youthful Elise who was now left without a single
relation?
Elise, who had been devoted to her aunt, must
naturally do a great deal of weeping, Goundran
would find his own eyes full of tears, and would rack
his brains for something to say that might be expected
to give consolation. Mathilde had bequeathed her
small house to the girl, as well as her tiny personal
fortune, but Elise was too young to live all alone,
such a thing would have outraged every convention.
Goundran, of course, found new lodgings at once,
having sent in a kind-hearted female neighbour, but
the woman could not remain very long; it certainly
was a distressing situation.
Goundran said to this neighbour: 'I am deeply
perplexed, ... I have known Elise since the days of
her childhood, yet I cannot decide what she ought
to do. ... Perhaps you will advise?5
'Mais oui,' nodded the neighbour, 'it is perfectly
clear what Elise ought to do, what every young girl
ought to do — get married.'
'Have I not said so already/ he sighed, 'but she
seems completely indifferent to men; as you know
she refused that fine fellow, Bertrand.'
Then he went to Marie and sought her advice:
'The girl has not even a distant cousin — it is sad to
be so much alone in the world — do you think that
perhaps she might enter a convent? Do you think
that she possibly has a vocation?' For by now he was
really at his wits* end.
'I think her vocation is marriage,' smiled Marie.
So off he must go in search of Jouse who, as ill luck
would have it, was completing a bed for a couple
just entering into wedlock; and Jouse laid down his
tools and looked wise while he listened to Goundran
with careful attention.
After a little: 'I think/ remarked J6us£, ethat Elise
165