They have not seen one another yet, and it has been difficult to get him to face the situation seriously. Victorine has been dragging on so, that the family will be delighted to let her go, even to a less fortune than she has. "Ils devraient être joliment contents, un gros paquet comme ça!" as Hippolyte, who knows every one's business, said to the Baronne's maid--Héloise told me--and that explains it; she said it would be such a _mercy_ if he will settle the affair at once. She had come to ask me a favour. I did wonder what it was! And you will laugh, Mamma, when you hear! Victorine is sure to be nervous, Héloise said, and in that case her face gets red, and it would be a pity to distract his attention in any way, and in short would I mind putting on my most unbecoming dress, and not speaking while the Marquis is here? [Sidenote: _The Fiancé Appears_] So here I am, Mamma, writing to you up in my room, dressed in that horrid _beige_ linen that we chose at night, and I shan't go down till _déjeûner_ is ready, pouf! I can hear a carriage coming, I must go to the window. Yes, it is the _fiancé_, accompanied by his mother and aunt. He is nice-looking, except that he has got a silly fair beard. I can hear them arriving in the hall; such a lot of talking! Héloise and Victorine have just been here. Héloise even has got an ugly dress on, and Victorine has scrubbed her face with soap--I suppose to get that greasy look off--until it shines like an apple, her nose is crimson, and her eyes look like two beads. They have gone downstairs. More talking--I am sure he is putting his heels together. I'll finish this after they have gone, so as to tell you what happens. _Evening_.--Such a day! After I had heard mumbling talking for quite a while--the windows were all open, and the salon is under me--suddenly the piano began. Victorine plays really well generally--that is, she has brilliant execution--but you should have heard the jumble! hardly a note right, and in the middle of it up rushed Héloise to me and sank into a chair. It was going as badly as it possibly could, she said. Victorine was so nervous that her voice was like a file, and her face so crimson that the Marquis must think she has erysipelas! And then, to complete matters, when she is told by Godmamma to show her accomplishments, to think that she should play like this! Especially as the Marquis is very musical! Héloise said she could see he was quite "dégoûté," and the only thing for it now, was for me to change my frock instantly, and to put on a becoming one, and to go down and talk. Then he would go away having enjoyed his visit, he won't reason why, and will come again; and then when I am gone, he can be pushed into the marriage with Victorine! She rang for Agnès while she spoke, and I was simply pitched into the blue _batiste_, and hustled downstairs.