of the giver upon each, as is the present custom.  She said that it humiliated those who had not been able to make gifts as expensive as others.  She is right, when one comes to think of it.  Nor would she let the trousseau be displayed; she did not think it proper, but I saw enough to know that there were marvels in linen, muslin, silks, and surahs, covered all over with lace.  One could see that the great mantua-maker had not consulted the grandmother, who says that women of distinction in her day did not wear paltry trimmings.

“Dinner was served under a tent for all the village people during the two mortal hours we had to spend over a repast, in which Madame de Monredon’s cook excelled himself.  Then came complimentary addresses in the old-fashioned style, composed by the village schoolmaster who, for a wonder, knew what he was about; groups of village children, boys and girls, came bringing their offerings, followed by pet lambs decked with ribbons; it was all in the style of the days of Madame de Genlis.  While we danced in the salons there was dancing in the barn, which had been decorated for the occasion.  In short; lords and ladies and laborers all seemed to enjoy themselves, or made believe they did.  The Parisian gentlemen who danced were not very numerous.  There were a few friends of Monsieur de Talbrun’s, however—­among them, a Monsieur de Cymier, whom possibly you remember having seen last summer at Treport; he led the cotillon divinely.  The bride and bridegroom drove away during the evening, as they do in England, to their own house, which is not far off.  Monsieur de Talbrun’s horses—­a magnificent pair, harnessed to a new ’caleche’—­carried off Psyche, as an old gentleman in gold spectacles said near me.  He was a pretentious old personage, who made a speech at table, very inappropriate and much applauded.  Poor Giselle!  I have not seen her since, but she has written me one of those little notes which, when she was in the convent, she used to sign Enfant de Marie.  It begged me again to pray earnestly for her that she might not fail in the fulfilment of her new duties.  It seems hard, does it not?  Let us hope that Monsieur de Talbrun, on his part, may not find that his new life rather wearies him!  Do you know what should have been Giselle’s fate—­since she has a mania about people being thoroughly acquainted before marriage?  What would two or three years more or less have mattered?  She would have made an admirable wife for a sailor; she would have spent the months of your absence kneeling before the altar; she would have multiplied the lamentations and the tendernesses of your excellent mother.  I have been thinking this ever since the wedding-day—­a very sad day, after all.

“But how I have let my pen run on.  I shall have to put on two stamps, notwithstanding my thin paper.  But then you have plenty of time to read on board-ship, and this account may amuse you.  Make haste and thank me for it.

“Your old friend,