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 artifice to which the milliner had resorted； and；
here； just as she saw a way opened by which she might support both
her grandmother and herself until the handkerchief was completed； a
change threatened her； by which she was to be left altogether without
food。 Still her conscience was so tender that she even doubted the
propriety of accepting her old wages were she really incompetent to
earn them。
〃I had hoped； madame；〃 she said； the color coming and going on
cheeks that were now usually pale〃I had hoped； madame； that you
found my work profitable。 Surely； surely I bring home as much at night
as any other demoiselle you employ。〃
〃In that there is not much difference； I allow； mademoiselle； but you can
imagine that work done by one accustomed to the art is more likely to
please customers than work done by one who has been educated as a
lady。 Cependant； I will not throw you off； as I know that your poor
dear grandmother〃
〃Sisi；〃 eagerly interrupted Adrienne； trembling from head to foot with
apprehension。
〃I know it all； mademoiselle； and the dear old lady shall not suffer； you
shall both be made happy again on fifteen。 To ease your mind；
mademoiselle； I am willing to make a written contract for a year； at that
rate； too； to put your heart at ease。〃
〃Nonnonnon；〃 murmured Adrienne； happy and grateful for the
moment； but unwilling to defeat her own plans for the future。 〃Thank
you； thank you； madame； to…morrow you shall see what I can do。〃
And Adrienne toiled the succeeding day； not only until her fingers and
body ached； but； until her very heart ached。 Poor child！ Little did she
think that she was establishing precedents against herself； by which
further and destructive exertions might be required。 But the
apprehension of losing the pittance she actually received； and thereby
blasting all hopes from me； was constantly before her mind； quickening
her hand and sustaining her body。
During all this time Madame de la Rocheaimard continued slowly to
sink。 Old age； disappointments and poverty were working out their
usual results； and death was near to close the scene。 So gradual were
the changes； however； that Adrienne did not note them； and
accustomed as she had been to the existence； the presence； the love of
this one being； and of this being only； to her the final separation scarce
seemed within the bounds of possibility。 Surely every thing around the
human family inculcates the doctrine of the mysterious future； and the
necessity of living principally that they be prepared to die。 All they
produce perishes； all they imagine perishes； as does all they love。 The
union of two beings may be so engrossing； in their eyes； have lasted so
long； and embraced so many ties； as to seem indissoluble； it is all
seeming； the hour will infallibly come when the past becomes as nothing；
except as it has opened the way to the future。
Adrienne at length； by dint of excessive toil； by working deep into the
nights； by stinting herself of food； and by means of having disposed of
the last article with which she could possibly part； had managed to
support her grandmother and herself； until she saw me so far done as to
be within another day's work of completion。 At such a moment as this
all feeling of vanity is out of the question。 I was certainly very beautiful。
A neater； a more tasteful； a finer； or a more exquisitely laced
handkerchief； did not exist within the walls of Paris。 In all that she
figured to herself； as related to my appearance； the end justified her
brightest expectations； but； as that end drew near； she felt how
insufficient were human results to meet the desires of human hopes。
Now that her painful and exhausting toil was nearly over； she did not
experience the happiness she had anticipated。 The fault was not in me；
but in herself。 Hope had exhausted her spirit； and as if merely to teach
the vanity of the wishes of men； a near approach to the object that had
seemed so desirable in the distance； had stripped off the mask and left
the real countenance exposed。 There was nothing unusual in this； it was
merely following out a known law of nature。
CHAPTER VII。
The morning of the 14th June arrived。 Paris is then at its loveliest
season。 The gardens in particular are worthy of the capital of Europe；
and they are open to all who can manage to make a decent appearance。
Adrienne's hotel had a little garden in the rear； and she sat at her
window endeavoring to breathe the balmy odors that arose from it。
Enter it she could not。 It was the property； or devoted to the uses； of
the occupant of the rez de chaussee。 Still she might look at it as often as
she dared to raise her eyes from her needle。 The poor girl was not what
she had been two months before。 The handkerchief wanted but a few
hours of being finished； it is true； but the pale cheeks； the hollow eyes
and the anxious look； proved at what a sacrifice of health and physical
force I had become what I was。 As I had grown in beauty； the hand
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 tru