第3章TheNecklace
GuydeMaupassant
Shewasohoseprettyandggirlsborn，asthoughfatehadbluoafamilyofartisans。Shehadneportioions，nomeaingkood，loved，andweddedbyamahanddistindsheletherselfbemarriedofftoalittletheMinistryofEdu。
&esweresimplebecauseshehadoaffordasheyasthoughshehadmarriedbehher;forwomeeorclass，theirbeauty，gradcharmservingthemforbirthorfamily。Theirheirinstiheir，aretheironlymarkofrank，andputtheslumgirlohehighestladyintheland。
Shesufferedendlessly，feelingherselfbornforeverydelidluxury。Shesufferedfromthepoornessofherhouse，fromitsmeanwalls，wlys。Allthesethings，ofwhienofherclasswouldnoteveormentedahesightofthelittleBretongirlwhocametodotheworkilehousearousedheart-brretsandhopelessdreamsinhermind。Sheimagiechambers，heavywithorieries，litbytorloftybrowofallfootmeninknee-breechessleepinginlargearm-ebytheheavywarmthofthestove。Sheimagisaloonshungwithantiquesilks，exquisitepiecesoffuringprients，andsmall，g，perfumedrooms，createdjustforlittlepartiesofintimatefriends，menwhowerefamousandsoughtafter，whosehomagerousedeveryotheros;senviouslongings。
&downfordiheroundtablecoveredwithathree-day-oldcloth，oppositeherhusband，whotookthecoveroffthesoup-tureen，exgdelightedly，"Aha!Scotchbroth!Whatcouldbebetter?"sheimagiemeals，gleamiriespeoplingthewallswithfolkofapastageandstrangebirdsis;sheimagiefoodservedinmarvellousdishes，murmuredgallaehaninscrutablesmileasoherosyfleshoftrsus。
Shehadnoojewels，nothiheonlythingssheloved;shefeltthatshewasmadeforthem。Shehadloocharm，tobedesired，tobewildlyattradsoughtafter。
Shehadarid，anoldschoolfriendwhomsherefusedtovisit，becauseshesufferedsokeeurnedhome。Sheholedays，withgrief，regret，despair，andmisery。
Oneeveningherhusbahaair，holdingalargeenvelopeinhishand。
"Here'ssomethingforyou。"hesaid。
Swiftlyshetorethepaperaaprintedwhichwerethesewords:
&erofEduadameRampohepleasureoftheonsieurandMadameLoiselattheMinistryontheeveningofMonday，Jah。
Insteadofbeied，asherhusbandhoped，shefluiolyacrossthetable，murmuring:
"Whatdoyouwaodowiththis?"
&qu，Ithoughtyou'dbepleased。Yoout，andthisisagreato。Ihadtremendoustroubletogetit。Everyoso'sveryseledveryfewgotothep;apos;llseeallthereallybigpeoplethere。"
Shelookedathimoutoffuriouseyes，andsaidimpatiently:"AndwhatdoyousupposeIamtowearatsuaffair?"
&thoughtaboutit;hestammered:
"Why，thedressyougotothetheatrein。Itlooksvery;
&opped，stupefiedaalosswhehiswifewasbeginningtocry。Twetearsranslowlydownfromtheersofhereyestowardstheouth。
"os;sthematterwithyou?os;sthematterwithyou?"hefaltered。
Butwithaviolesheovercamehergriefandrepliedinacalmvoigherwetcheeks:
"Nothing。OnlyIhaven'tadressandsoI'tgotiveyourinvitationtosomefriendofyoursillbeturhanIshall。"
Hewasheart-broken。
"Lookhere，Mathilde，"hepersisted。"Whatwouldbethecostofasuitabledress，whichyoucoulduseonotherosaswell，somethingverysimple?"
&forseveralseds，reguppridalsfeasumshecouldaskwithuponherselfaerefusalaionofhorrorfromthecareful-mindedclerk。
Atlastsherepliedwithsomehesitation:
"Idon'tkly，butIthinkIcoulddoitonfourhundredfrancs。"
Hegrewslightlypale，forthiswasexactlytheamounthehadbeensavingfuogetalittleshootisummerontheplaihsomefrielark-shootingthereonSundays。
&helesshesaid，"Veryos;llgiveyoufourhundredfrancs。Buttryaareallyhemo;
&hepartydrewnear，andMadameLoiselseemedsad，uneasyandanxious。Herdresswasready，however。Oneeveningherhusbandsaidtoher:
"os;sthematterwithyou?You'vebeenveryoddforthelastthreedays。"
"I'mutterlymiserableatnothaviasiowear，"shereplied。"Ishalllookabsolutelynoone。Iwouldalmototheparty。"
"Wearflowers，"hesaid。"They'reverysmartatthistimeoftheyear。Fortenfrancsyoucouldgettweousroses。"
&ced。
"No。。。there'snothingsohumiliatingaslookingpoorinthemiddleofalotofrien。"
"Howstupidyouare!"exclaimedherhusband，"GoandseeMadameForestieraolendyousomejewels。Youkewellenoughforthat。"
&eredacryofdelight。"That'strue。Iofit。"
&dayshewenttoseeherfriendarouble。