A Distinguished Provincial At Paris

a distinguished provincial at paris From Honoré de Balzac

A distinguished provincial at paris From Honoré de Balzac

Mme. de Bargeton and Lucien de Rubempre had left Angouleme behind, and were travelingtogether upon the road to Paris. Not one of the party who made that journey alluded to itafterwards; but it may be believed that an infatuated youth who had looked forward to the delightsof an elopement, must have found the continual presence of Gentil, the man-servant, and Albertine, the maid, not a little irksome on the way. Lucien, traveling post for the first time in his life, washorrified to see pretty nearly the whole sum on which he meant to live in Paris for a twelvemonthdropped along the road. Like other men who combine great intellectual powers with the charmingsimplicity of childhood, he openly expressed his surprise at the new and wonderful things which hesaw, and thereby made a mistake. A man should study a woman very carefully before he allows herto see his thoughts and emotions as they arise in him. A woman, whose nature is large as her heart istender, can smile upon childishness, and make allowances; but let her have ever so small a spice ofvanity herself, and she cannot forgive childishness, or littleness, or vanity in her lover. Many awoman is so extravagant a worshiper that she must always see the god in her idol; but there are yetothers who love a man for his sake and not for their own, and adore his failings with his greaterqualities.Lucien had not guessed as yet that Mme. de Bargeton's love was grafted on pride. He madeanother mistake when he failed to discern the meaning of certain smiles which flitted over Louise'slips from time to time; and instead of keeping himself to himself, he indulged in the playfulness ofthe young rat emerging from his hole for the first time.The travelers were set down before daybreak at the sign of the Gaillard-Bois in the Rue del'Echelle, both so tired out with the journey that Louise went straight to bed and slept, first biddingLucien to engage the room immediately overhead. Lucien slept on till four o'clock in the afternoon, when he was awakened by Mme. de Bargeton's servant, and learning the hour, made a hasty toiletand hurried downstair