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 &
GLACIERS
GLACIATION
This page intentionally left blank
GLACIERS
GLACIATION
&
SECOND EDITION

Douglas I. Benn
Department of Geology, University Centre
in Svalbard and School of Geography and
Geoscience, University of St Andrews

David J.A. Evans

Department of Geography, Durham University
Orders: please contact Bookpoint Ltd, 130 Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4SB. Telephone: (44) 01235 827720.
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978 0 340 905791

First Edition Published 1998

This Edition Published 2010
Impression number 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Year 2010

Copyright © 2010 Douglas I. Benn and David J.A. Evans

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher or
under licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited. Further details of such licences (for reprographic reproduction) may be
obtained from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited, of Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS.

Cover photo: Englacial cave at an altitude of 5,000 metres in the Khumbu Glacier, on the south side of Mt Everest © Doug Benn.
Back cover photo: Descending into a moulin, Hansbreen, Svalbard © Jason Gulley.
Typeset in 9.5/12.5 pt Sabon by MPS Limited, A Macmillan Company, Chennai, India
Printed in India for Hodder Education, An Hachette UK Company, 338 Euston Road, London NW1 3BH
CONTENTS

PREFACE ix 2.5.5 The equilibrium line 46

2.5.6 Glaciation levels or glaciation
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION xi thresholds 47
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS xiii 2.5.7 Glacier sensitivity to climate
change 48
2.6 Glacier–climate interactions 49
PART ONE GLACIERS 2.6.1 Effects of glaciers and ice sheets on
the atmosphere 49
1 INTRODUCTION 3 2.7 Ice cores 51
1.1 Glacier systems 3 2.7.1 Ice coring programmes 51
1.1.1 Mass balance 4 2.7.2 Stable isotopes 53
1.1.2 Meltwater 5 2.7.3 Ancient atmospheres: the gas
1.1.3 Glacier motion 5 content of glacier ice 54
1.1.4 Glaciers and sea-level change 5 2.7.4 Solutes and particulates 56
1.1.5 Erosion and debris transport 5
1.1.6 Glacial sediments, landforms 3 GLACIER HYDROLOGY 57
and landscapes 5 3.1 Introduction 57
1.2 Glacier morphology 5 3.2 Basic concepts 58
1.2.1 Ice sheets and ice caps 6 3.2.1 Water sources and routing 58
1.2.2 Glaciers constrained by topography 7 3.2.2 Hydraulic potential 58
1.2.3 Ice shelves 10 3.2.3 Resistance to flow 59
1.3 Present distribution of glaciers 11 3.2.4 Channel wall processes: melting,
1.3.1 Influence of latitude and altitude 11 freezing and ice deformation 60
1.3.2 Influence of aspect, relief and 3.3 Supraglacial and englacial drainage 62
distance from a moisture source 11 3.3.1 Supraglacial water storage and
1.4 Past distribution of glaciers 13 drainage 62
1.4.1 ‘Icehouse’ and ‘greenhouse’ worlds 13 3.3.2 Englacial drainage 63
1.4.2 Cenozoic glaciation 15 3.4 Subglacial drainage 68
3.4.1 Subglacial channels 69
2 SNOW, ICE AND CLIMATE 22 3.4.2 Water films 72
2.1 Introduction 22 3.4.3 Linked cavity systems 73
2.2 Surface energy balance 23 3.4.4 Groundwater flow 74
2.2.1 Changes of state and temperature 23 3.4.5 Water at the ice–sediment interface 76
2.2.2 Shortwave radiation 24 3.5 Glacial hydrological systems 76
2.2.3 Longwave radiation 25 3.5.1 Temperate glaciers 77
2.2.4 Sensible and latent heat: turbulent 3.5.2 Polythermal glaciers 80
fluxes 25 3.5.3 Modelling glacial hydrological
2.2.5 Energy supplied by rain 26 systems 81
2.2.6 Why is glacier ice blue? 26 3.6 Proglacial runoff 83
2.3 Ice temperature 26 3.6.1 Seasonal and shorter-term cycles 83
2.3.1 The melting point of ice 27 3.6.2 Runoff and climate change 84
2.3.2 Controls on ice temperature 27 3.7 Glacial lakes and outburst floods 86
2.3.3 Thermal structure of glaciers and 3.7.1 Introduction 86
ice sheets 28 3.7.2 Moraine-dammed lakes 87
2.4 Processes of accumulation and ablation 30 3.7.3 Ice-dammed lakes 91
2.4.1 Snow and ice accumulation 30 3.7.4 Icelandic subglacial lakes 93
2.4.2 Transformation of snow to ice 32 3.7.5 Estimating GLOF magnitudes 95
2.4.3 Melting of snow and ice 34 3.8 Life in glaciers 96
2.4.4 Sublimation and evaporation 35 3.8.1 Supraglacial ecosystems 96
2.4.5 The influence of debris cover 36 3.8.2 Subglacial ecosystems 98
2.5 Mass balance 37 3.9 Glacier hydrochemistry 99
2.5.1 Definitions 37 3.9.1 Overview 99
2.5.2 Measurement of mass balance 38 3.9.2 Snow chemistry 101
2.5.3 Annual mass balance cycles 41 3.9.3 Chemical weathering processes 101
2.5.4 Mass balance gradients 43 3.9.4 Subglacial chemical weathering 103
vi CONTENTS

3.9.5 Proglacial environments 104 5.6.2 Flow of ice shelves 182

3.9.6 Rates of chemical erosion 105 5.6.3 Ice shelf break-up 182
5.7 Glacier surges 186
4 PROCESSES OF GLACIER MOTION 107 5.7.1 Overview 186
4.1 Introduction 107 5.7.2 Distribution of surging glaciers 190
4.2 Stress and strain 108 5.7.3 Temperate glacier surges 191
4.2.1 Stress 108 5.7.4 Polythermal surging glaciers 193
4.2.2 Strain 111 5.7.5 Surge mechanisms 196
4.2.3 Rheology: stress–strain
relationships 112 6 THE GREENLAND AND ANTARCTIC
4.2.4 Force balance in glaciers 114 ICE SHEETS 199
4.3 Deformation of ice 115 6.1 Introduction 199
4.3.1 Glen’s Flow Law 115 6.2 The Greenland Ice Sheet 200
4.3.2 Crystal fabric, impurities and 6.2.1 Overview 200
water content 117 6.2.2 Climate and surface mass balance 201
4.3.3 Ice creep velocities 118 6.2.3 Ice sheet flow 202
4.4 Sliding 118 6.2.4 Ice streams and outlet glaciers 204
4.4.1 Frozen beds 118 6.3 The Antarctic Ice Sheet 209
4.4.2 Sliding of wet-based ice 118 6.3.1 Overview 209
4.4.3 Glacier–bed friction 119 6.3.2 Climate and mass balance 211
4.4.4 The role of water 120 6.3.3 Flow of inland ice 214
4.5 Deformable beds 121 6.3.4 Ice streams 215
4.5.1 The Boulton–Hindmarsh model 122 6.3.5 Hydrology and subglacial lakes 222
4.5.2 Laboratory testing of subglacial tills 123 6.3.6 Ice stream stagnation and
4.5.3 Direct observations of deformable reactivation 224
glacier beds 123 6.3.7 Stability of the West Antarctic
4.5.4 Rheology of subglacial till 130 Ice Sheet 228
4.6 Rates of basal motion 131
4.6.1 ‘Sliding laws’ 131 7 GLACIERS AND SEA-LEVEL CHANGE 233
4.6.2 Local and non-local controls on 7.1 Introduction 233
ice velocity 132 7.2 Causes of sea-level change 234
4.7 Crevasses and other structures: strain 7.2.1 Overview 234
made visible 134 7.2.2 Glacio-eustasy and global ice
4.7.1 Crevasses 134 volume 234
4.7.2 Crevasse patterns 136 7.2.3 Glacio-isostasy and ice sheet
4.7.3 Layering, foliation and related loading 236
structures 138 7.3 Sea-level change over glacial–interglacial
cycles 239
5 GLACIER DYNAMICS 142
7.3.1 Ice sheet fluctuations and eustatic
5.1 Introduction 142 sea-level change 239
5.2 Understanding glacier dynamics 143 7.3.2 Sea-level histories in glaciated
5.2.1 Balance velocities 143 regions 241
5.2.2 Deviations from the balance 7.4 Glaciers and recent sea-level change 245
velocity 145 7.4.1 Recorded sea-level change 245
5.2.3 Changes in ice thickness: continuity 145 7.4.2 Global glacier mass balance 245
5.2.4 Thermodynamics 146 7.5 Future sea-level change 250
5.3 Glacier models 147 7.5.1 IPCC climate and sea-level
5.3.1 Overview 147 projections 250
5.3.2 Equilibrium glacier profiles 149 7.5.2 Predicting the glacial contribution
5.3.3 Time-evolving glacier models 150 to sea-level change 251
5.4 Dynamics of valley glaciers 153
5.4.1 Intra-annual velocity variations 153
PART TWO GLACIATION
5.4.2 Multi-annual variations 159
5.5 Calving glaciers 163
8 EROSIONAL PROCESSES, FORMS AND
5.5.1 Flow of calving glaciers 164
5.5.2 Calving processes 169 LANDSCAPES 259
5.5.3 ‘Calving laws’ 174 8.1 Introduction 259
5.5.4 Advance and retreat of calving 8.2 Subglacial erosion 261
glaciers 177 8.2.1 Rock fracture: general principles 261
5.6 Ice shelves 180 8.2.2 Abrasion 263
5.6.1 Mass balance of ice shelves 181 8.2.3 Quarrying 264
 CONTENTS vii

8.2.4 Erosion beneath cold ice 266 10.4 Glacifluvial deposits 395
8.2.5 Erosion of soft beds 267 10.4.1 Terminology and classification of
8.3 Small-scale erosional forms 267 glacifluvial sediments 395
8.3.1 Striae and polished surfaces 267 10.4.2 Plane bed deposits 396
8.3.2 Rat tails 270 10.4.3 Ripple cross-laminated facies 397
8.3.3 Chattermarks, gouges and fractures 270 10.4.4 Dunes 397
8.3.4 P-forms 272 10.4.5 Antidunes 399
8.4 Intermediate-scale erosional forms 277 10.4.6 Scour and minor channel fills 399
8.4.1 Roches moutonnées 277 10.4.7 Gravel sheets 400
8.4.2 Whalebacks and rock drumlins 280 10.4.8 Silt and mud drapes 400
8.4.3 Crag and tails 281 10.4.9 Hyperconcentrated flow deposits 401
8.4.4 Channels 282 10.5 Gravitational mass movement deposits
8.5 Large-scale erosional landforms 303 and syn-sedimentary deformation
8.5.1 Rock basins and overdeepenings 303 structures 401
8.5.2 Basins and overdeepenings in soft 10.5.1 Overview 401
sediments 304 10.5.2 Fall deposits 402
8.5.3 Troughs and fjords 305 10.5.3 Slide and slump deposits 404
8.5.4 Cirques 311 10.5.4 Debris (sediment-gravity) flow
8.5.5 Strandflats 315 deposits 404
8.6 Landscapes of glacial erosion 316 10.5.5 Turbidites 413
8.6.1 Areal scouring 316 10.5.6 Clastic dykes and hydrofracture
8.6.2 Selective linear erosion 318 fills 415
8.6.3 Landscapes of little or no glacial 10.6 Glacimarine and glacilacustrine deposits 418
erosion 321 10.6.1 Water body characteristics and
8.6.4 Alpine landscapes 324 sediment influx 419
8.6.5 Cirque landscapes 327 10.6.2 Depositional processes 427
8.6.6 Continent-scale patterns of erosion 328 10.6.3 Varves and other glacilacustrine
overflow/interflow deposits 431
9 DEBRIS ENTRAINMENT AND TRANSPORT 333 10.6.4 Laminated glacimarine sediments 433
9.1 Introduction 333 10.6.5 Ice-rafted debris and undermelt
9.2 Approaches to the study of glacial deposits 436
sediments 334 10.6.6 Iceberg grounding structures
9.2.1 The glacial debris cascade 334 and sediments 439
9.2.2 Spatial hierarchies of sediments 10.6.7 Fossiliferous deposits and
and landforms 335 biogenic oozes 440
9.3 Glacial debris entrainment 336 10.7 Winnowing structures (lags, coquinas
9.3.1 Supraglacial debris entrainment 336 and boulder pavements) 440
9.3.2 Incorporation of debris into
basal ice 340 11 SEDIMENT–LANDFORM ASSOCIATIONS 442
9.4 Debris transport and release 345 11.1 Introduction 442
9.4.1 Subglacial transport 345 11.2 Subglacial associations 443
9.4.2 High-level debris transport 345 11.2.1 Subglacial facies associations 443
9.4.3 Glacifluvial transport 353 11.2.2 Subglacial bedforms 445
9.5 Effects of transport on debris 356 11.2.3 Flutings 447
9.5.1 Granulometry 357 11.2.4 Drumlins, mega-flutings and
9.5.2 Clast morphology 360 mega-scale glacial lineations
9.5.3 Particle micromorphology 362 (MSGL) 451
11.2.5 Ribbed (Rogen) terrain 468
10 GLACIGENIC SEDIMENTS AND
11.2.6 Ice stream shear margin moraines 472
DEPOSITIONAL PROCESSES 363 11.2.7 Subglacial hummocky terrain
10.1 Introduction 363 and overridden moraines 472
10.2 Sediment description and classification 363 11.2.8 Mega-flood explanation for
10.2.1 Sediment description 363 subglacial bedform genesis 474
10.2.2 Deformation structures 366 11.2.9 Crevasse-squeeze ridges 476
10.2.3 Primary and secondary deposits 369 11.2.10 Eskers 477
10.3 Primary glacigenic deposits (till) 371 11.2.11 Subglacial volcanic forms 486
10.3.1 Overview 371 11.3 Ice-marginal moraines 488
10.3.2 Processes of subglacial till 11.3.1 Processes and patterns of
formation 372 ice-marginal deposition 489
10.3.3 Glacitectonite 375 11.3.2 Proglacial glacitectonic landforms 492
10.3.4 Subglacial traction till 378 11.3.3 Push and squeeze moraines 505
viii CONTENTS

11.3.4 Dump moraines/ice-marginal 12.3.2 Active temperate glaciers 598

aprons and latero-frontal moraines 510 12.3.3 Polythermal glaciers 602
11.3.5 Latero-frontal fans and ramps 514 12.3.4 Polar-continental glaciers 606
11.4 Supraglacial associations 517 12.3.5 Mountain glacier landsystems 608
11.4.1 Medial moraines 517 12.3.6 GLOF-dominated glacial
11.4.2 Supraglacial hummocky moraine landsystem 627
and controlled moraine 520 12.3.7 Fjords 631
11.4.3 Kame and kettle topography 526 12.3.8 Surging glaciers 636
11.4.4 Ice-walled lake plains and 12.3.9 Climatic reconstruction from
supraglacial lake deposits 528 palaeoglaciers 644
11.4.5 Kame terraces 528 12.4 Ice sheet beds 648
11.4.6 Pitted sandar 531 12.4.1 ‘Hard’ and ‘soft’ beds 648
11.5 Proglacial associations 534 12.4.2 Palaeo-ice streams 651
11.5.1 Sandar and valley trains 534 12.4.3 Cross-cutting palaeo-ice flow
11.5.2 Paraglacial associations 548 indicators and palaeo-ice sheet
11.6 Glacilacustrine and glacimarine associations 553 dynamics 654
11.6.1 Grounding-line fans 553 12.4.4 Ice sheet beds as thermal regime
11.6.2 Subaqueous moraines 559 palimpsests 668
11.6.3 Grounding-line wedges: till deltas, 12.4.5 Ice sheet drainage 671
till tongues and trough-mouth fans 564 12.4.6 Sediment dispersal patterns and
11.6.4 Ice shelf grounding-line deposits till lithology 673
and ice shelf moraines 567 12.5 Ice sheet margins 678
11.6.5 Deltas 568 12.5.1 Terrestrial ice sheet margins 678
12.5.2 Marine and lacustrine ice
12 LANDSYSTEMS AND PALAEOGLACIOLOGY 580 sheet margins 690
12.1 Introduction 580 12.6 The Martian glacial landsystem: the
12.2 Approaches to large-scale investigations 581 final frontier 707
12.2.1 Tectonic settings for glaciation 581
12.2.2 Ingredients for palaeoglaciological
reconstruction 583 APPENDIX LIST OF SYMBOLS USED
12.2.3 Landsystems and process–form IN EQUATIONS 713
models 584
12.2.4 Sequence stratigraphy 586
REFERENCES 715
12.2.5 Stratigraphic architecture 588
12.2.6 Kineto-stratigraphy
(tectono-stratigraphy) 594 INDEX 789
12.3 Glacier, ice cap and ice field landsystems 597
12.3.1 Thermal regime process–form
continuum 597
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION

For most people living in temperate countries, ice is usu- upon Glaciers and Glaciation in 1993. Our aim was to
ally encountered only in small quantities on cold days or produce a modern synthesis, covering all important aspects
as small blocks in drinks. In this everyday form, ice of glaciers and their effects. While the focus of the book is
appears to be a rigid, brittle and usually slippery material, on glacial geomorphology and sedimentology, we have
but in glaciers and ice sheets ice can exhibit a wide variety also tried to encompass important work in related fields
of surprising and fascinating behaviour. It can flow plas- such as glaciology and Quaternary studies. Glaciology as
tically, like toothpaste, mould itself around hills and a discipline has expanded enormously in the past few
valleys, and creep and slide from high snowfields down decades, and its importance to glacial geologists and geo-
towards lower ground. It can curve out huge troughs and morphologists is increasingly clear. It has also become a
alter entire landscapes, scouring away soil and other sur- very rigorous, mathematical subject which can be rather
ficial material or blanketing large tracts with glacial impenetrable to those without a background in physics,
deposits. Glaciers and ice sheets can alter the Earth’s cli- and students attempting to explore the research literature
mate, chilling the atmosphere and the oceans, and pro- can rapidly find themselves lost in a forest of frightening
foundly affecting the global hydrological cycle. They also equations. In response, we have tried to present the more
preserve valuable records of past climate change locked important results of modern glaciology in an accessible
up in ice crystals and air bubbles, and the oscillations of way, with a minimum of mathematics. Some equations
glacier margins provide direct indicators of recent cli- have been included, however, as a means of expressing fun-
matic shifts. Furthermore, glaciers can store and suddenly damental relationships in a concise way and as a gentle
release immense quantities of meltwater, producing cata- introduction to the more technical aspects of the literature.
strophic floods such as those which occurred in Iceland in Contemplation of these relations should be rewarded by
late 1996 which subglacial volcanic activity melted the increased insight, although those who feel numerically
base of a portion of Vatnajökull. In heavily populated paralysed should be able to skim them and still grasp the
regions, huge volumes of glacigenic material are continu- essentials from the text.
ously excavated by people to use in buildings and roads, We hope that students will find Glaciers and
and many of the holes left behind are being filled by the Glaciation as interesting and stimulating to read as it was
ever-increasing mountains of domestic and industrial for us to write. It is intended for this book to provide
waste. Thus, either directly or indirectly, glaciers and substance for all levels of undergraduate training and to
glaciation impact upon a large proportion of the planet’s be utilized by postgraduate researchers and university
population. teachers. Given the recent prolific production rate of
As students in the 1970s and 1980s we were influenced glacier-related literature, we found it difficult to be com-
by the glacial textbooks by Clifford Embleton and prehensive in our approach, and it is inevitable that some
Cuchlaine King (Glacial Geomorphology, 1975) and recent research papers will not figure in the text by the
David Sugden and Brian John (Glaciers and Landscape, time it researches the bookstores. We may also have
1976), and as researchers and teachers of the 1990s we missed something or given insufficient space to subjects
became increasingly frustrated by the lack of up-to-date that you regard as fundamental to the field. If so, please
versions of these fine volumes. As subscribers to the axiom let us know and we will endeavour to put it right in
‘if you want something done, do it yourself’, we embarked following editions.
This page intentionally left blank
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION

Glacier science has undergone enormous changes in the impossible.’ So, following in Charlesworth’s footsteps, we
decade since the publication of the first edition of Glaciers had to make the difficult decision to remove large numbers
and Glaciation. Improved remote-sensing and geophysi- of older examples and references from the text to make
cal techniques have vastly increased our knowledge of way for the new. Most of the papers cited in this new edi-
glacier dynamics and mass balance, and have allowed the tion post-date the mid 1990s, and very few pre-date the
great ice sheets to be viewed as complete, integrated sys- 1980s. This is not to imply that the older literature is no
tems for the first time in history. Stunning images of for- longer relevant. On the contrary, many ‘new’ ideas have
mer glacier beds – both on land and under the sea – have long pedigrees, and valuable insights into current issues
become available, while previously hidden processes at can often be found in the writings of former generations.
the ice–bed interface are coming into focus as the result of Our view is that interested readers could (and should) seek
down-borehole instrumentation, sophisticated geophysi- out the older literature, using the new reference list as a
cal data processing and carefully designed experiments. gateway to the entire canon. We hope that the authors of
These advances in observational techniques have occurred ‘deleted’ papers will understand our reasons for doing so;
in parallel with breakthroughs in glaciological theory and and will rest assured that the first edition of this book, with
numerical modelling, which now form major subdisci- its extensive references to the older literature, will still be
plines in their own right. This burst of activity has been found on library shelves.
fuelled by increased concerns about the impacts of anthro- This edition also contains rather more equations than
pogenic climate change, particularly how a reduction in the first, and more in-depth discussion of the physics
ice volume might affect sea levels, water resources and underlying important aspects of glacier behaviour, such
natural hazards. Glacier science at the beginning of the as mass and force balance, hydrology and dynamics. This
twenty-first century, therefore, is a vigorous, thriving dis- shift was motivated by the conviction that certain funda-
cipline, with clear societal relevance. mental concepts are essential to understanding modern
Updating Glaciers and Glaciation to reflect these issues in glaciology and glacial geology. Simplified ver-
changes in the subject has been challenging, to say the sions of these ideas may be appealing to teachers and
least. Much of the book has been completely rewritten or students alike, but they can only carry one so far before
restructured, with a greater emphasis on glaciological much glacier behaviour becomes incomprehensible.
processes and their impacts. We have added a new chapter Progress can only be made when the fundamentals are
on the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets, and major new upgraded, and this will inevitably entail ‘unlearning’
sections on glacier dynamics and volume changes, and much of what was previously learned. It is far better,
their implications for sea-level change. To incorporate this we believe, to avoid such false trails by investing more
wealth of new material, measures had to be taken to ensure time in the fundamentals at the outset. We have therefore
our book did not inflate to a size that would necessitate a extended the philosophy of the first edition, with step-by-
free wheelbarrow with every sale. This problem is not new, step discussions of a greater range of key equations and
as the following quote from J.K. Charlesworth’s great concepts. While readers can still choose to skim this more
book The Quaternary Era (1957) illustrates: ‘J. Geikie, in technical material, we strongly recommend otherwise.
preparing the first edition of his Great Ice Age (1874), had Although many of the equations in Part I of this book
to abandon his plan of preparing a bibliography since it may appear very daunting at first, time spent working
would have required a volume in itself. Today after the through them will not be wasted and contemplation of
lapse of a further 80 years and with the vastly accelerated their mysteries will eventually be rewarded by deeper
output of Quaternary literature, such a task is well nigh insights into the ways of the glacier.
This page intentionally left blank
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Since the publication of the first edition of Glaciers and in their tents, socializing with my students and colleagues
Glaciation, I have continued to be fortunate enough in my and often making the flapjacks. Their companionship has
research and teaching to visit many interesting and often been priceless and I regret not one minute of hanging
enchanting localities. Always I am in the company of dedi- around camp some days to indulge in storytelling, going
cated and friendly scientists or students, sharing not just for a swim or taking a picnic. They are my permanent
a passion for a fascinating subject of study, but also the reminder that life is far too short to take academia too
trials, tribulations and triumphs of field-based research. seriously!
Over the last ten years I have spent long hours scrutinizing Dave Evans
glacial sediments and landforms with Dave Twigg, Colm
Ó Cofaigh, John Hiemstra, Brice Rea and Dave Roberts, It is now 27 years since a penniless climbing bum got talk-
living out of a tent and a Land Rover and usually sampling ing to Danny McCarroll at Froggat Edge in Derbyshire,
far more ale than is healthy for us, but always enjoying the and realized that a living could be made studying glaciers
process of research as much as the product. John England and glaciation. For that life-changing insight (and many
also continues to generously allow me to savour what it’s fine rock climbs over the years), thank you, Danny.
like to use a helicopter rather than walk – and what would A career in glaciology has not only allowed me to spend
we both do if we no longer had the opportunity to throw a large proportion of my time in wild and beautiful
Frisbees and chip golf balls at each other’s tents or recite landscapes – as was the original intention – but also to
Fawlty Towers at each other ad nauseam? I make no become part of a thriving academic community working on
apologies for enjoying what I do for a living – I had it in one of the most fascinating, challenging and important of
my sights when I was doing A level geography at school – the natural sciences. I wish to thank my teachers and men-
all those beautiful images of glaciers and mountains, tors, John Rice, Colin Ballantyne and Chalmers Clapperton,
conveying a pioneering atmosphere that I still feel to be who helped me focus my raw enthusiasm and develop a
irresistibly evocative, even though some of the answers, more measured approach to research. Colin remains one of
I appreciate, probably lie in the laboratory! my most valued friends and collaborators, and my contri-
I remain indebted to the funding bodies that make it all bution to this book owes much to his influence. My
possible, especially the Royal Society in the UK and the thinking has been deeply influenced by interactions with
Polar Continental Shelf Project in Canada. Since moving to numerous colleagues and students. There is not space to
Durham in 2004 I have been part of a large, productive and acknowledge them all, but some may recognize certain pas-
friendly Quaternary Environmental Change research team, sages and diagrams in this book, and recall their scribbled
in a professional atmosphere that cannot fail to be con- origins on various coffee napkins and beer mats. Particular
ducive to creative thinking – an entertaining bunch too, thanks are due to Nick Hulton and Garry Clarke for
especially at the impromptu meetings of the ‘grumpy old patiently helping me make the transition from dirt to ice.
men’ at tea breaks! A large number of people at Arnold Friendships that survive the rigours and perils of fieldwork
have been involved with this edition and they have been at high latitudes and altitudes are worth more than gold,
incredibly patient with us, especially Liz Wilson, who must and I raise my rather battered hat to all those who have
have wondered exactly what sort of monster we were writ- walked yak trails, threaded through crevasse fields or shared
ing at times. Many colleagues around the world, too ice-cave bivouacs with me. Skål to: Artur Adamek, Alison
numerous to mention, have generously donated photo- Banwell, Annelie Bergstrom, Nicole Davis, Guglielmina
graphs, figures and advice. Diolaiuti, Jason Gulley, Kat Hands, Anne Hormes, Endre
Finally, the most important acknowledgements, as Gjermundsen Nick Hulton, Martin Kirkbride, Lene
always, must go to my family. My mother, father and sis- Kristensen, Sven Lukas, Martin Machiedo, Ruth Mottram,
ter are always happy to receive me when I, all too rarely, Tavi Murray, Lindsay Nicholson, Faezeh Nick, Lewis
pass through their neighbourhood, even though they Owen, Tony Prave, Ruth Robinson, Claudio Smiraglia,
often get bullied into having a quick look at the relict Monica Sund, Sarah Thompson, Maria Temminghof,
pingos down the road or checking out the glacial sedi- Charles Warren, Seonaid Wiseman and Katleen Van Hoof.
ments in the cliffs at their nearby coast. My wife Tessa Drafts of parts of this book were read by Regine Hock and
and my daughters Tara and Lotte continue to support me Alastair Dawson, and their helpful comments are gratefully
unfailingly, often joining my research expeditions, living acknowledged.
xiv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Perhaps the most significant development in my pro- Christiansen and Ole Humlum for encouraging me to
fessional life in the last decade has been joining the staff come here, and to Piotr Glowacki and Jacek Jania for
of the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS). This unique generously supporting our collaboration at the Polish
institution provides all the facilities of a modern univer- Research Station at Hornsund. Throughout my time at
sity in the midst of the high Arctic, allowing one to con- UNIS, I have remained on the faculty of the University of
duct fieldwork on calving and surging glaciers within a St Andrews, and I owe a big thank you to my colleagues
short snowmobile or boat ride of a fast internet connec- there for supporting my applications for leave and put-
tion, a world-class library and a sauna. For financial and ting up with my lengthy absences in the Far North. And
logistical support, and for all the fun times indoors of course, none of it would have been possible without
and out, tusen takk to all my friends, colleagues and the sacrifices made by Sue and Andrew, who will always
students at UNIS. Particular thanks are due to Hanne be a part of me.
Doug Benn
PART ONE
GLACIERS

The calving front of Wahlenbergbreen, Svalbard (Doug Benn)

This page intentionally left blank
CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Ice arch on the Ngozumpa Glacier, Nepal, looking towards Cho Oyu (8,201 m) (Doug Benn)

1.1 GLACIER SYSTEMS floods and avalanches, and sea-level change. In earlier
times, however, inhabitants of mountain regions suffered

T
he life and death of glaciers and ice sheets have loss of land and life as glaciers expanded during the
wide-reaching impacts, and can profoundly affect Little Ice Age. To those who lost their farms to advancing
natural ecosystems and human communities. ice, glaciers were like threatening monsters (fig. 1.1).
Together with sea ice, lake ice, snow cover and ground ice, Now, glaciers are commonly viewed as endangered
glaciers and ice sheets comprise the cryosphere, from the species, victims of human-induced climate change
Greek word kryo meaning ‘cold’. Mass and energy are (fig. 1.2; Carey, 2007).
constantly exchanged between the cryosphere and the Glaciers have shaped the landscapes of huge areas
other major components of the Earth system, the hydro- of the Earth’s surface, scouring out rock and sediment
sphere, atmosphere, biosphere and lithosphere. Glaciers and depositing thick accumulations of glacial debris.
are sensitive barometers of climate change, constantly Moraines, laid down like tidemarks at former glacier
growing and shrinking in response to changes in tempera- limits, provide valuable sources of information on past
ture, snowfall and other factors. In recent decades, a glacier activity and climate change, while ice entombed in
reduction of global ice volume has raised concerns about Greenland, Antarctica and smaller glaciers and ice caps
vanishing water supplies, increased hazards from outburst contains rich archives of former environmental conditions.
4 GLACIERS AND GLACIATION

Figure 1.2 Images such as this portrayal of the retreat of Gangotri Glacier,
India, are widely employed to convey messages about the impact of
anthropogenic climate change. (NASA, http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov)

Figure 1.1 In this 1892 engraving by H.G. Willinck, the Mer de Glace in
the French Alps is portrayed as an icy dragon creeping down from the high
mountains to threaten the valley below. (Collection Payot, Conseil Général de
la Haut Savoie)

Accumulation zone

Input of mass and energy

Marine ablation zone Continental ablation zone
Precipitation
Equilibrium line Equilibrium line

Snow line
Evaporation
Evaporation Potential energy
Incorporation
of rock
Output Water detritus Outflow of water
of ice outflow
Geothermal heat Output of detritus
Ice shelf

Substratum
Output of
detritus Figure 1.3 Mass and energy fluxes
in an idealized glacier system.
(Brodzikowski and van Loon, 1991)

Glaciers are also endlessly fascinating, beautiful, powerful

1.1.1 MASS BALANCE
and wild.
To understand how glaciers behave, it is helpful to The gain and loss of ice in glacier systems is known as the
view them as systems, with inputs and outputs, and inter- mass balance. Snow and ice from direct snowfall, blown
actions with other systems, such as the atmosphere, the snow and avalanching from slopes above the glacier
oceans, rivers and the landscape (fig. 1.3). Mass enters the surface are collectively termed accumulation. This snow
system in the form of snowfall and rock debris. Because it and ice are then transferred downvalley by glacier move-
occupies an elevated position in the Earth’s gravitational ment until they reach areas where they are lost to the
field, this mass has potential energy, which is expended as system, either by melting, evaporation or the breakaway
the glacier flows downslope. The energy expended is used of ice blocks or icebergs, collectively known as ablation
to warm or melt ice, and must then be dissipated from the (fig. 1.3). Glaciers grow where climatic and topographic
system in the form of heat or water. All the while, poten- conditions allow the inputs to exceed the losses (i.e. where
tial energy is turned into work, inexorably transferring ice accumulation exceeds ablation), and glaciers recede
and rock from the continents towards the sea. where the outputs are greater than the inputs. Energy
 INTRODUCTION 5

exchanges between the glacier and the atmosphere above forms the topic of chapter 5, while that of the Greenland
and the solid Earth below also modify the temperature of and Antarctic Ice Sheets is examined in chapter 6.
the ice, so that the total energy store in the glacier can
change through time even if the mass remains constant. 1.1.4 GLACIERS AND SEA-LEVEL CHANGE
Most glaciers can be subdivided into two zones, an
Water, in liquid, solid or gaseous form, is constantly mov-
inner or upper zone, where annual accumulation exceeds
ing between the oceans, the atmosphere, the cryosphere
losses by ablation, and an outer or lower zone, where
and the hydrosphere. These fluxes rarely balance, result-
ablation exceeds accumulation. These two zones are known
ing in changes of storage. Increased storage in glaciers
as the accumulation zone and the ablation zone respec-
and ice sheets means less in the oceans, and vice versa, so
tively and are separated by the equilibrium line, where
glacier fluctuations can directly affect sea level. Changes
annual accumulation and ablation are equal. The position
in ice volume also influence patterns of loading on the
of the equilibrium line (the equilibrium line altitude or
Earth’s crust and the distribution of mass around the
ELA) is dictated by local and regional climate and topog-
planet, further influencing local and global sea levels.
raphy. Glacier mass and energy balance form the subject
The influence of glacier fluctuations on past, present and
of chapter 2, while iceberg calving is discussed in detail in
future sea-level change forms the subject of chapter 7.
chapter 5.

1.1.2 MELTWATER 1.1.5 EROSION AND DEBRIS TRANSPORT

Meltwater is an extremely important component of gla- Glaciers are among the most effective agents of erosion on
cier systems. Outputs of water from melting glaciers exert Earth, excavating impressive troughs and fjord basins,
a very strong influence on the hydrology of proglacial and scouring broad areas clear of soil and debris. They
areas, and feed water into other parts of the global hydro- are also very efficient transporters of debris, carrying vast
logical system, including the oceans and the atmosphere. amounts of silt, sand, gravel and boulders up to several
As it flows from glacier margins towards the sea, melt- hundreds of kilometres from their source areas. This
water shapes the land, carving out gorges and depositing debris is then deposited in many types of environment,
broad spreads of gravel, sand and silt. Within and ranging from the glacier sole to the ocean floor. Processes
beneath glacier and ice sheets, liquid water profoundly and forms of glacial erosion form the subject of chapter 8,
affects glacier behaviour, controlling rates of glacier flow and the throughput of debris by ice and water is described
and influencing the processes and rates of erosion and in chapter 9.
deposition. The behaviour and work of meltwater is
described in chapter 3. 1.1.6 GLACIAL SEDIMENTS, LANDFORMS
AND LANDSCAPES
1.1.3 GLACIER MOTION In the mid and high latitudes, the most obvious legacy of
Snow and ice are transferred from areas of accumulation glaciers and ice sheets is the range of sediments and land-
to areas of ablation by glacier flow. Flow takes place by a forms left behind after deglaciation, including corries,
variety of processes, which can be grouped together as troughs, drumlins and moraines. These sediments and
sliding, deformation of the ice and deformation of the gla- landforms can be used to reconstruct the extent and
cier bed. By one or more of these processes, glaciers move behaviour of former ice masses, and provide important
through the landscape, delivering snow and ice to areas clues to the past and present workings of the global cli-
where ablation exceeds accumulation, and meltwater and mate system. Glacial sediments and landforms are also
icebergs can leave the system. Rates and patterns of gla- important from an engineering point of view, because so
cier motion depend on the balance between the driving much human activity takes place in terrain affected by
forces (the downslope component of gravitational acceler- glacier erosion or deposition. Chapter 10 discusses depo-
ation) and resisting forces (drag at the bed and margins of sitional processes and sediments; chapter 11 examines
the glacier). When the whole system is in balance, rates of depositional landforms; and chapter 12 zooms out to the
glacier flow match the rates that snow and ice is added widest scale to describe the overall impact of glaciation on
and lost in the accumulation and ablation areas, so that entire landscapes.
the inputs, throughputs and outputs exist in a state of
dynamic equilibrium. However, various factors can throw
the system out of balance, causing glaciers and ice sheets 1.2 GLACIER MORPHOLOGY
to exhibit all kinds of surprising behaviour, such as rapid
advances or retreats that are unrelated to climate. The The form glaciers take is a function of climate and topog-
processes and patterns of glacier motion are discussed in raphy, and the morphology of any one glacier is unique to
chapter 4. The dynamic behaviour of glaciers and ice caps its location on the Earth’s surface. Consequently, glacier
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 CHAPTER IV.

T
he following Monday, the 10th of October, a clear, victorious
sun pierced the grey clouds which had darkened Paris during
the previous week. It had drizzled all the previous night, a sort
of watery mist, the humidity of which dirtied the streets; but in the
early morning, thanks to the sharp wind which was driving the
clouds away, the pavement had become drier, and the blue sky had
a limpid, spring-like gaiety.
Thus The Ladies' Paradise, after eight o'clock, blazed forth
beneath the clear rays of the sun, in all the glory of its great sale of
winter novelties. Flags were flying at the door, and pieces of
woollens were flapping about in the fresh morning air, animating the
Place Gaillon with the bustle of a country fair; whilst in both streets
the windows developed symphonies of displays, the clearness of the
glass showing up still further the brilliant tones. It was like a
debauch of colour, a street pleasure which burst forth there, a
wealth of goods publicly displayed, where everybody could go and
feast their eyes.
But at this hour very few people entered, only a few rare
customers, housewives of the neighbourhood, women desirous of
avoiding the afternoon crush. Behind the stuffs which decorated it,
one could feel the shop to be empty, under arms and waiting for
customers, with its waxed floors and counters overflowing with
goods.
The busy morning crowd barely glanced at the windows, without
lingering a moment. In the Rue Neuve-Saint-Augustin and in the
Place Gaillon, where the carriages were to take their stand, there
were only two cabs at nine o'clock. The inhabitants of the district,
especially the small traders, stirred up by such a show of streamers
and decorations, formed little groups in the doorways, at the corners
of the streets, gazing at the shop, making bitter remarks. What most
filled them with indignation was the sight of one of the four delivery
vans just introduced by Mouret, which was standing in the Rue de la
Michodière, in front of the delivery office. They were green, picked
out with yellow and red, their brilliantly varnished panels sparkling in
the sun with the brightness of purple and gold. This van, with its
brand-new medley of colours, the name of the house painted on
each side, and surmounted with an advertisement of the day's sale,
finished by going off at a trot, drawn by a splendid horse, after
being filled up with the previous night's parcels; and Baudu, who
was standing on the threshold of The Old Elbeuf, watched it as far as
the boulevard, where it disappeared, to spread all over Paris in a
starry radiance the hated name of The Ladies' Paradise.
However, a few cabs were arriving and forming a line.
Every time a customer entered, there was a movement amongst
the shop messengers, who were drawn up under the lofty doorway,
dressed in livery consisting of a light green coat and trousers, and
striped red and yellow waistcoat. Jouve, the inspector and retired
captain, was also there, in a frock-coat and white tie, wearing his
decoration like a sign of respectability and probity, receiving the
ladies with a gravely polite air, bending over them to point out the
departments. Then they disappeared in the vestibule, which was
transformed into an oriental saloon.
From the very threshold it was a marvel, a surprise, which
enchanted all of them. It was Mouret who had been struck with this
idea. He was the first to buy, in the Levant, at very advantageous
rates, a collection of old and new carpets, articles which up to the
present had only been sold at curiosity shops, at high prices; and he
intended to flood the market with these goods, selling them at a
little over cost price, simply drawing from them a splendid decoration
destined to attract the best class of art customers to his
establishment From the centre of the Place Gaillon could be seen
this oriental saloon, composed solely of carpets and door curtains
which had been hung under his orders. The ceiling was covered with
a quantity of Smyrna carpets, the complicated designs of which
stood out boldly on a red ground. Then from each side there hung
Syrian and Karamanian door-curtains, speckled with green, yellow,
and vermilion; Diarbekir door-curtains of a commoner type, rough to
the touch, like shepherds' cloaks; besides these there were carpets
which could be used as door-curtains and hangings—long Ispahan,
Teheran, and Kermancha rugs, the larger Schoumaka and Madras
carpets, a strange florescence of peonies and palms, the fancy let
loose in a garden of dreams. On the floor were more carpets, a heap
of greasy fleeces: in the centre was an Agra carpet, an extraordinary
article with a white ground and a broad delicate blue border, through
which ran violet-coloured ornaments of exquisite design. Everywhere
there was an immense display of marvellous fabrics; Mecca carpets
with a velvety reflection, prayer carpets from Daghestan with a
symbolic point, Kurdistan carpets covered with blossoming flowers;
and finally, piled up in a corner, a heap of Gherdes, Koula, and
Kirchur rugs from fifteen francs a piece.
This sumptuous pacha's tent was furnished with divans and arm-
chairs, made with camel sacks, some ornamented with many-
coloured lozenges, others with primitive roses. Turkey, Arabia, and
the Indies were all there. They had emptied the palaces, plundered
the mosques and bazaars. A barbarous gold tone prevailed in the
weft of the old carpets, the faded tints of which still preserved a
sombre warmth, as of an extinguished furnace, a beautiful burnt hue
suggestive of the old masters. Visions of the East floated beneath
the luxury of this barbarous art, amid the strong odour which the old
wools had retained of the country of vermin and of the rising sun.
In the morning at eight o'clock, when Denise, who was to
commence on that very Monday, had crossed the oriental saloon,
she stood there, lost in astonishment, unable to recognise the shop
entrance, entirely overcome by this harem-like decoration planted at
the door. A messenger having shown her to the top of the house,
and handed her over to Madame Cabin, who cleaned and looked
after the rooms, this person installed her in No. 7, where her box
had already been put. It was a narrow cell, opening on the roof by a
skylight, furnished with a small bed, a walnut-wood wardrobe, a
toilet-table, and two chairs. Twenty similar rooms ran along the
convent-like corridor, painted yellow; and, out of the thirty-five
young ladies in the house, the twenty who had no friends in Paris
slept there, whilst the remaining fifteen lodged outside, a few with
borrowed aunts and cousins. Denise at once took off her shabby
woollen dress, worn thin by brushing and mended at the sleeves,
the only one she had brought from Valognes; she then put on the
uniform of her department, a black silk dress which had been altered
for her and which she found ready on the bed. This dress was still
too large, too wide across the shoulders; but she was so hurried in
her emotion that she paid no heed to these details of coquetry. She
had never worn silk before. When she went downstairs again,
dressed up, uncomfortable, she looked at the shining skirt, feeling
ashamed of the noisy rustling of the silk.
Down below, as she was entering her department, a quarrel burst
out. She heard Clara say, in a shrill voice:
“Madame, I came in before her.”
“It isn't true,” replied Marguerite. “She pushed past me at the
door, but I had already one foot in the room.”
It was for the inscription on the list of turns, which regulated the
sales. The saleswomen wrote their names on a slate in the order of
their arrival, and whenever one of them had served a customer, she
re-wrote her name beneath the others. Madame Aurélie finished by
deciding in Marguerite's favour.
“Always some injustice here!” muttered Clara, furiously. But
Denise's entry reconciled these young ladies. They looked at her,
then smiled to each other. How could a person truss herself up in
that way! The young girl went and awkwardly wrote her name on
the list, where she found herself last. Meanwhile, Madame Aurélie
was examining her with an anxious face. She could not help saying:
“My dear, two like you could get into your dress; you must have it
taken in. Besides, you don't know how to dress yourself. Come here
and let me arrange you a bit.”
And she placed herself before one of the tall glasses alternating
with the doors of the cupboards containing the dresses. The vast
apartment, surrounded by these glasses and the wood-work in
carved oak, the floor covered with red Wilton carpet of a large
pattern, resembled the commonplace drawing-room of an hotel,
traversed by a continual stream of travellers. The young ladies
completed the resemblance, dressed in the regulation silk,
promenading their commercial charms about, without ever sitting
down on the dozen chairs reserved for the customers. All wore
between two buttonholes of the body of their dresses, as if stuck in
their bosoms, a long pencil, with its point in the air; and half out of
their pockets, could be seen the white cover of the book of debit-
notes. Several risked wearing jewellery—rings, brooches, chains; but
their great coquetry, the luxury they all struggled for in the forced
uniformity of their dress, was their bare hair, quantities of it,
augmented by plaits and chignons when their own did not suffice,
combed, curled, and decked out in every way.
“Pull the waist down in front,” said Madame Aurélie. “There, you
have now no hump on your back. And your hair, how can you
massacre it like that? It would be superb, if you only took a little
trouble.”
This was, in fact, Denise's only beauty. Of a beautiful flaxen hue, it
fell down to her ankles; and when she did it up, it was so
troublesome that she simply rolled it in a knot, keeping it together
under the strong teeth of a bone comb. Clara, greatly annoyed by
this head of hair, affected to laugh at it, so strange did it look,
twisted up anyhow in its savage grace. She made a sign to a
saleswoman in the under-linen department, a girl with a large face
and agreeable manner. The two departments, which were close
together, were in continual hostility; but the young ladies sometimes
joined together in laughing at other people.
“Mademoiselle Cugnot, just look at that mane,” said Clara, whom
Marguerite was nudging, feigning also to be on the point of bursting
out laughing.
But Mademoiselle Cugnot was not in the humour for joking. She
had been looking at Denise for a moment, and she remembered
what she had suffered herself during the first few months of her
arrival in the establishment.
“Well, what?” said she. “Everybody hasn't got a mane like that!”
And she returned to her place, leaving the two others very
crestfallen. Denise, who had heard all, followed her with a look of
thanks, while Madame Aurélie gave our heroine a book of debit-
notes with her name on it, saying: “To-morrow you'll get yourself up
better; and, now, try and pick up the ways of the house, wait your
turn for selling. To-day's work will be very hard; we shall be able to
judge of your capabilities.” However, the department still remained
deserted; very few customers came up at this early hour. The young
ladies reserved themselves, prudently preparing for the fatigues of
the afternoon. Denise, intimidated by the thought that they were
watching her, sharpened her pencil, for the sake of something to do;
then, imitating the others, she stuck it into her bosom, between two
buttonholes, and summoned up all her courage, determined to
conquer a position. The previous evening they had told her she
entered as a probationer, that is to say without any fixed salary; she
would simply have the commission and a certain allowance on
everything she sold. But she fully hoped to earn twelve hundred
francs a year in this way, knowing that the good saleswomen earned
as much as two thousand, when they liked to take the trouble. Her
expenses were regulated; a hundred francs a month would enable
her to pay Pépé's board and lodging, assist Jean, who did not earn a
sou, and procure some clothes and linen for herself. But, in order to
attain this large sum, she would have to show herself industrious
and pushing, taking no notice of the ill-will displayed by those
around her, fighting for her share, even snatching it from her
comrades if necessary. As she was thus working herself up for the
struggle, a tall young man, passing the department, smiled at her;
and when she saw it was Deloche, who had been engaged in the
lace department the previous day, she returned his smile, happy at
the friendship which thus presented itself, accepting this smile as a
good omen.
At half-past nine a bell rang for the first luncheon. Then a fresh
peal announced the second; and still no customers appeared. The
second-hand, Madame Frédéric, who, in her disagreeable widow's
harshness, delighted in prophesying disasters, declared in short
sentences that the day was lost, that they would not see a soul, that
they might close the cupboards and go away; predictions which
darkened Marguerite's flat face, she being a girl who looked sharp
after her profits, whilst Clara, with her runaway-horse appearance,
was already dreaming of an excursion to the Verrières woods, if the
house failed. As for Madame Aurélie, she was there, silent and
serious, promenading her Cæsar-like mask about the empty
department, like a general who has a certain responsibility in victory
and in defeat. About eleven o'clock a few ladies appeared. Denise's
turn for serving had arrived. Just at that moment a customer came
up.
“The fat old girl from the country,” murmured Marguerite.
It was a woman of forty-five, who occasionally journeyed to Paris
from the depths of some out-of-the-way place. There she saved up
for months; then, hardly out of the train, she made straight for The
Ladies' Paradise, and spent all her savings. She very rarely ordered
anything by letter, she liked to see and handle the goods, and laid in
a stock of everything, even down to needles, which she said were
excessively dear in her small town. The whole staff knew her, that
her name was Boutarel, and that she lived at Albi, but troubled no
further about her, neither about her position nor her mode of life.
“How do you do, madame?” graciously asked Madame Aurélie,
who had come forward. “And what can we show you? You shall be
attended to at once.” Then, turning round: “Now, young ladies!”
Denise approached; but Clara had sprung forward. As a rule, she
was very careless and idle, not caring about the money she earned
in the shop, as she could get plenty outside, without trouble. But the
idea of doing the new-comer out of a good customer spurred her on.
“I beg your pardon, it's my turn,” said Denise, indignantly.
Madame Aurélie set her aside with a severe look, saying: “There are
no turns. I alone am mistress here. Wait till you know, before
serving our regular customers.”
The young girl retired, and as the tears were coming in her eyes,
and she wished to conceal this excess of sensibility, she turned her
back, standing up before the window, pretending to be looking into
the street. Were they going to prevent her selling? Would they all
arrange together to deprive her of the important sales, like that? A
fear for the future seized her, she felt herself crushed between so
many interests let loose. Yielding to the bitterness of her
abandonment, her forehead against the cold glass, she gazed at The
Old Elbeuf opposite, thinking she ought to have implored her uncle
to keep her. Perhaps he himself regretted his decision, for he
seemed to her greatly affected the previous evening. Now she was
quite alone in this vast house, where no one liked her, where she
found herself hurt, lost. Pépé and Jean, who had never left her side,
were living with strangers; it was a cruel separation, and the big
tears which she kept back made the street dance in a sort of fog. All
this time, the hum of voices continued behind her.
“This one makes me look a fright,” Madame Boutarel was saying.
“You really make a mistake, madame,” said Clara; “the shoulders
fit perfectly—but perhaps you would prefer a pelisse to a mantle?”
But Denise started. A hand was laid on her arm. Madame Aurélie
addressed her severely:
“Well, you're doing nothing now—eh? only looking at the people
passing. Things can't go on this way, you know!”
“But they prevent me selling, madame.”
“Oh, there's other work for you, mademoiselle! Begin at the
beginning. Do the folding-up.”
 In order to please the few customers who had called, they had
been obliged to ransack all the cupboards, and on the two long
oaken tables, to the right and the left, were heaps of mantles,
pelisses, and capes, garments of all sizes and all materials. Without
replying, Denise set about sorting them, folding them carefully and
arranging them again in the cupboards. This was the lowest work,
generally performed by beginners. She ceased to protest, knowing
that they required the strictest obedience, waiting till the first hand
should be good enough to let her sell, as she seemed at first to have
the intention of doing. She was still folding, when Mouret appeared
on the scene. This was a violent shock for her; she blushed without
knowing why, she felt herself invaded by a strange fear, thinking he
was going to speak to her. But he did not even see her; he no longer
remembered this little girl whom the charming impression of an
instant had induced him to support.
“Madame Aurélie,” called he in a brief voice.
He was rather pale, but his eyes were clear and resolute. In
making the tour of the departments he had found them empty, and
the possibility of a defeat had suddenly presented itself in the midst
of his obstinate faith in fortune. True, it was only eleven o'clock; he
knew by experience that the crowd never arrived much before the
afternoon. But certain symptoms troubled him. At the previous sales,
a general movement had taken place from the morning even;
besides he did not see any of those bareheaded women, customers
living in the neighbourhood, who usually dropped into his shop as
into a neighbour's. Like all great captains, he felt at the moment of
giving battle a superstitious weakness, notwithstanding his habitually
resolute attitude. Things would not go on well, he was lost, and he
could not have explained why; he thought he could read his defeat
on the faces of the passing ladies even.
Just at that moment, Madame Boutarel, she who always bought
something, was going away, saying: “No, you have nothing that
pleases me. I'll see, I'll decide later on.”
 Mouret watched her depart. Then, as Madame Aurélie ran up at
his call, he took her aside, and they exchanged a few rapid words.
She wore a despairing air, and was evidently admitting that things
were looking bad. For a moment they remained face to face, seized
with one of those doubts which generals conceal from their soldiers.
Ultimately he said out loud in his brave way: “If you want assistance,
understand, take a girl from the workroom. She'll be a little help to
you.”
He continued his inspection in despair. He had avoided Bourdoncle
all the morning, for his anxious doubts irritated him. On leaving the
under-linen department, where business was still worse, he dropped
right on to him, and was obliged to submit to the expression of his
fears. He did not hesitate to send him to the devil, with a brutality
that even his principal employees came in for when things were
looking bad.
“Get out of my way!” said he. “Everything is going on all right. I
shall end by pitching out the tremblers.”
Mouret planted himself alone on the landing of the hall-staircase.
From there he commanded the whole shop; around him the
departments on the first-floor; beneath, those of the ground-floor.
Above, the emptiness seemed heart-breaking; in the lace
department, an old woman was having everything turned over and
buying nothing; whilst three good-for-nothing minxes in the under-
linen department were slowly choosing some collars at eighteen
sous. Down below, under the covered galleries, in the ray of light
which came in from the street, he noticed that the customers were
commencing to get more numerous. It was a slow, broken
procession, a promenade before the counters; in the mercery and
the haberdashery departments some women of the commoner class
were pushing about, but there was hardly a customer in the linen or
in the woollen departments. The shop messengers, in their green
coats, the buttons of which shone brilliantly, were waiting for
customers, their hands dangling about. Now and again there passed
an inspector with a ceremonious air, very stiff in his white neck-tie.
Mouret was especially grieved by the mortal silence which reigned in
the hall, where the light fell from above from a ground glass
window, showing a white dust, diffuse and suspended, as it were,
under which the silk department seemed to be sleeping, amid a
shivering religious silence. A shopman's footstep, a few whispered
words, the rustling of a passing skirt, were the only noises heard,
and they were almost stifled by the hot air of the heating apparatus.
However, carriages began to arrive, the sudden piffling up of the
horses was heard, and immediately after the banging of the carriage
doors. Outside, a distant tumult was commencing to make itself
heard, groups of idlers were pushing in front of the windows, cabs
were taking up their positions in the Place Gaillon, there were all the
appearances of an approaching crowd. But on seeing the idle
cashiers leaning back on their chairs behind their wickets, and
observing that the parcel-tables with their boxes of string and reams
of blue packing-paper remained unoccupied, Mouret, though
indignant with himself for being afraid, thought he felt his immense
machine stop and turn cold beneath him.
“I say, Favier,” murmured Hutin, “look at the governor up there.
He doesn't seem to be enjoying himself.”
“This is a rotten shop!” replied Favier. “Just fancy, I've not sold a
thing yet.”
Both of them, waiting for customers, whispered such short
remarks from time to time without looking at each other. The other
salesmen of the department were occupied in arranging large bales
of the Paris Paradise under Robineau's orders; whilst Bouthemont, in
full consultation with a thin young woman, seemed to be taking an
important order. Around them, on frail and elegant shelves, the silks,
folded in long pieces of creamy paper, were heaped up like
pamphlets of an unusual size; and, encumbering the counters, were
fancy silks, moires, satins, velvets, presenting the appearance of
mown flowers, quite a harvest of delicate precious tissues. This was
the most elegant of all the departments, a veritable drawingroom,
where the goods, so light and airy, were nothing but a luxurious
furnishing.
“I must have a hundred francs by Sunday,” said Hutin. “If I don't
make an average of twelve francs a day, I'm lost. I'd reckoned on
this sale.”
“By Jovel a hundred francs; that's rather stiff,” said Favier. “I only
want fifty or sixty. You must go in for swell women, then?”
“Oh, no, my dear fellow. It's a stupid affair; I made a bet and lost.
So I have to stand a dinner for five persons, two fellows and three
girls. Hang me! the first one that passes I'll let her in for twenty
yards of Paris Paradise!”
They continued talking for several minutes, relating what they had
done the previous day, and what they intended to do the next week.
Favier did a little betting, Hutin did a little boating, and kept music-
hall singers. But they were both possessed by the same desire for
money, struggling for it all the week, and spending it all on Sunday.
It was their sole preoccupation in the shop, an hourly and pitiless
struggle. And that cunning Bouthemont had just managed to get
hold of Madame Sauveur's messenger, the skinny woman with whom
he was talking! good business, three or four dozen pieces, at least,
for the celebrated dressmaker always gave good orders. At that
moment Robineau took it into his head to do Favier out of a
customer.
“Oh! as for that fellow, we must settle up with him,” said Hutin,
who took advantage of the slightest thing in order to stir up the
salesmen against the man whose place he coveted.
“Ought the first and second hands to sell? My word of honour! my
dear fellow, if ever I become second you'll see how well I shall act
with the others.”
And all his little Norman person, so fat and jolly, played the good-
natured man energetically. Favier could not help casting a side
glance towards him, but he preserved his phlegmatical air,
contenting himself with replying: “Yes, I know. I should be only too
pleased.” Then, as a lady came up, he added in a lower tone: “Look
out! Here's one for you.”
It was a lady with a blotchy face, a yellow bonnet, and a red
dress. Hutin immediately recognised in her a woman who would buy
nothing. He quickly stooped behind the counter, pretending to be
doing up his boot-lace; and, thus concealed, he murmured: “No fear,
let some one else take her. I don't want to lose my turn!”
However, Robineau called out: “Whose turn, gentlemen? Monsieur
Hutin's? Where's Monsieur Hutin?”
And as this gentleman still gave no reply, it was the next salesman
who served the lady with the blotches. Hutin was right, she simply
wanted some samples with the prices; and she kept the salesman
more than ten minutes, overwhelming him with questions. However,
Robineau had seen Hutin get up from behind the counter; so that
when another customer arrived, he interfered with a stern air,
stopping the young man, who was rushing forward.
“Your turn is passed. I called you, and as you were there behind
——”
“But I didn't hear you, sir.”
“That'll do! Write your name at the bottom. Now, Monsieur Favier,
it's your turn.”
Favier, greatly amused at heart at this adventure, threw a glance
at his friend, as if to excuse himself. Hutin, with pale lips, had turned
his head away. What enraged him was that he knew the customer
very well, an adorable blonde who often came to their department,
and whom the salesmen called amongst themselves “the pretty
lady,” knowing nothing of her, not even her name. She bought a
great deal, had her purchases taken to her carriage, and
immediately disappeared. Tall, elegant, dressed with exquisite taste,
she appeared to be very rich, and to belong to the best society.
“Well! and your courtesan?” asked Hutin of Favier, when the latter
returned from the pay-desk, where he had accompanied the lady.
 “Oh! a courtesan!” replied the other. “I fancy she looks too lady-
like for that. She must be the wife of a stockbroker or a doctor, or
something of that sort.”
“Don't tell me! it's a courtesan. With their grand lady airs it's
impossible to tell now-a-days!”
Favier looked at his book of debit-notes. “I don't care!” said he,
“I've stuck her for two hundred and ninety-three francs. That makes
nearly three francs for me.”
Hutin bit his lips, and vented his spleen on the debit notebooks.
Another invention for cramming their pockets. There was a secret
rivalry between these two. Favier, as a rule, pretended to sing small,
to recognise Hutin's superiority, but in reality devouring him all the
while behind his back. Thus Hutin was wild at the thought of the
three francs pocketed so easily by a salesman whom he considered
to be his inferior in business. A fine day's work! If it went on like
this, he would not earn enough to pay for the seltzer water for his
guests. And in the midst of the battle, which was now becoming
fiercer, he walked along the counters with hungry eyes, eager for his
share, jealous even of his superior, who was just showing the thin
young woman out, and saying to her:
“Very well! it's understood. Tell her I'll do my best to obtain this
favour from Monsieur Mouret.”
Mouret had quitted his post on the stairs some time before.
Suddenly he reappeared on the landing of the principal staircase
which communicated with the ground floor; and from there he
commanded a view of the whole establishment. His face had
regained its colour, his faith was restored and increasing before the
crowd which was gradually filling the place. It was the expected rush
at last, the afternoon crush, which he had for a moment despaired
of. All the shopmen were at their posts, a last ring of the bell had
announced the end of the third lunch; the disastrous morning, due
no doubt to a shower which fell about nine o'clock, could still be
repaired, for the blue sky of early morn had resumed its victorious
gaiety. Now that the first-floor departments were becoming
animated, he was obliged to stand back to make way for the women
who were going up to the under-clothing and dress departments;
whilst, behind him, in the lace and the shawl departments, he heard
large sums bandied about. But the sight of the galleries on the
ground-floor especially reassured him. There was a crowd at the
haberdashery department, and even the linen and woollen
departments were invaded. The procession of buyers closed up,
nearly all of a higher class at present, with a few lingering
housewives. Under the pale light of the silk hall, ladies had taken off
their gloves to feel the Paris Paradise, talking in half-whispers. And
there was no longer any mistaking the noises arriving from outside,
rolling of cabs, banging of carriage-doors, an increasing tumult in
the crowd. He felt the machine commencing to work under him,
getting up steam and reviving, from the pay-desks where the money
was jingling, and the tables where the messengers were hurriedly
packing up the goods, down to the basement, in the delivery-room,
which was quickly filling up with the parcels sent down, and the
underground rumbling of which seemed to shake the whole house.
In the midst of the crowd was the inspector, Jouve, walking about
gravely, watching for thieves.
“Hullo! is that you?” said Mouret, all at once, recognising Paul de
Vallagnosc whom a messenger had conducted to him. “No, no, you
are not in my way. Besides, you've only to follow me if you want to
see everything, for to-day I stay at the breach.”
He still felt anxious. No doubt there were plenty of people, but
would the sale prove to be the triumph he hoped for? However, he
laughed with Paul, carrying him off gaily.
“It seems to be picking up a bit,” said Hutin to Favier. “But
somehow I've no luck; there are some days that are precious bad,
my word! I've just made another miss, that old frump hasn't bought
anything.”
And he glanced towards a lady who was walking off, casting looks
of disgust at all the goods. He was not likely to get fat on his
thousand francs a year, unless he sold something; as a rule he made
seven or eight francs a day commission, which gave him with his
regular pay an average of ten francs a day. Favier never made much
more than eight, and there was this animal taking the bread out of
his mouth, for he had just sold another dress—a cold-natured fellow
who had never known how to amuse a customer! It was
exasperating.
“Those chaps over there seem to be doing very well,” remarked
Favier, speaking of the salesmen in the hosiery and haberdashery
departments.
But Hutin, who was looking all round the place, suddenly asked:
“Do you know Madame Desforges, the governor's sweetheart? Look!
that dark woman in the glove department, who is having some
gloves tried on by Mignot.” He stopped, then resumed in a low tone,
as if speaking to Mignot, on whom he continued to keep his eyes:
“Oh, go on, old man, you may pull her fingers about as much as you
like, that won't do you any good! We know your conquests!”
There was a rivalry between himself and the glove-man, the
rivalry of two handsome fellows, who both affected to flirt with the
lady-customers. As a matter of fact they had neither had any real
conquests to boast about. Mignot lived on the legend of a police
superintendent's wife who had fallen in love with him, whilst Hutin
had really conquered a lace-maker who had got tired of wandering
about in the doubtful hotels in the neighbourhood; but they invented
a lot of mysterious adventures, leading people to believe in all sorts
of appointments made by titled ladies, between two purchases.
“You should get hold of her,” said Favier, in his sly, artful way.
“That's a good idea!” exclaimed Hutin. “If she comes here I'll let
her in for something extensive; I want a five-franc piece!”
In the glove department quite a row of ladies were seated before
the narrow counter covered with green velvet and edged with nickel
silver; and the smiling shopmen were heaping up before them the
flat boxes of a bright red, taken out of the counter itself, and
resembling the ticketed drawers of a secrétaire. Mignot especially
was bending his pretty doll-like face over his customer, his thick
Parisian voice full of tender inflections. He had already sold Madame
Desforges a dozen pairs of kid gloves, the Paradise gloves, one of
the specialities of the house. She then took three pairs of Swedish,
and was now trying on some Saxon gloves, for fear the size should
not be exact.
“Oh! quite perfect, madame!” repeated Mignot. “Six and a quarter
would be too large for a hand like yours.”
Half lying on the counter, he was holding her hand, taking the
fingers one by one, slipping the glove on with a long, renewed, and
persistently caressing air, looking at her as if he expected to see in
her face the signs of a voluptuous joy. But she, with her elbow on
the velvet counter, her wrist raised, gave him her fingers with the
unconcerned air with which she gave her foot to her maid to allow
her to button her boot. For her he was not a man; she employed
him for such private work with the familiar disdain she showed for
the people in her service, without looking at him even.
“I don't hurt you, madame?”
She replied “No,” with a shake of the head. The smell of the Saxon
gloves—that savage smell as of sugared musk—troubled her as a
rule; and she sometimes laughed about it, confessing her taste for
this equivocal perfume, in which there is a suspicion of the wild
beast fallen into some girl's powder-box. But seated at this
commonplace counter she did not notice the smell of the gloves, it
raised no sensual feeling between her and this salesman doing his
work.
“And what next, madame?”
“Nothing, thanks. Be good enough to carry the parcel to the pay-
desk No. 10, for Madame Desforges.”
Being a constant customer, she gave her name at a pay-desk, and
had each purchase sent there without wanting a shopman to follow
her. When she had gone away, Mignot turned towards his neighbour
and winked, and would have liked him to believe that wonderful
things had just taken place. “By Jove! I'd like to dress her all over!”
said he, coarsely. Meanwhile, Madame Desforges continued her
purchases. She turned to the left, stopping in the linen department
to procure some dusters; then she walked round the shop, going as
far as the woollen department at the further end of the gallery. As
she was satisfied with her cook, she wanted to make her a present
of a dress. The woollen department overflowed with a compact
crowd, all the lower middle-class women were there, feeling the
stuff, absorbed in mute calculations; and she was obliged to sit down
for a moment. The shelves were piled up with great rolls of stuff
which the salesmen were taking down one by one, with a sudden
pull. They were beginning to get confused with these encumbered
counters, on which the stuffs were mixing up and tumbling over
each other. It was a rising tide of neutral tints, heavy woollen tones,
iron-greys, and blue-greys, with here and there a Scotch tartan, and
a blood-red ground of flannel breaking out. And the white tickets on
the pieces were like a shower of rare white flakes falling on a black
December soil.
Behind a pile of poplin, Liénard was joking with a tall girl without
hat or bonnet, a work-girl, sent by her mistress to match some
merino. He detested these big-sale days, which tired him to death,
and he endeavoured to shirk his work, getting plenty of money from
his father, not caring a fig about the business, doing just enough to
avoid being dismissed.
“Listen to me, Mademoiselle Fanny,” he was saying; “you are
always in a hurry. Did the striped vicugna do the other day? I shall
come and see you, and ask for my commission.” But the girl
escaped, laughing, and Liénard found himself before Madame
Desforges, whom he could not help asking: “What can I serve you
with, madame?”
She wanted a dress, not too dear but yet strong. Liénard, with the
view of sparing his arms, which was his principal care, manoeuvred
to make her take one of the stuffs already unfolded on the counter.
There were cashmeres, serges, vicugnas, and he declared that there
was nothing better to be had, they never wore out. But none of
these seemed to satisfy her. On one of the shelves she had observed
a blue serge, which she wished to see. He made up his mind at last,
and took down the roll, but she thought it too rough. Then he
showed her a cheviot, some diagonal, some greys, every sort of
woollens, which she felt out of curiosity, for the pleasure of doing so,
decided at heart to take no matter what. The young man was thus
obliged to empty the highest shelves; his shoulders cracked, the
counter had disappeared under the silky grain of the cashmeres and
poplins, the rough nap of the cheviot, and the tufty down of the
vicugna; there were samples of every material and every tint.
Though she had not the least wish to buy any, she asked to see
some grenadine and some Chambéry gauze. Then, when she had
seen enough, she said:
“Oh! after all, the first is the best; it's for my cook. Yes, the serge,
the one at two francs.” And when Liénard had measured it, pale with
suppressed anger, she added: “Have the goodness to carry that to
pay-desk No. 10, for Madame Desforges.” Just as she was going
away, she recognised Madame Marty close to her, accompanied by
her daughter Valentine, a tall girl of fourteen, thin and bold, who
was already casting a woman's covetous looks on the goods.
“Ah! it's you, dear madame?”
“Yes, dear madame; what a crowd—eh?”
“Oh! don't speak of it, it's stifling. And such a success! Have you
seen the oriental saloon?”
“Superb—wonderful!”
And amidst the pushing and crushing of the growing crowd of
modest purses eagerly seeking the cheap lines in the woollen goods,
they went into ecstasies over the exhibition of carpets. Then
Madame Marty explained she was looking for some material for a
mantle; but she was not quite decided; she wanted to see some
check patterns.
 “Look, mamma,” murmured Valentine, “it's too common.”
“Come to the silk department,” said Madame Desforges, “you must
see their famous Paris Paradise.”
Madame Marty hesitated for a moment. It would be very dear, and
she had faithfully promised her husband to be careful! She had been
buying for an hour, quite a pile of articles were following her already:
a muff and some cuffs and collars for herself, some stockings for her
daughter. She finished by saying to the shopman who was showing
her the checks:
“Well—no; I'm going to the silk department; you've nothing to suit
me.”
The shopman took the articles and walked before the ladies. In
the silk department there was also a crowd, the principal crush being
opposite the inside display, arranged by Hutin, and to which Mouret
had given the finishing touches. It was at the further end of the hall,
around one of the small wrought-iron columns which supported the
glass roof, a veritable torrent of stuffs, a puffy sheet falling from,
above and spreading out? down to the floor. At first stood out the
light satins and tender silks, the satins à la Reine and Renaissance,
with the pearly tones of spring water; light silks, transparent as
crystals—Nile-green, Indian-azure, May-rose, and Danube-blue.
Then came the stronger fabrics: marvellous satins, duchess silks,
warm tints, rolling in great waves; and right at the bottom, as in a
fountain-basin, reposed the heavy stuffs, the figured silks, the
damasks, brocades, and lovely silvered silks in the midst of a deep
bed of velvet of every sort—black, white, and coloured—skilfully
disposed on silk and satin grounds, hollowing out with their medley
of colours a still lake in which the reflex of the sky seemed to be
dancing. The women, pale with desire, bent over as if to look at
themselves. And before this falling cataract they all remained
standing, with the secret fear of being carried away by the irruption
of such luxury, and with the irresistible desire to jump in amidst it
and be lost.
 “Here you are, then!” said Madame Desforges, on finding Madame
Bourdelais installed before a counter.
“Ah! good-morning!” replied the latter, shaking hands with the
ladies. “Yes, I've come to have a look.”
“What a prodigious exhibition! It's like a dream. And the oriental
saloon! Have you seen the oriental saloon?”
“Yes, yes; extraordinary!”
But beneath this enthusiasm, which was to be decidedly the
fashionable note of the day, Madame Bourdelais retained her
practical housekeeper's coolness. She was carefully examining a
piece of Paris Paradise, for she had come on purpose to take
advantage of the exceptional cheapness of this silk, if she found it
really advantageous. She was doubtless satisfied with it, for she took
twenty-five yards, hoping it would be sufficient to make a dress for
herself and a cloak for her little girl.
“What! you are going already?” resumed Madame Desforges.
“Take a walk round with us.”
“No, thanks; they are waiting for me at home. I didn't like to risk
bringing the children into this crowd.”
And she went away, preceded by the salesman carrying * the
twenty-five yards of silk, and who led her to pay-desk No. 10, where
young Albert was getting confused with all the demands for bills with
which he was besieged. When the salesman was able to approach,
after having inscribed his sale on the debit-note, he called out the
item, which the cashier entered in a register; then it was checked
over, and the leaf torn off the salesman's book of debit-notes was
stuck on a file near the receipting stamp.
“One hundred and forty francs,” said Albert.
Madame Bourdelais paid and gave her address, for having come
on foot she did not wish to be troubled with a parcel. Joseph had
already got the silk behind the pay-desk, and was tying it up; and
the parcel, thrown into a basket on wheels, was sent down to the
delivery department, where all the goods in the shop seemed to be
swallowed up with a sluice-like noise.
Meanwhile, the block was becoming so great in the silk
department that Madame Desforges and Madame Marty could not at
first find a salesman disengaged. They remained standing, mingling
with the crowd of ladies who were looking at the silks and feeling
them, staying there hours without making up their minds. But the
Paris Paradise was a great success; around it pressed one of those
crowds which decides the fortune of a fashion in a day. A host of
shopmen were engaged in measuring off this silk; one could see,
above the customers' heads, the pale glimmer of the unfolded
pieces, in the continual coming and going of the fingers along the
oak yard measures hanging from brass rods; one could hear the
noise of the scissors cutting the silk, without ceasing, as the sale
went on, as if there were not enough shopmen to suffice for all the
greedy outstretched hands of the customers.
“It really isn't bad for five francs twelve sous,” said Madame
Desforges, who had succeeded in getting hold of a piece at the edge
of the table.
Madame Marty and her daughter experienced a disappointment.
The newspapers had said so much about it, that they had expected
something stronger and more brilliant. But Bouthemont had just
recognised Madame Desforges, and in order to get in the good
graces of such a handsome lady, who was supposed to be all-
powerful with the governor, he came up, with his rather coarse
amiability. What! no one was serving her! it was unpardonable! He
begged her to be indulgent, for really they did not know which way
to turn. And he went to look for some chairs amongst the
neighbouring skirts, laughing with his good-natured laugh, full of a
brutal love for the sex, which did not seem to displease Henrietta.
“I say,” murmured Favier, on going to take some velvet from a
shelf behind Hutin, “there's Bouthemont making up to your mash.”
 Hutin had forgotten Madame Desforges, beside himself with rage
with an old lady, who, after having kept him a quarter of an hour,
had finished by buying a yard of black satin for a pair of stays. In
the busy moments they took no notice of the turns, each salesman
served the customers as they arrived. And he was answering
Madame Boutarel, who was finishing her afternoon at The Ladies'
Paradise, where she had already spent three hours in the morning,
when Favier's warning made him start. Was he going to miss the
governor's friend, from whom he had sworn to draw a five franc
piece? That would be the height of ill-luck, for he hadn't made three
francs as yet with all those other chignons who were mooning about
the place! Bouthemont was just then calling out loudly:
“Come, gentlemen, some one this way!”
Hutin passed Madame Boutarel over to Robineau, who was doing
nothing.
“Here's the second-hand, madame. He will answer you better than
I can.”
And he rushed off to take Madame Marty's purchases from the
woollen salesman who had accompanied the ladies. That day a
nervous excitement must have troubled his delicate scent. As a rule,
the first glance told him if a customer would buy, and how much.
Then he domineered over the customer, he hastened to serve her to
pass on to another, imposing his choice on her, persuading her that
he knew best what material she wanted.
“What sort of silk, madame?” asked he in his most gallant manner.
Madame Desforges had no sooner opened her mouth than he
added: “I know, I've got just what you want.”
When the piece of Paris Paradise was unfolded on a narrow corner
of the counter, between heaps of other silks, Madame Marty and her
daughter approached. Hutin, rather anxious, understood that it was
at first a question of serving these two. Whispered words were
exchanged, Madame Desforges was advising her friend.
 “Oh! certainly,” murmured she. “A silk at five francs twelve sous
will never be equal to one at fifteen, or even ten.”
“It is very light,” repeated Madame Marty. “I'm afraid that it has
not sufficient body for a mantle.”
This remarked induced the salesman to intervene. He smiled with
the exaggerated politeness of a man who cannot make a mistake.
“But, madame, flexibility is the chief quality of this silk. It will not
crumple. It's exactly what you want.”
Impressed by such an assurance, the ladies said no more. They
had taken the silk up, and were examining it again, when they felt a
touch on their shoulders. It was Madame Guibal, who had been
slowly walking about the shop for an hour past, feasting her eyes on
the heaped-up riches, without buying even a yard of calico. And
there was another explosion of gossip.
“What! Is that you?”
“Yes, it's me, rather knocked about though.”
“What a crowd—eh? One can't get about. And the oriental
saloon?”
“Ravishing!”
“Good heavens! what a success! Stay a moment, we will go
upstairs together.”
“No, thanks, I've just come down.”
Hutin was waiting, concealing his impatience with a smile that did
not quit his lips. Were they going to keep him there long? Really the
women took things very coolly, it was like taking his money out of
his pocket. At last Madame Guibal went away and continued her
stroll, turning round the splendid display of silks with an enraptured
air.
“If I were you I should buy the mantle ready-made,” said Madame
Desforges, suddenly returning to the Paris Paradise. “It won't cost
you so much.”
 “It's true that the trimmings and making-up——” murmured
Madame Marty. “Besides, one has more choice.”
All three had risen. Madame Desforges turned to Hutin, saying:
“Have the goodness to show us to the ready-made department.”
He remained dumbfoundered, not being used to such defeats.
What! the dark lady bought nothing! Had he then made a mistake?
He abandoned Madame Marty and attacked Madame Desforges,
trying his powerful abilities as salesman on her.
“And you, madame, would you not like to see our satins, our
velvets? We have some extraordinary bargains.”
“Thanks, another time,” replied she coolly, not looking at him any
more than she had at Mignot.
Hutin had to take up Madame Marty's purchases and walk before
the ladies to show them to the ready-made department But he had
also the grief of seeing that Robineau was selling Madame Boutarel a
good quantity of silk. Decidedly his scent was playing him false, he
wouldn't make four sous. Beneath the amiable correctness of his
manners there was the rage of a man being robbed and swallowed
up by the others.
“On the first floor, ladies,” said he, without ceasing to smile.
It was no easy matter to get to the staircase. A compact crowd of
heads was surging under the galleries, expanding like an overflowing
river into the middle of the hall. Quite a battle of business was going
on, the salesmen had this population of women at their mercy,
passing them from one to the other with feverish haste. The
moment of the formidable afternoon rush had arrived, when the
over-heated machine led the dance of customers, drawing the
money from their very flesh. In the silk department especially a
breath of folly seemed to pervade all, the Paris Paradise collected
such a crowd that for several minutes Hutin could not advance a
step; and Henriette, half-suffocated, having raised her eyes, beheld
Mouret at the top of the stairs, his favourite position, from which he
could see the victory. She smiled, hoping that he would come down
and extricate her. But he did not even recognise her in the crowd; he
was still with Vallagnosc, showing him the house, his face beaming
with triumph.
The trepidation within was now stifling all outside noise; one no
longer heard the rumbling of the vehicles, nor the banging of the
carriage-doors; nothing remained above the vast murmur of
business but the sentiment of this enormous Paris, of such
immensity that it would always furnish buyers. In the heavy still air,
in which the fumes of the heating apparatus warmed the odour of
the stuffs, the hubbub increased, made up of all sorts of noises, of
the continual walking about, of the same phrases, a hundred times
repeated around the counters, of the gold jingling on the brass of
the pay-desks, besieged by a legion of purses, and of the baskets on
wheels loaded with parcels which were constantly disappearing into
the gaping cellars. And, amidst the fine dust, everything finished by
getting mixed up, it became impossible to recognise the divisions of
the different departments; the haberdashery department over there
seemed drowned; further on, in the linen department, a ray of
sunshine, entering by the window in the Rue Neuve-Saint-Augustin,
was like a golden dart in a heap of snow; close by, in the glove and
woollen departments, a dense mass of bonnets and chignons hid the
background of the shop from view. The toilettes were no longer
visible, the head-dresses alone appeared, decked with feathers and
ribbons.
A few men's hats introduced here and there a black spot, whilst
the women's pale complexions assumed in the fatigue and heat the
transparencies of the camellia. At last, Hutin—thanks to his vigorous
elbows—was able to open a way for the ladies, by keeping in front
of them. But on ascending the stairs, Henriette could not find
Mouret, who had just plunged Vallagnosc right into the crowd to
complete his bewilderment, himself feeling the physical want of a dip
into this bath of success. He lost his breath deliciously, he felt
against his limbs a sort of caress from all his customers.
 “To the left, ladies,” said Hutin, still attentive, notwithstanding his
increasing exasperation.
Up above there was the same block. It invaded even the
furnishing department, usually the quietest. The shawl, the fur, and
the under-clothing departments swarmed with people. As the ladies
were crossing the lace department another meeting took place.
Madame de Boves was there with her daughter Blanche, both buried
in the articles Deloche was showing them. And Hutin had to make
another halt, bundle in hand.
“Good afternoon! I was just thinking of you.”
“I've been looking for you myself. But how can you expect to find
any one in this crowd?”
“It's magnificent, isn't it?”
“Dazzling, my dear. We can hardly stand.”
“And you're buying?”
“Oh! no, we're only looking round. It rests us a little to be seated.”
As a fact, Madame de Boves, scarcely possessing more than her
cab-fare in her purse, was having all sorts of laces handed down,
simply for the pleasure of seeing and handling them. She had
guessed Deloche to be a new salesman, slow and awkward, who
dared not resist the customers' whims; and she took advantage of
his bewildered good-nature, and kept him there half an hour, still
asking for fresh articles. The counter was covered, she dived her
hands into this increasing mountain of lace, Malines, Valenciennes,
and Chantilly, her fingers trembling with desire, her face gradually
warming with a sensual joy; whilst Blanche, close to her, agitated by
the same passion, was very pale, her flesh inflated and soft. The
conversation continued; Hutin, standing there waiting their good
pleasure, could have slapped their faces.
“Ah!” said Madame Marty, “you're looking at some cravats and
handkerchiefs like those I showed you the other day.”
 It was true, Madame de Boves, tormented by Madame Marty's
lace since the previous Saturday, had been unable to resist the
desire to at least handle some like it, as the allowance her husband
made her did not permit her to carry any away. She blushed slightly,
explaining that Blanche wanted to see the Spanish-blonde cravats.
Then she added: “You're going to the ready-made department—
Well! we'll see you again. Shall we say in the oriental saloon?”
“That's it, in the oriental saloon—Superb, isn't it?”
And they separated enraptured, amidst the obstruction produced
by the sale of the insertions and small trimmings at low prices.
Deloche, glad to be occupied, recommenced emptying the boxes
before the mother and daughter. And amidst the groups pressed
along the counters, Jouve, the inspector, was slowly walking about
with his military air, displaying his decoration, watching over these
fine and precious goods, so easy to conceal up a sleeve. When he
passed behind Madame de Boves, surprised to see her with her arms
plunged in such a heap of lace he cast a quick glance at her feverish
hands.
“To the right, ladies,” said Hutin, resuming his march.
He was beside himself with rage. Was it not enough that he had
missed a sale down below? Now they kept him waiting at each
turning of the shop! And in his annoyance there was a strong feeling
of the rancour existing between the textile departments and the
ready-made departments, which were in continual hostility, fighting
over the customers, stealing each other's percentage and
commission. Those of the silk department were more enraged than
those of the woollen, whenever they were obliged to show a lady to
where the ready-made articles were kept, when she decided to take
a mantle after looking at various sorts of silk.
“Mademoiselle Vadon!” said Hutin, in an angry voice, when he at
last arrived in the department.
But she passed by without listening, absorbed in a sale which she
was conducting. The room was full, a stream of people were
crossing it, coming in by the door of the lace department and going
out by the door of the under-clothing department, whilst to the right
customers were trying on garments, and posing before the glasses.
The red carpet stifled the noise of the footsteps, the distant roar
from the ground-floor died away, giving place to a discreet murmur,
a drawing-room warmth deadened by the crowd of women.
“Mademoiselle Prunaire!” cried out Hutin. And as she took no
notice either, he added between his teeth, so as not to be heard: “A
set of frights!”
He certainly was not fond of them, tired to death as he was by
climbing the stairs to bring them customers, furious at the profits
which he accused them of taking out of his pocket It was a secret
war, in which the young ladies themselves entered with equal
fierceness; and in their mutual fatigue, always on foot, worked to
death, all difference of sex disappeared, nothing remained but these
contrary interests, irritated by the fever of business.
“So there's no one here to serve?” asked Hutin.
But he suddenly caught sight of Denise. They had kept her folding
all the morning, only giving her a few doubtful customers to whom
she had not sold anything. When he recognised her, occupied in
clearing off the counter an enormous heap of garments, he ran up
to her.
“Look here, mademoiselle! serve these ladies who are waiting.”
And he quickly slipped Madame Marty's purchases into her arms,
tired of carrying them about the place. His smile returned, and in
this smile there was the ill-natured expression of the experienced
salesman, who shrewdly guessed into what an awkward position he
had just thrown both the ladies and the young girl. The latter,
however, remained quite troubled before this unhoped-for sale which
suddenly presented itself. For the second time Hutin appeared to her
like an unknown friend, fraternal and tender, always ready to spring
out of darkness and save her. Her eyes glistened with gratitude; she
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