The daughter was the eldest, and had attained her seventeenth year; and M. Lupot, who spared nothing on her education, did not despair of finding a husband for her with a soul above sticks of sealing-wax and wafers—­more especially as it was evident she had no turn for trade, and believed she had a decided genius for the fine arts—­for she had painted her father as a shepherd with his crook, when she was only twelve, and had learned a year after to play “Je suis Lindore” by ear on the piano.  M. Lupot was proud of his daughter, who was thus a painter and a musician; who was a foot taller than her papa; who held herself as upright as a Prussian grenadier; who made a curtsy like Taglioni, who had a Roman nose three times the size of other people’s, a mouth to match, and eyes so arch and playful, that it was difficult to discover them.  The boy was only seven; he was allowed to do whatever he chose—­he was so very young; and Monsieur Ascanius availed himself of the permission, and was in mischief from morning to night.  His father was too fond of him to scold him, and his mother wouldn’t take the trouble to get into a passion.

Well, then, one morning M. Lupot soliloquized—­“I have a good fortune, a charming family, and a wife who has never been in a rage; but all this does not lead to a man’s being invited, courted, and made much of in the world.  Since I have cut the hotpress-wove and red sealing-wax, I have seen nobody but a few friends—­retired tradesmen like myself—­who drop in to take a hand at vingt-et-un, or loto; but I wish more than that—­my daughter must not live in so narrow a circle; my daughter has a decided turn for the arts; I ought to have artists to my house.  I will give soirees, tea-parties—­yes, with punch at parting, if it be necessary.  We shall play bouillote and ecarte, for my daughter can’t endure loto.  Indeed, I wish to set people talking about my re-unions, and to find a husband for Celanire worthy of her.”  M. Lupot was seated near his wife, who was seated on an elastic sofa, and was caressing a cat on her knee.  He said to her—­

“My dear Felicite, I intend to give soirees—­to receive lots of company.  We live in too confined a sphere for our daughter, who was born for the arts—­and for Ascanius, who, it strikes me, will make some noise in the world.”

Madame Lupot continued to caress the cat, and replied, “Well, what have I to do with that?  Do I hinder you from receiving company?  If it doesn’t cause me any trouble—­for I must tell you first of all, you musn’t count on me to help you”—­

“You will have nothing at all to do, my dear Felicite, but the honours of the house.”

“I must be getting up every minute”—­

“You do it so gracefully,” replied the husband—­“I will give all the orders, and Celanire will second me.”

Mademoiselle was enchanted with the intention of her sire, and threw her arms round his neck.