"You are right, Francine," she said; "I wish with you that the
marriage were over. This is the last of my cloudy days--it is big with
death or happiness. Oh! that fog is dreadful," she went on, again
looking towards the heights of Saint-Sulpice, which were still veiled
in mist.
She began to arrange the silk and muslin curtains which draped the
window, making them intercept the light and produce in the room a
voluptuous chiaro-scuro.
"Francine," she said, "take away those knick-knacks on the
mantelpiece; leave only the clock and the two Dresden vases. I'll fill
those vases myself with the flowers Corentin brought me. Take out the
chairs, I want only this sofa and a fauteuil. Then sweep the carpet,
so as to bring out the colors, and put wax candles in the sconces and
on the mantel."
Marie looked long and carefully at the old tapestry on the walls.
Guided by her innate taste she found among the brilliant tints of
these hangings the shades by which to connect their antique beauty
with the furniture and accessories of the boudoir, either by the
harmony of color or the charm of contrast. The same thought guided the
arrangement of the flowers with which she filled the twisted vases
which decorated her chamber. The sofa was placed beside the fire. On
either side of the bed, which filled the space parallel to that of the
chimney, she placed on gilded tables tall Dresden vases filled with
foliage and flowers that were sweetly fragrant.
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