Hegrewslightlypale, forthiswasexactlytheamounthehadbeensavingforagun, intendingtogetalittleshootingnextsummerontheplainofNanterrewithsomefriendswhowentlark-shootingthereonSundays.
Neverthelesshesaid, "Verywell.I'."
Thedayofthepartydrewnear, andMadameLoiselseemedsad, , :
"What'sthematterwithyou? You'vebeenveryoddforthelastthreedays."
"I'mutterlymiserableatnothavinganyjewels, notasinglestone, towear," shereplied."."
"Wearflowers," hesaid."They'."
Shewasnotconvinced.
"No...there'snothingsohumiliatingaslookingpoorinthemiddleofalotofrichwomen."
"Howstupidyouare!" exclaimedherhusband, "."
Sheutteredacryofdelight."That'."
Nextdayshewenttoseeherfriendandtoldherhertrouble.
MadameForestierwenttoherdressing-table, tookupalargebox, broughtittoMadameLoisel, openedit, andsaid:
"Choose, mydear."
Firstshesawsomebracelets, thenapearlnecklace, thenaVenetiancrossingoldandgems, , hesitating, unabletomakeuphermindtoleavethem, :
"Haven'tyouanythingelse?"
"'tknowwhatyouwouldlikebest."
Suddenlyshediscovered, inablacksatincase, asuperbdiamondnecklace; , uponherhighdress, andremainedinecstasyatsightofherself.
Then, withhesitation, sheaskedinanguish:
"Couldyoulendmethis, justthisalone?"
"Yes, ofcourse."
Sheflungherselfonherfriend'sbreast, embracedherfrenziedly, andwentawaywithhertreasure.
, elegant, graceful, smiling, , inquiredhername, .
