The White House Part 54

"'Vos attraits charment les curs, Vous avez grace et jeunesse--'"

"Evidently it is a circular," said Monsieur Berlingue.

"It is extremely flattering to receive the same compliment as Madame Gerard!" said Mademoiselle Cornelie, with a shrug; while all the ladies proceeded to read their mottoes.

"It is most astonishing that they all have the same thing," said Uncle Mignon, running from one lady to another. "It is like the card trick someone played on me, when I saw nothing but aces of hearts in the pack."

"Who is the author of these pretty lines?" inquired the chevalier sneeringly.

"My librarian," replied Robineau.

"What! that man in black, with b.u.t.tons like plates?"

"The same. He's a scholar of the first rank, a man who knows everything!"

"Oho! He knows everything, does he? I will wager that I can talk to him about things he never heard of."

"And those greased poles,--is no one going to climb those, monsieur?"

"In a moment, madame.--Monsieur Ferulus, order the a.s.sault on the greased poles to begin."

"Parbleu!" said the chevalier, "it isn't hard to climb those; I have been to sea and I've seen some that were much harder to climb! I used to run up the mainmast like a monkey, and when I reached the top, I would stand on my head."

"Just try climbing one of these," said Monsieur Berlingue.

"I can't, because my breeches are very tight, and I am afraid of accidents; but for that, I would be at the top before you had seen that I was going up."

Monsieur Ferulus requested the orchestra to play a livelier piece for the attack on the greased poles, and it was to the tune of _Ma Tendre Musette_ that several Auvergnats tried to climb one of the poles; but they slid back after climbing two or three feet, and showed very little zest in the attempt to win the books which were attached to the top. In vain did Ferulus urge them on, and Robineau from the balcony encourage them,--the Auvergnats refused to climb any more.

"Well!" said the librarian, "the women will set you the example, and teach you how to climb. Let the young ladies come forward!"

"Ah! the women are going to climb!" said Monsieur Berlingue; "this is getting interesting."

"The women are going to climb!" said Monsieur de la Pincerie. "Hum! that is an innovation!"

"Oh! we have provided for everything!" said Robineau; "the pole is smeared with honey."

"With honey," said Uncle Mignon; "ah! I understand, I understand; that's for decency's sake."

Two or three buxom girls came forward laughing, and walked around the pole, but did not venture, although Monsieur Ferulus stood at the foot of the pole, offering his back to all those who cared to try. At last, one village girl made the attempt, and climbed a little way, then stopped, crying that she was stuck; and Monsieur Ferulus, who was below, said to her:

"Don't give it up--don't be discouraged; it's the way of life,--thorns in order to obtain roses; _quid femina possit_."

The peasant descended, licking the honey from her hands; another followed her, but was no more fortunate, although Monsieur Ferulus still stood at the foot of the pole, to let them stand on his back and to encourage their efforts. Monsieur Berlingue declared that the librarian had the best place and could see better than the rest of the company.

But no one else came forward. In vain did Monsieur Ferulus exclaim:

"There is a chance to win the Treatise on Participles, and the _Cuisiniere Bourgeoise_."

The prizes seemed fated to remain suspended in the air, when suddenly Mademoiselle Cheval, who was watching the sports from the courtyard, keeping an eye upon her cooking the while, walked proudly toward Monsieur Ferulus, saying:

"You say there is a cook-book to win! that's my business; let me climb up, Monsieur Desa.n.u.s, and I will bring the things down in a jiffy! Oh! I know how to play all kinds of games, I do!"

And, pushing aside the functionary, who offered to let her stand on his back, Mademoiselle Cheval put her arms about the pole, and worked her hands and knees so vigorously that she ascended at a rapid pace.

"She will go to the top," said Monsieur Gerard; "she's a stout young woman."

"Oh! she's uncommonly strong," said Robineau; "she lifted me up once like a feather."

"She has a shapely calf," said Monsieur Berlingue.

In her struggles, Mademoiselle Cheval did in fact show her calves and her garters; but thus far everything had gone off successfully, and Monsieur Ferulus, who, standing at the foot of the pole, kept his eyes fixed on her, constantly encouraged her by calling out "mate animo,"

which the cook took for an insult, and to which she replied: "Climb yourself, you animal!"

At last Mademoiselle Cheval reached the goal; she untied the two volumes and dropped them into the courtyard.

The librarian, overjoyed that the prizes had been won, ordered the orchestra to play a _fanfare_; the company applauded, and Mademoiselle Cheval, in the excitement of her triumph, attempted to slide down rapidly; but her dress stuck to the honey and refused to be detached; so that, as she dropped, her face soon disappeared beneath her skirts, while her legs were exposed to the observation of the spectators.

A murmur arose; the ladies resorted to their fans or left the balcony, the men took their gla.s.ses, and made comments on what they saw, and Robineau cried:

"Take her down!"

Monsieur Ferulus, who did not know the cause of the tumult, shouted with all his strength:

"Honor to the victor!"

"Parbleu! this is quite honor enough!" said Monsieur Berlingue; while the peasants laughed and shouted, and Jeannette artlessly observed:

"I say, she's showing her warming pan!"

However, with a final effort, Mademoiselle succeeded in freeing herself just as Francois arrived with a ladder; she descended, bowed to the company and returned to her kitchen, amid the acclamations of all the peasants. Thereupon the guests left the balcony and the windows.

Robineau suggested taking a stroll in the gardens, and they all consented, in order to do something to kill time before dinner. The men offered the ladies their arms. Edouard did not have to take that trouble, because the languishing Eudoxie had not once left his arm, upon which she leaned as if she had done nothing else for ten years. Cornelie continued to ogle Alfred, but he had turned his attentions to two rather attractive young ladies, and Mademoiselle de la Pincerie accepted the hand which the master of the chateau offered her with a sigh.

They walked about at random; each couple went in whatever direction they pleased; and in large parties, not until then do people begin to talk freely, and to know and understand one another.

"What did you think of the little sports that were performed just now?"

said Robineau, as he and Cornelie turned into one of the shady paths of the garden.

"Why, they were very good; I rather liked them; they were quite original.--Why are we going away from the other ladies and gentlemen?"

"Oh! we will join them again. I am so happy to be once--to be for a moment--to try to----"

"Who is that tall young man whom you call Alfred?"

"He is an intimate friend of mine, a baron, with more than a hundred thousand francs a year.--But I was saying, mademoiselle, that I am enjoying the keenest happiness, and----"

"Is this Monsieur Alfred married?"