5. V.
HER FIRST LOVE.
She no longer doubts her beauty. She is loved.
She saw him secretly. He is vivacious and sprightly.
He is famous. He has already had an affair
with Finfin, the fille de chambre, and poor Finfin is
desolate. He is noble. She knows he is the son of
Madame la Baronne Couturière. She adores him.
She affects not to notice him. Poor little thing!
Hippolyte is distracted—annihilated—inconsolable
and charming.
She admires his boots, his cravat, his little gloves
—his exquisite pantaloons—his coat, and cane.
She offers to run away with him. He is transported,
but magnanimous. He is wearied, perhaps. She
sees him the next day offering flowers to the daughter
of Madame la Comtesse Blanchisseuse.
She is again in tears.
She reads Paul et Virginie. She is secretly transported.
When she reads how the exemplary young
woman laid down her life rather than appear en déshabillé
to her lover, she weeps again Tasteful and
virtuous Bernardine de St. Pierre!—the daughters of
France admire you!
All this time her doll is headless in the cabinet.
The mud pie is broken on the road.
