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Neither the warts which adorned her martial visage； nor the red…brick
tints of her skin； nor the sinewy arms； nor the ragged garments of la
Grande Nanon； dismayed the cooper； who was at that time still of an
age when the heart shudders。 He fed； shod； and clothed the poor girl；
gave her wages； and put her to work without treating her too roughly。
Seeing herself thus welcomed； la Grande Nanon wept secretly tears of
joy； and attached herself in all sincerity to her master； who from
that day ruled her and worked her with feudal authority。 Nanon did
everything。 She cooked； she made the lye； she washed the linen in the
Loire and brought it home on her shoulders； she got up early； she went
to bed late； she prepared the food of the vine…dressers during the
harvest； kept watch upon the market…people； protected the property of
her master like a faithful dog； and even； full of blind confidence；
obeyed without a murmur his most absurd exactions。
In the famous year of 1811； when the grapes were gathered with
unheard…of difficulty； Grandet resolved to give Nanon his old watch；
the first present he had made her during twenty years of service。
Though he turned over to her his old shoes （which fitted her）； it is
impossible to consider that quarterly benefit as a gift； for the shoes
were always thoroughly worn…out。 Necessity had made the poor girl so
niggardly that Grandet had grown to love her as we love a dog； and
Nanon had let him fasten a spiked collar round her throat； whose
spikes no longer pricked her。 If Grandet cut the bread with rather too
much parsimony； she made no complaint； she gaily shared the hygienic
benefits derived from the severe regime of the household； in which no
one was ever ill。 Nanon was； in fact； one of the family； she laughed
when Grandet laughed； felt gloomy or chilly； warmed herself； and
toiled as he did。 What pleasant compensations there were in such
equality！ Never did the master have occasion to find fault with the
servant for pilfering the grapes； nor for the plums and nectarines
eaten under the trees。 〃Come； fall…to； Nanon！〃 he would say in years
when the branches bent under the fruit and the farmers were obliged to
give it to the pigs。
To the poor peasant who in her youth had earned nothing but harsh
treatment； to the pauper girl picked up by charity； Grandet's
ambiguous laugh was like a sunbeam。 Moreover； Nanon's simple heart and
narrow head could hold only one feeling and one idea。 For thirty…five
years she had never ceased to see herself standing before the wood…
yard of Monsieur Grandet； ragged and barefooted； and to hear him say：
〃What do you want； young one？〃 Her gratitude was ever new。 Sometimes
Grandet； reflecting that the poor creature had never heard a
flattering word； that she was ignorant of all the tender sentiments
inspired by women； that she might some day appear before the throne of
God even more chaste than the Virgin Mary herself；Grandet； struck
with pity； would say as he looked at her； 〃Poor Nanon！〃 The
exclamation was always followed by an undefinable look cast upon him
in return by the old servant。 The words； uttered from time to time；
formed a chain of friendship that nothing ever parted； and to which
each exclamation added a link。 Such compassion arising in the heart of
the miser； and accepted gratefully by the old spinster； had something
inconceivably horrible about it。 This cruel pity； recalling； as it
did； a thousand pleasures to the heart of the old cooper； was for
Nanon the sum total of happiness。 Who does not likewise say； 〃Poor
Nanon！〃 God will recognize his angels by the inflexions of their
voices and by their secret sighs。
There were very many households in Saumur where the servants were
better treated； but where the masters received far less satisfaction
in return。 Thus it was often said： 〃What have the Grandets ever done
to make their Grande Nanon so attached to them？ She would go through
fire and water for their sake！〃 Her kitchen； whose barred windows
looked into the court； was always clean； neat； cold；a true miser's
kitchen； where nothing went to waste。 When Nanon had washed her
dishes； locked up the remains of the dinner； and put out her fire； she
left the kitchen； which was separated by a passage from the living…
room； and went to spin hemp beside her masters。 One tallow candle
sufficed the family for the evening。 The servant slept at the end of
the passage in a species of closet lighted only by a fan…light。 Her
robust health enabled her to live in this hole with impunity； there
she could hear the slightest noise through the deep silence which
reigned night and day in that dreary house。 Like a watch…dog； she
slept with one ear open； and took her rest with a mind alert。
A description of the other parts of the dwelling will be found
connected with the events of this history； though the foregoing sketch
of the hall； where the whole luxury of the household appears； may
enable the reader to surmise the nakedness of the upper floors。
In 1819； at the beginning of an evening in the middle of November； la
Grande Nanon lighted the fire for the first time。 The autumn had been
very fine。 This particular day was a fete…day well known to the
Cruchotines and the Grassinists。 The six antagonists； armed at all
points； were making ready to meet at the Grandets and surpass each
other in testimonials of friendship。 That morning all Saumur had seen
Madame and Mademoiselle Grandet； accompanied by Nanon； on their way to
hear Mass at the parish church； and every one remembered that the day
was the anniversary of Mademoiselle Eugenie's birth。 Calculating the
hour at which the family dinner would be over； Maitre Cruchot； the
Abbe Cruchot； and Monsieur C。 de Bonfons hastened to arrive before the
des Grassins； and be the first to pay their compliments to
Mademoiselle Eugenie。 All three brought enormous bouquets； gathered in
their little green…houses。 The stalks of the flowers which the
president intended to present were ingeniously wound round with a
white satin ribbon adorned with gold fringe。 In the morning Monsieur
Grandet； following his usual custom on the days that commemorated the
birth and the fete of Eugenie； went to her bedside and solemnly
presented her with his paternal gift；which for the last thirteen
years had consisted regularly of a curious gold…piece。 Madame Grandet
gave her daughter a winter dress or a summer dress； as the case might
be。 These two dresses and the gold…pieces； of which she received two
others on New Year's day and on her father's fete…day； gave Eugenie a
little revenue of a hundred crowns or thereabouts； which Grandet loved
to see her amass。 Was it not putting his money from one strong…box to
another； and； as it were； training the parsimony of his heiress？ from
whom he sometimes demanded an account of her treasure （formerly
increased by the gifts of the Bertellieres）； saying： 〃It is to be your
marriage dozen。〃
The 〃marriage dozen〃 is an old custom sacredly preserved and still in
force in many parts of central France。 In Berry and in Anjou； when a
young girl marries； her family； or that of the husband； must give her
a purse； in which they place； according to their means； twelve pieces；
or twelve dozen pieces； or twelve hundred pieces of gold。 The poorest
shepherd…girl never marries without her dozen； be it only a dozen
coppers。 They still tell in Issoudun of a certain 〃dozen〃 presented to
a rich heiress； which contained a hundred and forty…four /portugaises
d'or/。 Pope Clement VII。； uncle of Catherine de' Medici； gave her when
he married her to Henri II。 a dozen antique gold medals of priceless
value。
During dinner the father； delighted to see his Eugenie looking well in
a new gown； exclaimed： 〃As it is Eugenie's birthday let us have a
fire； it will be a good omen。〃
〃Mademoiselle will be married this year； that's certain；〃 said la
Grande Nanon； carrying away the remains of the goose；the pheasant of
tradesmen。
〃I don't see any one suitable for her in Saumur；〃 said Madame Grandet；
glancing at her husband with a timid look which； considering her
years； revealed the conjugal slavery under which the poor woman
languished。
Grandet looked at his daughter and exclaimed gaily；
〃She is twenty…three years old to…day； the child； we must soon begin
to think of it。〃
Eugenie and her mother silently exchanged a glance of intelligence。
Madame Grandet was a dry； thin woman； as yellow as a quince； awkward；
slow； one of those women who are born to be down…trodden。 She had big
bones； a big nose； a big forehead； big eyes； and presented at first
sight a vague resemblance to those mealy fruits that have neither
savor nor succulence。 Her teeth were black and few in number； her
mouth was wrinkled； her chin long and pointed。 She was an excellent
woman； a true la Bertelliere。 L'abbe Cruchot found occasional
opportunity to tell her that she had not done ill； and she believed
him。 Angelic sweetness； the resignation of an insect tortured by
children； a rare piety； a good heart； an unalterable equanimity of
soul； made her universally pitied and respected。 Her husband never
gave her more than six francs at a time for her personal expenses。
Ridicul