第24章

ChapterEightAtlastitcame，thefamousagriculturalshow。Onthemorningofthesolemnityalltheinhabitantsattheirdoorswerechattingoverthepreparations。Thepedimentofthetownhallhadbeenhungwithgarlandsofivy；atenthadbeenerectedinameadowforthebanquet；andinthemiddleofthePlace，infrontofthechurch，akindofbombardewastoannouncethearrivaloftheprefectandthenamesofthesuccessfulfarmerswhohadobtainedprizes。TheNationalGuardofBuchy(therewasnoneatYonville)

hadcometojointhecorpsoffiremen，ofwhomBinetwascaptain。

Onthatdayheworeacollarevenhigherthanusual；and，tightlybuttonedinhistunic，hisfigurewassostiffandmotionlessthatthewholevitalportionofhispersonseemedtohavedescendedintohislegs，whichroseinacadenceofsetstepswithasinglemovement。Astherewassomerivalrybetweenthetax-collectorandthecolonel，both，toshowofftheirtalents，drilledtheirmenseparately。Onesawtheredepaulettesandtheblackbreastplatespassandre-passalternately；therewasnoendtoit，anditconstantlybeganagain。Therehadneverbeensuchadisplayofpomp。Severalcitizenshadscouredtheirhousestheeveningbefore；tri-colouredflagshungfromhalf-openwindows；

allthepublic-houseswerefull；andinthelovelyweatherthestarchedcaps，thegoldencrosses，andthecolouredneckerchiefsseemedwhiterthansnow，shoneinthesun，andrelievedwiththemotleycoloursthesombremonotonyofthefrock-coatsandbluesmocks。Theneighbouringfarmers’wives，whentheygotofftheirhorses，pulledoutthelongpinsthatfastenedaroundthemtheirdresses，turnedupforfearofmud；andthehusbands，fortheirpart，inordertosavetheirhats，kepttheirhandkerchiefsaroundthem，holdingonecornerbetweentheirteeth。

Thecrowdcameintothemainstreetfrombothendsofthevillage。Peoplepouredinfromthelanes，thealleys，thehouses；

andfromtimetotimeoneheardknockersbangingagainstdoorsclosingbehindwomenwiththeirgloves，whoweregoingouttoseethefete。Whatwasmostadmiredweretwolonglamp-standscoveredwithlanterns，thatflankedaplatformonwhichtheauthoritiesweretosit。Besidesthistherewereagainstthefourcolumnsofthetownhallfourkindsofpoles，eachbearingasmallstandardofgreenishcloth，embellishedwithinscriptionsingoldletters。

Ononewaswritten，“ToCommerce“；ontheother，“ToAgriculture“；onthethird，“ToIndustry“；andonthefourth，“TotheFineArts。“

ButthejubilationthatbrightenedallfacesseemedtodarkenthatofMadameLefrancois，theinnkeeper。Standingonherkitchen-stepsshemutteredtoherself，“Whatrubbish!whatrubbish!Withtheircanvasbooth!Dotheythinktheprefectwillbegladtodinedownthereunderatentlikeagipsy？Theycallallthisfussingdoinggoodtotheplace!Thenitwasn’tworthwhilesendingtoNeufchatelforthekeeperofacookshop!Andforwhom？Forcowherds!tatterdemalions!“

Thedruggistwaspassing。Hehadonafrock-coat，nankeentrousers，beavershoes，and，forawonder，ahatwithalowcrown。

“Yourservant!Excus