MATHIEU finished studying his great scheme, the clearing and cultivation1 of Chantebled, and at last, contrary to all prudence2 but with all the audacity4 of fervent5 faith and hope, it was resolved upon. He warned Beauchene one morning that he should leave the works at the end of the month, for on the previous day he had spoken to Seguin, and had found him quite willing to sell the little pavilion and some fifty acres around it on very easy terms. As Mathieu had imagined, Seguin's affairs were in a very muddled7 state, for he had lost large sums at the gaming table and spent money recklessly on women, leading indeed a most disastrous8 life since trouble had arisen in his home. And so he welcomed the transaction which Mathieu proposed to him, in the hope that the young man would end by ridding him of the whole of that unprofitable estate should his first experiment prove successful. Then came other interviews between them, and Seguin finally consented to sell on a system of annual payments, spread over a term of years, the first to be made in two years' time from that date. As things stood, the property seemed likely to remain unremunerative forever, and so there was nothing risked in allowing the purchaser a couple of years' credit. However, they agreed to meet once more and settle the final details before a formal deed of sale was drawn10 up. And one Monday morning, therefore, about ten o'clock, Mathieu set out for the house in the Avenue d'Antin in order to complete the business.
That morning, as it happened, Celeste the maid received in the linen11 room, where she usually remained, a visit from her friend Madame Menoux, the little haberdasher of the neighborhood, in whose tiny shop she was so fond of gossiping. They had become more intimate than ever since La Couteau, at Celeste's instigation, had taken Madame Menoux's child, Pierre, to Rougemont, to be put out to nurse there in the best possible way for the sum of thirty francs a month. La Couteau had also very complaisantly promised to call each month at one or another of her journeys in order to receive the thirty francs, thereby13 saving the mother the trouble of sending the money by post, and also enabling her to obtain fresh news of her child. Thus, each time a payment became due, if La Couteau's journey happened to be delayed a single day, Madame Menoux grew terribly frightened, and hastened off to Celeste to make inquiries14 of her. And, moreover, she was glad to have an opportunity of conversing15 with this girl, who came from the very part where her little Pierre was being reared.
"You will excuse, me, won't you, mademoiselle, for calling so early," said she, "but you told me that your lady never required you before nine o'clock. And I've come, you know, because I've had no news from over yonder, and it occurred to me that you perhaps might have received a letter."
Blonde, short and thin, Madame Menoux, who was the daughter of a poor clerk, had a slender pale face, and a pleasant, but somewhat sad, expression. From her own slightness of build probably sprang her passionate16 admiration17 for her big, handsome husband, who could have crushed her between his fingers. If she was slight, however, she was endowed with unconquerable tenacity18 and courage, and she would have killed herself with hard work to provide him with the coffee and cognac which he liked to sip12 after each repast.
"Ah! it's hard," she continued, "to have had to send our Pierre so far away. As it is, I don't see my husband all day, and now I've a child whom I never see at all. But the misfortune is that one has to live, and how could I have kept the little fellow in that tiny shop of mine, where from morning till night I never have a moment to spare! Yet, I can't help crying at the thought that I wasn't able to keep and nurse him. When my husband comes home from the museum every evening, we do nothing but talk about him, like a pair of fools. And so, according to you, mademoiselle, that place Rougemont is very healthy, and there are never any nasty illnesses about there?"
But at this moment she was interrupted by the arrival of another early visitor, whose advent19 she hailed with a cry of delight.
"Oh! how happy I am to see you, Madame Couteau! What a good idea it was of mine to call here!"
Amid exclamations20 of joyous21 surprise, the nurse-agent explained that she had arrived by the night train with a batch22 of nurses, and had started on her round of visits as soon as she had deposited them in the Rue23 Roquepine.
"After bidding Celeste good-day in passing," said she, "I intended to call on you, my dear lady. But since you are here, we can settle our accounts here, if you are agreeable."
Madame Menoux, however, was looking at her very anxiously. "And how is my little Pierre?" she asked.
"Why, not so bad, not so bad. He is not, you know, one of the strongest; one can't say that he's a big child. Only he's so pretty and nice-looking with his rather pale face. And it's quite certain that if there are bigger babies than he is, there are smaller ones too."
She spoke6 more slowly as she proceeded, and carefully sought words which might render the mother anxious, without driving her to despair. These were her usual tactics in order to disturb her customers' hearts, and then extract as much money from them as possible. On this occasion she must have guessed that she might carry things so far as to ascribe a slight illness to the child.
"However, I must really tell you, because I don't know how to lie; and besides, after all, it's my duty--Well, the poor little darling has been ill, and he's not quite well again yet."
Madame Menoux turned very pale and clasped her puny25 little hands: "_Mon Dieu_! he will die of it."
"No, no, since I tell you that he's already a little better. And certainly he doesn't lack good care. You should just see how La Loiseau coddles him! When children are well behaved they soon get themselves loved. And the whole house is at his service, and no expense is spared The doctor came twice, and there was even some medicine. And that costs money."
The last words fell from La Couteau's lips with the weight of a club. Then, without leaving the scared, trembling mother time to recover, the nurse-agent continued: "Shall we go into our accounts, my dear lady?"
Madame Menoux, who had intended to make a payment before returning to her shop, was delighted to have some money with her. They looked for a slip of paper on which to set down the figures; first the month's nursing, thirty francs; then the doctor, six francs; and indeed, with the medicine, that would make ten francs.
"Ah! and besides, I meant to tell you," added La Couteau, "that so much linen was dirtied during his illness that you really ought to add three francs for the soap. That would only be just; and besides, there were other little expenses, sugar, and eggs, so that in your place, to act like a good mother, I should put down five francs. Forty-five francs altogether, will that suit you?"
In spite of her emotion Madame Menoux felt that she was being robbed, that the other was speculating on her distress26. She made a gesture of surprise and revolt at the idea of having to give so much money--that money which she found so hard to earn. No end of cotton and needles had to be sold to get such a sum together! And her distress, between the necessity of economy on the one hand and her maternal27 anxiety on the other, would have touched the hardest heart.
"But that will make another half-month's money," said she.
At this La Couteau put on her most frigid28 air: "Well, what would you have? It isn't my fault. One can't let your child die, so one must incur29 the necessary expenses. And then, if you haven't confidence in me, say so; send the money and settle things direct. Indeed, that will greatly relieve me, for in all this I lose my time and trouble; but then, I'm always stupid enough to be too obliging."
When Madame Menoux, again quivering and anxious, had given way, another difficulty arose. She had only some gold with her, two twenty-franc pieces and one ten-franc piece. The three coins lay glittering on the table. La Couteau looked at them with her yellow fixed30 eyes.
"Well, I can't give you your five francs change," she said, "I haven't any change with me. And you, Celeste, have you any change for this lady?"
She risked asking this question, but put it in such a tone and with such a glance that the other immediately understood her. "I have not a copper31 in my pocket," she replied.
Deep silence fell. Then, with bleeding heart and a gesture of cruel resignation, Madame Menoux did what was expected of her.
"Keep those five francs for yourself, Madame Couteau, since you have to take so much trouble. And, _mon Dieu_! may all this money bring me good luck, and at least enable my poor little fellow to grow up a fine handsome man like his father."
"Oh! as for that I'll warrant it," cried the other, with enthusiasm. "Those little ailments32 don't mean anything--on the contrary. I see plenty of little folks, I do; and so just remember what I tell you, yours will become an extraordinarily33 fine child. There won't be better."
When Madame Menoux went off, La Couteau had lavished34 such flattery and such promises upon her that she felt quite light and gay; no longer regretting her money, but dreaming of the day when little Pierre would come back to her with plump cheeks and all the vigor35 of a young oak.
As soon as the door had closed behind the haberdasher, Celeste began to laugh in her impudent36 way: "What a lot of fibs you told her! I don't believe that her child so much as caught a cold," she exclaimed.
La Couteau began by assuming a dignified37 air: "Say that I'm a liar38 at once. The child isn't well, I assure you."
The maid's gayety only increased at this. "Well now, you are really comical, putting on such airs with me. I know you, remember, and I know what is meant when the tip of your nose begins to wriggle39."
"The child is quite puny," repeated her friend, more gently.
"Oh! I can believe that. All the same I should like to see the doctor's prescriptions40, and the soap and the sugar. But, you know, I don't care a button about the matter. As for that little Madame Menoux, it's here to-day and gone to-morrow. She has her business, and I have mine. And you, too, have yours, and so much the better if you get as much out of it as you can."
But La Couteau changed the conversation by asking the maid if she could not give her a drop of something to drink, for night travelling did upset her stomach so. Thereupon Celeste, with a laugh, took a bottle half-full of malaga and a box of biscuits from the bottom of a cupboard. This was her little secret store, stolen from the still-room. Then, as the other expressed a fear that her mistress might surprise them, she made a gesture of insolent41 contempt. Her mistress! Why, she had her nose in her basins and perfumery pots, and wasn't at all likely to call till she had fixed herself up so as to look pretty.
"There are only the children to fear," added Celeste; "that Gaston and that Lucie, a couple of brats42 who are always after one because their parents never trouble about them, but let them come and play here or in the kitchen from morning till night. And I don't dare lock this door, for fear they should come rapping and kicking at it."
When, by way of precaution, she had glanced down the passage and they had both seated themselves at table, they warmed and spoke out their minds, soon reaching a stage of easy impudence43 and saying everything as if quite unconscious how abominable44 it was. While sipping45 her wine Celeste asked for news of the village, and La Couteau spoke the brutal46 truth, between two biscuits. It was at the Vimeux' house that the servant's last child, born in La Rouche's den3, had died a fortnight after arriving at Rougemont, and the Vimeux, who were more or less her cousins, had sent her their friendly remembrances and the news that they were about to marry off their daughter. Then, at La Gavette's, the old grandfather, who looked after the nurslings while the family was at work in the fields, had fallen into the fire with a baby in his arms. Fortunately they had been pulled out of it, and only the little one had been roasted. La Cauchois, though at heart she wasn't downcast, now had some fears that she might be worried, because four little ones had gone off from her house all in a body, a window being forgetfully left open at night-time. They were all four little Parisians, it seemed--two foundlings and two that had come from Madame Bourdieu's. Since the beginning of the year as many had died at Rougemont as had arrived there, and the mayor had declared that far too many were dying, and that the village would end by getting a bad reputation. One thing was certain, La Couillard would be the very first to receive a visit from the gendarmes47 if she didn't so arrange matters as to keep at least one nursling alive every now and then.
"Ah? that Couillard!" added the nurse-agent. "Just fancy, my dear, I took her a child, a perfect little angel--the boy of a very pretty young person who was stopping at Madame Bourdieu's. She paid four hundred francs to have him brought up until his first communion, and he lived just five days! Really now, that wasn't long enough! La Couillard need not have been so hasty. It put me in such a temper! I asked her if she wanted to dishonor me. What will ruin me is my good heart. I don't know how to refuse when folks ask me to do them a service. And God in Heaven knows how fond I am of children! I've always lived among them, and in future, if anybody who's a friend of mine gives me a child to put out to nurse, I shall say: 'We won't take the little one to La Couillard, for it would be tempting48 Providence49. But after all, I'm an honest woman, and I wash my hands of it, for if I do take the cherubs50 over yonder I don't nurse them. And when one's conscience is at ease one can sleep quietly.'"
"Of course," chimed in Celeste, with an air of conviction.
While they thus waxed maudlin51 over their malaga, there arose a horrible red vision--a vision of that terrible Rougemont, paved with little Parisians, the filthy52, bloody53 village, the charnel-place of cowardly murder, whose steeple pointed54 so peacefully to the skies in the midst of the far-spreading plain.
But all at once a rush was heard in the passage, and the servant hastened to the door to rid herself of Gaston and Lucie, who were approaching. "Be off! I don't want you here. Your mamma has told you that you mustn't come here."
Then she came back into the room quite furious. "That's true!" said she; "I can do nothing but they must come to bother me. Why don't they stay a little with the nurse?"
"Oh! by the way," interrupted La Couteau, "did you hear that Marie Lebleu's little one is dead? She must have had a letter about it. Such a fine child it was! But what can one expect? it's a nasty wind passing. And then you know the saying, 'A nurse's child is the child of sacrifice!'"
"Yes, she told me she had heard of it," replied Celeste, "but she begged me not to mention it to madame, as such things always have a bad effect. The worst is that if her child's dead madame's little one isn't much better off."
"No, indeed. It isn't on account of her milk; that's good enough, and she has plenty of it. Only you never saw such a creature--such a temper! always brutal and insolent, banging the doors and talking of smashing everything at the slightest word. And besides, she drinks like a pig--as no woman ought to drink."
La Couteau's pale eyes sparkled with gayety, and she briskly nodded her head as if to say that she knew all this and had been expecting it. In that part of Normandy, in and around Rougemont, all the women drank more or less, and the girls even carried little bottles of brandy to school with them in their baskets. Marie Lebleu, however, was a woman of the kind that one picks up under the table, and, indeed, it might be said that since the birth of her last child she had never been quite sober.
"I know her, my dear," exclaimed La Couteau; "she is impossible. But then, that doctor who chose her didn't ask my opinion. And, besides, it isn't a matter that concerns me. I simply bring her to Paris and take her child back to the country. I know nothing about anything else. Let the gentlefolks get out of their trouble by themselves."
This sentiment tickled56 Celeste, who burst out laughing. "You haven't an idea," said she, "of the infernal life that Marie leads here! She fights people, she threw a water-bottle at the coachman, she broke a big vase in madame's apartments, she makes them all tremble with constant dread57 that something awful may happen. And, then, if you knew what tricks she plays to get something to drink! For it was found out that she drank, and all the liqueurs were put under lock and key. So you don't know what she devised? Well, last week she drained a whole bottle of Eau de Melisse, and was ill, quite ill, from it. Another time she was caught sipping some Eau de Cologne from one of the bottles in madame's dressing-room. I now really believe that she treats herself to some of the spirits of wine that are given her for the warmer!--it's enough to make one die of laughing. I'm always splitting my sides over it, in my little corner."
Then she laughed till the tears came into her eyes; and La Couteau, on her side highly amused, began to wriggle with a savage58 delight. All at once, however, she calmed down and exclaimed, "But, I say, they will turn her out of doors?"
"Oh! that won't be long. They would have done so already if they had dared."
But at this moment the ringing of a bell was heard, and an oath escaped Celeste. "Good! there's madame ringing for me now! One can never be at peace for a moment."
La Couteau, however, was already standing59 up, quite serious, intent on business and ready to depart.
"Come, little one, don't be foolish, you must do your work. For my part I have an idea. I'll run to fetch one of the nurses whom I brought this morning, a girl I can answer for as for myself. In an hour's time I'll be back here with her, and there will be a little present for you if you help me to get her the situation."
She disappeared while the maid, before answering a second ring, leisurely60 replaced the malaga and the biscuits at the bottom of the cupboard.
At ten o'clock that day Seguin was to take his wife and their friend Santerre to Mantes, to lunch there, by way of trying an electric motor-car, which he had just had built at considerable expense. He had become fond of this new "sport," less from personal taste, however, than from his desire to be one of the foremost in taking up a new fashion. And a quarter of an hour before the time fixed for starting he was already in his spacious61 "cabinet," arrayed in what he deemed an appropriate costume: a jacket and breeches of greenish ribbed velvet62, yellow shoes, and a little leather hat. And he poked63 fun at Santerre when the latter presented himself in town attire64, a light gray suit of delicate effect.
Soon after Valentine had given birth to her daughter Andree, the novelist had again become a constant frequenter of the house in the Avenue d'Antin. He was intent on resuming the little intrigue65 that he had begun there and felt confident of victory. Valentine, on her side, after a period of terror followed by great relief, had set about making up for lost time, throwing herself more wildly than ever into the vortex of fashionable life. She had recovered her good looks and youthfulness, and had never before experienced such a desire to divert herself, leaving her children more and more to the care of servants, and going about, hither and thither66, as her fancy listed, particularly since her husband did the same in his sudden fits of jealousy67 and brutality68, which broke out every now and again in the most imbecile fashion without the slightest cause. It was the collapse69 of all family life, with the threat of a great disaster in the future; and Santerre lived there in the midst of it, helping70 on the work of destruction.
He gave a cry of rapture71 when Valentine at last made her appearance gowned in a delicious travelling dress, with a cavalier toque on her head. But she was not quite ready, for she darted72 off again, saying that she would be at their service as soon as she had seen her little Andree, and given her last orders to the nurse.
"Well, make haste," cried her husband. "You are quite unbearable73, you are never ready."
It was at this moment that Mathieu called, and Seguin received him in order to express his regret that he could not that day go into business matters with him. Nevertheless, before fixing another appointment, he was willing to take note of certain conditions which the other wished to stipulate74 for the purpose of reserving to himself the exclusive right of purchasing the remainder of the Chantebled estate in portions and at fixed dates. Seguin was promising75 that he would carefully study this proposal when he was cut short by a sudden tumult--distant shouts, wild hurrying to and fro, and a violent banging of doors.
"Why! what is it? what is it?" he muttered, turning towards the shaking walls.
The door suddenly opened and Valentine reappeared, distracted, red with fear and anger, and carrying her little Andree, who wailed76 and struggled in her arms.
"There, there, my pet," gasped77 the mother, "don't cry, she shan't hurt you any more. There, it's nothing, darling; be quiet, do."
Then she deposited the little girl in a large armchair, where she at once became quiet again. She was a very pretty child, but still so puny, although nearly four months old, that there seemed to be nothing but her beautiful big eyes in her pale little face.
"Well, what is the matter?" asked Seguin, in astonishment78.
"The matter, is, my friend, that I have just found Marie lying across the cradle as drunk as a market porter, and half stifling79 the child. If I had been a few moments later it would have been all over. Drunk at ten o'clock in the morning! Can one understand such a thing? I had noticed that she drank, and so I hid the liqueurs, for I hoped to be able to keep her, since her milk is so good. But do you know what she had drunk? Why, the methylated spirits for the warmer! The empty bottle had remained beside her."
"But what did she say to you?"
"She simply wanted to beat me. When I shook her, she flew at me in a drunken fury, shouting abominable words. And I had time only to escape with the little one, while she began barricading80 herself in the room, where she is now smashing the furniture! There! just listen!"
Indeed, a distant uproar81 of destruction reached them. They looked one at the other, and deep silence fell, full of embarrassment82 and alarm.
"Well, what can I say? That woman is a brute84 beast, and I can't leave Andree in her charge to be killed by her. I have brought the child here, and I certainly shall not take her back. I will even own that I won't run the risk of going back to the room. You will have to turn the girl out of doors, after paying her wages."
"I! I!" cried Seguin. Then, walking up and down as if spurring on the anger which was rising within him, he burst forth85: "I've had enough, you know, of all these idiotic86 stories! This house has become a perfect hell upon earth all through that child! There will soon be nothing but fighting here from morning till night. First of all it was pretended that the nurse whom I took the trouble to choose wasn't healthy. Well, then a second nurse is engaged, and she gets drunk and stifles87 the child. And now, I suppose, we are to have a third, some other vile88 creature who will prey89 on us and drive us mad. No, no, it's too exasperating90, I won't have it."
Valentine, her fears now calmed, became aggressive. "What won't you have? There is no sense in what you say. As we have a child we must have a nurse. If I had spoken of nursing the little one myself you would have told me I was a fool. You would have found the house more uninhabitable than ever, if you had seen me with the child always in my arms. But I won't nurse--I can't. As you say, we will take a third nurse; it's simple enough, and we'll do so at once and risk it."
Seguin had abruptly91 halted in front of Andree, who, alarmed by the sight of his stern dark figure began to cry. Blinded as he was by anger, he perhaps failed to see her, even as he failed to see Gaston and Lucie, who had hastened in at the noise of the dispute and stood near the door, full of curiosity and fear. As nobody thought of sending them away they remained there, and saw and heard everything.
"The carriage is waiting," resumed Seguin, in a voice which he strove to render calm. "Let us make haste, let us go."
Valentine looked at him in stupefaction. "Come, be reasonable," said she. "How can I leave this child when I have nobody to whom I can trust her?"
"The carriage is waiting for us," he repeated, quivering; "let us go at once."
And as his wife this time contented92 herself with shrugging her shoulders, he was seized with one of those sudden fits of madness which impelled93 him to the greatest violence, even when people were present, and made him openly display his rankling94 poisonous sore, that absurd jealousy which had upset his life. As for that poor little puny, wailing95 child, he would have crushed her, for he held her to be guilty of everything, and indeed it was she who was now the obstacle to that excursion he had planned, that pleasure trip which he had promised himself, and which now seemed to him of such supreme96 importance. And 'twas so much the better if friends were there to hear him. So in the vilest97 language he began to upbraid98 his wife, not only reproaching her for the birth of that child, but even denying that the child was his. "You will only be content when you have driven me from the house!" he finished in a fury. "You won't come? Well then, I'll go by myself!"
And thereupon he rushed off like a whirlwind, without a word to Santerre, who had remained silent, and without even remembering that Mathieu still stood there awaiting an answer. The latter, in consternation99 at hearing all these things, had not dared to withdraw lest by doing so he should seem to be passing judgment100 on the scene. Standing there motionless, he turned his head aside, looked at little Andree who was still crying, and at Gaston and Lucie, who, silent with fright, pressed one against the other behind the armchair in which their sister was wailing.
Valentine had sunk upon a chair, stifling with sobs101, her limbs trembling. "The wretch102! Ah, how he treats me! To accuse me thus, when he knows how false it is! Ah! never more; no, never more! I would rather kill myself; yes, kill myself!"
Then Santerre, who had hitherto stood on one side, gently drew near to her and ventured to take her hand with a gesture of affectionate compassion103, while saying in an undertone: "Come, calm yourself. You know very well that you are not alone, that you are not forsaken104. There are some things which cannot touch you. Calm yourself, cease weeping, I beg you. You distress me dreadfully."
He made himself the more gentle since the husband had been the more brutal; and he leant over her yet the more closely, and again lowered his voice till it became but a murmur105. Only a few words could be heard: "It is wrong of you to worry yourself like this. Forget all that folly106. I told you before that he doesn't know how to behave towards a woman."
Twice was that last remark repeated with a sort of mocking pity; and she smiled vaguely107 amid her drying tears, in her turn murmuring: "You are kind, you are. Thank you. And you are quite right.... Ah! if I could only be a little happy!"
Then Mathieu distinctly saw her press Santerre's hand as if in acceptance of his consolation108. It was the logical, fatal outcome of the situation--given a wife whom her husband had perverted109, a mother who refused to nurse her babe. And yet a cry from Andree suddenly set Valentine erect110, awaking to the reality of her position. If that poor creature were so puny, dying for lack of her mother's milk, the mother also was in danger from her refusal to nurse her and clasp her to her breast like a buckler of invincible111 defence. Life and salvation112 one through the other, or disaster for both, such was the law. And doubtless Valentine became clearly conscious of her peril113, for she hastened to take up the child and cover her with caresses114, as if to make of her a protecting rampart against the supreme madness to which she had felt prompted. And great was the distress that came over her. Her other children were there, looking and listening, and Mathieu also was still waiting. When she perceived him her tears gushed115 forth again, and she strove to explain things, and even attempted to defend her husband.
"Excuse him, there are moments when he quite loses his head. _Mon Dieu_! What will become of me with this child? Yet I can't nurse her now, it is too late. It is frightful116 to be in such a position without knowing what to do. Ah! what will become of me, good Lord?"
Santerre again attempted to console her, but she no longer listened to him, and he was about to defer117 all further efforts till another time when unexpected intervention118 helped on his designs.
Celeste, who had entered noiselessly, stood there waiting for her mistress to allow her to speak. "It is my friend who has come to see me, madame," said she; "you know, the person from my village, Sophie Couteau, and as she happens to have a nurse with her--"
"There is a nurse here?"
"Oh! yes, madame, a very fine one, an excellent one."
Then, on perceiving her mistress's radiant surprise, her joy at this relief, she showed herself zealous119: "Madame must not tire herself by holding the little one. Madame hasn't the habit. If madame will allow me, I will bring the nurse to her."
Heaving a sigh of happy deliverance, Valentine had allowed the servant to take the child from her. So Heaven had not abandoned her! However, she began to discuss the matter, and was not inclined to have the nurse brought there. She somehow feared that if the other one, who was drunk in her room, should come out and meet the new arrival, she would set about beating them all and breaking everything. At last she insisted on taking Santerre and Mathieu into the linen-room, saying that the latter must certainly have some knowledge of these matters, although he declared the contrary. Only Gaston and Lucie were formally forbidden to follow.
"You are not wanted," said their mother, "so stay here and play. But we others will all go, and as softly as possible, please, so that that drunken creature may not suspect anything."
Once in the linen-room, Valentine ordered all the doors to be carefully secured. La Couteau was standing there with a sturdy young person of five-and-twenty, who carried a superb-looking infant in her arms. She had dark hair, a low forehead, and a broad face, and was very respectably dressed. And she made a little courtesy like a well-trained nurse, who has already served with gentlefolks and knows how to behave. But Valentine's embarrassment remained extreme; she looked at the nurse and at the babe like an ignorant woman who, though her elder children had been brought up in a room adjoining her own, had never troubled or concerned herself about anything. In her despair, seeing that Santerre kept to himself, she again appealed to Mathieu, who once more excused himself. And it was only then that La Couteau, after glancing askance at the gentleman who, somehow or other, always turned up whenever she had business to transact9, ventured to intervene:
"Will madame rely on me? If madame will kindly120 remember, I once before ventured to offer her my services, and if she had accepted them she would have saved herself no end of worry. That Marie Lebleu is impossible, and I certainly could have warned madame of it at the time when I came to fetch Marie's child. But since madame's doctor had chosen her, it was not for me to speak. Oh! she has good milk, that's quite sure; only she also has a good tongue, which is always dry. So if madame will now place confidence in me--"
Then she rattled121 on interminably, expatiating122 on the respectability of her calling, and praising the value of the goods she offered.
"Well, madame, I tell you that you can take La Catiche with your eyes shut. She's exactly what you want, there's no better in Paris. Just look how she's built, how sturdy and how healthy she is! And her child, just look at it! She's married, she even has a little girl of four at the village with her husband. She's a respectable woman, which is more than can be said for a good many nurses. In a word, madame, I know her and can answer for her. If you are not pleased with her I myself will give you your money back."
In her haste to get it all over Valentine made a great gesture of surrender. She even consented to pay one hundred francs a month, since La Catiche was a married woman. Moreover, La Couteau explained that she would not have to pay the office charges, which would mean a saving of forty-five francs, though, perhaps, madame would not forget all the trouble which she, La Couteau, had taken. On the other hand, there would, of course, be the expense of taking La Catiche's child back to the village, a matter of thirty francs. Valentine liberally promised to double that sum; and all seemed to be settled, and she felt delivered, when she suddenly bethought herself of the other nurse, who had barricaded123 herself in her room. How could they get her out in order to install La Catiche in her place?
"What!" exclaimed La Couteau, "does Marie Lebleu frighten you? She had better not give me any of her nonsense if she wants me ever to find her another situation. I'll speak to her, never fear."
Celeste thereupon placed Andree on a blanket, which was lying there, side by side with the infant of which the new nurse had rid herself a moment previously124, and undertook to conduct La Couteau to Marie Lebleu's room. Deathlike silence now reigned125 there, but the nurse-agent only had to give her name to secure admittance. She went in, and for a few moments one only heard her dry curt voice. Then, on coming out, she tranquillized Valentine, who had gone to listen, trembling.
"I've sobered her, I can tell you," said she. "Pay her her month's wages. She's packing her box and going off."
Then, as they went back into the linen-room, Valentine settled pecuniary126 matters and added five francs for this new service. But a final difficulty arose. La Couteau could not come back to fetch La Catiche's child in the evening, and what was she to do with it during the rest of the day? "Well, no matter," she said at last, "I'll take it; I'll deposit it at the office, before I go my round. They'll give it a bottle there, and it'll have to grow accustomed to the bottle now, won't it?"
"Of course," the mother quietly replied.
Then, as La Couteau, on the point of leaving, after all sorts of bows and thanks, turned round to take the little one, she made a gesture of hesitation127 on seeing the two children lying side by side on the blanket.
"The devil!" she murmured; "I mustn't make a mistake."
This seemed amusing, and enlivened the others. Celeste fairly exploded, and even La Catiche grinned broadly; while La Couteau caught up the child with her long claw-like hands and carried it away. Yet another gone, to be carted away yonder in one of those ever-recurring _razzias_ which consigned128 the little babes to massacre129!
Mathieu alone had not laughed. He had suddenly recalled his conversation with Boutan respecting the demoralizing effects of that nurse trade, the shameful130 bargaining, the common crime of two mothers, who each risked the death of her child--the idle mother who bought another's services, the venal131 mother who sold her milk. He felt cold at heart as he saw one child carried off still full of life, and the other remain there already so puny. And what would be fate's course? Would not one or the other, perhaps both of them be sacrificed?
Valentine, however, was already leading both him and Santerre to the spacious salon132 again; and she was so delighted, so fully24 relieved, that she had recovered all her cavalier carelessness, her passion for noise and pleasure. And as Mathieu was about to take his leave, he heard the triumphant133 Santerre saying to her, while for a moment he retained her hand in his clasp: "Till to-morrow, then." And she, who had cast her buckler of defence aside, made answer: "Yes--yes, to-morrow."
A week later La Catiche was the acknowledged queen of the house. Andree had recovered a little color, and was increasing in weight daily. And in presence of this result the others bowed low indeed. There was every disposition134 to overlook all possible faults on the nurse's part. She was the third, and a fourth would mean the child's death; so that she was an indispensable, a providential helper, one whose services must be retained at all costs. Moreover, she seemed to have no defects, for she was a calm, cunning, peasant woman, one who knew how to rule her employers and extract from them all that was to be extracted. Her conquest of the Seguins was effected with extraordinary skill. At first some unpleasantness seemed likely, because Celeste was, on her own side, pursuing a similar course; but they were both too intelligent to do otherwise than come to an understanding. As their departments were distinct, they agreed that they could prosecute135 parallel invasions. And from that moment they even helped one another, divided the empire, and preyed136 upon the house in company.
La Catiche sat upon a throne, served by the other domestics, with her employers at her feet. The finest dishes were for her; she had her special wine, her special bread, she had everything most delicate and most nourishing that could be found. Gluttonous137, slothful, and proud, she strutted138 about, bending one and all to her fancies. The others gave way to her in everything to avoid sending her into a temper which might have spoilt her milk. At her slightest indisposition everybody was distracted. One night she had an attack of indigestion, and all the doctors in the neighborhood were rung up to attend on her. Her only real defect, perhaps, was a slight inclination139 for pilfering140; she appropriated some linen that was lying about, but madame would not hear of the matter being mentioned.
There was also the chapter of the presents which were heaped on her in order to keep her in good temper. Apart from the regulation present when the child cut its first tooth, advantage was taken of various other occasions, and a ring, a brooch, and a pair of earrings141 were given her. Naturally she was the most adorned142 nurse in the Champs-Elysees, with superb cloaks and the richest of caps, trimmed with long ribbons which flared143 in the sunlight. Never did lady lead a life of more sumptuous144 idleness. There were also the presents which she extracted for her husband and her little girl at the village. Parcels were sent them by express train every week. And on the morning when news came that her own baby, carried back by La Couteau, had died from the effects of a bad cold, she was presented with fifty francs as if in payment for the loss of her child. Little Andree, meanwhile, grew ever stronger, and thus La Catiche rose higher and higher, with the whole house bending low beneath her tyrannical sway.
On the day when Mathieu called to sign the deed which was to insure him the possession of the little pavilion of Chantebled with some fifty acres around it, and the privilege of acquiring other parts of the estate on certain conditions, he found Seguin on the point of starting for Le Havre, where a friend, a wealthy Englishman, was waiting for him with his yacht, in order that they might have a month's trip round the coast of Spain.
"Yes," said Seguin feverishly145, alluding146 to some recent heavy losses at the gaming table, "I'm leaving Paris for a time--I have no luck here just now. But I wish you plenty of courage and all success, my dear sir. You know how much I am interested in the attempt you are about to make."
A little later that same day Mathieu was crossing the Champs-Elysees, eager to join Marianne at Chantebled, moved as he was by the decisive step he had taken, yet quivering also with faith and hope, when in a deserted147 avenue he espied148 a cab waiting, and recognized Santerre inside it. Then, as a veiled lady furtively149 sprang into the vehicle, he turned round wondering: Was that not Valentine? And as the cab drove off he felt convinced it was.
There came other meetings when he reached the main avenue; first Gaston and Lucie, already tired of play, and dragging about their puny limbs under the careless supervision150 of Celeste, who was busy laughing with a grocer's man; while farther off La Catiche, superb and royal, decked out like the idol151 of venal motherhood, was giving little Andree an outing, with her long purple ribbons streaming victoriously152 in the sunshine.
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1
cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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7
muddled
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| adj.混乱的；糊涂的；头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的过去式)；使糊涂；对付，混日子 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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transact
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| v.处理；做交易；谈判 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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13
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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tenacity
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| n.坚韧 | |
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advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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batch
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| n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量 | |
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rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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puny
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| adj.微不足道的，弱小的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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frigid
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| adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的 | |
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incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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32
ailments
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| 疾病（尤指慢性病），不适( ailment的名词复数 ) | |
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extraordinarily
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| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
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lavished
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| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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wriggle
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| v./n.蠕动，扭动；蜿蜒 | |
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prescriptions
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| 药( prescription的名词复数 )； 处方； 开处方； 计划 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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brats
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| n.调皮捣蛋的孩子( brat的名词复数 ) | |
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impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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44
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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45
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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gendarmes
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| n.宪兵，警官( gendarme的名词复数 ) | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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cherubs
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| 小天使，胖娃娃( cherub的名词复数 ) | |
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51
maudlin
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| adj.感情脆弱的，爱哭的 | |
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52
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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53
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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54
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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55
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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57
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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58
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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62
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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63
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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64
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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69
collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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70
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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71
rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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74
stipulate
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| vt.规定，（作为条件）讲定，保证 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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76
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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80
barricading
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| 设路障于，以障碍物阻塞( barricade的现在分词 )； 设路障[防御工事]保卫或固守 | |
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81
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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82
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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83
curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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84
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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85
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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idiotic
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| adj.白痴的 | |
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87
stifles
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的第三人称单数 )； 镇压，遏制 | |
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88
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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89
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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90
exasperating
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| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
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91
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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92
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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93
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94
rankling
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| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的现在分词 ) | |
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95
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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97
vilest
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| adj.卑鄙的( vile的最高级 )；可耻的；极坏的；非常讨厌的 | |
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98
upbraid
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| v.斥责，责骂，责备 | |
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99
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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100
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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101
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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102
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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103
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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104
Forsaken
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| adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
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105
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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106
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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107
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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108
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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109
perverted
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| adj.不正当的v.滥用( pervert的过去式和过去分词 )；腐蚀；败坏；使堕落 | |
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110
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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111
invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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112
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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113
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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114
caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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115
gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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116
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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117
defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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118
intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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119
zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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120
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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121
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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122
expatiating
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| v.详述，细说( expatiate的现在分词 ) | |
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123
barricaded
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| 设路障于，以障碍物阻塞( barricade的过去式和过去分词 )； 设路障[防御工事]保卫或固守 | |
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124
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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125
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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126
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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127
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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128
consigned
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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129
massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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130
shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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131
venal
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| adj.唯利是图的，贪脏枉法的 | |
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132
salon
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| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
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133
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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134
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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135
prosecute
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| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
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136
preyed
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| v.掠食( prey的过去式和过去分词 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生 | |
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137
gluttonous
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| adj.贪吃的，贪婪的 | |
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138
strutted
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| 趾高气扬地走，高视阔步( strut的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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139
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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140
pilfering
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| v.偷窃（小东西），小偷( pilfer的现在分词 )；偷窃（一般指小偷小摸） | |
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141
earrings
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| n.耳环( earring的名词复数 )；耳坠子 | |
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142
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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143
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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144
sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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145
feverishly
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| adv. 兴奋地 | |
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146
alluding
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| 提及，暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
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147
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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148
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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149
furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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150
supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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151
idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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152
victoriously
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| adv.获胜地，胜利地 | |
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