Mademoiselle

It was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well / You could see that Pierre did truly love the mademoiselle...

If not courted by some tall and handsome “Chasseur,” or some crafty little valet who “mademoiselles” her, she almost invariably condescends to notice favourably some dandified linendraper’s assistant, or sixth clerk in an attorney’s office, whom she met one holiday at the Chaumière or at the Ermitage.

“And if Edla should have a taste and inclination for a military life, would, Mademoiselle wish to made her a general? or, if she had a particular penchant for anatomy, an anatomical professor? Young ladies belong probably to the St. Simonians, and young ladies like these desire that everywhere in civil life the woman should have the same privileges as the man.” (The President always Mademoiselled me very much when he was displeased with me.)

A lady, whom the bills—neither Missing, Madaming, nor Mademoiselling—entitled Adelaide Weinthal, appeared as Maffeo Orsini.

There were ladies too, en cheveux, in caps and bonnets, some of whom knew Trilby, and thee’d and thou’d with familiar affection, while others mademoiselle’d her with distant politeness, and were mademoiselle’d and madame’d back again.

“Mademoiselle, let me mount you on my mare,” I said, “and while you ride on I will get your horse.” She gave a little gasp. “You must not mademoiselle me,” she exclaimed; […] “Mademoiselle,” I said, “it is imperative that we leave the high road. We are, I fear, pursued, and we must throw our pursuers off our track.” “I wish you would not mademoiselle me,” she pouted, dragging on the mare’s mouth.

Pamela was not the least bit impressed by the chiaroscuro of attendants mademoiselling her.

First you thought I was a French schoolgirl, and mademoiselled me all over the place, and tonight I look different from the ‘girl’ in chausses you met this afternoon.