Piping Hot! by Émile Zola

The marriage before the mayor had taken place on the Thursday. On the Saturday morning, as early as a quarter past ten, some ladies were already waiting in the Josserands' drawing-room, the religious ceremony being fixed for eleven o'clock, at Saint-Roch. There were Madame Juzeur, always in black silk; Madame Dambreville, tightly laced in a costume of the color of dead leaves; and Madame Duveyrier, dressed very simply in pale blue. All three were conversing in low tones amongst the scattered chairs; whilst Madame Josserand was finishing dressing Berthe in the adjoining room, assisted by the servant and the two bridesmaids, Hortense and little Campardon.

"Oh! it is not that," murmured Madame Duveyrier; "the family is honorable. But, I admit, I rather dreaded on my brother Auguste's account the mother's domineering spirit. One cannot be too careful, can one?"