autobiography of a pocket-handkerchief-第13章

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that　ornamented　me　had　wasted；　and　when　I　looked　up　to　catch　the
smile　of　approbation；　it　was　found　to　be　care　worn　and　melancholy。　Still
the　birds　did　not　sing　the　less　sweetly；　for　Paris　is　full　of　birds；　the　roses
were　as　fragrant；　and　the　verdure　was　as　deep　as　ever。　Nature　does　not
stop　to　lament　over　any　single　victim　of　human　society。　When　misery　is
the　deepest；　there　is　something　awful　in　this　perpetual　and　smiling　round
of　natural　movements。　It　teaches　profoundly　the　insignificance　of　the
atoms　of　creation。

｛rez　de　chaussee　　ground　floor｝

Adrienne　had　risen　earlier　than　common；　even；　this　morning；　determined
to　get　through　with　her　task　by　noon；　for　she　was　actually　sewing　on　the
lace；　and　her　impatience　would　not　permit　her　to　resume　the　work　of
the　milliner　that　day；　at　least。　For　the　last　month　she　had　literally　lived　on
dry　bread　herself；　at　first　with　a　few　grapes　to　give　her　appetite　a　little
gratification；　but　toward　the　last；　on　nothing　but　bread　and　water。　She
had　not　suffered　so　much　from　a　want　of　food；　however；　as　from　a　want
of　air　and　exercise；　from　unremitting；　wasting　toil　at　a　sedentary
occupation；　from　hope　deferred　and　from　sleepless　nights。　Then　she
wanted　the　cheering　association　of　sympathy。　She　was　strictly　alone；
with　the　exception　of　her　short　interviews　with　the　milliner；　she
conversed　with　no　one。　Her　grandmother　slept　most　of　the　time；　and
when　she　did　speak；　it　was　with　the　querulousness　of　disease；　and　not　in
the　tones　of　affection。　This　was　hardest　of　all　to　bear；　but　Adrienne　did
bear　up　under　all；　flattering　herself　that　when　she　could　remove　Mad。　de
la　Rocheaimard　into　the　country；　her　grandmother　would　revive　and
become　as　fond　of　her　as　ever。　She　toiled　on；　therefore；　though　she
could　not　altogether　suppress　her　tears。　Under　her　painful　and　pressing
circumstances；　the　poor　girl　felt　her　deepest　affliction　to　be　that　she　had
not　time　to　pray。　Her　work；　now　that　she　had　nothing　to　expect　from
the　milliner；　could　not　be　laid　aside　for　a　moment；　though　her　soul　did
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　t