murad the unlucky and other tales-第15部分

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On　the　next　floor　there　was　a　smith　at　work；　filing　so　earnestly
that　he　did　not　hear　the　screams　of　the　children。　　When　his　door
was　pushed　open；　and　the　bright　vision　of　Madame　de　Fleury　appeared
to　him；　his　astonishment　was　so　great　that　he　seemed　incapable　of
comprehending　what　she　said。　　In　a　strong　provincial　accent　he
repeated；　〃Plait…il？〃　and　stood　aghast　till　she　had　explained
herself　three　times；　then　suddenly　exclaiming；　〃Ah！　c'est　ca；〃he
collected　his　tools　precipitately；　and　followed　to　obey　her　orders。
The　door　of　the　room　was　at　last　forced　half　open；　for　a　press　that
had　been　overturned　prevented　its　opening　entirely。　　The　horrible
smells　that　issued　did　not　overcome　Madame　de　Fleury's　humanity：
she　squeezed　her　way　into　the　room；　and　behind　the　fallen　press　saw
three　little　children：　　the　youngest；　almost　an　infant；　ceased
roaring；　and　ran　to　a　corner；　the　eldest；　a　boy　of　about　eight
years　old；　whose　face　and　clothes　were　covered　with　blood；　held　on
his　knee　a　girl　younger　than　himself；　whom　he　was　trying　to　pacify；
but　who　struggled　most　violently　and　screamed　incessantly；
regardless　of　Madame　de　Fleury；　to　whose　questions　she　made　no
answer。

〃Where　are　you　hurt；　my　dear？〃　repeated　Madame　de　Fleury　in　a
soothing　voice。　　〃Only　tell　me　where　you　feel　pain？〃

The　boy；　showing　his　sister's　arm；　said；　in　a　surly　tone〃It　is
this　that　is　hurtbut　it　was　not　I　did　it。〃

〃It　was；　it　WAS！〃　cried　the　girl　as　loud　as　she　could　vociferate：
〃it　was　Maurice　threw　me　down　from　the　top　of　the　press。〃

〃Noit　was　you　that　were　pushing　me；　Victoire；　and　you　fell
backwards。Have　done　screeching；　and　show　your　arm　to　the　lady。〃

〃I　can't；〃　said　the　girl。

〃She　won't；〃　said　the　boy。

〃She　cannot；〃　said　Madame　de　Fleury；　kneeling　down　to　examine　it。
〃She　cannot　move　it；　I　am　afraid　that　it　is　broken。〃

〃Don't　touch　it！　don't　touch　it！〃　cried　the　girl；　screaming　more
violently。

〃Ma'am；　she　screams　that　way　for　nothing　often；〃　said　the　boy。
〃Her　arm　is　no　more　broke　than　mine；　I'm　sure；　she'll　move　it　well
enough　when　she's　not　cross。〃

〃I　am　afraid；〃　said　Madame　de　Fleury；　〃that　her　arm　is　broken。〃

〃Is　it　indeed？〃　said　the　boy；　with　a　look　of　terror。

〃Oh！　don't　touch　ityou'll　kill　me；　you　are　killing　me；〃　screamed
the　poor　girl；　whilst　Madame　de　Fleury　with　the　greatest　care
endeavoured　to　join　the　bones　in　their　proper　place；　and　resolved
to　hold　the　arm　till　the　arrival　of　the　surgeon。

From　the　feminine　appearance　of　this　lady；　no　stranger　would　have
expected　such　resolution；　but　with　all　the　natural　sensibility　and
graceful　delicacy　of　her　sex；　she　had　none　of　that　weakness　or
affection　which　incapacitates　from　being　useful　in　real　distress。
In　most　sudden　accidents；　and　in　all　domestic　misfortunes；　female
resolution　and　presence　of　mind　are　indispensably　requisite：
safety；　health；　and　life　often　depend　upon　the　fortitude　of　women。
Happy　they　who；　like　Madame　de　Fleury；　possess　strength　of　mind
united　with　the　utmost　gentleness　of　manner　and　tenderness　of
disposition！

Soothed　by　this　lady's　sweet　voice；　the　child's　rage　subsided；　and
no　longer　struggling；　the　poor　little　girl　sat　quietly　on　her　lap；
sometimes　writhing　and　moaning　with　pain。

The　surgeon　at　length　arrived：　　her　arm　was　set：　　and　he　said　〃that
she　had　probably　been　saved　much　future　pain　by　Madame　de　Fleury's
presence　of　mind。〃

〃Sir；will　it　soon　be　well？〃　said　Maurice　to　the　surgeon。

〃Oh　yes；　very　soon；　I　dare　say；〃　said　the　little　girl。　　〃To…morrow；
perhaps；　for　now　that　it　is　tied　up　it　does　not　hurt　me　to　signify…
…and　after　all；　I　do　believe；　Maurice；　it　was　not　you　threw　me
down。〃

As　she　spoke；　she　held　up　her　face　to　kiss　her　brother。〃That　is
right；〃　said　Madame　de　Fleury；　〃there　is　a　good　sister。〃

The　little　girl　put　out　her　lips；　offering　a　second　kiss；　but　the
boy　turned　hastily　away　to　rub　the　tears　from　his　eyes　with　the
back　of　his　hand。

〃I　am　not　cross　now：　　am　I；　Maurice？〃

〃No；　Victoire；　I　was　cross　myself　when　I　said　THAT。〃

As　Victoire　was　going　to　speak　again；　the　surgeon　imposed　silence；
observing　that　she　must　be　put　to　bed；　and　should　be　kept　quiet。
Madame　de　Fleury　laid　her　upon　the　bed；　as　soon　as　Maurice　had
cleared　it　of　the　things　with　which　it　was　covered；　and　as　they
were　spreading　the　ragged　blanket　over　the　little　girl；　she
whispered　a　request　to　Madame　de　Fleury　that　she　would　〃stay　till
her　mamma　came　home；　to　beg　Maurice　off　from　being　whipped；　if
mamma　should　be　angry。〃

Touched　by　this　instance　of　goodness；　and　compassionating　the
desolate　condition　of　these　children；　Madame　de　Fleury　complied
with　Victoire's　request；　resolving　to　remonstrate　with　their　mother
for　leaving　them　locked　up　in　this　manner。　　They　did　not　know　to
what　part　of　the　town　their　mother　was　gone；　they　could　tell　only
〃that　she　was　to　go　to　a　great　many　different　places　to　carry　back
work；　and　to　bring　home　more；　and　that　she　expected　to　be　in　by
five。〃　　It　was　now　half　after　four。

Whilst　Madame　de　Fleury　waited；　she　asked　the　boy　to　give　her　a
full　account　of　the　manner　in　which　the　accident　had　happened。

〃Why；　ma'am；〃　said　Maurice；　twisting　and　untwisting　a　ragged
handkerchief　as　he　spoke；　〃the　first　beginning　of　all　the　mischief
was；　we　had　nothing　to　do；　so　we　went　to　the　ashes　to　make　dirt
pies；　but　Babet　would　go　so　close　that　she　burnt　her　petticoat；　and
threw　about　all　our　ashes；　and　plagued　us；　and　we　whipped　her。　　But
all　would　not　do；　she　would　not　be　quiet；　so　to　get　out　of　her
reach；　we　climbed　up　by　this　chair　on　the　table　to　the　top　of　the
press；　and　there　we　were　well　enough　for　a　little　while；　till
somehow　we　began　to　quarrel　about　the　old　scissors；　and　we
struggled　hard　for　them　till　I　got　this　cut。〃

Here　he　unwound　the　handkerchief；　and　for　the　first　time　showed　the
wound；　which　he　had　never　mentioned　before。

〃Then；〃　continued　he；　〃when　I　got　the　cut；　I　shoved　Victoire；　and
she　pushed　at　me　again；　and　I　was　keeping　her　off；　and　her　foot
slipped；　and　down　she　fell；　and　caught　by　the　press…door；　and
pulled　it　and　me　after　her；　and　that's　all　I　know。〃

〃It　is　well　that　you　were　not　both　killed；〃　said　Madame　de　Fleury。
〃Are　you　often　left　locked　up　in　this　manner　by　yourselves；　and
without　anything　to　do？〃

〃Yes；　always；　when　mamma　is　abroad；　except　sometimes　we　are　let　out
upon　the　stairs　or　in　the　street；　but　mamma　says　we　get　into
mischief　there。〃

This　dialogue　was　interrupted　by　the　return　of　the　mother。　　She
came　upstairs　slowly；　much　fatigued；　and　with　a　heavy　bundle　under
her　arm。

〃How　now！　　Maurice；　how　comes　my　door　open？　　What's　all　this？〃
cried　she；　in　an　angry　voice；　but　seeing　a　lady　sitting　upon　her
child's　bed；　she　stopped　short　in　great　astonishment。　　Madame　de
Fleury　related　what　had　happened；　and　averted　her　anger　from
Maurice　by　gently　expostulating　upon　the　hardship　and　hazard　of
leaving　her　young　children　in　this　manner　during　so　many　hours　of
the　day。

〃Why；　my　lady；〃　replied　the　poor　woman；　wiping　her　forehead；　〃every
hard…working　woman　in　Paris　does　the　same　with　her　children；　and
what　can　I　do　else？　　I　must　earn　bread　for　these　helpless　ones；　and
to　do　that　I　must　be　out　backwards　and　forwards；　and　to　the
furthest　parts　of　the　town；　often　from　morning　till　night；　with
those　that　employ　me；　and　I　cannot　afford　to　send　the　children　to
school；　or　to　keep　any　kind　of　a　servant　to　look　after　them；　and
when　I'm　away；　if　I　let　them　run　about　these　stairs　and　entries；　or
go　into　the　sheets；　they　do　get　a　little　exercise　and　air；　to　be
sure；　such　as　it　is　on　which　account　I　do　let　them　out　sometimes；
but　then　a　deal　of　mischief　comes　of　that；　too：　　they　learn　all
kinds　of　wickedness；　and　would　grow　up　to　be　no　better　than
pickpockets；　if　they　were　let　often　to　consort　with　the　little
vagabonds　they　find　in　the　streets。　　So　what　to　do　better　for　them
I　don't　know。〃

The　poor　mother　sat　down　upon　the　fallen　press；　looked　at　Victoire；
and　wept　bitterly。　　Madame　de　Fleury　was　struck　with　compassion；
but　she　did　not　satisfy　her　feelings　merely　by　words　or　comfort　or
by　the　easy　donation　of　some　moneyshe　resolved　to　do　something
more；　and　something　better。



CHAPTER　II



〃Come　often；　then；　for　haply　in　my　bower
Amusement；　knowledge；　wisdom；　thou　may'st　gain：
If　I　one　soul　improve；　I　have　not　lived　in　vain。〃BEATTIE。

It　is　not　so　easy　to　do　good　as　those　who　have　never　attempted　it
may　imagine；　and　they　who　without　consideration　follow　the　mere
instinct　of　pity；　often　by　their　imprudent　generosity　create　evils
more　pernicious　to　society　than　any　which　they　partially　remedy。
〃Warm　Charity；　the　general　friend；〃　may　become　the　general　enemy；
unless　she　consults　her　head　as　well　as　her　heart。　　Whilst　she
pleases　herself　with　the　idea　that　she　daily　feeds　hundreds　of　the
poor；　she　is　perhaps　preparing　want　and　famine　for　thousands。
Whilst　she　delights　herself　with　the　anticipation　of　gratitude　for
her　bounties；　she　is　often　exciting　only　unreasonable　expectations；
inducing　habits　of　dependence　and　submission　to　slavery。

Those　who　wish　to　do　good　should　attend　to　experience；　from　whom
they　may　receive　lessons　upon　the　largest　scale　that　time　and
numbers　can　afford。

Madame　de　Fleury　was　aware　that　neither　a　benevolent　disposition
nor　a　large　fortune　were　sufficient　to　enable　her　to　be　of　real
service；　without　the　constant　exercise　of　her　judgment。　　She　had；
therefore；　listened　with　deference　to　the　conversation　of　well…
informed　men　upon　those　subjects　on　which　ladies　have　not　always
the　means　or　the　wish　to　acquire　extensive　and　accurate　knowledge。
Though　a　Parisian　belle；　she　had　read　with　attention　some　of　those
books　which　are　generally　thought　too　dry　or　too　deep　for　her　sex。
Consequently；　her　benevolence　was　neither　wild　in　theory　nor
precipitate　nor　ostentatious　in　practice。

Touched　with　compassion　for　a　little　girl　whose　arm　had　been
accidentally　broken；　and　shocked　by　the　discovery　of　the
confinement　and　the　dangers　to　which　numbers　of　children　in　Paris
were　doomed；　she　did　not　make　a　parade　of　her　sensibility。　　She　did
not　talk　of　her　feelings　in　fine　sentences　to　a　circle　of　opulent
admirers；　nor　did　she　project　fo