She remembered her own bringing-up, and swore within herself to make Celeste a virtuous woman.

She took her to mass, and had her prepared for her first communion by a rector who has since become a bishop.

Celeste was all the more readily pious, because her godmother, Madame Thuillier, was a saint, and the child adored her; she felt that the poor neglected woman loved her better than her own mother.
From 1833 to 1840 she received a brilliant education according to the ideas of the bourgeoisie.

The best music-masters made her a fair musician; she could paint a water-color properly; she danced extremely well; and she had studied the French language, history, geography, English, Italian,--in short, all that constitutes the education of a well-brought-up young lady.

Of medium height, rather plump, unfortunately near-sighted, she was neither plain nor pretty; not without delicacy or even brilliancy of complexion, it is true, but totally devoid of all distinction of manner.