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discovered by trickery。〃
Was the comedy of the 〃Fille mal Gardee〃 being played here；as it is
everywhere and forever；under the noses of these faithful spies；
these honest Bartholos； these Pyrenean hounds； without their being
able to ferret out； detect； nor even surmise the lover； the love…
affair； or the smoke of the fire？ At any rate it was certainly not the
result of a struggle between the jailers and the prisoner； between the
despotism of a dungeon and the liberty of a victim；it was simply the
never…ending repetition of the first scene played by man when the
curtain of the Creation rose； it was Eve in Paradise。
And now； which of the two； the mother or the watch…dog； had the right
of it？
None of the persons who were about Modeste could understand that
maiden heartfor the soul and the face we have described were in
harmony。 The girl had transported her existence into another world； as
much denied and disbelieved in in these days of ours as the new world
of Christopher Columbus in the sixteenth century。 Happily； she kept
her own counsel； or they would have thought her crazy。 But first we
must explain the influence of the past upon her nature。
Two events had formed the soul and developed the mind of this young
girl。 Monsieur and Madame Mignon； warned by the fate that overtook
Bettina； had resolved； just before the failure； to marry Modeste。 They
chose the son of a rich banker； formerly of Hamburg； but established
in Havre since 1815；a man； moreover； who was under obligations to
them。 The young man； whose name was Francois Althor； the dandy of
Havre； blessed with a certain vulgar beauty in which the middle
classes delight； well…made； well…fleshed； and with a fine complexion；
abandoned his betrothed so hastily on the day of her father's failure
that neither Modeste nor her mother nor either of the Dumays had seen
him since。 Latournelle ventured a question on the subject to Jacob
Althor； the father； but he only shrugged his shoulders and replied； 〃I
really don't know what you mean。〃
This answer； told to Modeste to give her some experience of life； was
a lesson which she learned all the more readily because Latournelle
and Dumay made many and long comments on the cowardly desertion。 The
daughters of Charles Mignon； like spoiled children； had all their
wishes gratified； they rode on horseback； kept their own horses and
grooms； and otherwise enjoyed a perilous liberty。 Seeing herself in
possession of an official lover； Modeste had allowed Francisque to
kiss her hand； and take her by the waist to mount her。 She accepted
his flowers and all the little proofs of tenderness with which it is
proper to surround the lady of our choice； she even worked him a
purse； believing in such ties；strong indeed to noble souls； but
cobwebs for the Gobenheims； the Vilquins； and the Althors。
Some time during the spring which followed the removal of Madame
Mignon and her daughter to the Chalet； Francisque Althor came to dine
with the Vilquins。 Happening to see Modeste over the wall at the foot
of the lawn； he turned away his head。 Six weeks later he married the
eldest Mademoiselle Vilquin。 In this way Modeste； young； beautiful；
and of high birth； learned the lesson that for three whole months of
her engagement she had been nothing more than Mademoiselle Million。
Her poverty； well known to all； became a sentinel defending the
approaches to the Chalet fully as well as the prudence of the
Latournelles or the vigilance of Dumay。 The talk of the town ran for a
time on Mademoiselle Mignon's position only to insult her。
〃Poor girl！ what will become of her？an old maid； of course。〃
〃What a fate！ to have had the world at her feet； to have had the
chance to marry Francisque Althor；and now； nobody willing to take
her！〃
〃After a life of luxury； to come down to such poverty〃
And these insults were not uttered in secret or left to Modeste's
imagination； she heard them spoken more than once by the young men and
the young women of Havre as they walked to Ingouville； and； knowing
that Madame Mignon and her daughter lived at the Chalet； talked of
them as they passed the house。 Friends of the Vilquins expressed
surprise that the mother and daughter were willing to live on among
the scenes of their former splendor。 From her open window behind the
closed blinds Modeste sometimes heard such insolence as this：
〃I am sure I can't think how they can live there；〃 some one would say
as he paced the villa lawn；perhaps to assist Vilquin in getting rid
of his tenant。
〃What do you suppose they live on？ they haven't any means of earning
money。〃
〃I am told the old woman has gone blind。〃
〃Is Mademoiselle Mignon still pretty？ Dear me； how dashing she used to
be！ Well； she hasn't any horses now。〃
Most young girls on hearing these spiteful and silly speeches； born of
an envy that now rushed； peevish and drivelling； to avenge the past；
would have felt the blood mount to their foreheads； others would have
wept； some would have undergone spasms of anger； but Modeste smiled；
as we smile at the theatre while watching the actors。 Her pride could
not descend so low as the level of such speeches。
The other event was more serious than these mercenary meannesses。
Bettina Caroline died in the arms of her younger sister； who had
nursed her with the devotion of girlhood； and the curiosity of an
untainted imagination。 In the silence of long nights the sisters
exchanged many a confidence。 With what dramatic interest was poor
Bettina invested in the eyes of the innocent Modeste？ Bettina knew
love through sorrow only； and she was dying of it。 Among young girls
every man； scoundrel though he be； is still a lover。 Passion is the
one thing absolutely real in the things of life； and it insists on its
supremacy。 Charles d'Estourny； gambler； criminal； and debauchee；
remained in the memory of the sisters； the elegant Parisian of the
fetes of Havre； the admired of the womenkind。 Bettina believed she had
carried him off from the coquettish Madame Vilquin； and to Modeste he
was her sister's happy lover。 Such adoration in young girls is
stronger than all social condemnations。 To Bettina's thinking； justice
had been deceived； if not； how could it have sentenced a man who had
loved her for six months？loved her to distraction in the hidden
retreat to which he had taken her；that he might； we may add； be at
liberty to go his own way。 Thus the dying girl inoculated her sister
with love。 Together they talked of the great drama which imagination
enhances； and Bettina carried with her to the grave her sister's
ignorance； leaving her； if not informed； at least thirsting for
information。
Nevertheless； remorse had set its fangs too sharply in Bettina's heart
not to force her to warn her sister。 In the midst of her own
confessions she had preached duty and implicit obedience to Modeste。
On the evening of her death she implored her to remember the tear