Chap.

  1        2|          little man with his aunt, Mme Lerat, at the Batignolles,
  2        2|            of Madame; she had left Mme Blanche for the express
  3        2|          with her, and heaven knew Mme Blanche was straining every
  4        2|        brains. She would have sent Mme Lerat, whom she was expecting
  5        2|           o’clock, when Zoe showed Mme Lerat into the room, Nana
  6        2|           had brought the journal. Mme Lerat put on her spectacles
  7        2|         charming style of writing. Mme Lerat, after having reread
  8        2|         the Rue de la Goutte–d’Or. Mme Lerat shook her head. No,
  9        2|            the verge of tears. But Mme Lerat declared that the
 10        2|          thought you had company.”~Mme Maloir, a respectable–looking
 11        2|            chaperon and companion. Mme Lerat’s presence seemed
 12        2|     gobbled them up without bread. Mme Lerat had become ceremonious;
 13        2|            I made it up,” murmured Mme Maloir, her mouth full of
 14        2|      adorned with a lofty feather. Mme Maloir had a mania for doing
 15        2|           tell. Thus one day, when Mme Blanche was with M. Octave,
 16        2|            had my troubles,” began Mme Lerat. And edging up to
 17        2|            Lerat. And edging up to Mme Maloir, she imparted to
 18        2|        cognac and sucked them. But Mme Maloir was wont to listen
 19        2|          Without thinking about it Mme Lerat had crossed two knives
 20        2|           a game of bezique,” said Mme Maloir after a short silence. “
 21        2|           play bezique?”~Certainly Mme Lerat played it, and that
 22        2|           the dirty plates. But as Mme Maloir was herself going
 23        2|           letter was for Daguenet. Mme Maloir herself wrote in
 24        2|            kisses,’” she murmured.~Mme Lerat had shown her approval
 25        2|            she cried roughly.~Then Mme Maloir, who was counting
 26        2|           be quick about it,” said Mme Lerat, shuffling the cards. “
 27        2|        anything’s excusable,” said Mme Maloir sententiously when
 28        2| sententiously when left alone with Mme Lerat.~“Four kings,” replied
 29        2|           off you go, off you go!”~Mme Maloir was for finishing
 30        2|    altering their positions, while Mme Lerat undertook the removal
 31        2|      absorbed. After a silence, as Mme Lerat was shuffling, Mme
 32        2|           Mme Lerat was shuffling, Mme Maloir asked who it was.~“
 33        2|            to be at school still!”~Mme Lerat went to fetch a water
 34        2|           you put him—?” continued Mme Maloir.~“Oh yes, I put him
 35        2|       Returning presently, she saw Mme Maloir questioning her with
 36        2|        wasted!~“For my part,” said Mme Maloir, “I should be quite
 37        2|          hard to please,” murmured Mme Lerat. “Why, one would have
 38        2|          in double–quick time. But Mme Maloir declared that one
 39        2|            with obstacles, averred Mme Lerat. The best course was
 40        2|            And as hearts were out, Mme Lerat threw down diamonds.~
 41        2|           sitting room.”~Thereupon Mme Maloir spoke about the banker
 42        2|          spoke about the banker to Mme Lerat, who knew no such
 43        2|            to each other.~Suddenly Mme Maloir forgot herself and
 44        2|         you are! It’s lucky!” said Mme Lerat, pursing up her lips,
 45        2|         for she was still vexed at Mme Maloir’s “five hundred.” “
 46        2|         hands.~It was too late now—Mme Lerat would not go to Rambouillet
 47        2|         even address themselves to Mme Maloir who, never having
 48        2|           corner of the table, and Mme Lerat took her departure
 49        2|           glowing embers. She left Mme Maloir behind her. That
 50        2|            That wasn’t the case at Mme Blanche’s, where people
 51        2|          the drawing room. Oh yes, Mme Blanche had had plenty of
 52        2|            Thursday! Quick, quick, Mme Maloir should write a second
 53        2|             But Zoe announced that Mme Maloir had slipped away
 54        3|           become customary to call Mme Muffat de Beuville in order
 55        3|       circle round the hearth, and Mme du Joncquoy, whose brother,
 56        3|          of sorts, my dear?” asked Mme Chantereau, the wife of
 57        3|         rolled from its place. But Mme de Chezelles, a convent
 58        3|          fetes are promised,” said Mme du Joncquoy.~The banker
 59        3|            to accompany him,” said Mme du Joncquoy. “Do you know
 60        3|      understand.”~“But why?” asked Mme Chantereau.~“Good gracious,
 61        3|          really serious topic. Old Mme Muffat then, whom La Faloise
 62        3|           who knew M. de Bismarck. Mme du Joncquoy had almost convinced
 63        3|            explained the position. Mme Hugon, widow of a notary,
 64        3|          Georges to see you,” said Mme Hugon to Sabine. “He’s grown,
 65        3|          sight of that respectable Mme Hugon, that motherly face
 66        3|     entered the Carmelite Convent. Mme Chantereau, a distant cousin
 67        3|        interesting.”~Nevertheless, Mme Hugon pitied the poor mother.
 68        3|            escapade of that little Mme de Chezelles, whom he simply
 69        3|            ladies of mature age as Mme Chantereau and Mme du Joncquoy,
 70        3|          age as Mme Chantereau and Mme du Joncquoy, besides four
 71        3|          little knot against which Mme Hugon’s elderly and amiable
 72        3|      Everyone began talking again. Mme du Joncquoy demurred; Mme
 73        3|          Mme du Joncquoy demurred; Mme Chantereau knew for certain
 74        3|            hovering in the wake of Mme de Chezelles, the only woman
 75        3|         fits!~“Yesterday evening,” Mme Hugon was saying, “Georges
 76        3|         love music, madame?” cried Mme du Joncquoy, lifting her
 77        3|        Varietes, at which the good Mme Hugon had not understood
 78        3|         and ecstatical admiration. Mme du Joncquoy was not fond
 79        3|          of them save Weber, while Mme Chantereau stood up for
 80        3|       proceed to the hearth, where Mme du Joncquoy was announcing
 81        3|     Monsieur de Vandeuvres,” asked Mme Chantereau, raising her
 82        3|            speak of your Germans,” Mme Chantereau was saying. “
 83        3|            and Catherine for ices. Mme Chantereau, however, was
 84        3|           Seeing him such a wreck, Mme Hugon, full of kind compassion,
 85        3|            as late as this?” asked Mme du Joncquoy. “I thought
 86        3|            in front of the hearth. Mme du Joncquoy was saying:~“
 87        3|       conversation, while the good Mme Hugon was falling asleep
 88        3|            What—what do you mean?” Mme du Joncquoy resumed. “You
 89        3|           they were laughing round Mme Chantereau, who had just
 90        4|          tonight.”~She referred to Mme Robert. Vandeuvres gave
 91        4|         her his word of honor that Mme Robert had given a spontaneous
 92        5|         was one’s duty to consider Mme Bron’s small perquisites.
 93        5|         unfinished. At that moment Mme Bron, the portress of the
 94        5|            with flowers! Then when Mme Bron returned she handed
 95        5|           flurry.~And he ran after Mme Bron and continued:~“You
 96        5|     certainly had still to look up Mme Nana, as he called her,
 97        5|     sharply turning their heads in Mme Bron’s direction every time
 98        5|            Faloise out to her. But Mme Bron was unable to comply
 99        5|         keenly, while the dresser, Mme Jules by name, was getting
100        5|           Venus’ tights and tunic. Mme Jules was a woman of no
101        5|         crowd up anyhow, Satin and Mme Jules standing back against
102        5|          movement. And there stood Mme Jules, waiting, cool and
103        5|           remain motionless, while Mme Jules came and went quietly
104        5|         her hips.~Silence reigned. Mme Jules had noticed a tear
105        5|           and held out her arms to Mme Jules, who drew the short–
106        5|          ready to go on the stage. Mme Jules, with vacant, unconcerned
107        5|           of a public holiday, old Mme Drouard, who played Juno,
108        5|        again to her dressing room, Mme Bron, who was once more
109        5|            His Highness was there! Mme Bron, who had been thirty
110        5|         for that evening. She gave Mme Bron a scribbled note in
111        5|           common dressing room.~In Mme Bron’s drinking bar downstairs
112        5|            only some dirty plates, Mme Bron having recently distributed
113        5|            the coals. She had seen Mme Bron giving the letter to
114        5|          who sat there doggedly on Mme Bron’s battered straw–bottomed
115        5|            furs slip from her, and Mme Jules, standing behind,
116        5|            had rejoined the dozing Mme Drouard. They were waiting
117        5|   gentlemen obstinately waiting on Mme Bron’s chairs. They all
118        6|            at Les Fondettes, where Mme Hugon, who was staying there
119        6|          whole household together, Mme Hugon, smiling in her kindly
120        6|          discussed by the company, Mme Hugon, as became a good
121        6|            was mentioned, at which Mme Hugon gave a little cry.~“
122        6|           him a suspicious glance. Mme Hugon continued to go into
123        6|           A horrible woman!” cried Mme Hugon with growing annoyance. “
124        6|           to grow angry,” murmured Mme Hugon after a pause, and
125        6|        silence.~“Never mind,” said Mme Hugon, kissing her son’s
126        6|            violence of the attack. Mme Hugon looked into his eyes
127        6|     marriage.~“Talking of ladies,” Mme Hugon ended by saying, “
128        6|           with your neck?” resumed Mme Hugon in an alarmed tone. “
129        6|         croon a favorite ballad of Mme Lerat’s, which was full
130        6|          the room next hers, where Mme Lerat, whom the country
131        6|       daybreak and never once hear Mme Lerat as she snored vigorously
132        6|            was already occupied by Mme Lerat and Louiset. The largest
133        6|          morning during lunch good Mme Hugon returned to the subject
134        6|       Toward Daguenet and Fauchery Mme Hugon behaved unjustly too.
135        6|           M. Theophile Venot, whom Mme Hugon remembered to have
136        6|          the golden sunlight. Soon Mme Hugon proposed that they
137        6|          walking on either side of Mme Hugon, while Vandeuvres,
138        6|          Georges at Orleans!” said Mme Hugon. “He was anxious to
139        6|       costumes.~“What is it?” said Mme Hugon in some surprise.~
140        6|            to step backward, while Mme Hugon and the others had
141        6|         his equal, but that child!~Mme Hugon, in the meantime,
142        6|       without crossing the bridge. Mme Hugon was leaning silently
143        6|         the scene he was dreading. Mme Hugon was content to look
144        6|         was ridiculously stuck up. Mme Lerat having made some sharp
145        7|            Macon, where her friend Mme de Chezelles had been ailing
146        7|      Muffat thought of questioning Mme Bron; then he grew afraid
147        7|           of gaslight slipped from Mme Bron’s window and cast a
148        7|        countess was coming up from Mme de Chezelles’s country house
149        8|        delicious.~On Twelfth Night Mme Lerat and Louiset were the
150        8|            extraordinary effect on Mme Lerat, and tears came into
151        8|      during the daytime.~Thereupon Mme Lerat detained the young
152        8|            being roasted. If, said Mme Lerat, she permitted herself
153        8|       morning she had run round to Mme Lerat’s because matters
154        8|            s what I said,” averred Mme Lerat. “’My niece,’ I said, ‘
155        8|        happy.”~At that very moment Mme Maloir entered, wearing
156        8|          delightful meeting again. Mme Maloir explained that magnificence
157        8|       everybody as very droll, and Mme Lerat and Mme Maloir shook
158        8|           droll, and Mme Lerat and Mme Maloir shook with laughter.
159        8|           had to defend his plate. Mme Lerat bored him too. She
160        8|            great incivility toward Mme Maloir and did not once
161        8|           had fallen to the lot of Mme Lerat, who popped it into
162        8|         days, when she had neither Mme Maloir nor her aunt and
163        8|         turned out to be that very Mme Robert who had interested
164        8|     refused to come to her supper. Mme Robert lived in the Rue
165        8|           paying a civil call, for Mme Robert, whom she had met
166        8|         annoyance and spoke up for Mme Robert’s strict adherence
167        8|         Indeed, she had recognized Mme Robert. The latter, looking,
168        8|       amusing, the more so because Mme Robert had quite altered
169        8|          she seemed monstrous.~But Mme Robert had caught sight
170        8|         Montmartre, raging against Mme Robert in particular. Gracious
171        8|           spent six francs, but in Mme Maloir’s society. He was
172        8|      spotted a leg of mutton.”~But Mme Lerat had less philosophy.
173        8|            fact, Fontan had turned Mme Lerat out of doors and had
174        8|        fact of the matter was that Mme Lerat was beginning to feel
175        8|       diffident with that bird, as Mme Lerat called him. She trembled
176        8|        indigestion. One evening as Mme Lerat was withdrawing from
177        8|           furious reproaches about Mme Robert. But Satin had been
178        8|         should gladly have gone to Mme Robert’s. There’s always
179        8|            ran to her aunt’s. When Mme Lerat, who happened just
180        8|           waiting for Madame.”~But Mme Lerat insisted on Nana’s
181        9|          forward to catch sight of Mme Bron underneath. She could
182        9|         need for the eavesdropping Mme Bron to listen. The pair
183       10|  loneliness and boredom.~Doubtless Mme Hugon found out that the
184       10|       alone, she nearly always had Mme Maloir at table with her.
185       10|            s magnificent elevation Mme Lerat had been puffed up
186       10|      dining at a little table with Mme Robert. Seeing Nana, she
187       10|        then carried off Satin when Mme Robert was in the closets.
188       10|            began to talk of boxing Mme Robert’s ears; one day she
189       10|           to be revenged, however, Mme Robert wrote abominable,
190       11|      morning she was chatting with Mme Lerat, the old lady having
191       12|           the slowly invading mob. Mme du Joncquoy, unable to recognize
192       12|         through the dining saloon. Mme Chantereau was gazing with
193       12| reflections.~“I declare,” murmured Mme Chantereau, “just fancy
194       12|            of her senses,” replied Mme du Joncquoy. “Did you see
195       12|            once master,” continued Mme Chantereau, “and that not
196       12|            ladies grew silent, for Mme de Chezelles was entering
197       12|          unmoved.~“An adventurer,” Mme du Joncquoy was saying. “
198       12|             here he is,” whispered Mme Chantereau.~Daguenet, who
199       12|            who had caught sight of Mme Hugon and her sons, had
200       12|             You know him?” queried Mme du Joncquoy, when Daguenet
201       12|           shook their heads, while Mme Hugon, herself somewhat
202       12|       motherly face.~“Never mind,” Mme Chantereau concluded. “Estelle
203       12|            the end of all things,” Mme du Joncquoy whispered in
204       12|           du Joncquoy whispered in Mme Chantereau’s ear as she
205       12|        ruining himself,” continued Mme Chantereau. “My husband
206       12|      proofs of this.”~“Well,” said Mme du Joncquoy, “he ought first
207       12|      respected.~“In fact,” resumed Mme du Joncquoy, “you ought
208       12|           of that.”~“Oh, Estelle!” Mme Chantereau murmured disdainfully. “
209       12|      corner behind the petticoats. Mme Hugon, though weary and
210       12|        gleaming on the white skin. Mme du Joncquoy declared that
211       12|          new code of manners, said Mme Chantereau. In old times
212       13|            news had simply crushed Mme Hugon. Philippe had been
213       13|            regained their strength Mme Hugon went downstairs. She
214       13|          her terror she recognized Mme Hugon but could not explain
215       13|            killed himself!”~Slowly Mme Hugon drew near—she was
216       13|         himself.”~Uttering no cry, Mme Hugon stooped down. Yes,
217       13|          her own house and allowed Mme Hugon to give what orders
218       13|           But neither the sight of Mme Hugon in tears nor that
219       13|           up with the stupidity of Mme Maloir, playing bezique
220       13|        musty smell. He put up with Mme Lerat and her encumbrances,
221       13|          fighting for her and that Mme Blanche would give a pile
222       13|          such a damnable state had Mme Robert reduced her. When