Brigittedeclaredthatifyoudidn’ttaketimebytheforelocknoonewouldbeready。ShepreventedThuillierfromgoingtohisoffice，insistingthatifheoncegotoffshenevershouldseehimagain；sheplaguedJosephine，thecook，abouthurryingthebreakfast，andinspiteofwhathadhappenedthedaybeforeshescarcelyrestrainedherselffromnaggingatMadameThuillier，whodidnotenter，asshethoughtsheshouldhavedone，intoherfavoritemaxim，\"Betterbeearlythanlate。\"
PresentlydownshewenttotheCollevilles’tomakethesamedisturbance；andtheresheputhervetoonthecostume，fartooelegant，whichFlaviemeditatedwearing，andtoldCelestethehatandgownshewishedhertoappearin。AsforColleville，whocouldnot，hedeclared，stayawayallthemorningfromhisofficialduties，shecompelledhimtoputonhisdress—suitbeforehewentout，madehimsethiswatchbyhers，andwarnedhimthatifhewaslatenoonewouldwaitforhim。
TheamusingpartofitwasthatBrigitteherself，afterdrivingeveryoneatthepointofthebayonet，cameverynearbeinglateherself。
Underpretextofaidingothers，independentlyofmindingherownbusiness，which，forworlds，shewouldneverhavesparedherself，shehadputherfingersandeyesintosomanythingsthattheyendedbyoverwhelmingher。However，sheascribedthedelayinwhichshewasalmostcaughttothehairdresser，whomshehadsentfortomake，onthisextraordinaryoccasion，whatshecalledher\"part。\"Thatartisthaving，unadvisedly，dressedherhairinthefashion，hewascompelled，aftershehadlookedatherselfintheglass，todohisworkoveragain，andconformtotheusualstyleofhisclient，whichconsistedchieflyinneverbeing\"done\"atall，amethodthatgaveherheadageneralairofwhatisvulgarlycalled\"acrosscat。\"
Abouthalf—pastoneo’clocklaPeyrade，Thuillier，Colleville，MadameThuillier，andCelestewereassembledinthesalon。Flaviejoinedthemsoonafter，fasteningherbraceletsasshecamealongtoavoidarebuff，andhavingthesatisfactionofknowingthatshewasreadybeforeBrigitte。Asforthelatter，alreadyfuriousatfindingherselflate，shehadanothercauseforexasperation。Theeventofthedayseemedtorequireacorset，arefinementwhichsheusuallydiscarded。