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lark-shooting there on Sundays.

However, he said,

“Very well, I can give you four hundred francs. But try and get a really beautiful dress.”

The day of the party drew near, and Madame Loisel seemed sad, restless, and anxious.
Her dress was ready, however. One evening her husband said to her,

“What’s the matter? You’ve been acting strange these last three days.”

She replied, “I’m upset that I have no jewels, not a single stone to wear. I will look
cheap. I would almost rather not go to the party.”

“You could wear flowers, “ he said, “They are very fashionable
What you Think?ou Think?
at this time of year. For ten francs you could get two or three What y
magnificent roses.” For what had the
husband saved the
She was not convinced. money ?

“No; there is nothing more humiliating than looking poor in
the middle of a lot of rich women.”

“How stupid you are!” her husband cried. “Go and see your friend Madame Forestier
and ask her to lend you some jewels. You know her well enough for that.”

She uttered a cry of joy.

“Of course. I had not thought of that.”

The next day she went to her friend’s house and told her of her distress.

Madame Forestier went to her mirrored wardrobe, took out a large box, brought it back,
opened it, and said to Madame Loisel,

“Choose, my dear.”

First she saw some bracelets, then a pearl necklace, then a gold Venetian cross set
with precious stones, of exquisite craftsmanship. She tried on the jewelry in the mirror,
hesitated, could not bear to part with them, to give them back. She kept asking,

“You have nothing else?”

“Why, yes. But I don’t know what you like.”

Suddenly she discovered, in a black satin box, a superb diamond necklace, and her heart
began to beat with uncontrolled desire. Her hands trembled as she took it. She fastened
it around her neck, over her high-necked dress, and stood lost in ecstasy as she looked
at herself.

Then she asked anxiously, hesitating,

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The English Carnival-7