which each of us displays to his neighbors in social life。 This woman；
who； if closely studied； would have shown the most savage traits of
the peasant class； was still the girl who had clawed her cousin's
nose； and who； if she had not been trained to reason； would perhaps
have killed her in a fit of jealousy。
It was only her knowledge of the laws and of the world that enabled
her to control the swift instinct with which country folk； like wild
men； reduce impulse to action。 In this alone； perhaps； lies the
difference between natural and civilized man。 The savage has only
impulse； the civilized man has impulses and ideas。 And in the savage
the brain retains； as we may say； but few impressions； it is wholly at
the mercy of the feeling that rushes in upon it； while in the
civilized man； ideas sink into the heart and change it； he has a
thousand interests and many feelings； where the savage has but one at
a time。 This is the cause of the transient ascendency of a child over
its parents； which ceases as soon as it is satisfied； in the man who
is still one with nature； this contrast is constant。 Cousin Betty； a
savage of Lorraine； somewhat treacherous too； was of this class of
natures； which are commoner among the lower orders than is supposed；
accounting for the conduct of the populace during revolutions。
At the time when this /Drama/ opens； if Cousin Betty would have
allowed herself to be dressed like other people； if； like the women of
Paris； she had been accustomed to wear each fashion in its turn； she
would have been presentable and acceptable； but she preserved the
stiffness of a stick。 Now a woman devoid of all the graces； in Paris
simply does not exist。 The fine but hard eyes； the severe features；
the Calabrian fixity of complexion which made Lisbeth like a figure by
Giotto； and of which a true Parisian would have taken advantage； above
all； her strange way of dressing； gave her such an extraordinary
appearance that she sometimes looked like one of those monkeys in
petticoats taken about by little Savoyards。 As she was well known in
the houses connected by family which she frequented； and restricted
her social efforts to that little circle； as she liked her own home；
her singularities no longer astonished anybody； and out of doors they
were lost in the immense stir of Paris street…life； where only pretty
women are ever looked at。
Hortense's laughter was at this moment caused by a victory won over
her Cousin Lisbeth's perversity； she had just wrung from her an avowal
she had been hoping for these three years past。 However secretive an
old maid may be； there is one sentiment which will always avail to
make her break her fast from words； and that is her vanity。 For the
last three years； Hortense； having become very inquisitive on such
matters； had pestered her cousin with questions； which； however； bore
the stamp of perfect innocence。 She wanted to know why her cousin had
never married。 Hortense； who knew of the five offers that she had
refused； had constructed her little romance； she supposed that Lisbeth
had had a passionate attachment； and a war of banter was the result。
Hortense would talk of 〃We young girls！〃 when speaking of herself and
her cousin。
Cousin Betty had on several occasions answered in the same tone〃And
who says I have not a lover？〃 So Cousin Betty's lover； real or
fictitious； became a subject of mild jesting。 At last； after two years
of this petty warfare； the last time Lisbeth had come to the house
Hortense's first question had been：
〃And how is your lover？〃
〃Pretty well； thank you；〃 was the answer。 〃He is rather ailing； poor
young man。〃
〃He has delicate health？〃 asked the Baroness； laughing。
〃I should think so！ He is fair。 A sooty thing like me can love none
but a fair man with a color like the moon。〃
〃But who is he？ What does he do？〃 asked Hortense。 〃Is he a prince？〃
〃A prince of artisans； as I am queen of the bobbin。 Is a poor woman
like me likely to find a lover in a man with a fine house and money in
the funds； or in a duke of the realm； or some Prince Charming out of a
fairy tale？〃
〃Oh； I should so much like to see him！〃 cried Hortense； smiling。
〃To see what a man can be like who can love the Nanny Goat？〃 retorted
Lisbeth。
〃He must be some monster of an old clerk； with a goat's beard！〃
Hortense said to her mother。
〃Well； then； you are quite mistaken； mademoiselle。〃
〃Then you mean that you really have a lover？〃 Hortense exclaimed in
triumph。
〃As sure as you have not！〃 retorted Lisbeth； nettled。
〃But if you have a lover； why don't you marry him； Lisbeth？〃 said the
Baroness； shaking her head at her daughter。 〃We have been hearing
rumors about him these three years。 You have had time to study him；
and if he has been faithful so long； you should not persist in a delay
which must be hard upon him。 After all； it is a matter of conscience；
and if he is young； it is time to take a brevet of dignity。〃
Cousin Betty had fixed her gaze on Adeline； and seeing that she was
jesting； she replied：
〃It would be marrying hunger and thirst； he is a workman； I am a
workwoman。 If we had children； they would be workmen。No； no； we love
each other spiritually； it is less expensive。〃
〃Why do you keep him in hiding？〃 Hortense asked。
〃He wears a round jacket；〃 replied the old maid； laughing。
〃You truly love him？〃 the Baroness inquired。
〃I believe you！ I love him for his own sake； the dear cherub。 For four
years his home has been in my heart。〃
〃Well； then； if you love him for himself；〃 said the Baroness gravely；
〃and if he really exists； you are treating him criminally。 You do not
know how to love truly。〃
〃We all know that from our birth；〃 said Lisbeth。
〃No； there are women who love and yet are selfish； and that is your
case。〃
Cousin Betty's head fell； and her glance would have made any one
shiver who had seen it； but her eyes were on her reel of thread。
〃If you would introduce your so…called lover to us； Hector might find
him employment； or put him in a position to make money。〃
〃That is out of the question；〃 said Cousin Betty。
〃And why？〃
〃He is a sort of Polea refugee〃
〃A conspirator？〃 cried Hortense。 〃What luck for you！Has he had any
adventures？〃
〃He has fought for Poland。 He was a professor in the school where the
students began the rebellion； and as he had been placed there by the
Grand Duke Constantine； he has no hope of mercy〃
〃A professor of what？〃
〃Of fine arts。〃
〃And he came to Paris when the rebellion was quelled？〃
〃In 1833。 He came through Germany on foot。〃
〃Poor young man！ And how old is he？〃
〃He was just four…and…twenty when the insurrection broke outhe is
twenty…nine now。〃
〃Fifteen years your junior；〃 said the Baroness。
〃And what does he live on？〃 asked Hortense。
〃His talent。〃
〃Oh； he gives lessons？〃
〃No；〃 said Cousin Betty； 〃he gets them； and hard ones too！〃
〃And his Christian nameis it a pretty name？〃
〃Wenceslas。〃
〃What a wonderful imagination you old maids have！〃 exclaimed the
Baroness。 〃To hear you talk； Lisbeth； one might really believe you。〃
〃You see； mamma； he is a Pole； and so accustomed to the knout that
Lisbeth reminds him of the joys of his native land。〃
They all three laughed； and Hortense sang /Wenceslas！ idole de mon
ame！/ instead of /O Mathilde/。
Then for a few minutes there was a truce。
〃These children；〃 said Cousin Betty； looking at Hortense as she went
up to her； 〃fancy that no one but themselves can have lovers。〃
〃Listen；〃 Hortense replied； finding herself alone with her cousin； 〃if
you prove to me that Wenceslas is not a pure invention； I will give
you my yellow cashmere shawl。〃
〃He is a Count。〃
〃Every Pole is a Count！〃
〃But he is not a Pole； he comes from LivaLitha〃
〃Lithuania？〃
〃No。〃
〃Livonia？〃
〃Yes； that's it！〃
〃But what is his name？〃
〃I wonder if you are capable of keeping a secret。〃
〃Cousin Betty； I will be as mute！〃
〃As a fish？〃
〃As a fish。〃
〃By your life eternal？〃
〃By my life eternal！〃
〃No； by your happiness in this world？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； then； his name is Wenceslas Steinbock。〃
〃One of Charles XII。's Generals was named Steinbock。〃
〃He was his grand…uncle。 His own father settled in Livonia after the
death of the King of Sweden； but he lost all his fortune during the
campaign of 1812； and died； leaving the poor boy at the age of eight
without a penny。 The Grand Duke Constantine； for the honor of the name
of Steinbock； took him under his protection and sent him to school。〃
〃I will not break my word；〃 Hortense replied； 〃prove his existence；
and you shall have the yellow shawl。 The color is most becoming to
dark skins。〃
〃And you will keep my secret？〃
〃And tell you mine。〃
〃Well； then； the next time I come you shall have the proof。〃
〃But the proof will be the lover；〃 said Hortense。
Cousin Betty； who； since her first arrival in Paris； had been bitten
by a mania for shawls； was bewitched by the idea of owning the yellow
cashmere given to his wife by the Baron in 1808； and handed down from
mother to daughter after the manner of some families in 1830。 The
shawl had been a good deal worn ten year