The feather-light, shell-shaped cakes were the
success of the feast; and when Duke Stanislas heard their history, he
insisted that they should be named Madeleines--"after their mother."
Even in war days, "Madeleines de Commercy" is the first cry which greets
the traveller entering town. Jim, it seems, had a charming habit of
sending to his mother at home a specimen of the cake, or confiture, or
bonbon, for which each place he visited abroad was famed. These things
used to reach her in jars or boxes adorned with the coat-of-arms and
photographs of the city concerned--a procession of surprises: and I
think as she bought Madeleines of Commercy she moistened them with a few
tears.
* * * * *
I expected to find Nancy beautiful, since for so long it was the capital
of proud Lorraine, but I hadn't guessed how beautiful or individual. Now
I shall always in future see the details of each splendid square and
park by shutting my eyes and calling the vision to come--as Brian does.
We drove straight to the door of a fascinating, old-fashioned hotel in
the most celebrated square of all, the Place Stanislas; but we didn't go
in. We couldn't stolidly turn our backs upon the magic picture, lit by a
sudden radiance of sunshine, for in another moment the fairy-like effect
might fade. Yes, "fairy-like" is the word; and as our two cars drew
up--like Dignity and Impudence--I had the feeling that we'd arrived in
the capital of fairyland to visit the king and queen.
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