merely for the good conduct and training of the lads。 If one of them；
whose character was unimpeachable； suffered misfortune； these old
tradesmen knew how to value the intelligence he had displayed； and
they did not hesitate to entrust the happiness of their daughters to
men whom they had long trusted with their fortunes。 Guillaume was one
of these men of the old school； and if he had their ridiculous side；
he had all their good qualities； and Joseph Lebas； the chief
assistant； an orphan without any fortune； was in his mind destined to
be the husband of Virginie； his elder daughter。 But Joseph did not
share the symmetrical ideas of his master； who would not for an empire
have given his second daughter in marriage before the elder。 The
unhappy assistant felt that his heart was wholly given to Mademoiselle
Augustine； the younger。 In order to justify this passion； which had
grown up in secret； it is necessary to inquire a little further into
the springs of the absolute government which ruled the old cloth…
merchant's household。
Guillaume had two daughters。 The elder； Mademoiselle Virginie； was the
very image of her mother。 Madame Guillaume； daughter of the Sieur
Chevrel； sat so upright in the stool behind her desk； that more than
once she had heard some wag bet that she was a stuffed figure。 Her
long； thin face betrayed exaggerated piety。 Devoid of attractions or
of amiable manners； Madame Guillaume commonly decorated her headthat
of a woman near on sixtywith a cap of a particular and unvarying
shape； with long lappets； like that of a widow。 In all the
neighborhood she was known as the 〃portress nun。〃 Her speech was curt；
and her movements had the stiff precision of a semaphore。 Her eye；
with a gleam in it like a cat's； seemed to spite the world because she
was so ugly。 Mademoiselle Virginie； brought up； like her younger
sister； under the domestic rule of her mother； had reached the age of
eight…and…twenty。 Youth mitigated the graceless effect which her
likeness to her mother sometimes gave to her features； but maternal
austerity had endowed her with two great qualities which made up for
everything。 She was patient and gentle。 Mademoiselle Augustine； who
was but just eighteen； was not like either her father or her mother。
She was one of those daughters whose total absence of any physical
affinity with their parents makes one believe in the adage： 〃God gives
children。〃 Augustine was little； or； to describe her more truly；
delicately made。 Full of gracious candor； a man of the world could
have found no fault in the charming girl beyond a certain meanness of
gesture or vulgarity of attitude； and sometimes a want of ease。 Her
silent and placid face was full of the transient melancholy which
comes over all young girls who are too weak to dare to resist their
mother's will。
The two sisters； always plainly dressed； could not gratify the innate
vanity of womanhood but by a luxury of cleanliness which became them
wonderfully； and made them harmonize with the polished counters and
the shining shelves； on which the old man…servant never left a speck
of dust； and with the old…world simplicity of all they saw about them。
As their style of living compelled them to find the elements of
happiness in persistent work； Augustine and Virginie had hitherto
always satisfied their mother； who secretly prided herself on the
perfect characters of her two daughters。 It is easy to imagine the
results of the training they had received。 Brought up to a commercial
life； accustomed to hear nothing but dreary arguments and calculations
about trade； having studied nothing but grammar； book…keeping； a
little Bible…history； and the history of France in Le Ragois； and
never reading any book but what their mother would sanction； their
ideas had not acquired much scope。 They knew perfectly how to keep
house； they were familiar with the prices of things； they understood
the difficulty of amassing money； they were economical； and had a
great respect for the qualities that make a man of business。 Although
their father was rich； they were as skilled in darning as in
embroidery； their mother often talked of having them taught to cook；
so that they might know how to order a dinner and scold a cook with
due knowledge。 They knew nothing of the pleasures of the world； and；
seeing how their parents spent their exemplary lives； they very rarely
suffered their eyes to wander beyond the walls of their hereditary
home； which to their mother was the whole universe。 The meetings to
which family anniversaries gave rise filled in the future of earthly
joy to them。
When the great drawing…room on the second floor was to be prepared to
receive companyMadame Roguin； a Demoiselle Chevrel； fifteen months
younger than her cousin； and bedecked with diamonds； young Rabourdin；
employed in the Finance Office； Monsieur Cesar Birotteau； the rich
perfumer； and his wife； known as Madame Cesar； Monsieur Camusot； the
richest silk mercer in the Rue des Bourdonnais； with his father…in…
law； Monsieur Cardot； two or three old bankers； and some immaculate
ladiesthe arrangements； made necessary by the way in which
everything was packed awaythe plate； the Dresden china； the
candlesticks； and the glassmade a variety in the monotonous lives of
the three women； who came and went and exerted themselves as nuns
would to receive their bishop。 Then； in the evening； when all three
were tired out with having wiped； rubbed； unpacked； and arranged all
the gauds of the festival； as the girls helped their mother to
undress； Madame Guillaume would say to them； 〃Children； we have done
nothing today。〃
When； on very great occasions； 〃the portress nun〃 allowed dancing；
restricting the games of boston； whist； and backgammon within the
limits of her bedroom； such a concession was accounted as the most
unhoped felicity； and made them happier than going to the great balls；
to two or three of which Guillaume would take the girls at the time of
the Carnival。
And once a year the worthy draper gave an entertainment； when he
spared no expense。 However rich and fashionable the persons invited
might be； they were careful not to be absent； for the most important
houses on the exchange had recourse to the immense credit； the
fortune； or the time…honored experience of Monsieur Guillaume。 Still；
the excellent merchant's daughters did not benefit as much as might be
supposed by the lessons the world has to offer to young spirits。 At
these parties； which were indeed set down in the ledger to the credit
of the house； they wore dresses the shabbiness of which made them
blush。 Their style of dancing was not in any way remarkable； and their
mother's surveillance did not allow of their holding any conversation
with their partners beyond Yes and No。 Also； the law of the old sign
of the Cat and Racket commanded that they should be home by eleven
o'clock； the hour when balls and fetes begin to be lively。 Thus their
pleasures； which seemed to conform very fairly to their father's
position； were often made insipid by circumstances which were part of
the family habits and principles。
As to their usual life； one remark will sufficiently paint it。 Madame
Guillaume required her daughters to be dressed very early in the
morning； to come down every day at the same hour； and she ordered
their employments with monastic regularity。 Augustine； however； had
been gifted by chance with a spirit lofty enough to feel the emptiness
of such a life。 Her blue eyes would sometimes be raised as if to
pierce the depths of that gloomy staircase and those damp store…rooms。
After sounding the profound cloistral silence； she seemed to be
listening to remote； inarticulate revelations of the life of passion；
which accounts feelings as of higher value than things。 And at such
moments her cheek would flush； her idle hands would lay the muslin
sewing on the polished oak counter； and presently her mother would say
in a voice； of which even the softest tones were sour； 〃Augustine； my
treasure； what are you thinking about？〃 It is possible that two
romances discovered by Augustine in the cupboard of a cook Madame
Guillaume had lately discharged/Hippolyte Comte de Douglas/ and /Le
Comte de Comminges/may have contributed to develop the ideas of the
young girl； who had devoured them in secret； during the long nights of
the past winter。
And so Augustine's expression of vague longing； her gentle voice； her
jasmine skin； and her blue eyes had lighted in poor Lebas' soul a
flame as ardent as it was reverent。 From an easily understood caprice；
Augustine felt no affection for the orphan； perhaps she did not know
that he loved her。 On the other hand； the senior apprentice； with his
long legs； his chestnut hair； his big hands and powerful frame； had
found a secret admirer in Mademoiselle Virginie； who； in spite of her
dower of fifty thousand crowns； had as yet no suitor。 Nothing could be
more natural than these two passions at cross…purposes； born in the
silence of the dingy shop； as violets bloom in the depths of a wood。
The mute and constant looks which made the young people's eyes meet by
sheer need of change in the midst of persistent work and cloistered
peace； was sure； sooner or later； to give rise to feelings of love。
The habit of seeing always the same face leads insensibly to our
reading there the qualities of the soul； and at last effaces all its
defects。
〃At the pace at which that man goes； our girls will soon have to go on
their knees to a suitor！〃 said Monsieur Guillaume to himself； as he
read the first decree by which Napoleon drew in advance on the
conscript classes。
From that day the old merchant； grieved at seeing his eldest daughter
fade； remembered how he had married Mademoiselle Chevrel under much
the same circumstances as those of Joseph Lebas and Virginie。 A good
bit of business； to marry off his daughter； and discharge a sacred
debt by repaying to an orphan the benefit he had formerly received
from his predecessor under similar conditions！ Joseph Lebas； who was
now three…and…thirty； was aware of the obstacle which a difference of
fifteen years placed between Augustine and himself。 Being also too
clear…sighted not to und