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disorder。 Her eyebrows were large and bushy； but those alone would
not have given to her face that look of indomitable sternness which
it possessed。 Her eyebrows were serious in their effect； but not so
serious as the pair of green spectacles which she always wore under
them。 It was thought by those who had analysed the subject that the
great secret of Madame Bauche's power lay in her green spectacles。
Her custom was to move about and through the whole establishment
every day from breakfast till the period came for her to dress for
dinner。 She would visit every chamber and every bath； walk once or
twice round the salle a manger； and very repeatedly round the
kitchen； she would go into every hole and corner； and peer into
everything through her green spectacles： and in these walks it was
not always thought pleasant to meet her。 Her custom was to move very
slowly； with her hands generally clasped behind her back： she rarely
spoke to the guests unless she was spoken to； and on such occasions
she would not often diverge into general conversation。 If any one
had aught to say connected with the business of the establishment；
she would listen； and then she would make her answers；often not
pleasant in the hearing。
And thus she walked her path through the world； a stern； hard； solemn
old woman； not without gusts of passionate explosion； but honest
withal； and not without some inward benevolence and true tenderness
of heart。 Children she had had many； some seven or eight。 One or
two had died； others had been married； she had sons settled far away
from home； and at the time of which we are now speaking but one was
left in any way subject to maternal authority。
Adolphe Bauche was the only one of her children of whom much was
remembered by the present denizens and hangers…on of the hotel； he
was the youngest of the number； and having been born only very
shortly before the return of Madame Bauche to Vernet； had been
altogether reared there。 It was thought by the world of those parts；
and rightly thought； that he was his mother's darlingmore so than
had been any of his brothers and sisters；the very apple of her eye
and gem of her life。 At this time he was about twenty…five years of
age； and for the last two years had been absent from Vernetfor
reasons which will shortly be made to appear。 He had been sent to
Paris to see something of the world； and learn to talk French instead
of the patois of his valley； and having left Paris had come down
south into Languedoc； and remained there picking up some agricultural
lore which it was thought might prove useful in the valley farms of
Vernet。 He was now expected home again very speedily； much to his
mother's delight。
That she was kind and gracious to her favourite child does not
perhaps give much proof of her benevolence； but she had also been
kind and gracious to the orphan child of a neighbour； nay； to the
orphan child of a rival innkeeper。 At Vernet there had been more
than one water establishment； but the proprietor of the second had
died some few years after Madame Bauche had settled herself at the
place。 His house had not thrived； and his only child； a little girl；
was left altogether without provision。
This little girl； Marie Clavert； La Mere Bauche had taken into her
own house immediately after the father's death； although she had most
cordially hated that father。 Marie was then an infant； and Madame
Bauche had accepted the charge without much thought； perhaps； as to
what might be the child's ultimate destiny。 But since then she had
thoroughly done the duty of a mother by the little girl； who had
become the pet of the whole establishment； the favourite plaything of
Adolphe Bauche； and at last of course his early sweetheart。
And then and therefore there had come troubles at Vernet。 Of course
all the world of the valley had seen what was taking place and what
was likely to take place； long before Madame Bauche knew anything
about it。 But at last it broke upon her senses that her son； Adolphe
Bauche； the heir to all her virtues and all her riches； the first
young man in that or any neighbouring valley； was absolutely
contemplating the idea of marrying that poor little orphan； Marie
Clavert！
That any one should ever fall in love with Marie Clavert had never
occurred to Madame Bauche。 She had always regarded the child as a
child； as the object of her charity； and as a little thing to be
looked on as poor Marie by all the world。 She； looking through her
green spectacles； had never seen that Marie Clavert was a beautiful
creature； full of ripening charms； such as young men love to look on。
Marie was of infinite daily use to Madame Bauche in a hundred little
things about the house； and the old lady thoroughly recognised and
appreciated her ability。 But for this very reason she had never
taught herself to regard Marie otherwise than as a useful drudge。
She was very fond of her protegeeso much so that she would listen
to her in affairs about the house when she would listen to no one
else；but Marie's prettiness and grace and sweetness as a girl had
all been thrown away upon Maman Bauche； as Marie used to call her。
But unluckily it had not been thrown away upon Adolphe。 He had
appreciated； as it was natural that he should do； all that had been
so utterly indifferent to his mother； and consequently had fallen in
love。 Consequently also he had told his love； and consequently also
Marie had returned his love。
Adolphe had been hitherto contradicted but in few things； and thought
that all difficulty would be prevented by his informing his mother
that he wished to marry Marie Clavert。 But Marie； with a woman's
instinct； had known better。 She had trembled and almost crouched
with fear when she confessed her love； and had absolutely hid herself
from sight when Adolphe went forth； prepared to ask his mother's
consent to his marriage。
The indignation and passionate wrath of Madame Bauche were past and
gone two years before the date of this story； and I need not
therefore much enlarge upon that subject。 She was at first abusive
and bitter； which was bad for Marie； and afterwards bitter and
silent； which was worse。 It was of course determined that poor Marie
should be sent away to some asylum for orphans or penniless paupers
in short anywhere out of the way。 What mattered her outlook into the
world； her happiness； or indeed her very existence？ The outlook and
happiness of Adolphe Bauche；was not that to be considered as
everything at Vernet？
But this terrible sharp aspect of affairs did not last very long。 In
the first place La Mere Bauche had under those green spectacles a
heart that in truth was tender and affectionate； and after the first
two days of anger she admitted that something must be done for Marie
Clavert； and after the fourth day she acknowledged that the world of
the hotel； her world； would not go as well without Marie Clavert as
it would with her。 And in the next place Madame Bauche had a friend
whose advice in grave matters she would sometimes take。 This friend
had told her that it would be much better to send away Adolphe； since
it was so n