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1THENECKLACEMathildeLoiselwasoneofthosepoorgirls，pretty，charmingandromantic，who，inspiteoftheirromanticdreams，aremarriedtoamediocrity．HerhusbandwasaclerkintheMinistryofEducation．Oneeveningherhusbandcamehomewithanairoftriumph．“Ihavesomethingniceforyou，”hesaid，givingheralargeenvelope．Shetoreopentheenvelope，whichcontainedthefollowingprintedcard：“TheMinisterofEducationandMadameGeorgesRamponneauhavethehonourtorequestthecompanyofMonsieurandMadameLoiselattheofficeoftheMinistryonMondayevening，January18th．”Shedidnotseemdelighted．Onthecontrary，sheflungtheinvitationcardonthetable，andsaidspitefully：“What'sthattome？”“Why，mydear，Ithoughtyou'dbepleased．Youlikeadance，don'tyou？Youhardlyevergoout，andthisisreallyagoodchanceforyou．Ihadnoendoftroubletogetit．Everyonewantsit，youknow．Alltheofficialswillbethere，butonlyafewclerksareinvited．”Shelookedathimruefullyandexclaimed：“Whatdoyouexpectmetowearatapartylikethat？”Itneveroccurredtohimthatshehadnopretty项链世上有些贫穷人家的姑娘，身段漂亮，相貌迷人，而且充满罗曼蒂克的想法。然而，尽管她们做着美丽浪漫的梦，却嫁给了平民百姓为妻。玛蒂尔德·卢瓦泽尔便是其中之一，她的丈夫只是教育部里的一名小职员。一天晚上，她丈夫神采飞扬地回到家里。“我有样好东西送给你，”他说道，递给她一个大信封。她拆开信封，里面装着一张请柬，上面印着：“教育部长乔治·朗蓬诺夫人敬请卢瓦泽尔先生及夫人光临1月18日星期一晚上在本部大楼举行的晚会。”她似乎一点也不高兴，反而把请柬扔在桌上，没好气地说：“那跟我有啥关系？”“嗨，亲爱的，我原以为你会高兴的。你喜欢跳舞，不是吗？你几乎从不出门，这次对你来说可真是一次极好的机会呀。我费了九牛二虎之力才弄到这张请柬。所有的官员都要到场。你知道，每个人都想要，但只邀请了极少数的职员。”她悲戚地望着他，叫喊道：“在那种聚会上你叫我穿什么嘛？”他从未想过，她既没有漂亮衣服，也没有珠宝2dressesnorjewels．Herepliedhesitatingly：“Why，thedressyouwearwhenyougotothetheatrelooksverynicetome．”Sheburstintotears．Whydidshemarrysuchadull，stupidfellow？Onlybecauseshewasbornintoapoorfamily．Oh，crueltrickofdestiny！“What'sthematter？”heaskedanxiously．“Nothing，”sheansweredwithaneffort．“It'sonlythatIhaven'tasuitabledress，andsoIcan'tgototheball．GivethiscardtoafriendofyourswhosewifehasabetterwardrobethanI．”Itwasaheart-breakingconfession．“Come，Mathilde，mydearest，”thedistressedhusbandsaid，“howmuchdoyouthinkitwouldcosttohaveaproperdress，somethingrathersimplewhichwouldbeusefulforotheroccasionsafter-wards？”Shethoughtforamoment，busywithhercalculations．Howmuchcouldsheaskwithoutshockingthethriftyhusbandandprovokingaflatrefusal？“I'mnotsure，butIthinkIcouldmanagewithfourhundredfrancs．”Thehusbandturnedalittlepale．ShehadnamedtheexactsumhehadsavedtobuyaguntoenjoyshootingontheplainofNanterrenextsummerwithafewfriends．Buthereplied：“Allright．Youshallhavefourhundredfrancs．Mindyougetareallynicedress．”***Thedayoftheballdrewnear．AlthoughMadame首饰。他吞吞吐吐地说道：“嗯，呃，我看，你上剧院穿的那套就挺不错。”她的眼泪不禁夺眶而出。她为什么要嫁给这样一个木讷、愚笨的家伙？只因为她生在贫寒人家。唉，命运是多么残酷啊！“干嘛哭啊？”他焦急地问道。“没什么，”她费力地说道，“只是我没有合适的衣服，因此我不能去参加舞会。你哪位朋友的夫人有比我更漂亮的衣服，就把请柬送给他好了。”这是令人心碎的自白。“得啦，玛蒂尔德，亲爱的，”窘迫之极的丈夫说，“你认为买一件合适的，就是说简单些并且以后在其他场合还能穿的衣服要花多少钱？”她想了一会，脑子里飞快地盘算开来。要不吓着她那节俭的丈夫，使他不会断然拒绝，说多少才好呢？“我也说不上来，不过我想400法郎就够开销了。”丈夫脸色略微发白。她所报的数目正好是他存着买枪，准备和他的几个朋友到明年夏天去南特尔平原打猎用的。但他回答道：“好吧，我给你400法郎。不过，一定得买一件漂漂亮亮的衣服。”***舞会的日子愈来愈近了。虽然卢瓦泽尔太太得3Loiselhadgothercoveteddress，sheseemedfarfrompleased．“Whatisthematter？”herhusbandasked．“Youlookoutofsortsthesedays．”“It'squiteannoyingtothinkthatIhaven'tasinglepieceofjewellerytowear．Imightaswellstayathomeascutamiserablefigureattheparty，”sheanswered．“Howaboutwearingnaturalflowers，then？”herhusbandsuggested．“Theyarenowquiteinfashion．Fortenfrancsyoucangettwoorthreesplendidroses．”“Wheredidyougetsuchasillyidea？”shereplied．“Can'tyouseehowmiserableI'dlookamongrichwomen？”“Wellthen，”herhusbandsaid．“Whydon'tyougoandaskyourfriend，MadameForestier，tolendyousomejewels？Sheisagoodfriendofyours，andhasalotofjewellery，hasn'tshe？”“Yes，ofcourse，”sheexclaimedindelight．“Whydidn'tIthinkofit？”ThenextdayshecalledonMadameForestierandexplainedhertrouble．MadameForestierwenttoherwardrobe，tookoutalargejewelcase，andplaceditopeninfrontofherfriend．“Takewhatyouwant，mydear，”shesaid．MadameLoiselfirstsawsomebracelets，thenapearlnecklace，thenaVenetiangoldcrosssetwithjewels，anexquisitepieceofmagnificentworkmanship．Shetriedthemon，oneafteranother，beforethemirror，uncertainwhichtochoose．“Haveyouanymore？”sheasked．“Oh，yes，lookforyourself．Idon'tknowwhatyou到了想要的衣服，似乎她还是一点也不高兴。“怎么啦？”她丈夫问道。“这些天你怎么没精打采的？”“想起来就烦人，我连一件珠宝都没有戴的。我最好还是呆在家里，比在晚会上做出一副可怜相强。”她回答道。“那你认为戴鲜花怎样？”她丈夫建议道。“现在很时兴。花10法郎就可以买两三朵上等的玫瑰花。”“你如此愚蠢的念头是从哪里冒出来的？”她答道，“你难道就想象不出站在一群贵妇人中间我会显得多寒酸？”“呃，那么，”她丈夫说，“你为什么不去找你的朋友福雷斯蒂埃夫人，向她借些首饰呢？她是你的好朋友，她有许多珠宝，不是吗？”“是啊！当然行，”她兴奋得高声说道，“我怎么就没想到这点呢？”第二天，她就去拜访福雷斯蒂埃夫人，给她讲了自己的难处。福雷斯蒂埃夫人走到衣橱前，取出一只大珠宝箱，把它打开放在她朋友面前。“亲爱的，看上哪件就挑哪件吧。”她说。卢瓦泽尔夫人首先看了一些手镯，然后看了一串珍珠项链，接着又看了一个威尼斯式的镶宝石的金十字架，这件精致的项链手工极棒。她站在镜子前面一件一件地试戴，拿不准选哪件才好。“你还有没有别的？”她问道。“啊，有，你自个儿挑吧。我不知道你最喜欢4wouldlikebest．”SuddenlyMadameLoiseldiscoveredablacksatincase，inwhichlayasuperbdiamondneck-lace．Herheartbeatfast．Withtremblinghands，shetookitout，fasteneditroundherneck，andstoodgazingatherselfinthemirror，lostinadmiration．Sheaskedfearfully：“Wouldyoulendmethis？Idon'tthinkIneedanythingelse．”“Why，yes，certainly．”MadameLoiselthrewherarmsroundherfriend'sneck，kissedher，andhurriedout，lestherfriendshouldchangehermind．***Thenightoftheballcameatlast．MadameLoiselwasabrilliantsuccess．Shelookedmorebeautifulthananyotherwomanpresent．Triumphantly，fullofgraceandjoy，shedancedadmirably，awareoftherapteyesofthecompany．Alltheme