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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
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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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