Volume I Part 31 (2/2)

II

After the civil for party went to Anna's house Aht was a cousin of a certain age, a M Sauvetanin, a iven to philosophical reflections, serious, and always very self-possessed, and Mme

Lamonoois, an old aunt

M Sauvetanin had been told off to give Anna his arm, as they were looked upon as the two most important persons in the company

As soon as they had arrived at the door of Anna's house she let go her co, ”I will show you the way,”

and ran upstairs while the invited guests followed ot upstairs, she stood on one side to let them pass, and they rolled their eyes and turned their heads in all directions to ad

The table was laid in the drawing-rooht too small Extra knives, forks, and spoons had been hired fro restaurant, and decanters full of wine under the rays of the sun which shown in through the

The ladies went into the bedroom to take off their shawls and bonnets, and Father Touchard, as standing at the door, squinted at the loide bed, and ns to the reat deal of himself, looked with fatherly pride at his child's well-furnished roo his hat in his hand,like a verger in a church

Anna went backwards and forwards, ran about giving orders and hurrying on the wedding feast Soon she appeared at the door of the dining-room, and cried: ”Couests did as they were asked they saelve glasses of Madeira on a small table

Rose and her husband had their ar each other in every corner Mons Sauvetanin never took his eyes off Anna; he no doubt felt that ardor, that sort of expectation which all ly, feel for women of a certain stamp, as if they owed a little of themselves, professionally, to all an; the relations sitting at one end of the table and the young people at the other Mht and the bride on the left Anna looked after everybody, saw that the glasses were kept filled and the plates well supplied The guests evidently felt a certain respectful eht of all the sumptuousness of the rooms and at the lavish manner in which they were treated They all ate heartily of the good things provided, but there were no jokes such as are prevalent at weddings of that sort; it was all too grand, and it made them feel uncomfortable Old Madame Touchard, as fond of a bit of fun, tried to enlivenof the dessert she exclaihbors in their street considered that he had the finest voice in all Havre

The bridegroo to his sister-in-law, fro suitable for the occasion, so serious and correct, to harmonize with the seriousness of the repast

Anna had a satisfied look on her face, and leaned back in her chair to listen, and all assuh prepared to ser announced, ”The Accursed Bread,” and extending his right aran

It was decidedly long, three verses of eight lines each, with the last line and the last line but one repeated twice

All ell for the first two verses; they were the usual coained by honest labor and by dishonesty The aunt and the bride wept outright The cook, as present, at the end of the first verse looked at a roll which she held in her hand with running eyes, as if they applied to her, while all applauded vigorously At the end of the second verse the two servants, ere standing with their backs to the wall, joined loudly in the chorus, and the aunt and the bride wept outright Daddy Taille blew his nose with the noise of a trombone, and old Touchard brandished a whole loaf half over the table, and the cook shed silent tears on the crust which she was still holding

Aeneral eht sort of song; very different to the nasty, risky things one generally hears at weddings”

Anna, as visibly affected, kissed her hand to her sister, and pointed to her husband with an affectionate nod, as if to congratulate her

Intoxicated by his success, the young man continued, and unfortunately the last verse contained the words about the bread of dishonor gained by young girls who had been led astray from the paths of virtue No one took up the refrain about this bread, supposed to be eaten with tears, except old Touchard and the two servants Anna had grown deadly pale, and cast down her eyes, while the bridegroo the reason for this sudden coldness, and the cook hastily dropped the crust as if it were poisoned

Mons Sauvetanin said solemnly, in order to save the situation: ”That last couplet is not at all necessary;” and Daddy Taille, who had got red up to the ears, looked round the table fiercely

Then Anna, with her eyes swi voice of a wone

All the guests were suddenly seized with exuberant joy, and all their faces becaain And when old Touchard, who had seen, felt, and understood nothing of as going on, and, pointing to the guests so as to e the last words of the refrain:

”Children, I warn you all to eat not of that bread,” the whole cone bottles, with their necks covered with gold foil appear, burst out singing, as if electrified by the sight: