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friendship even dearer to me。 And I shall have it； shall I not。 Oh； do
not refuse it meI am so much in want of a friend！〃
〃You； lady？ you in want of the friendship of a poor creature like me？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Adrienne； as she gazed on the other with an expression of
intense grief； 〃nay； more； you are perhaps the only person； to whom I
could venture to confide my bitter sorrows。〃 So saying； Mdlle。 de
Cardoville colored deeply。
〃And how do I deserve such marks of confidence？〃 asked Mother Bunch； more
and more surprised。
〃You deserve it by the delicacy of your heart； by the steadiness of your
character；〃 answered Adrienne； with some hesitation； 〃thenyou are a
womanand I am certain you will understand what I suffer； and pity me。〃
〃Pity you； lady？〃 said the other； whose astonishment continued to
increase。 〃You； a great lady； and so much enviedI； so humble and
despised； pity you？〃
〃Tell me； my poor friend；〃 resumed Adrienne； after some moments of
silence； 〃are not the worst griefs those which we dare not avow to any
one； for fear of raillery and contempt？ How can we venture to ask
interest or pity； for sufferings that we hardly dare avow to ourselves；
because they make us blush？〃
The sewing…girl could hardly believe what she heard。 Had her
benefactress felt； like her； the effects of an unfortunate passion； she
could not have held any other language。 But the sempstress could not
admit such a supposition； so； attributing to some other cause the sorrows
of Adrienne； she answered mournfully； whilst she thought of her own fatal
love for Agricola； 〃Oh！ yes； lady。 A secret grief； of which we are
ashamed； must be frightfulvery frightful！〃
〃But then what happiness to meet； not only a heart noble enough to
inspire complete confidence； but one which has itself been tried by a
thousand sorrows； and is capable of affording you pity； support and
counsel！Tell me； my dear child；〃 added Mdlle。 de Cardoville； as she
looked attentively at Mother Bunch； 〃if you were weighed down by one of
those sorrows； at which one blushes； would you not be happy； very happy；
to find a kindred soul； to whom you might entrust your griefs； and half
relieve them by entire and merited confidence？〃
For the first time in her life； Mother Bunch regarded Mdlle。 de
Cardoville with a feeling of suspicion and sadness。
The last words of the young lady seemed to her full of meaning
〃Doubtless； she knows my secret；〃 said Mother Bunch to herself；
〃doubtless； my journal has fallen into her hands。She knows my love for
Agricola； or at least suspects it。 What she has been saying to me is
intended to provoke my confidence； and to assure herself if she has been
rightly informed。〃
These thoughts excited in the workgirl's mind no bitter or ungrateful
feeling towards her benefactress； but the heart of the unfortunate girl
was so delicately susceptible on the subject of her fatal passion； that；
in spite of her deep and tender affection for Mdlle。 de Cardoville； she
suffered cruelly at the thought of Adrienne's being mistress of her
secret。
CHAPTER XXXIV。
MORE CONFESSIONS。
The fancy； at first so painful； that Mdlle。 de Cardoville was informed of
her love for Agricola was soon exchanged in the hunchbacks heart； thanks
to the generous instincts of that rare and excellent creature； for a
touching regret； which showed all her attachment and veneration for
Adrienne。
〃Perhaps；〃 said Mother Bunch to herself； 〃conquered by the influence of
the adorable kindness of my protectress； I might have made to her a
confession which I could make to none other； and revealed a secret which
I thought to carry with me to my grave。 It would； at least； have been a
mark of gratitude to Mdlle。 de Cardoville； but； unfortunately； I am now
deprived of the sad comfort of confiding my only secret to my
benefactress。 And thenhowever generous may be her pity for me； however
intelligent her affection； she cannotshe； that is so fair and so much
admiredshe cannot understand how frightful is the position of a
creature like myself； hiding in the depth of a wounded heart； a love at
once hopeless and ridiculous。 No； noin spite of the delicacy of her
attachment； my benefactress must unconsciously hurt my feelings； even
whilst she pities mefor only sympathetic sorrows can console each
other。 Alas！ why did she not leave me to die？〃
These reflections presented themselves to the thinker's mind as rapidly
as thought could travel。 Adrienne observed her attentively； she remarked
that the sewing…girl's countenance； which had lately brightened up； was
again clouded； and expressed a feeling of painful humiliation。 Terrified
at this relapse into gloomy dejection； the consequences of which might be
serious； for Mother Bunch was still very weak； and； as it were； hovering
on the brink of the grave； Mdlle。 de Cardoville resumed hastily： 〃My
friend； do not you think with me； that the most cruel and humiliating
grief admits of consolation； when it can be entrusted to a faithful and
devoted heart？〃
〃Yes； lady；〃 said the young sempstress； bitterly； 〃but the heart which
suffers in silence； should be the only judge of the moment for making so
painful a confession。 Until then； it would perhaps be more humane to
respect its fatal secret； even if one had by chance discovered it。〃
〃You are right； my child；〃 said Adrienne； sorrowfully； 〃if I choose this
solemn moment to entrust you with a very painful secret； it is that； when
you have heard me； I am sure you will set more value on your life； as
knowing how much I need your tenderness； consolation； and pity。〃
At these words； the other half raised herself on the mattress； and looked
at Mdlle。 de Cardoville in amazement。 She could scarcely believe what
she heard； far from designing to intrude upon her confidence； it was her
protectress who was to make the painful confession； and who came to
implore pity and consolation from her！
〃What！〃 stammered she； 〃you； lady！〃
〃I come to tell you that I suffer； and am ashamed of my sufferings。
Yes；〃 added the young lady； with a touching expression； 〃yesof all
confessions； I am about to make the most painfulI loveand I blush for
my love。〃
〃Like myself！〃 cried Mother Bunch； involuntarily； clasping her hands
together。
〃I love；〃 resumed Adrienne； with a long…pent…up grief； 〃I love； and am
not belovedand my love is miserable； is impossibleit consumes meit
kills meand I dare not confide to any one the fatal secret！〃
〃Like me；〃 repeated the other； with a fixed look。 〃Shea queen in
beauty； rank； wealth； intelligencesuffers like me。 Like me； poor
unfortunate creature！ she loves； and is not loved again。〃
〃Well； yes！ like you； I love and am not loved again；〃 cried Mdlle。 de
Cardoville； 〃was I wrong in saying； that to you alone I could confide my
secretbecause； having suffered the same pangs； you alone can pity
them？〃
〃Then； lady；〃 said Mother Bunch； casting down her eyes； and recovering
from her first amazement； 〃you knew〃
〃I knew all； my poor childbut never should I have mentioned your
secret； had I not had one to entrust you with； of a still more painful
nature。 Yours is cruel； but mine is humilia