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By this time Adrienne had little to dispose of； except the lace。 This
exquisite piece of human ingenuity had originally cost five louis d'or； and
Adrienne had once shown it to her employer； who had generously
offered to give two napoleons for it。 But the lace must be kept for my
gala dress； and it was hoped that it would bring at least its original cost
when properly bestowed as an ornament on a fabric of my quality。
There was the silver thimble； and that had cost five francs。 Adrienne
sent for the porter's daughter； and she went forth to dispose of this；
almost the only article of luxury that remained to her。
｛louis d'or = gold coin worth 20 francs｝
〃Un de； ma bonne demoiselle！〃 exclaimed the woman to whom the
thimble was offered for sale； this is so common an article as scarcely to
command any price。 I will give thirty sous； notwithstanding。〃
｛Un de。。。。 = A thimble； young lady！｝
Adrienne had made her calculations； as she fancied； with some attention
to the ways of the world。 Bitter experience was teaching her severe
lessons； and she felt the necessity of paying more attention than had
been her wont to the practices of men。 She had hoped to receive three
francs for her thimble； which was quite new； and which； being pretty；
was cheap at five； as sold in the shops。 She ventured； therefore； to
express as much to the woman in question。
〃Three francs； Mademoiselle！〃 exclaimed the other〃Jamais； since the
three days！ All our commerce was then destroyed； and no one would
think of giving such a price。 If I get three for it myself I shall be too
happy。 Cependant； as the thimble is pretty； and the metal looks good；
we will say five and thirty sous； and have no more words about it。〃
｛Jamais = never； three days = the three days of the July Revolution；
Cependant = nevertheless｝
Adrienne sighed； and then she received the money and returned home。
Two hours later the woman of the shop met with an idle customer who
had more money than discretion； and she sold this very thimble for six
francs； under the plea that it was a new fashion that had sprung out of
the Revolution of July。 That illustrious event； however； produced other
results that were quite as hard to be reduced to the known connection
between cause and effect as this。
Adrienne found that by using the wine which still remained； as well as
some sugar and arrowroot； her grandmother could be made
comfortable for just ten sous a day。 She had been able to save of her
own wages three； and here； then； were the means of maintaining
Madame de la Rocheaimard； including the franc on hand； for just a
week longer。 To do this； however； some little extra economy would be
necessary。 Adrienne had conscientiously taken the time used to sell the
thimble from her morning's work on me。 As she sat down； on her
return； she went over these calculations in her mind； and when they
were ended； she cast a look at her work； as if to calculate its duration
by what she had so far finished。 Her eye assured her that not more than
one fourth of her labor was； as yet； completed。 Could she get over the
next six weeks； however； she would be comparatively rich； and； as her
lease would be out in two months； she determined to get cheaper
lodgings in the country； remove her grandmother； purchase another
handkerchiefif possible one of my familyand while she lived on the
fruits of her present labors； to earn the means for a still more remote
day。 It is true； she had no more lace with which to decorate another
handkerchief； but the sale of this would supply the money to purchase
anew； and in this way the simple minded girl saw no reason why she
might not continue on as long as health and strength would allowat
least as long as her grandmother lived。
Hope is as blessed a provision for the poor and unhappy as occupation。
While oppressed with present ills they struggle to obtain a fancied
existence under happier auspices； furnishing a healthful and important
lesson to man； that never ceases to remind him of a future that is to
repair every wrong； apply a balm to every wound； if he will only make a
timely provision for its wants。
Again did Adrienne resume her customary round of duties。 Four hours
each morning were devoted to me。 Then followed the frugal breakfast；
when her commoner toil for the milliner succeeded。 The rest of the day
was occupied with this latter work； for which she received the
customary fifteen sous。 When she retired at night； which the ailings and
complaints of her grandmother seldom permitted before eleven； it was
with a sense of weariness that began to destroy sleep； still the dear girl
thought herself happy； for I more than equaled her expectations； and
she had latterly worked on me with so much zeal as to have literally
thrown the fruits of two weeks' work into one。
But the few francs Adrienne possessed diminished with alarming
rapidity。 She began to calculate her ways and means once more； and
this was no longer done as readily as before。 Her own wardrobe would
not bear any drain upon it。 Early in the indisposition of her grandmother；
all of THAT had been sold which she could spare； for； with the
disinterestedness of her nature； when sacrifices became necessary her
first thoughts were of her own little stock of clothes。 Of jewelry she
never had been the mistress of much； though the vicomtesse had
managed to save a few relics of her own ancient magnificence。
Nevertheless； they were articles of but little value； the days of her exile
having made many demands on all such resources。
It happened； one evening when Adrienne was receiving her wages from
the milliner； that the poor girl overheard a discourse that proved she
was not paid at the rate at which others were remunerated。 Her eyes
told her that her own work was the neatest in the shop； and she also
saw that she did more than any other girl employed by the same person。
As she knew her own expertness with the needle； this did not surprise
her； but she felt some wonder that more and better work should
produce the least reward。 Little did she understand the artifices of the
selfish and calculating； one of the most familiar of their frauds being to
conceal from the skillful their own success； lest it should command a
price in proportion to its claims。 The milliner heard Adrienne's lady…like
and gentle remonstrance with alarm； and she felt that she was in danger
of losing a prize。 But two expedients suggested themselves； to offer a
higher price； or to undervalue the services she was so fearful of losing。
Her practiced policy； as well as her selfishness； counseled her to try the
latter expedient first。
〃You amaze me； mademoiselle；〃 she answered； when Adrienne；
trembling at her own resolution； ceased speaking。 〃I was thinking myself
whether I could afford to pay you fifteen sous； when so many young
women who have been regularly brought up to the business are willing
to work for less。 I am afraid we must part； unless you can consent to
receive twelve sous in future。〃
Adrienne stood aghast。 The very mirror of truth herself； she could not
imagine that any oneleast of all any womancould be so false and
cruel as to practice the