's caps； and as many stable…boys in Scotch caps an imposing group； which gave to the house the aspect of an hotel where the staff was taking the air between the arrivals of the trains。 To complete the resemblance； a cab drew up before the door and the driver took down an old leather trunk； while a tall old woman； her upright figure wrapped in a little green shawl； jumped lightly to the footpath； a basket on her arm； looked at the number with great attention； then approached the servants to ask if it was there that M。 Bernard Jansoulet lived。
〃It is here；〃 was the answer； 〃but he is not in。〃
〃That does not matter；〃 said the old lady simply。
She returned to the driver； who put her trunk in the porch； and paid him； returning her purse to her pocket at once with a gesture that said much for the caution of the provincial。
Since Jansoulet had been deputy for Corsica； the domestics had seen so many strange and exotic figures at his house； that they were not surprised at this sunburnt woman； with eyes glowing like coals； a true Corsican under her severe coif； but different from the ordinary provincial in the ease and tranquility of her manners。
〃What； the master is not here？〃 said she； with an intonation which seemed better fitted for farm people in her part of the country； than for the insolent servants of a great Parisian mansion。
〃No； the master is not here。〃
〃And the children？〃
〃They are at lessons。 You cannot see them。〃
〃And madame？〃
〃She is asleep。 No one sees her before three o'clock。〃
It seemed to astonish the good woman a little that any one could stay in bed so late； but the tact which guides a refined nature； even without education； prevented her from saying anything before the servants； and she asked for Paul de Gery。
〃He is abroad。〃
〃Bompain Jean…Baptiste； then。〃
〃He is with monsieur at the sitting。〃
Her great gray eyebrows wrinkled。
〃It does not matter； take up my trunk just the same。〃
And with a little malicious twinkle of her eye； a proud revenge for their insolent looks； she added： 〃I am his mother。〃
The scullions and stable…boys drew back respectfully。 M。 Barreau raised his cap：
〃I thought I had seen madame somewhere。〃
〃And I too； my lad；〃 answered Mme。 Jansoulet； who shivered still at the remembrance of the Bey's /fete/。
〃My lad；〃 to M。 Barreau； to a man of his importance！ It raised her at once to a very high place in the esteem of the others。
Well！ grandeur and splendour hardly dazzled this courageous old lady。 She did not go into ecstasies over gilding and petty baubles； and as she walked up the grand staircase behind her trunk； the baskets of flowers on the landings； the lamps held by bronze statues； did not prevent her from noticing that there was an inch of dust on the balustrade； and holes in the carpet。 She was taken to the rooms on the second floor belonging to the Levantine and her children； and there； in an apartment used as a linen…room； which seemed to be near the school…room （to judge by the murmur of children's voices）； she waited alone； her basket on her knees； for the return of her Bernard； perhaps the waking of her daughter…in…law； or the great joy of embracing her grandchildren。 What she saw around her gave her an idea of the disorder of this house left to the care of the servants； without the oversight and foreseeing activity of a mistress。 The linen was heaped in disorder； piles on piles in great wide…open cupboards； fine linen sheets and table…cloths crumpled up； the locks prevented from shutting by pieces of torn lace； which no one took the trouble to mend。 And yet there were many servants aboutnegresses in yellow Madras muslin； who came to snatch here a towel； there a table…cloth； walking among the scattered domestic treasures； dragging with their great flat feet frills of fine lace from a petticoat which some lady's…maid had thrown downthimble here； scissors thereready to pick up again in a few minutes。
Jansoulet's mother was doubly wounded。 The half…rustic artisan in her was outraged in the tenderness； the respect； the sweet unreasonableness the woman of the provinces feels towards a full linen cupboarda cupboard filled piece by piece； full of relics of past struggles； whose contents grow finer little by little； the first token of comfort； of wealth； in the house。 Besides； she had held the distaff from morning till night； and if the housewife in her was angry； the spinner could have wept at the profanation。 At last； unable to contain herself longer； she rose； and actively； her little shawl displaced at each movement； she set herself to pick up； straighten； and carefully fold this magnificent linen； as she used to do in the fields of Saint… Romans； when she gave herself the treat of a grand washing…day； with twenty washerwomen； the clothes…baskets flowing over with floating whiteness； and the sheets flapping in the morning wind on the clothes… lines。 She was in the midst of this occupation； forgetting her journey； forgetting Paris； even the place where she was； when a stout； thick…set； bearded man； with varnished boots and a velvet jacket； over the torso of a bull； came into the linen…room。
〃What！ Cabassu！〃
〃You here； Mme。 Francoise！ What a surprise！〃 said the /masseur/； staring like a bronze figure。
〃Yes； my brave Cabassu； it is I。 I have just arrived； and as you see； I am at work already。 It made my heart bleed to see all this muddle。〃
〃You came up for the sitting； then？〃
〃What sitting？〃
〃Why； the grand sitting of the legislative body。 It's do…day。〃
〃Dear me； no。 What has that got to do with me？ I should understand nothing at all about it。 No； I came because I wanted to know my little Jansoulets； and then； I was beginning to feel uneasy。 I have written several times without getting an answer。 I was afraid that there was a child sick； that Bernard's business was going wrongall sorts of ideas。 At last I got seriously worried； and came away at once。 They are well here； they tell me。〃
〃Yes； Mme。 Francoise。 Thank God； every one is quite well。〃
〃And Bernard。 His businessis that going on as he wants it to？〃
〃Well； you know one has always one's little worries in lifestill； I don't think he should complain。 But； now I think of it； you must be hungry。 I will go and make them bring you something。〃
He was going to ring； more at home and at ease than the old mother herself。 She stopped him。
〃No； no； I don't want anything。 I have still something left in my basket。〃 And she put two figs and a crust of bread on the edge of the table。 Then； while she was eating： 〃And you； lad； your business？ You look very much sprucer than you did the last time you were at Bourg。 How smart you are！ What do you do in the house？〃
〃Professor of massage；〃 said Aristide gravely。
〃Professoryou？〃 said she with respectful astonishment； but she did not dare ask him what he taught； and Cabassu； who felt such questions a little embarrassing； hastened to change the subject。
〃Shall I go and find the children？ Haven't they told them that their grandmother is here？〃
〃I didn't want to disturb them at their work。 But I believe it must be over nowlisten！〃
Behind the door they could hear the shuffling impatience of the children anxious to be out in the open air； and the old woman enjoyed this state of things； doubling her maternal desire； and hindering her from doing anything to hasten its pleasure。 At last the door opened。 The tutor came out firsta priest with a pointed nose and great cheek…bones； whom we have met before at the great /dejeuners/。 On bad terms with his bishop； he had left the diocese where he had been engaged； and in the precarious position of an unattached priestfor the clergy have their Bohemians toohe was glad to teach the little Jansoulets； recently turned out of the Bourdaloue College。 With his arrogant； solemn air； overweighted with responsibilities； which would have become the prelates charged with the education of the dauphins of France； he preceded three curled and gloved little gentlemen in short jackets； with leather knapsacks； and great red stockings reaching half…way up their little thin legs； in complete suits of cyclist dress； ready to mount。
〃My children；〃 said Cabassu； 〃that is Mme。 Jansoulet； your grandmother； who has come to Paris expressly to see you。〃
They stopped in a row； astonished； examining this old wrinkled visage between the folds of her cap； this strange dress of a simplicity unknown to them； and their grandmother's astonishment answered theirs； complicated with a heart…breaking discomfiture and constraint in dealing with these little gentlemen； as stiff and disdainful as any of the nobles or ministers whom her son had brought to Saint…Romans。 On the bidding of their tutor 〃to salute their venerable grandmother；〃 they came in turn to give her one of those little half…hearted shakes of the hand of which they had distributed so many in the garrets they had visited。 The fact is that this good woman； with her agricultural appearance and clean but very simple clothes； reminded them of the charity visits of the College Bourdaloue。 They felt between them the same unknown quality； the same distance； which no remembrance； no word of their parents had ever helped to bridge。 The abbe felt this constraint； and tried to dispel itspeaking with the tone of voice and gestures customary to those who always think they are in the pulpit。
〃Well； madame； the day has come； the great day when Jansoulet will confound his enemies/confundantur hostes mei； quia injuste iniquitatem fecerunt in me/because they have unjustly persecuted me。〃
The old lady bent religiously before the Latin of the Church； but her face expressed a vague expression of uneasiness at this idea of enemies and of persecutions。
〃These enemies are powerful and numerous； my noble lady； but let us not be alarmed beyond measure。 Let us have confidence in the decrees of Heaven and in the justice of our cause。 God is in the midst of it； it shall not be overthrown/in medio ejus non commovebitur/。〃
A gigantic negro； resplendent with gold braid； interrupted him by announcing that the bicycles were ready for the daily lesson on the terrace of the Tuileries。 Before setting out； the children again shook solemnly their grandmother's wrinkled and h