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unnatural restraints of a town； will best know how to appreciate。 Still it
was made without a murmur； though not without a sigh。
When Adrienne laid me on the frame where I was to be ornamented by
her own pretty hands； she regarded me with a look of delight； nay； even
of affection； that I shall never forget。 As yet she felt none of the malign
consequences of the self…denial she was about to exert。 If not blooming；
her cheeks still retained some of their native color； and her eye；
thoughtful and even sad； was not yet anxious and sunken。 She was
pleased with her purchase； and she contemplated prodigies in the way
of results。 Adrienne was unusually skillful with the needle； and her taste
had been so highly cultivated； as to make her a perfect mistress of all
the proprieties of patterns。 At the time it was thought of making an
offering of all our family to the dauphine； the idea of working the
handkerchiefs was entertained； and some designs of exquisite beauty
and neatness had been prepared。 They were not simple； vulgar；
unmeaning ornaments； such as the uncultivated seize upon with avidity
on account of their florid appearance； but well devised drawings； that
were replete with taste and thought； and afforded some apology for the
otherwise senseless luxury contemplated； by aiding in refining the
imagination； and cultivating the intellect。 She had chosen one of the
simplest and most beautiful of these designs； intending to transfer it to
my face； by means of the needle。
The first stitch was made just as the clocks were striking the hour of
five； on the morning of the fourteenth of April； 1831。 The last was
drawn that day two months； precisely as the same clocks struck twelve。
For four hours Adrienne sat bending over her toil； deeply engrossed in
the occupation； and flattering herself with the fruits of her success。 I
learned much of the excellent child's true character in these brief hours。
Her mind wandered over her hopes and fears； recurring to her other
labors； and the prices she received for occupations so wearying and
slavish。 By the milliner； she was paid merely as a common sewing…girl；
though her neatness； skill and taste might well have entitled her to
double wages。 A franc a day was the usual price for girls of an inferior
caste； and out of this they were expected to find their own lodgings and
food。 But the poor revolution had still a great deal of private misery to
answer for； in the way of reduced wages。 Those who live on the
frivolities of mankind； or； what is the same thing； their luxuries； have two
sets of victims to plunderthe consumer； and the real producer； or the
operative。 This is true where men are employed； but much truer in the
case of females。 The last are usually so helpless； that they often cling to
oppression and wrong； rather than submit to be cast entirely upon the
world。 The marchande de mode who employed Adrienne was as rusee
as a politician who had followed all the tergiversations of Gallic policy；
since the year '89。 She was fully aware of what a prize she possessed in
the unpracticed girl； and she felt the importance of keeping her in
ignorance of her own value。 By paying the franc； it might give her
assistant premature notions of her own importance； but； by bringing her
down to fifteen sous； humility could be inculcated； and the chance of
keeping her doubled。 This； which would have defeated a bargain with
any common couturiere； succeeded perfectly with Adrienne。 She
received her fifteen sous with humble thankfulness； in constant
apprehension of losing even that miserable pittance。 Nor would her
employer consent to let her work by the piece； at which the dear child
might have earned at least thirty sous； for she discovered that she had to
deal with a person of conscience； and that in no mode could as much be
possibly extracted from the assistant； as by confiding to her own honor。
At nine each day she was to breakfast。 At a quarter past nine； precisely；
to commence work for her employer； at one； she had a remission of half
an hour； and at six； she became her own mistress。
｛marchande de mode = milliner； rusee = crafty； couturiere =
seamstress｝
〃I put confidence in you； mademoiselle；〃 said the marchande de mode；
〃and leave you to yourself entirely。 You will bring home the work as it is
finished； and your money will be always ready。 Should your
grandmother occupy more of your time than common； on any occasion；
you can make it up of yourself； by working a little earlier； or a little later；
or； once in a while； you can throw in a day； to make up for lost time。
You would not do as well at piecework； and I wish to deal generously
by you。 When certain things are wanted in a hurry； you will not mind
working an hour or two beyond time； and I will always find lights with
the greatest pleasure。 Permit me to advise you to take the intermissions
as much as possible for your attentions to your grandmother； who must
be attended to properly。 Sithe care of our parents is one of our most
solemn duties！ Adieu； mademoiselle； au revoir！〃
｛find lights = supply candles； si = yes indeed｝
This was one of the speeches of the marchande de mode to Adrienne；
and the dear girl repeated it in her mind； as she sat at work on me；
without the slightest distrust of the heartless selfishness it so ill
concealed。 On fifteen sous she found she could live without encroaching
on the little stock set apart for the support of her grandmother； and she
was content。 Alas！ The poor girl had not entered into any calculation of
the expense of lodgings； of fuel； of clothes； of health impaired； and as
for any resources for illness or accidents； she was totally without them。
Still Adrienne thought herself the obliged party； in times as critical as
those which then hung over France； in being permitted to toil for a sum
that would barely supply a grisette； accustomed all her life to privations；
with the coarsest necessaries。
｛grisette = working…class girl｝
I have little to say of the succeeding fortnight。 Mad。 De la Rocheaimard
gradually grew feebler； but she might still live months。 No one could tell；
and Adrienne hoped she would never die。 Happily； her real wants were
few； though her appetite was capricious； and her temper querulous。
Love for her grandchild； however； shone in all she said and did； and so
long as she was loved by this； the only being on earth she had ever been
taught to love herself； Adrienne would not think an instant of the ills
caused by the infirmities of age。 She husbanded her money； with the
utmost frugality； and contrived to save even a few sous daily； out of her
own wages； to add to her grandmother's stock。 This she could not have
done； but for the circumstance of there being so much in the house of
their early stores； to help eke out the supplies of the moment。 But； at the
end of a fortnight； Adrienne found herself reduced to her last franc；
including all her own savings。 Something must be done； and that without
delay； or Madame de la Rocheaimard would be without the means of
support。
By this time Adrienne had little to dispose of； except the lace。 This
exquisite piece of human ingenuity had originally cost fiv