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.
THE NECKLACE
项链
Mathilde Loisel was one of those poor girls
,
pretty
,
charming and romantic
,
who
,
in spite of their
romantic dreams
,
are married to a mediocrity
.
Her husband was a clerk in the Ministry of
Education
.
One evening her husband came home with an air of triumph
.
“I have something nice for you
,
”he said
,
giving her a large envelope
.
She tore open the envelope
,
which contained the following printed card
:
“The Minister of Education and Madame Georges Ramponneau have the honour to request
the company of Monsieur and Madame Loisel at the office of the Ministry on Monday evening
,
January 18th
.
”
She did not seem delighted
.
On the contrary
,
she flung the invitation card on the table
,
and
said spitefully
:
“What's that to me
?
”
“Why
,
my dear
,
I thought you'd be pleased
.
You like a dance
,
don't you
?
You hardly ever
go out
,
and this is really a good chance for you
.
I had no end of trouble to get it
.
Every one wants
it
,
you know
.
All the officials will be there
,
but only a few clerks are invited
.
”
She looked at him ruefully and exclaimed
:
“What do you expect me to wear at a party like that
?
”
It never occurred to him that she had no pretty dresses nor jewels
.
He replied hesitatingly
:
“Why
,
the dress you wear when you go to the theatre looks very nice to me
.
”
She burst into tears
.
Why did she marry such a dull
,
stupid fellow
?
Only because she was
born into a poor family
.
Oh
,
cruel trick of destiny
!
“What's the matter
?
”he asked anxiously
.
“Nothing
,
”she answered with an effort
.
“It's only that I haven't a sui
table dress
,
and so I can't
go to the ball
.
Give this card to a friend of yours whose wife has a better wardrobe than I
.
”
It was a heart- breaking confession
.
1
/
13
.
“Come
,
Mathilde
,
my dearest
,
”the distressed husband said
,
“how much do you think it
would cost to have a proper dress
,
something rather simple which would be useful for other
occasions after- wards
?
”
She thought for a moment
,
busy with her calculations
.
How much could she ask without
shocking the thrifty husband and provoking a flat refusal
?
“I'm n
ot sure
,
but I think I could manage with four hundred francs
.
”
The husband turned a little pale
.
She had named the exact sum he had saved to buy a gun to
enjoy shooting on the plain of Nanterre next summer with a few friends
.
But he replied
:
“All righ
t
.
You shall have four hundred francs
.
Mind you get a really nice dress
.
”
* * *
The day of the ball drew near
.
Although Madame Loisel had got her coveted dress
,
she
seemed far from pleased
.
“What is the matter
?
”her husband asked
.
“You look out of so
rts these days
.
”
“It's quite annoying to think that I haven't a single piece of jewellery to wear
.
I might as well
stay at home as cut a miserable figure at the party
,
”she answered
.
“How about wearing natural flowers
,
then
?
”her husband suggested
.
“They
are now quite in
fashion
.
For ten francs you can get two or three splendid roses
.
”
“Where did you get such a silly idea
?
”she replied
.
“Can't you see how miserable I'd look
among rich women
?
”
“Well then
,
”her husband said
.
“Why don't you go and ask your f
riend
,
Madame Forestier
,
to lend you some jewels
?
She is a good friend of yours
,
and has a lot of jewellery
,
hasn't she
?
”
“Yes
,
of course
,
”she exclaimed in delight
.
“Why didn't I think of it
?
”
The next day she called on Madame Forestier and explained her trouble
.
Madame Forestier
went to her wardrobe
,
took out a large jewel case
,
and placed it open in front of her friend
.
“Take what you want
,
my dear
,
”she said
.
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