United States or Lebanon ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Within a few days, Madame Montoni, as she had promised, gave a magnificent entertainment to a very numerous company, among whom was Valancourt; but at which Madame Clairval excused herself from attending. There was a concert, ball and supper.
Marat bowed on all sides, stepped down from the easy-chair, and seated himself comfortably in it. Clairval had stopped in the air; pale, confused, and terrified, he had withdrawn, and the director whispered to the orchestra and the singers to begin the next number. The opera went on, and the public again appeared to give itself during some scenes to the enjoyment of the music.
'It is a delicate subject, replied Madame Cheron, 'a very mortifying one to me. 'I am concerned to hear it, said Madame Clairval, 'I hope nothing has occurred, this evening, particularly to distress you? 'Alas, yes! within this half hour; and I know not where the report may end; my pride was never so shocked before, but I assure you the report is totally void of foundation. 'Good God! exclaimed Madame Clairval, what can be done?
Emily, who, during the greater part of this conversation, had been so absorbed in thought as to be spared the pain of hearing it, was now extremely surprised by her aunt's praise of Valancourt, with whose relationship to Madame Clairval she was unacquainted; but she was not sorry when Madame Cheron, who, though she now tried to appear unconcerned, was really much embarrassed, prepared to withdraw immediately after supper.
He left his box, lighted by the comedian Clairval, and attended by M. de la Ferte, comptroller of the Queen's privy purse, who was much hurt at hearing his Imperial Majesty, after kindly expressing his regret at not being present during the Italian performance, say to Clairval, "Your young Queen is very giddy; but, luckily, you Frenchmen have no great objection to that."
'Yet, stay, added Madame Cheron, 'I will tell him so myself. She called for pen and ink; Emily still not daring to trust the emotions she felt, and almost sinking beneath them. Her surprise would have been less had she overheard, on the preceding evening, what Madame Cheron had not forgotten that Valancourt was the nephew of Madame Clairval.
'All this is very distressing! said Madame Cheron, with a profound sigh. 'May I be allowed to ask what is so distressing? said Madame Clairval, who was struck with the rueful countenance and doleful accent, with which this was delivered.
The commencement of a play which formed part of the evening's entertainment obliged us to cease further conversation. The first piece represented was "Rose et Colas," a charming pastoral, to which the music of Monsigny gave a fresh charm; the actors were selected from among the best of the Comedie Italienne the divine Clairval, and the fascinating mademoiselle Caroline.
For this purpose she paid her the most obsequious attention, and made a point of being disengaged, whenever she received an invitation from Madame Clairval, of whom she talked, wherever she went, and derived much self-consequence from impressing a belief on her general acquaintance, that they were on the most familiar footing.
This important duty was, however, quickly dispatched; though, when she joined Madame Cheron at table, her eyes betrayed, that she had been in tears, and drew upon her a severe reproof. Her efforts to appear cheerful did not entirely fail when she joined the company at the house of Madame Clairval, an elderly widow lady, who had lately come to reside at Tholouse, on an estate of her late husband.
Word Of The Day