one

There are some beautiful women in the world who are full of charm, but they are wrongly arranged by nature and grow up.

In the family of a small clerk. She is one of them. She has no dowry and nothing to refer to.

There is no way for a rich and influential man to know and understand her.

She, love her, marry her; She had to marry a small clerk in the Ministry of Education.

She has no money to dress up, so it is very simple; But my heart is very painful, just like the situation of a noble marrying;

This is because women do not have a certain class or race, their beauty, their charm,

Their wealth can be used as their origin and family background. Among them, only grades.

With their natural intelligence, aesthetic instinct and flexible brain, these things can make people feel at home.

Our girl is neck and neck with the noblest married woman.

She always feels that she was born to enjoy all kinds of luxurious life, so she feels endless pain.

Bitter. The living room is so simple, the walls are not decorated, the chairs and stools are so shabby, and the clothes are so ugly.

She was in great pain when she saw it. These situations, if not her, belong to another woman in her class.

Words may even be ignored, but it brought her great pain and made her angry. she

I will feel a lot of sadness when I see Brittany helping her with the housework.

Generous and whimsical fantasies. She will feel the oriental silk hanging on the wall and the bronze stilts shining and quiet.

Reception room; She would think of how two tall footmen in shorts and stockings were suffocated by the heating pipe in the reception room.

The heat made me sleepy and fell asleep in the spacious armchair. She will think that the walls are covered with ancient silk.

The silk living room is decorated with precious antiques and exquisite furniture with delicate fragrance.

In the living room, it is specially designed for five o'clock in the afternoon with the closest boyfriends and friends.

However, they are all celebrities that all women covet, eager to be favored and wooed by many parties.

Every time she sits at the round table where the tablecloth has not been washed for three days, the husband sitting opposite lifts the washbasin.

Guy, said contentedly, "Ah! What a delicious stew! There is nothing better in the world. "

She thought of the exquisite banquets, glittering silver tableware and tapestries hanging on the wall.

Weaving ancient figures and rare birds and animals in the fairyland forest; She will also think of those beautiful ones on expensive plates.

Dishes; She also thought of eating pink jealous fish or grouse wings and carrying them unfathomable.

Smile and listen to her boyfriend's sweet words.

She has no beautiful clothes, no jewelry, in short, nothing. She loved it.

That's all; She feels that she was born to enjoy these things. What she wants most is to be able to

Please men, arouse women's admiration, romantic and moving, popular everywhere.

She has a rich girlfriend who is a classmate at school. Now, she never wants to go again.

I have visited her because she always feels very painful when she comes back. She will be sad, regret, despair and pain.

I have to cry for a few days.

two

But one night, her husband came home with a big envelope in his hand and a smug face.

The color of. "Take it!" He said, "This is something specially prepared for you."

She quickly opened the envelope and pulled out an invitation from the inside, which read:

A party will be held in our building on Monday 1 month 18. Please come on time.

For Mr. and Mrs. Loisel, Minister of Education George Long Bono and his wife, I want to order her not to be like her husband.

Hope to be so happy, instead of angrily throwing the invitation on the table, he muttered:

"I want this? Think about it for me. "

"But, my dear, I thought you would be very happy. You never go out as a guest,

This is an opportunity, and it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! I managed to get this invitation.

Everyone wants it, it's hard to get it, and generally they don't want to give it to small staff. You can see everything there.

Those officials. "

Her eyes glared at him angrily and finally said impatiently:

"Can you tell me what to wear to go there?"

This, but he never thought of; Then he hesitated to say:

"That you wear that dress in the theater? In my opinion, that seems very good. "

He can't go on. He was surprised and flustered when he saw that his wife had cried. Two big drops

Tears slowly flow from the corner of his wife's eye to the corner of his mouth; He stammered:

"What's the matter with you? What's wrong with you? "

She made a determined effort to suppress the pain, and then wiped her cheeks wet with tears.

With a calm tone on his face said:

"Nothing happened. But since I have no clothes, of course I can't go to the party. Which colleague's?

My wife can have better clothes than me, so please give her the invitation. "

He embarrassed said:

"Mathilde, let's discuss it. One set of passable clothes, and the other set will be returned when there is a chance.

How much does it cost to wear simple clothes? "

She thought for a few seconds, calculated the amount of money in her mind, and considered what kind of amount to put forward.

I won't be rejected on the spot by this thrifty clerk, and I won't scare him out.

She finally said hesitantly:

"I can't say how much it will cost; But with 400 francs, you can probably get it done.

Yes "He looks a little pale, because he happened to save such a sum of money to buy a gun in summer.

So I can go hunting, play with some friends, and hunt larks in Nanterre Plain on Sunday.

But he still said this:

"All right. I'll give you four hundred francs. But you must try to make a beautiful dress.

Take it. "

three

The day of the party is coming, but Mrs. Loisel seems very sad, uneasy and worried. she

Our clothes are ready. One night, her husband asked her:

"What's the matter with you? Your temper has been so strange for three days. "

"I am very upset. I have neither jewelry nor jewelry, and I can't wear anything, really.

It's too shabby. I just don't want to attend this party. "

He said:

"You can wear some flowers. This season is very beautiful. Spend ten francs,

You can have two or three very beautiful roses. "

This method didn't convince her at all.

"No, among those rich wives, nothing is more humiliating than showing a poor face.

Yes "Her husband suddenly shouted:

"You are so confused! Why don't you borrow some from your friend Mrs Foretstier?

Where are the jewels? Take your friendship with her as an example. "

She shouted happily:

"That's true. I did not expect it at all. "

The next day she went to a friend's house and told her about her troubles.

Madame Forestier immediately went to her wardrobe with a mirror and took out a big piece of jewelry.

Box, bring it here and open it, and then say to Mrs. Loisel:

"Pick it! Dear. "

The first thing she saw was several bracelets, then a pearl necklace and a venetian inlay.

The jewelry gold cross is extremely fine in workmanship. She wore these jewels and tried them in front of the mirror, hesitating and unwilling to take them off and return them to her master. Her mouth is always asking:

"Nothing else?"

"yes. Find it yourself. I don't know what you like? "

She suddenly found a very beautiful diamond necklace in a black satin box; Excessively intense

The strong desire made her heart beat violently. When she picked it up, her hands were shaking. She wears it around her neck and her clothes are outside. She can see God in the mirror.

Then she was very anxious and asked hesitantly:

"Can you lend this to me? I only borrow this one. "

"Of course." She put her arm around her friend's neck, kissed her warmly, and then ran away quickly with the child.

four

It's time for the party. Mrs Leusser is very successful. She is more beautiful than all women, and

Beautiful and charming, always with a smile on her face, almost crazy happy. All the men stared at her, jumping.

Listen to her name and ask for an introduction. Everyone in the minister's office will dance with her. She also caused

The minister's concern.

She has been intoxicated with joy and wants nothing but dancing wildly with excitement. she

Beauty triumphs over everything, and her success is full of brilliance. All these people care about themselves.

Praise drools; A woman thinks that the sweetest victory is entirely in her hands, so she

Dancing in this happy cloud.

She didn't leave until four in the morning. Her husband has been in an abandoned small living room since twelve o'clock.

I fell asleep in my room. There are three other gentlemen in the living room, and their wives are enjoying themselves.

He was afraid that she would catch cold when she went out, so he put his clothes on her shoulders, all of which were daily clothes.

That kind of cold doesn't match the beautiful dance clothes. She immediately felt this, in order not to

Attract the attention of the ladies wrapped in luxurious leather clothes next to her, she hurried out of the door.

Loisel also took her not to let go:

"You wait a moment. You will catch cold outside. I'll call a carriage. "

But she didn't listen to him and walked down the stairs quickly. Not when they get to the street.

There is no taxi; So they got up, saw the carriage passing in the distance, and went after it.

Shout loudly.

They walked all the way to the Seine, shivering and very disappointed. Finally I found one by the river.

The old carriage used for business at night can only be seen after dark in Paris. they

It's so shabby that I seem to be shy when I come out during the day.

The car took them all the way to Martyrs Street, right in front of their house, and they climbed up sadly.

Go back to your house. It's all over for her. How is he? He thinks he should arrive at ten o'clock.

Go to work in the Ministry.

She took off the clothes on her shoulders, which she took off in front of the big mirror to see the cage again.

Immerse yourself in glory. But she suddenly let out a cry. The necklace around her neck is missing.

Her husband had already taken off half his clothes and asked:

"What's the matter with you?"

She has scared panic, turned to her husband and said:

"I, I, I lost Mrs. Forrest's necklace."

He stood up in panic:

"what! What! This is impossible! "

So they searched everywhere in the folds of skirts, in the folds of big boxes and in their pockets. which

I can't find it.

He asked:

"Do you remember when you left the ball; Still wearing it? "

"Yes, I touched it in the front hall of the Ministry."

"But if it is lost in the street, we should always hear the noise when it falls.

I think I left it in the car. "

"Yes, very likely. Did you write down the car number? "

"No, what about you? You didn't pay attention to the number either? "

"No."

five

They look at me, and I look at you. It's embarrassing. Finally, Loisel put on his clothes again.

He said:

"I'll walk the road we just walked again and see if I can find it."

Then he left. As for her, she didn't even have the strength to sleep, so she put on a dress and went to the party.

Our new clothes were left on the chair, and we didn't make a fire or think about anything.

At seven o'clock, my husband came back He found nothing.

He immediately went to the police station and newspaper office and asked them to offer a reward for his arrest. He went to rent a small carriage.

In short, he went wherever there was a little hope.

As for her, she waited all day; Faced with this terrible disaster, she has been in a state of surprise and fear.

Loisel didn't come back until evening, his face was thin and melancholy; There is no result. He said:

"I have to write a letter to your friend and tell her that you broke the button of the chain and are looking for someone now.

Repair. So that we can have time to deal with it. "

He said yes, she wrote the letter.

A week later, they had no hope at all.

Loisel suddenly five years old, he said:

"I have to find a way to buy a thread to compensate her."

The next day, they took the box containing the necklace and went to the Pearl House according to the font size printed on the box.

The jeweler's collection checked the accounts and said:

"Madam, I didn't buy this necklace here, but the box belongs here."

So they ran from one jewelry store to another, looking for a rope and that rope from memory.

Necklace; The two men were worried about getting sick.

In a shop near the palace, they found a diamond necklace, which seemed to be the end of their search.

All the same. This jewel was originally worth 40,000 francs, but if they want it, the shop can reduce the price and get a deal for 36,000 pounds.

They asked the shopkeeper not to sell it for three days. They also agreed on terms, if at the end of February.

I found the original before, and this necklace was taken back by the shopkeeper for 34 thousand francs.

Loisel's father left him eighteen thousand francs. The rest will have to be borrowed.

So he borrowed one thousand francs from this man, five hundred francs from that man and five francs here.

Louis, borrow three from there. He signed many contracts, accepted many conditions that were enough to break the bank, and dealt with usurers and various money lenders for the benefit. He ruined the rest of his life, and whether he could repay it or not, he risked signing an IOU. He is afraid of the worries of the future, the extreme poverty that will soon press on him, and the prospect of all kinds of material deprivation and all kinds of mental pain; Full of fear, he put 36,000 francs on the merchant's counter and got the new necklace.

six

When Mrs. Loisel returned the jewels to Voorst too much, the lady said to her with an unhappy look:

"You should return it to me earlier, because I may have to wear it."

She didn't open the box to look. What her friends are afraid of is that she opens it in front of her. Because what would she think if she found the switch? What would you say? Won't she be considered a thief?

Mrs Loisel tasted the terrible life of the poor. Fortunately, she made up her mind bravely at once. This appalling debt must be paid off. So, she must pay it off.

They fired the maid, moved, and asked the top floor next to the roof.

She tasted the heavy work at home and the boring work in the kitchen. She had to wash dishes and pots and pans by herself, and she grinded rose nails on greasy pots and bottoms. Wash dirty clothes, shirts and rags by yourself and hang them on the rope. Every morning, she takes the garbage to the street and carries the water upstairs. Every time she goes upstairs, she stops to catch her breath. She is dressed.

Like ordinary women, they go to fruit shops, grocery stores and pork shops with baskets in their hands, and they argue about prices in various ways. A copper to protect her poor money will inevitably be scolded.

Several debts have to be paid every month, some of which have to be extended and the repayment period extended.

Husband went to copy accounts for a businessman at night; I often copy for others at night, copying a page to earn five coppers.

I lived like this for ten years.

Ten years later, they paid off all their debts, indeed, all of them, not only the interest of usury, but also the interest of usury.

Mrs Loisel looks old now. She became a bold woman from a poor family, strong and rude. I never comb my hair, my skirt is crooked, my hands are red, I talk loudly, and I use a big basin to wash the floor. However, several times when her husband was still working in the office, when she sat by the window, she couldn't help thinking of the party that year, at which she was so beautiful and popular. What would it be like today if she hadn't lost that necklace? Who knows? Who knows? How strange life is! How unpredictable! It only takes one little thing to destroy you or save you!

Let's talk about one Sunday. She went for a walk in the street and was tired for a week. She wants to amuse herself.

Just then, she suddenly saw a woman walking with her child. This woman turned out to be Mrs. Foretstier, still so young, so beautiful and so moving.

Mrs Loisel was very excited. Go talk to her? Of course I will. Now that all the debts have been paid off, she can tell her everything. Why not?

seven

So she walked over.

"Hello, Jenny."

The other party didn't recognize her at all, and it was strange to be called so intimately by this folk woman.

And then speak hesitatingly, he said:

"But madam! I don't know. You must have misunderstood me. "

"No, I'm mathilde loisel."

Her friend cried:

"ouch! Is it my poor Mathilde? You have changed! "

"Yes, I've had a hard time since I met you. I don't know what to meet.

How many crises and poverty, and all this is because of you! "

"Because of what happened to me?"

"Do you remember that diamond necklace you lent me to attend the Ministry party?"

"yes. So what? "

"So what! I lost it. "

"How is that possible! Didn't you send it back to me? "

"I sent you another rope that is the same as the original one. We have paid back the money for ten years. You know, it's not easy for us. We have nothing. Now it's finally over. I am so happy. "

Mrs Foretstier stood still.

"Did you just say that you bought a diamond necklace to make up for mine?"

"yes. You don't realize this, do you? The two strings are exactly the same. "

As she spoke, a smile appeared on her face, because she felt a kind of innocent happiness that she could be proud of.

Mrs Foretstier seized her hands with excitement.

"ouch! My poor Mathilde! My rope is fake. Up to 500 francs!