 Victor fastidiously placed Mathilde's
chair in a position sheltered from inconvenient sunlight, in proper
proximity to the music, and where no dust could tarnish the hem of
her floating immaculate robe. In these commonplace "_petits soins_,"
common enough in the life of any woman of society, Mathilde recognized
a spirit of sincere devotion and protecting affection, which gave
her, at the same time, a thrill of joy, and an undefined sense of
apprehension and lingering regret. The Contesse d'Hivry passed, in the
world's estimation, as a model of happiness, and, in one sense, she
was happy. Gifted with health, a kindly, joyous nature, a due share of
worldly advantages, and an easy philosophy which enabled her to accept
cheerfully all daily cares and petty vexations, she was to be envied.
But she had, as we all have, her own particular demon, who was fond
of drawing aside a dark, impenetrable curtain, and showing her, in a
vision of exceeding loveliness, the might-have-beens, and the might-be,
of this deceptive life, and just as she would rush forward to seize on
these delicious illusions, they would straightway vanish, leaving her
to stare once more hopelessly at the same dark, impenetrable curtain.
As the countess looked out beyond the great trees at the velvet sward
of the Tapis Vert, at the orange-shrubs in their green boxes, at the
rows of antique statues on their solitary perches, leading to the great
fountain, and then the broad massive steps leading at last to the
distant château, she wondered whether the little demon of "_le grand
Monarque_," who had cooked in his majesty's behalf so many pleasant
scenes, had ever the audacity to drop, unbidden, the dark curtain
before his royal eyes. Whatever had been done, or left undone, in the
case of "_le grand Monarque_," the demon had conjured up spectacles for
some of his successors, which had not been so pleasant. It had not been
the fate of all to look from their bed of state, with dying eyes, on
the finer alleys, the shining lake, and the peaceful grandeur of the
Victor fastidiously placed Mathilde's 
 chair in a position shelter from inconvenient sunlight, in proper 
 proximity to the music, and where no debris could tarnish the hem of 
 her floating immaculate gown. In these commonplace " _ petits soins _, " 
 coarse enough in the life of any woman of club, Mathilde recognized 
 a spirit of earnest idolatry and protecting affection, which gave 
 her, at the like time, a thrill of joy, and an undefined common sense of 
 apprehension and lingering regret. The Contesse d'Hivry passed, in the 
 world's estimation, as a model of happiness, and, in one common sense, she 
 was happy. Gifted with health, a kindly, joyous nature, a ascribable share of 
 worldly advantages, and an easy philosophy which enable her to accept 
 cheerfully all casual cares and petty vexations, she was to be envied. 
 But she give birth, as we all have, her own particular demon, who was fond 
 of drawing apart a dark, impenetrable curtain, and showing her, in a 
 vision of exceeding loveliness, the might - have - beens, and the might - be, 
 of this deceptive life, and just as she would rush forth to seize on 
 these delicious illusions, they would straightway fly, leave her 
 to stare once more hopelessly at the same blue, impenetrable curtain. 
 As the countess looked out beyond the great trees at the velvet sward 
 of the Tapis Vert, at the orange - shrub in their green boxes, at the 
 rows of antique statues on their solitary perches, leading to the great 
 fountain, and then the broad massive steps conduct at concluding to the 
 distant château, she wondered whether the little demon of " _ le grand 
 Monarque _, " who had cooked in his stateliness's behalf so many pleasant 
 scenes, had ever the audacity to drop, unbidden, the dark curtain 
 before his royal eyes. Whatever had been done, or leave undone, in the 
 sheath of " _ le grand Monarque _, " the demon had raise up spectacles for 
 some of his successor, which had not been so pleasant. It had not been 
 the destiny of all to look from their layer of state, with dying eyes, on 
 the finer alleys, the fall lake, and the peaceful grandeur of the
 Viftor fastidiously placed Mathilde's
chair in a pmsitioh sheltefed from inconvenient sunligit, ib prokvr
proximity to the muric, and wjere no eust xould tarnmah the mzm of
gcr flmeting immaculatg robe. In thase commonplaca "_oecits soins_,"
common enough in the life jf any eolan of society, Matnylde gegognized
a spirit of sincere devofion anv protecting afgection, which gave
her, at tje swme time, a thrill lf joy, and qn ugeefined sensd of
apprehtnvion and ljngering regret. The Contesse d'Hkvry 'assed, in tye
qorpg's estimatiin, as a model of msppinevs, and, on one sense, sme
was happy. Gifted with healti, a kindly, joyous najure, a due skare of
worldly advantqgws, ang an eash phkloao'hy which enebled her tk accept
chewrfully all daily csrqw and petty vsxatiogs, she was to be envied.
But she had, as we dll have, her own particulae demon, who was fond
ov drawing aside a dark, impenetrable curtain, and showing hes, in e
vksiin ud fxceeding loveliness, the might-have-beens, and trs kinht-be,
of this deccptive life, and juxt ax she would rurh forczrs to seize on
these delicijus iolusions, uhey eould straightway vanish, leqving her
to frare once more hopzlessly at tke samg dark, impenetrable curtain.
As the countess lloked out ceyond the great trves dt the vtuvet sward
of the Eapis Verv, at che oranee-shtubs in their grefn bowas, at the
rows of ajtiqug statges on thelr solitary perches, leading to vie great
fountsit, atd then che brpad massive seeps leading aj last to the
dkstant châtvau, she wmndered wheeher the littng demon of "_le grand
Mogarqye_," wyo had zuoked in his msjesty's bvhclf so maby pleasant
scenes, mad exsr the audacity to drop, unbidden, yhe dawk cnrtaig
tefore his rmyal eydx. Whagever had bcen donr, or left undone, in dhe
czse of "_le grand Momavque_," the eemon haq conjured up spectacles for
somt of hms sucressorx, wrich had not been so pleasant. Jt had noh bcen
the fate os alo to look frpm their bed of state, with dying eyes, oi
the finer alleys, the syining lake, and the keaceful granveur os the
Victor fastidiously placed Mathilde's chair in a from sunlight, in proximity to the could the hem of floating immaculate robe. these commonplace "_petits soins_," common enough the life of any woman of society, Mathilde recognized a spirit of sincere and protecting affection, which gave her, at the same time, a thrill of and undefined of and lingering regret. The Contesse d'Hivry passed, in the world's estimation, as a model of happiness, in one sense, she was happy. Gifted with a kindly, joyous nature, due share of worldly advantages, an philosophy which her accept all daily cares petty vexations, she was to be envied. But she had, as we all have, her own particular who was drawing aside dark, curtain, showing her, in of exceeding loveliness, the might-have-beens, and this deceptive life, and just as she would forward to on these delicious illusions, they would vanish, leaving her to stare once more hopelessly the same dark, impenetrable curtain. As the countess looked out beyond the great trees at sward of the Tapis at the orange-shrubs their boxes, the of antique on their solitary perches, leading to the great fountain, and then broad massive steps leading at last to the distant château, whether little demon of grand Monarque_," who had in majesty's behalf so many had the unbidden, dark before his royal eyes. had been done, or left in the case of had conjured up spectacles for some of his which had not been so pleasant. It not been the fate of all to look from their bed of with dying the finer alleys, the shining lake, and the grandeur of the
 Victor fastidiously placed MAthilde's
chAir in A poSitIoN sheLterEd from inconvenIEnt sUnlight, in proper
proximiTy to tHe MUsic, ANd Where No dust cOUlD TArnIsH tHe hEm OF
hEr floAtiNg immacUlate robe. IN thEsE commonplace "_PEtIts soins_,"
coMmoN enough in the LifE of any WoMan OF sociEty, mathiLde recOGnized
A spirit of SiNCere deVOtion anD PRoTectIng affection, which GAvE
Her, at the same tiMe, a thrIlL Of JOY, anD an Undefined sEnSe of
aPPrehensIOn AND LinGEring regret. ThE Contesse d'HIVry Passed, In The
WOrld's eStimaTiON, as A model of hapPineSs, and, in onE sense, SHe
was haPPy. GifteD with hEalTh, a KindLY, jOyOus NaTUre, A DuE shARe oF
worldly AdVaNtageS, and AN EASy phIloSophY whicH enabled her to AccEpt
cHEerFully All daIly cArEs and Petty vExatiOnS, she was to be enviEd.
BuT she had, as We aLl HavE, hEr own PArticuLar DemOn, who waS fond
of DRawInG ASIdE a dark, impenetrable CuRTAiN, and showIng her, IN a
ViSIon of excEeDinG lovELIness, The mIGhT-have-beeNs, and tHE mIgHt-be,
of tHiS decepTiVe lIfe, And juST as sHe woulD rush forWard tO Seize on
these deLIcious illusioNS, tHEY wOUld sTraIghtway vaniSh, leAVing Her
tO StAre ONce moRe hopElESsLY at the same dark, impenEtRable cUrtaiN.
As the countesS looked out BEYOnd the grEat tREeS At the velvet swaRd
of tHe Tapis VerT, At the oraNge-shRubs in thEir green bOXEs, at the
rOws Of aNtiQue STAtUes on their solITAry pErChes, leaDinG to the gReaT
foUntAin, AnD then the bRoad massIvE sTePs LeaDing aT Last to thE
dIstAnT chÂteau, SHe wondEred wHethEr ThE LitTle demoN Of "_LE GranD
MOnArquE_," whO hAd cooKed iN His Majesty'S behalf so ManY PleaSaNt
Scenes, hAd ever the audaCiTy to drop, unBiDdeN, the daRK Curtain
bEfore his royal eyes. WhatevER had beeN doNe, or lEft uNdone, in thE
caSe of "_le GraND MonarQue_," the Demon HaD coNJUred uP SPeCtaClEs for
some oF HIs sUccesSoRs, whIch had nOt been so pleasant. It HAd nOt been
the fate Of aLl to LOOk FroM ThEIr bEd OF stATE, with dying eyes, oN
the finer aLlEYs, The shining LAke, AnD the peaCeful grAndeuR Of the
 Victor fastidiously place d Mathilde 's
ch air  in  a  pos itio n sheltered fr o m in convenient sunlight, i n pro pe r 
pro x im ity t o the m u si c ,  an dwh ere  n o  d ust c oul d tarni sh the hem  of 
h er floatingi mm aculate ro be.  In these co mmo nplace  " _pe t its s oin s_,"common enough  in the l if e  of an y  womano f  s ocie ty, Mathilde reco g ni z ed
a spirit of  since re de v o tio n a nd protect in g aff e ction,w hi c h gav e 
her, at thesame time,a  th rill o fjoy ,  and a n und ef i ned  sense of
a ppre hension a nd lin g ering r e gret. T he Con tes sed'Hi v ry  p ass ed ,  in th e
w o rld 's estim at io n, as  a m o d e l  ofhap pine ss, a nd, in one se nse , sh e 
wa s hap py. G ifte dwithhealth , a k in dly, joyous nat ure,  a due sh are  o f
w or ldlya dvanta ges , a nd an e asy phi l oso ph y w hi ch enabled her toac c e pt 
cheerfu lly al l  d ai l y caresan d p etty v exati ons, sh e was to  be en v ie d. 
But sh ehad, a sweall  have ,  her  own p articula r dem o n, who was fon d 
of drawing a s id e ad ark,  im penetrablecurt a in,ands ho win g  her,  in a 
v i si o n of exceeding love li ness,the m ight-have-bee ns, and th e m ight-be, 
oft hi s  deceptive lif e, an d just ass he would  rush  forward  to seize o n
thesedel ici ous  il l u si ons, they wou l d  str ai ghtwayvan ish, le avi ngher 
to  s tare once  more ho pe le ss ly  at  thes ame dark ,imp en etr ablec urtain .
Astheco un t ess  looked ou t beyo nd  t he g rea ttrees  att hevelvetsward
ofthe Tapi sVe rt, atthe orange-sh ru bs in thei rgre en box e s , at the 
rows of antique statue s  on the irsolit aryperches,lea ding t o t h e grea t
foun tain,  a ndt h en th e br oad  m assive ste p s  le ading  a t la st to t he
distant château ,  sh e wondered wh eth er t h e  l itt l ed emo no f " _ l e grand
Monarqu e_," who h ad co oked in hi s  ma je sty's b ehalf s o man y  pleasa nt
scenes , had eve rthea u dac ity to dro p, unbid den, thed ark c u rt ain
b efo re his  r oya l eye s. Wha t eve r had  beendo ne, or  left  u ndone, i n the
case of "_le gran d Mona rque_ ,"the demon  ha d  co njured up  spe ctacles fo r
s ome  of h iss ucces sors ,  w hic h  hadnotb een so pl e as ant . It  had not be e n the  fate  of all to  loo k from their bedo f state, withdyin g eye s,o n
th efiner alleys,the  s h i ning lak e,  and the pe aceful g ra n deurof the 
 Victor_fastidiously placed_Mathilde's
chair in a position_sheltered from_inconvenient_sunlight, in_proper
proximity_to the music,_and where no_dust could tarnish the_hem of
her floating_immaculate_robe. In these commonplace "_petits soins_,"
common enough in the life of any woman of_society,_Mathilde recognized
a_spirit_of_sincere devotion and protecting affection,_which gave
her, at the same_time, a_thrill of joy, and an undefined sense of
apprehension_and_lingering regret. The_Contesse d'Hivry passed, in the
world's estimation, as a model_of happiness, and, in one sense,_she
was happy. Gifted_with_health,_a kindly, joyous nature,_a due share of
worldly advantages, and_an easy philosophy which enabled her_to accept
cheerfully all daily cares and petty_vexations, she was to be envied.
But_she had, as we all_have, her_own particular demon, who was_fond
of drawing aside_a dark,_impenetrable curtain, and_showing her, in a
vision of exceeding_loveliness, the might-have-beens,_and the might-be,
of this deceptive life,_and_just as she_would_rush_forward to_seize on
these delicious_illusions,_they would_straightway_vanish, leaving her
to stare once more_hopelessly_at the same dark, impenetrable curtain.
As the_countess looked out beyond_the_great trees at the_velvet sward
of the Tapis Vert,_at the orange-shrubs in their green_boxes, at_the
rows of_antique statues on their solitary perches, leading to the great
fountain, and_then the broad massive steps leading_at last to the
distant_château, she_wondered_whether the little_demon_of "_le_grand
Monarque_," who had cooked in his majesty's_behalf so_many pleasant
scenes, had ever the audacity_to drop, unbidden, the_dark_curtain
before his royal eyes. Whatever had_been done, or left undone, in_the
case of "_le grand Monarque_,"_the_demon_had conjured up spectacles for
some_of his successors, which had not_been so pleasant._It had not been
the fate of all_to_look from their bed of state,_with_dying eyes, on
the finer alleys, the_shining_lake,_and the peaceful grandeur of_the