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threeoclock鈥斺�攁llissettledwithmyneighbor；thechimney…doctor；hewillrepairmyoldstove；andanswersforitsbeingasgoodasnew。
atfiveoclockwearetosetout；andputitupinpaulettesgrandmothersroom。
midnight鈥斺�攁llhasgoneoffwell。atthehouragreedupon；iwasattheoldbandbox…makers；shewasstillout。mypiedmontese＇inparisachimney…sweeperisnamed〃piedmontese〃or〃savoyard；〃
astheyusuallyefromthatcountry。＇fixedthestove；whileiarrangedadozenlogsinthegreatfireplace；takenfrommywinterstock。ishallmakeupforthembywarmingmyselfwithwalking；orbygoingtobedearlier。
myheartbeatateverystepthatwasheardonthestaircase；itrembledlesttheyshouldinterruptmeinmypreparations；andshouldthusspoilmyintendedsurprise。butno！鈥斺�攕eeeverythingready：thelightedstovemurmursgently；thelittlelampburnsuponthetable；andabottleofoilforitisprovidedontheshelf。thechimney…doctorisgone。nowmyfearlesttheyshouldeischangedintoimpatienceattheirnoting。atlastihearchildrensvoices；heretheyare：theypushopenthedoorandrushin鈥斺�攂uttheyallstopinastonishment。
atthesightofthelamp；thestove；andthevisitor；whostandstherelikeamagicianinthemidstofthesewonders；theydrawbackalmostfrightened。pauletteisthefirsttoprehendit；andthearrivalofthegrandmother；whoismoreslowlymountingthestairs；finishestheexplanation。thenetears；ecstasies；thanks！
butthewondersarenotyetended。thelittlesisteropenstheoven；anddiscoverssomechestnutsjustroasted；thegrandmotherputsherhandonthebottlesofciderarrangedonthedresser；andidrawforthfromthebasketthatihavehiddenacoldtongue；apotofbutter；andsomefreshrolls。
nowtheirwonderturnsintoadmiration；thelittlefamilyhaveneverseensuchafeast！theylaythecloth；theysitdown；theyeat；itisapletebanquetforall；andeachcontributeshissharetoit。ihadbroughtonlythesupper：andthebandbox…makerandherchildrensuppliedtheenjoyment。
whatburstsoflaughteratnothing！whatahubbubofquestionswhichwaitedfornoreply；ofreplieswhichanswerednoquestion！theoldwomanherselfsharedinthewildmerrimentofthelittleones！ihavealwaysbeenstruckattheeasewithwhichthepoorforgettheirwretchedness。beingusedtoliveonlyforthepresent；theymakeagainofeverypleasureassoonasitoffersitself。butthesurfeitedricharemoredifficulttosatisfy：theyrequiretimeandeverythingtosuitbeforetheywillconsenttobehappy。
theeveninghaspassedlikeamoment。theoldwomantoldmethehistoryofherlife；sometimessmiling；sometimesdryinghereyes。perrinesanganoldballadwithherfreshyoungvoice。henrytolduswhatheknowsofthegreatwritersoftheday；towhomhehastocarrytheirproofs。atlastwewereobligedtoseparate；notwithoutfreshthanksonthepartofthehappyfamily。
ihaveehomeslowly；ruminatingwithafullheart；andpureenjoyment；onthesimpleeventsofmyevening。ithasgivenmemuchfortandmuchinstruction。now；nonew…yearsdaywilleamisstome；iknowthatnooneissounhappyastohavenothingtogiveandnothingtoreceive。
asicamein；imetmyrichneighborsnewequipage。she；too；hadjustreturnedfromhereveningsparty；and；asshesprangfromthecarriage…stepwithfeverishimpatience；iheardhermurmur〃atlast！〃
i；whenileftpaulettesfamily；said〃sosoon！〃
CHAPTER II
thecarnival
february20th
whatanoiseoutofdoors！whatisthemeaningoftheseshoutsandcries？ah！irecollect：thisisthelastdayofthecarnival；andthemaskersarepassing。
christianityhasnotbeenabletoabolishthenoisybacchanalianfestivalsofthepagantimes；butithaschangedthenames。thatwhichithasgiventothese〃daysofliberty〃announcestheendingofthefeasts；andthemonthoffastingwhichshouldfollow；carn…ivalmeans；literally；〃farewelltoflesh！〃itisafortydaysfarewelltothe〃blessedpulletsandfathams；〃socelebratedbypantagruelsminstrel。
manpreparesforprivationbysatiety；andfinisheshissinthoroughlybeforehebeginstorepent。
why；inallagesandamongeverypeople；dowemeetwithsomeoneofthesemadfestivals？mustwebelievethatitrequiressuchaneffortformentobereasonable；thattheweakeroneshaveneedofrestatintervals？themonksoflatrappe；whoarecondemnedtosilencebytheirrule；areallowedtospeakonceinamonth；andonthisdaytheyalltalkatoncefromtherisingtothesettingofthesun。
perhapsitisthesameintheworld。asweareobligedalltheyeartobedecent；orderly；andreasonable；wemakeupforsuchalongrestraintduringthecarnival。itisadooropenedtotheincongruousfanciesandwishesthathavehithertobeencrowdedbackintoacornerofourbrain。
foramomenttheslavesbeethemasters；asinthedaysofthesaturnalia；andallisgivenuptothe〃foolsofthefamily。〃
theshoutsinthesquareredouble；thetroopsofmasksincrease鈥斺�攐nfoot；incarriages；andonhorseback。itisnowwhocanattractthemostattentionbymakingafigureforafewhours；orbyexcitingcuriosityorenvy；to…morrowtheywillallreturn；dullandexhausted；totheemploymentsandtroublesofyesterday。
alas！thoughtiwithvexation；eachofusislikethesemasqueraders；ourwholelifeisoftenbutanunsightlycarnival！andyetmanhasneedofholidays；torelaxhismind；resthisbody；andopenhisheart。canhenothavethem；then；withthesecoarsepleasures？economistshavebeenlonginquiringwhatisthebestdisposaloftheindustryofthehumanrace。ah！ificouldonlydiscoverthebestdisposalofitsleisure！itiseasyenoughtofinditwork；butwhowillfinditrelaxation？worksuppliesthedailybread；butitischeerfulnessthatgivesitarelish。ophilosophers！goinquestofpleasure！findusamusementswithoutbrutality；enjoymentswithoutselfishness；inaword；inventacarnivalthatwillpleaseeverybody；andbringshametonoone。
threeoclock鈥斺�攊havejustshutmywindow；andstirredupmyfire。asthisisaholidayforeverybody；iwillmakeitoneformyself；too。soilightthelittlelampoverwhich；ongrandoccasions；imakeacupofthecoffeethatmyportressssonbroughtfromthelevant；andilookinmybookcaseforoneofmyfavoriteauthors。
first；hereistheamusingparsonofmeudon；buthischaractersaretoofondoftalkingslang：鈥斺�攙oltaire；buthedisheartensmenbyalwaysbanteringthem：鈥斺�攎oliere；buthehindersoneslaughterbymakingonethink：鈥斺�攍esage；letusstopathim。beingprofoundratherthangrave；hepreachesvirtuewhileridiculingvice；ifbitternessissometimestobefoundinhiswritings；itisalwaysinthegarbofmirth：heseesthemiseriesoftheworldwithoutdespisingit；andknowsitscowardlytrickswithouthatingit。
letuscallupalltheheroesofhisbookgilblas；fabrice；sangrado；thearchbishopofgranada；thedukeoflerma；aurora；scipio！
yegayorgracefulfigures；risebeforemyeyes；peoplemysolitude；bringhitherformyamusementtheworld…carnival；ofwhichyouarethebrilliantmaskers！
unfortunately；attheverymomentimadethisinvocation；irecollectedihadalettertowritewhichcouldnotbeputoff。oneofmyatticneighborscameyesterdaytoaskmetodoit。heisacheerfuloldman；andhasapassionforpicturesandprints。heeshomealmosteverydaywithadrawingorpainting鈥斺�攑robablyoflittlevalue；foriknowhelivespenuriously；andeventheletterthatiamtowriteforhimshowshispoverty。hisonlyson；whowasmarriedinengland；isjustdead；andhiswidow鈥斺�攍eftwithoutanymeans；andwithanoldmotherandachild鈥斺�攈adwrittentobegforahome。m。antoineaskedmefirsttotranslatetheletter；andthentowritearefusal。ihadpromisedthatheshouldhavethisanswerto…day：beforeeverything；letusfulfilourpromises。
thesheetof〃bath〃paperisbeforeme；ihavedippedmypenintotheink；andirubmyforeheadtoinviteforthasallyofideas；wheniperceivethatihavenotmydictionary。now；aparisianwhowouldspeakenglishwithoutadictionaryislikeachildwithoutleading…strings；thegroundtremblesunderhim；andhestumblesatthefirststep。irunthentothebookbinders；whereileftmyjohnson；wholivesclosebyinthesquare。
thedoorishalfopen；ihearlowgroans；ienterwithoutknocking；andiseethebookbinderbythebedsideofhisfellow…lodger。thislatterhasaviolentfeveranddelirium。pierrelooksathimperplexedandoutofhumor。ilearnfromhimthathisradewasnotabletogetupinthemorning；andthatsincethenhehasbeeworseeveryhour。
iaskwhethertheyhavesentforadoctor。
〃oh；yes；indeed！〃repliedpierre；roughly；〃onemusthavemoneyinonespocketforthat；andthisfellowhasonlydebtsinsteadofsavings。〃
〃butyou；〃saidi；ratherastonished；〃areyounothisfriend？〃
〃friend！〃interruptedthebookbinder。〃yes；asmuchastheshaft…horseisfriendtotheleader鈥斺�攐nconditionthateachwilltakehisshareofthedraught；andeathisfeedbyhimself。〃
〃youdonotintend；however；toleavehimwithoutanyhelp？〃
〃bah！hemaykeepinhisbedtillto…morrow；asimgoingtotheball。〃
〃youmeantoleavehimalone？〃
〃well！mustimissapartyofpleasureatcourtville鈥斺�敚parisiansummerresort。＇鈥斺�攂ecausethisfellowislightheaded？〃askedpierre；sharply。
〃ihavepromisedtomeetsomefriendsatolddesnoyers。thosewhoaresickmaytaketheirbroth；myphysiciswhitewine。〃
sosaying；heuntiedabundle；outofwhichhetookthefancycostumeofawaterman；andproceededtodresshimselfinit。
invainitriedtoawakensomefellow…feelingfortheunfortunatemanwholaygroaningthereclosebyhim；beingentirelytakenupwiththethoughtsofhisexpectedpleasure；pierrewouldhardlysomuchashearme。atlasthiscoarseselfishnessprovokedme。ibeganreproachinginsteadofremonstratingwithhim；andideclaredhimresponsiblefortheconsequenceswhichsuchadesertionmustbringuponthesickman。
atthisthebookbinder；whowasjustgoing；stoppedwithanoath；andstampedhisfoot。〃amitospendmycarnivalinheatingwaterforfootbaths；pray？〃
〃youmustnotleaveyourradetodiewithouthelp！〃ireplied。
〃lethimgotothehospital；then！〃
〃howcanhebyhimself？〃
pierreseemedtomakeuphismind。
〃well；imgoingtotakehim；〃resumedhe；〃besides；ishallgetridofhimsoonere；getup；rade！〃heshookhisrade；whohadnottakenoffhisclothes。iobservedthathewastooweaktowalk；butthebookbinderwouldnotlisten：hemadehimgetup；andhalfdragged；halfsupportedhimtothelodgeoftheporter；whoranforahackneycarriage。
isawthesickmangetintoit；almostfainting；withtheimpatientwaterman；andtheybothsetoff；oneperhapstodie；theothertodineatcourtvillegardens！
sixoclock鈥斺�攊havebeentoknockatmyneighborsdoor；whoopenedithimself；andihavegivenhimhisletter；finishedatlast；anddirectedtohissonswidow。m。antoinethankedmegratefully；andmademesitdown。
itwasthefirsttimeihadbeenintotheatticoftheoldamateur。
curtainsstainedwithdampandhangingdowninrags；acoldstove；abedofstraw；twobrokenchairs；posedallthefurniture。attheendoftheroomwereagreatnumberofprintsinaheap；andpaintingswithoutframesturnedagainstthewall。
atthemomenticamein；theoldmanwasmakinghisdinneronsomehardcrustsofbread；whichhewassoakinginaglassofeausucree。heperceivedthatmyeyesfelluponhishermitfare；andhelookedalittleashamed。
〃thereisnothingtotemptyouinmysupper；neighbor；〃saidhe；withasmile。
irepliedthatatleastithoughtitaveryphilosophicaloneforthecarnival。
m。antoineshookhishead；andwentonagainwithhissupper。
〃everyonekeepshisholidaysinhisownway；〃resumedhe；beginningagaintodipacrustintohisglass。〃thereareseveralsortsofepicures；andnotallfeastsaremeanttoregalethepalate；therearesomealsofortheearsandtheeyes。〃
ilookedinvoluntarilyroundme；asiftoseekfortheinvisiblebanquetwhichcouldmakeuptohimforsuchasupper。
withoutdoubtheunderstoodme；forhegotupslowly；and；withthemagisterialairofamanconfidentinwhatheisabouttodo；herummagedbehindseveralpictureframes；drewforthapainting；overwhichhepassedhishand；andsilentlyplaceditunderthelightofthelamp。
itrepresentedafine…lookingoldman；seatedattablewithhiswife；hisdaughter；andhischildren；andsingingtotheacpanimentofmusicianswhoappearedinthebackground。atfirstsightirecognizedthesubject；whichihadoftenadmiredatthelouvre；andideclaredittobeasplendidcopyofjordaens。
〃acopy！〃criedm。antoine；〃sayanoriginal；neighbor；andanoriginalretouchedbyrubens！lookcloserattheheadoftheoldman；thedressoftheyoungwoman；andtheaccessories。onecancountthepencil…strokesoftheherculesofpainters。itisnotonlyamasterpiece；sir；itisatreasure鈥斺�攁relic！thepictureatthelouvremaybeapearl；thisisadiamond！〃
andrestingitagainstthestove；soastoplaceitinthebestlight；hefellagaintosoakinghiscrusts；withouttakinghiseyesoffthewonderfulpicture。onewouldhavesaidthatthesightofitgavethecrustsanunexpectedrelish；forhechewedthemslowly；andemptiedhisglassbylittlesips。hisshrivelledfeaturesbecamesmooth；hisnostrilsexpanded；itwasindeed；ashesaidhimself；〃afeastfortheeyes。〃
〃youseethatialsohavemytreat；〃heresumed；noddinghisheadwithanairoftriumph。〃othersmayrunafterdinnersandballs；asforme；thisisthepleasureigivemyselfformycarnival。〃
〃butifthispaintingisreallysoprecious；〃repliedi；〃itoughttobeworthahighprice。〃
〃eh！eh！〃saidm。antoine；withanairofproudindifference。〃ingoodtimes；agoodjudgemightvalueitatsomewhereabouttwentythousandfrancs。〃
istartedback。
〃andyouhaveboughtit？〃criedi。
〃fornothing；〃repliedhe；loweringhisvoice。〃thesebrokersareasses；minemistookthisforastudentscopy；heletmehaveitforfiftylouis；readymoney！thismorningitookthemtohim；andnowhewishestobeoffthebargain。〃
〃thismorning！〃repeatedi；involuntarilycastingmyeyesonthelettercontainingtherefusalthatm。antoinehadmademewritetohissonswidow；whichwasstillonthelittletable。
hetooknonoticeofmyexclamation；andwentoncontemplatingtheworkofjordaensinanecstasy。
〃whataknowledgeofchiaroscuro！〃hemurmured；bitinghislastcrustindelight。〃whatrelief！whatfire！wherecanonefindsuchtransparencyofcolor！suchmagicallights！suchforce！suchnature！〃
asiwaslisteningtohiminsilence；hemistookmyastonishmentforadmiration；andclappedmeontheshoulder。
〃youaredazzled；〃saidhemerrily；〃youdidnotexpectsuchatreasure！
whatdoyousaytothebargainihavemade？〃
〃pardonme；〃repliedi；gravely；〃butithinkyoumighthavedonebetter。〃
m。antoineraisedhishead。
〃how！〃criedhe；〃doyoutakemeforamanlikelytobedeceivedaboutthemeritorvalueofapainting？〃
〃ineitherdoubtyourtastenoryourskill；buticannothelpthinkingthat；forthepriceofthispictureofafamilyparty；youmighthave