, the bourgeois dignity of
the Cormon salon no longer existed when it was turned to white and gold,
with mahogany ottomans covered in blue satin. The dining-room, adorned
in modern taste, was colder in tone than it used to be, and the dinners
were eaten with less appetite than formerly. Monsieur du Coudrai
declared that he felt his puns stick in his throat as he glanced at
the figures painted on the walls, which looked him out of countenance.
Externally, the house was still provincial; but internally everything
revealed the purveyor of the Directory and the bad taste of the
money-changer,--for instance, columns in stucco, glass doors, Greek
mouldings, meaningless outlines, all styles conglomerated, magnificence
out of place and out of season.

The town of Alencon gabbled for two weeks over this luxury, which seemed
unparalleled; but a few months later the community was proud of it, and
several rich manufacturers restored their houses and set up fine salons.
Modern furniture came into the town, and astral lamps were seen!

The Abbe de Sponde was among the first to perceive the secret
unhappiness this marriage now brought to the private life of his beloved
niece. The character of noble simplicity which had hitherto ruled their
lives was lost during the first winter, when du Bousquier gave two balls
every month. Oh, to hear violins and profane music at these worldly
entertainments in the sacred old house! The abbe prayed on his knees
while the revels lasted. Next the political system of the sober salon
was slowly perverted. The abbe fathomed du Bousquier; he shuddered at
his imperious tone; he saw the tears in his niece's eyes when she felt
herself losing all control over her own property; for her husband now
left nothing in her hands but the management of