[Gerfaut by Charles de Bernard]@TWC D-Link bookGerfaut CHAPTER II 8/20
There was something about the whole face as crabbed, sour, and unkind as if she had daily bathed it in vinegar.
One could read old maid in every feature! Besides, a slight observation of her ways would have destroyed all lingering doubt in this respect. A large, coffee-colored pug-dog was lying before the fire.
This interesting animal served as a footstool for his mistress, stretched in her easy-chair, and recalled to mind the lions which sleep at the foot of chevaliers in their Gothic tombs.
As a pug-dog and an old maid pertain to each other, it was only necessary, in order to divine this venerable lady's state, to read the name upon the golden circlet which served as a collar for the dog: "Constance belongs to Mademoiselle de Corandeuil." Before the younger lady, who was leaning upon the back of a chair, seeming to breathe with difficulty, had time to reply, she received a second injunction. "But, aunt," said she, at last, "it was a horrible crash! Did you not hear it ?" "I am not so deaf as that yet," replied the old maid.
"Shut that window; do you not know that currents of air attract lightning ?" Clemence obeyed, dropping the curtain to shut out the flashes of lightning which continued to dart through the heavens; she then approached the fireplace. "Since you are so afraid of lightning," said her aunt; "which, by the way, is perfectly ridiculous in a Corandeuil, what induced you to go out upon the balcony? The sleeve of your gown is wet.
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