madame cheron now went to dress for an engagement, which she had made for the evening; and emily, who would gladly have been excused from attending her aunt, did not ask to remain at home lest her request should be attributed to an improper motive.when she retired to her own room, the little fortitude, which had supported her in the presence of her relation, forsook her; she remembered only that valancourt, whose character appeared more amiable from every circumstance, that unfolded it, was banished from her presence, perhaps, for ever, and she passed the time in weeping, which, according to her aunt's direction, she ought to have employed in dressing.this important duty was, however, quickly dispatched;though, when she joined madame cheron at table, her eyes betrayed, that she had been in tears, and drew upon her a severe reproof.
her efforts to appear cheerful did not entirely fail when she joined the company at the house of madame clairval, an elderly widow lady, who had lately come to reside at tholouse, on an estate of her late husband.she had lived many years at paris in a splendid style; had naturally a gay temper, and, since her residence at tholouse, had given some of the most magnificent entertainments, that had been seen in that neighbourhood.
these excited not only the envy, but the trifling ambition of madame cheron, who, since she could not rival the splendour of her festivities, was desirous of being ranked in the number of her most intimate friends.for this purpose she paid her the most obsequious attention, and made a point of being disengaged, whenever she received an invitation from madame clairval, of whom she talked, wherever she went, and derived much self-consequence from impressing a belief on her general acquaintance, that they were on the most familiar footing.