按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
pour out its longings as she sat plying her needle。
Fortunately； Madame de la Rocheaimard was easy and tranquil the
whole of the last morning。 Although nearly exhausted by her toil and the
want of food； for Adrienne had eaten her last morsel； half a roll； at
breakfast； she continued to toil； but the work was nearly done； and the
dear girl's needle fairly flew。 Of a sudden she dropped me in her lap and
burst into a flood of tears。 Her sobs were hysterical； and I felt afraid she
would faint。 A glass of water； however； restored her； and then this
outpouring of an exhausted nature was suppressed。 I was completed！
At that instant； if not the richest； I was probably the neatest and most
tasteful handkerchief in Paris。 At this critical moment； Desiree； the
commissionaire； entered the room。
》From the moment that Adrienne had purchased me； this artful woman
had never lost sight of the intended victim。 By means of an occasional
bribe to little Nathalie； she ascertained the precise progress of the work；
and learning that I should probably be ready for sale that very morning；
under the pretence of hiring the apartment； she was shown into my
important presence。 A brief apology explained all； and Adrienne civilly
showed her little rooms。
〃When does your lease end； mademoiselle？〃 demanded Desiree；
carelessly。
〃Next week； madame。 I intend to remove to the country with my
grandmother the beginning of the week。〃
〃You will do very right； no one that has the means should stay in Paris
after June。 Dieu！ What a beautiful handkerchief！ Surelysurelythis is
not your work； mademoiselle？〃
Adrienne simply answered in the affirmative； and then the
commissionaire's admiration was redoubled。 Glancing her eye round the
room； as if to ascertain the probabilities； the woman inquired if the
handkerchief was ordered。 Adrienne blushed； but shaking off the
transient feeling of shame； she stated that it was for sale。
〃I know a lady who would buy thisa marchande de mode； a friend of
mine； who gives the highest prices that are ever paid for such articles
for to tell you the truth certain Russian princesses employ her in all these
little matters。 Have you thought of your price； mademoiselle？〃
Adrienne's bloom had actually returned； with this unexpected gleam of
hope； for the affair of disposing of me had always appeared awful in her
imagination。 She owned the truth frankly； and said that she had not
made herself acquainted with the prices of such things； except as she
had understood what affluent ladies paid for them。
〃Ah！ that is a different matter；〃 said Desiree； coldly。 〃These ladies pay
far more than a thing is worth。 Now you paid ten francs for the
handkerchief itself。〃
〃Twenty…eight；〃 answered Adrienne； trembling。
〃Twenty…eight！ mademoiselle； they deceived you shamefully。 Ten would
have been dear in the present absence of strangers from Paris。 No； call
THAT ten。 This lace would probably bring a napoleonyes； I think it
might bring a napoleon。〃
Adrienne's heart sunk within her。 She had supposed it to be worth at
least five times as much。
〃That makes thirty francs；〃 continued Desiree coldly； 〃and now for the
work。 You must have been a fortnight doing all this pretty work。〃
〃Two months； madame；〃 said Adrienne； faintly。
〃Two months！ Ah！ you are not accustomed to this sort of work and are
not adroit； perhaps。〃
〃I worked only in the mornings and late at night； but still think I worked
full hours。〃
〃Yes； you worked when sleepy。 Call it a month； then。 Thirty days at ten
sous a day make fifteen francs。 Ten for the handkerchief； twenty for the
lace； and fifteen for the work； make forty…five francsparole d'honneur；
it does come to a pretty price for a handkerchief。 Si； we must ask forty…
five francs for it； and then we can always abate the five francs； and take
two napoleons。〃
｛parole d'honneur = word of honor； upon my word！｝
Adrienne felt sick at heart。 Want of nourishment had lessened her
energies； and here came a blow to all her golden visions that was near
overcoming her。 She knew that handkerchiefs similar to this frequently
sold for twenty napoleons in the shops； but she did not know how much
the cupidity of trade extracted from the silly and vain in the way of sheer
contributions to avarice。 It is probable the unfortunate young lady would
have lost her consciousness； under the weight of this blow； had it not
been for the sound of her grandmother's feeble voice calling her to the
bedside。 This was a summons that Adrienne never disregarded； and； for
the moment； she forgot her causes of grief。
〃My poor Adrienne；〃 whispered Madame de la Rocheaimard in a tone
of tenderness that her granddaughter had not heard for some weeks；
〃my poor Adrienne； the hour is near when we must part〃
〃Grand…mamma！dearest grand…mamma！〃
〃Nay； love； God wills it。 I am old； and I feel death upon me。 It is happy
that he comes so gently； and when I am so well prepared to meet him。
The grave has views； that no other scene offers； Adrienne！ Noble blood
and ancient renown are as nothing compared to God's mercy and
forgiveness。 Pardon me if I have ever taught thy simple heart to dwell on
vanities； but it was a fault of the age。 This world is all vanity； and I can
now see it when it is too late。 Do not let MY fault be THY fault； child of
my love。 Kiss me； Adrienne； pray for my soul when all is over。〃
〃Yes； dearest； dearest grand…mamma； thou know'st I will。〃
〃Thou must part with the rest of the trousseau to make thyself
comfortable when I am gone。〃
〃I will do as thou wishest； dearest grand…mamma。〃
〃Perhaps it will raise enough to purchase thee four or five hundred
francs of rentes； on which thou may'st live with frugality。〃
｛rentes = annuity； yearly income｝
〃Perhaps it will； grand…mamma。〃
〃Thou wilt not sell the thimbleTHAT thou wilt keep to remember me。〃
Adrienne bowed her head and groaned。 Then her grandmother desired
her to send for a priest； and her thoughts took another direction。 It was
fortunate they did； for the spirit of the girl could not have endured more。
That night Madame de la Rocheaimard died； the wife of the porter； the
bon cure； and Adrienne alone being present。 Her last words were a
benediction on the fair and gentle being who had so faithfully and
tenderly nursed her in old age。 When all was over； and the body was
laid out； Adrienne asked to be left alone with it。 Living or dead； her
grandmother could never be an object of dread to her； and there were
few disposed to watch。 In the course of the night； Adrienne even caught
a little sleep； a tribute that nature imperiously demanded of her
weakness。
｛bon cure = worthy parish priest｝
The following day was one of anguish and embarrassment。 The
physician； who always inspects the dead in France； came to make his
report。 The arrangements were to be ordered for the funeral。
Fortunately； as Adrienne then thought； Desiree appeared in the course
of the morning； as one who came in consequence of having been
present at so much of the scene of the preceding day。 In her character
of a commissionaire she offered her services； and Adrienne；
unaccustomed to act for herself in such