She had a rich friend, a comrade from the convent, whom she no longer visited, because she suffered from seeing the things she could not have, and on returning wept whole days for grief, regret, despair, and distress.
One evening her husband came home radiant, holding in his hand a large envelope.
"See," said he, "here is something for you."
She nervously tore open the envelope, drew out a card, on which these words were printed:
"The Minister of Public Instruction and Madame Georges Ramponeau beg the honor of the company of Monsieur and Madame Loisel for the evening of Monday, January 18th."
Instead of being wild with delight, as he had expected, she threw the invitation on the table, with an exclamation of disgust, saying sullenly:
"What do you wish me to do with that?"
"But, my dear, I thought you would be so pleased. You never go out, and this is an event. I only obtained it after infinite trouble. Everybody wants one; they are much sought after, and they are not generally given to employees. You will see there all of the official world."
She looked at him with supreme disdain, and said impatiently:
"What would you like me to wear?" The secret was out. Manlike, he had not thought of that.