The chamber which Madame Morin had assigned to Eusebe had been
much used. It was in the fourth story. The furniture consisted of
a mahogany bedstead, a chest of drawers fancifully ornamented,
a bureau, a table, a _causeuse_, two arm-chairs, two ordinary
chairs,--covered with damask which had been red, like the color
of the curtains at the window,--a clock, and three pictures,--to
wit, a steel engraving of Diana, a colored picture of a Calabrian
brigand, and a lithograph, designated as the “Entrance to the Port
of Buenos Ayres.”
The finest room at La Capelette was the saloon, or parlor. The
floor had never been waxed. Great curtains of white and yellow
calico hung at the windows. A walnut table, some chairs covered
with velvet, and an alabaster clock were the only ornaments of the
room, where, moreover, no strangers were received.
In making a comparison, the provincial found his new quarters
splendid.
“Behold,” thought he, “what they call comfortable! It is one of
the benefits of civilization; but it produces effeminacy in the
strongest man, and it is better to know how to bear up under
adversity.”
After this sage reflection, inspired by the counsels addressed by
Mentor to Telemachus, Eusebe retired to bed. If his fatigue had
been less, he would have very soon comprehended the difference
between the mattress of his bed and the soft turf of the isle of
Calypso.
The youth closed his eyes and thought of his father, who by this
time was sound asleep. He saw himself departing from La Capelette.
All the little incidents of his journey recurred to his mind. He
rejoiced that he had met with Lansade. He was glad that he had
found Madame Morin such an excellent woman, and vowed an eternal
remembrance of her kindness. Then he wondered why madame had
written in her book that he was a hunter by profession. He thought,
also, of the trouble experienced by the porcelain-merchant in
closing his store, and of his not knowing, after a practice of
thirty years, which shutter ought to go up first. This led him
to think of the sagacity of the savages, who, in the midst of a
forest, tell by the curve of a blade of grass what enemy they
have to fear. He endeavored to discover on which side was the
superiority; and he fell into a sound sleep without having solved
the question.