Mme Proust and the Kosher Kitchen Read Online Free PDF

and colourful displays, elegant gowns, silk scarves, and holiday baskets; the air smelt of roasting chestnuts and fresh waffles, and people bustled everywhere, the whole parade accompanied by music provided by an accordion player on the corner. The street vendors cried out with what seemed to me even more vigour than usual, perhaps desperate that there were only a few hours left to make their sales. The crowd pressed in on me, forcing me towards one of the vendors who stepped into my path and held some trinket out for my inspection. Even when I tried to brush him aside, he persisted:
“Mais regardez
,
madame
. Look at these beauties…” But he saw his answer in my unsmiling face, and I pushed past him into the store. It was not much quieter there, and it was all I could do to stand such a crush of humanity, make my purchase and find my way back to the Boulevard Malesherbes.
    As I write the men are out at the midnight mass at Saint-Augustin, now leaving their Jewess safely at home. I sent Marcel off with three scarves, one under his waistcoat, one under his greatcoat, and the third overtop, I am so afraid this chill weather might trigger another attack. He has been well enough the last few weeks—thankfully we have not had a repetition of November’s horrible scene. Since then, he has suffered only a touch of indigestion from time to time. I would not let him go out to Mme de Caillavet’s Sunday, the weather was so cold, and wanted to keep him at home tonight, but knowing how he loves the pageantry of a good mass, I did not stop him.
    We will see in the new year very quietly when they get home. Georges and Emilie had another invitation, and Uncle Louis said he would see to Papa. I was just as glad only to have the four of us. Next year will be a better time for a proper
réveillon
.
P ARIS . M ONDAY , J ANUARY 5, 1891.
    I have pulled myself out of mourning for the sake of my little wolves, and have promised Dick, who must return to school next week, a walk in the Bois this afternoon followed by treats in the tea room. The weather is so much warmer, which does make one more enthusiasticabout the idea of stepping out. I must continue to follow Maman’s great example of fortitude and grace, and learn to be brave in grief. Marcel especially needs my strength, even if he is becoming such a grand socialite.
    There were a flood of New Year’s invitations. Mme Hayman has suggested he start visiting her salon now, and he can be seen at Mme Straus’s every week. He is chattering away with the big people as much as he is visiting with Jacques Bizet these days. Jacques’ mother is a great wit, to be sure, and his stepfather is a lovely man. Marcel says that last week some new guest, an elderly lady acquainted with M. Straus but not apparently with his wife, asked whether Mme Straus liked music. She paused and replied, much to the amusement of those around her, “Oh, in my first family it was quite the rage.”
    I don’t suppose the poor old thing knew she was talking to Bizet’s widow! Or perhaps she knew but had forgotten in her eagerness to make conversation.
P ARIS . T HURSDAY , F EBRUARY 5, 1891.
    That is over, thank heaven, and I think it went well enough, the doctor’s grand dinner. Félicie had Geneviève’s help and managed the lobster nicely, while you can always count on her truffle sauce for the chicken. And the Nesselrode pudding looking spectacular standing on the sideboard. It is so hard to tell with these occasions, but the men stayed a long time talking in the dining room after we ladies had withdrawn, which is usually a sign some serious business is getting done. Adrien said he was very pleased, and feels thingsare progressing well enough on the planned conference that he can get back to his essay about neurasthenia on which he really has not managed any work since the new year.
    Marcel is becoming quite the ladies’ man, it seems. Adrien saw Mme Hayman at a dinner the other day, and she was full of his