I found Déneterre in full dress. He came to me, embraced me, pressed my hand with a satisfied air, and said to me in a half solemn, half comical tone: "Well! you're one of us now!" I looked at him with a smile, and stifled a sigh which would have been a rude answer to his congratulations. "Come, let's eat, and eat heartily!" said my brother-in-law, taking his seat at the table. "You need to lay in some strength to-day, my dear boy." So the chapter of jests had begun; but it was likely to be brief in a small place, where remarks with a double meaning were frowned upon. At all events, they might say what they pleased; I was determined to accept everything with a good grace. But I thought it well to follow Déneterre's advice and eat heartily; that was the best thing for me to do until night. "Let us hurry," said Amélie; "it's almost eleven; we mustn't keep your wife waiting, dear Eugène." "Of course not; that would not be polite; I am ready to start." "Come, Déneterre, have you finished?" "For heaven's sake, give me time to swallow!" "Oh! how long it takes you to do anything! Do put on the children's hats!" "What! are you going to take them to the mayor's office?" "Certainly." "That's all folly; it won't amuse them, and they'll crowd the carriage; it's much better not to take them till we go to the church." "But I insist on their going now! Do you suppose that I dressed them up just to leave them at home?" "But I tell you we can come back and get them in a little while." "And I tell you that I propose to take them now." "There won't be any room for them." "You can hold them on your knees." "So that they can kick me and soil the ladies' dresses!" "They'll keep quiet." "It would be something new!" "Oh! how you tire me with your arguments!" "You are a most obstinate creature!" The clock struck eleven, and I put an end to the discussion by announcing that I was going; my sister and her husband did the same, and we took the little boys. I was very sure that that would be the result. The two carriages were in front of the house; the coachmen wore white gloves and had huge bouquets. All the neighbors were at their doors or windows; a wedding in a small town is such a momentous event! it furnishes a subject of conversation for more than a week. We took five minutes to go about as far as the length of one of the shorter boulevards in Paris; the horses were not used to coaches, and their drivers drove very slowly in order that they might seem to be starting on a journey. We arrived at last and were shown into the large salon, where the intimate friends and the distinguished personages invited to the first ceremony were assembled. I did not see my bride, and started to go in search of her; but I was detained; I could not be allowed to enter her bedroom yet. "She's coming," said Madame de Pontchartrain; "be patient, my dear Dorsan, you will soon see her."