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The bleaching grounds of our manufactory were in the old park of the
chateau。 Thither Mad。 de la Rocheaimard was fond of coming in the
fine mornings of June； for many of the roses and lovely Persian lilacs
that once abounded there still remained。 I first saw Adrienne in one of
these visits； the quality of our little family circle attracting her attention。
One of the bleachers； indeed； was an old servant of the vicomte's； and it
was a source of pleasure to him to point out any thing to the ladies that
he thought might prove interesting。 This was the man who so diligently
read the Moniteur； giving a religious credence to all it contained。 He
fancied no hand so worthy to hold fabrics of such exquisite fineness as
that of Mademoiselle Adrienne； and it was through his assiduity that I
had the honor of being first placed within the gentle pressure of her
beautiful little fingers。 This occurred about a month before our departure
for Paris。
Adrienne de la Rocheaimard was then just twenty。 Her beauty was of a
character that is not common in France； but which； when it does exist； is
nowhere surpassed。 She was slight and delicate in person； of fair hair
and complexion； and with the meekest and most dove…like blue eyes I
ever saw in a female face。 Her smile； too； was of so winning and gentle
a nature； as to announce a disposition pregnant with all the affections。
Still it was well understood that Adrienne was not likely to marry； her
birth raising her above all intentions of connecting her ancient name with
mere gold； while her poverty placed an almost insuperable barrier
between her and most of the impoverished young men of rank whom
she occasionally saw。 Even the power of the dauphine was not sufficient
to provide Adrienne de la Rocheaimard with a suitable husband。 But of
this the charming girl never thought； she lived more for her grandmother
than for herself； and so long as that venerated relative； almost the only
one that remained to her on earth； did not suffer or repine； she herself
could be comparatively happy。
〃Dans le bon vieux temps；〃 said the vicomtesse； examining me through
her spectacles； and addressing Georges； who stood； hat in hand； to
hearken to her wisdom； 〃dans le bon vieux temps； mon ami； the ladies
of the chateau did not want for these things。 There were six dozen in my
corbeille； that were almost as fine as this； as for the trousseau； I believe
it had twice the number； but very little inferior。〃
｛dans de bon vieux temps = in the good old days； corbeille = wedding
presents from a bridegroom； trousseau = wedding outfit｝
〃I remember that madame；〃 Georges always gave his old mistress this
title of honor； 〃kept many of the beautiful garments of her trousseau
untouched； down to the melancholy period of the revolution。〃
〃It has been a mine of wealth to me； Georges； in behalf of that dear
child。 You may remember that this trousseau was kept in the old
armoire； on the right hand side of the little door of my dressing…room〃
｛armoire = cupboard or closet ｝
〃Madame la Vicomtesse will have the goodness to pardon meit was
on the LEFT hand side of the roomMonsieur's medals were kept in
the opposite armoire。〃
〃Our good Georges is right； Adrienne！he has a memory！ Your
grandfather insisted on keeping his medals in my dressing…room； as he
says。 Well； Monsieur Georges； left or right； THERE I left the remains of
my trousseau when I fled from France； and there I found it untouched
on my return。 The manufactory had saved the chateau； and the
manufacturers had spared my wardrobe。 Its sale； and its materials； have
done much toward rendering that dear child respectable and well clad；
since our return。〃
I thought the slight color which usually adorned the fair oval cheeks of
Adrienne deepened a little at this remark； and I certainly felt a little
tremor in the hand which held me； but it could not have been shame； as
the sweet girl often alluded to her poverty in a way so simple and
natural； as to prove that she had no false feelings on that subject。 And
why should she？ Poverty ordinarily causes no such sensations to those
who are conscious of possessing advantages of an order superior to
wealth； and surely a well…educated； well…born； virtuous girl need not
have blushed because estates were torn from her parents by a political
convulsion that had overturned an ancient and powerful throne。
CHAPTER IV。
》From this time； the charming Adrienne frequently visited the bleaching
grounds； always accompanied by her grandmother。 The presence of
Georges was an excuse； but to watch the improvement in our
appearance was the reason。 Never before had Adrienne seen a fabric
as beautiful as our own； and； as I afterwards discovered； she was laying
by a few francs with the intention of purchasing the piece； and of
working and ornamenting the handkerchiefs； in order to present them to
her benefactress； the dauphine。 Mad。 de la Rocheaimard was pleased
with this project； it was becoming in a de la Rocheaimard； and they
soon began to speak of it openly in their visits。 Fifteen or twenty
napoleons might do it； and the remains of the recovered trousseau
would still produce that sum。 It is probable this intention would have
been carried out； but for a severe illness that attacked the dear girl；
during which her life was even despaired of。 I had the happiness of
hearing of her gradual recovery； however； before we commenced our
journey； though no more was said of the purchase。 Perhaps it was as
well。 as it was； for； by this time； such a feeling existed in our extreme
cote gauche； that it may be questioned if the handkerchiefs of that end
of the piece would have behaved themselves in the wardrobe of the
dauphine with the discretion and prudence that are expected from every
thing around the person of a princess of her exalted rank and excellent
character。 It is true； none of us understood the questions at issue； but
that only made the matter worse； the violence of all dissensions being
very generally in proportion to the ignorance and consequent confidence
of the disputants。
｛napoleon = French gold coin worth twenty francs｝
I could not but remember Adrienne； as the commissionaire laid us down
before the eyes of the wife of the head of the firm； in the rue de
。 We were carefully examined； and pronounced 〃parfaits；〃 still it was not
in the sweet tones； and with the sweeter smiles of the polished and
gentle girl we had left in Picardie。 There was a sentiment in HER
admiration that touched all our hearts； even to the most exaggerated
republican among us； for she seemed to go deeper in her examination of
merits than the mere texture and price。 She saw her offering in our
beauty； the benevolence of the dauphine in our softness； her own
gratitude in our exquisite fineness； and princely munificence in our
delicacy。 In a word； she could enter into the sentiment of a pocket…
handkerchief。 Alas！ how different was the estimation in which we were
held by Desiree and her employers。 With them； it was purely a question
of francs； and we had not been in the magazin five minutes； when there
was a lively dispute whether we were to be put at a certain number o