murad the unlucky and other tales-第18部分

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them！And　I　must　not　eat　them！〃　said　she：　　then　curbing　her
passion；　she　added；　〃But　at　any　rate；　I　won't　be　a　thief。　　I　am
sure　I　did　not　think　it　was　being　a　thief　just　to　take　a　few
chestnuts　from　an　old　woman　who　had　such　heaps　and　heaps；　but
Victoire　says　it　is　wrong；　and　I　would　not　be　a　thief　for　all　the
chestnuts　in　the　worldI'll　throw　them　all　into　the　fire　this
minute！〃

〃No；　give　them　back　again　to　the　old　woman；〃　said　Victoire。

〃But；　may　be；　she　would　scold　me　for　having　taken　them；〃　said
Babet；　〃or　who　knows　but　she　might　whip　me？〃

〃And　if　she　did；　could　you　not　bear　it？〃　said　Victoire。　　〃I　am　sure
I　would　rather　bear　twenty　whippings　than　be　a　thief。〃

〃Twenty；　whippings！　that's　a　great　many；〃　said　Babet；　〃and　I　am　so
little；　considerand　that　woman　has　such　a　monstrous　arm！Now；　if
it　was　Sister　Frances；　it　would　be　another　thing。　　But　come！　if　you
will　go　with　me；　Victoire；　you　shall　see　how　I　will　behave。〃

〃We　will　all　go　with　you；〃　said　Victoire。

〃Yes；　all！〃　said　the　children；　〃And　Sister　Frances；　I　dare　say；
would　go；　if　you　asked　her。〃

Babet　ran　and　told　her；　and　she　readily　consented　to　accompany　the
little　penitent　to　make　restitution。　　The　chestnut　woman　did　not
whip　Babet；　nor　even　scold　her；　but　said　she　was　sure　that　since
the　child　was　so　honest　as　to　return　what　she　had　taken；　she　would
never　steal　again。　　This　was　the　most　glorious　day　of　Babet's　life；
and　the　happiest。　　When　the　circumstance　was　told　to　Madame　de
Fleury；　she　gave　the　little　girl　a　bag　of　the　best　chestnuts　the
old　women　could　select；　and　Babet　with　great　delight　shared　her
reward　with　her　companions。

〃But；　alas！　these　chestnuts　are　not　roasted。　　Oh；　if　we　could　but
roast　them！〃　said　the　children。

Sister　Frances　placed　in　the　middle　of　the　table　on　which　the
chestnuts　were　spread　a　small　earthenware　furnacea　delightful
toy；　commonly　used　by　children　in　Paris　to　cook　their　little
feasts。

〃This　can　be　bought　for　sixpence；〃　said　she：　　〃and　if　each　of　you
twelve　earn　one　halfpenny　apiece　to…day；　you　can　purchase　it
tonight；　and　I　will　put　a　little　fire　into　it；　and　you　will　then　be
able　to　roast　your　chestnuts。〃

The　children　ran　eagerly　to　their　worksome　to　wind　worsted　for　a
woman　who　paid　them　a　liard　for　each　ball；　others　to　shell　peas　for
a　neighbouring　traiteurall　rejoicing　that　they　were　able　to　earn
something。　　The　older　girls；　under　the　directions　and　with　the
assistance　of　Sister　Frances；　completed　making；　washing；　and
ironing；　half　a　dozen　little　caps；　to　supply　a　baby…linen
warehouse。　　At　the　end　of　the　day；　when　the　sum　of　the　produce　of
their　labours　was　added　together；　they　were　surprised　to　find　that；
instead　of　one；　they　could　purchase　two　furnaces。　　They　received
and　enjoyed　the　reward　of　their　united　industry。　　The　success　of
their　first　efforts　was　fixed　in　their　memory：　　for　they　were　very
happy　roasting　the　chestnuts；　and　they　were　all　（Sister　Frances
inclusive）　unanimous　in　opinion　that　no　chestnuts　ever　were　so
good；　or　so　well　roasted。　　Sister　Frances　always　partook　in　their
little　innocent　amusements；　and　it　was　her　great　delight　to　be　the
dispenser　of　rewards　which　at　once　conferred　present　pleasure　and
cherished　future　virtue。



CHAPTER　V



〃To　virtue　wake　the　pulses　of　the　heart；
And　bid　the　tear　of　emulation　start。〃
ROGERS。

Victoire；　who　gave　constant　exercise　to　the　benevolent　feelings　of
the　amiable　nun；　became　every　day　more　dear　to　her。　　Far　from
having　the　selfishness　of　a　favourite；　Victoire　loved　to　bring　into
public　notice　the　good　actions　of　her　companions。　　〃Stoop　down　your
ear　to　me；　Sister　Frances；〃　said　she；　〃and　I　will　tell　you　a
secretI　will　tell　you　why　my　friend　Annette　is　growing　so　thinI
found　it　out　this　morningshe　does　not　eat　above　half　her　soup
every　day。　　Look；　there's　her　porringer　covered　up　in　the　corner
she　carries　it　home　to　her　mother；　who　is　sick；　and　who　has　not
bread　to　eat。〃

Madame　de　Fleury　came　in　whilst　Sister　Frances　was　yet　bending　down
to　hear　this　secret；　it　was　repeated　to　her；　and　she　immediately
ordered　that　a　certain　allowance　of　bread　should　be　given　to
Annette　every　day　to　carry　to　her　mother　during　her　illness。

〃I　give　it　in　charge　to　you；　Victoire；　to　remember　this；　and　I　am
sure　it　will　never　be　forgotten。　　Here　is　an　order　for　you　upon　my
baker：　　run　and　show　it　to　Annette。　　This　is　a　pleasure　you
deserve；　I　am　glad　that　you　have　chosen　for　your　friend　a　girl　who
is　so　good　a　daughter。　　Good　daughters　make　good　friends。〃

By　similar　instances　of　goodness　Victoire　obtained　the　love　and
confidence　of　her　companions；　notwithstanding　her　manifest
superiority。　　In　their　turn；　they　were　eager　to　proclaim　her
merits；　and；　as　Sister　Frances　and　Madame　de　Fleury　administered
justice　with　invariable　impartiality；　the　hateful　passions　of　envy
and　jealousy　were　never　excited　in　this　little　society。　　No　servile
sycophant；　no　malicious　detractor；　could　rob　or　defraud　their
little　virtues　of　their　due　reward。

〃Whom　shall　I　trust　to　take　this　to　Madame　de　Fleury？〃　said　Sister
Frances；　carrying　into　the　garden　where　the　children　were　playing　a
pot　of　fine　jonquils；　which　she　had　brought　from　her　convent。
〃These　are　the　first　jonquils　I　have　seen　this　year；　and　finer　I
never　beheld！　　Whom　shall　I　trust　to　take　them　to　Madame　de　Fleury
this　evening？It　must　be　some　one　who　will　not　stop　to　stare　about
on　the　way；　but　who　will　be　very；　very　carefulsome　one　in　whom　I
can　place　perfect　dependence。〃

〃It　must　be　Victoire；　then；〃　cried　every　voice。

〃Yes；　she　deserves　it　to…day　particularly；〃　said　Annette　eagerly；
〃because　she　was　not　angry　with　Babet　when　she　did　what　was　enough
to　put　anybody　in　a　passion。　　Sister　Frances；　you　know　this　cherry…
tree　which　you　grafted　for　Victoire　last　year；　and　that　was
yesterday　so　full　of　blossomsnow　you　see；　there　is　not　a　blossom
left！Babet　plucked　them　all　this　morning　to　make　a　nosegay。〃

〃But　she　did　not　know；〃　said　Victoire；　〃that　pulling　off　the
blossoms　would　prevent　my　having　any　cherries。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　very　sorry　I　was　so　foolish；〃　said　Babet；　〃Victoire　did
not　even　say　a　cross　word　to　me。〃

〃Though　she　was　excessively　anxious　about　the　cherries；〃　pursued
Annette；　〃because　she　intended　to　have　given　the　first　she　had　to
Madame　de　Fleury。〃

〃Victoire；　take　the　jonquilsit　is　but　just；〃　said　Sister　Frances。
〃How　I　do　love　to　hear　them　all　praise　her！I　knew　what　she　would
be　from　the　first。〃

With　a　joyful　heart　Victoire　took　the　jonquils；　promised　to　carry
them　with　the　utmost　care；　and　not　to　stop　to　stare　on　the　way。
She　set　out　to　Madame　de　Fleury's　hotel；　which　was　in　La　Place　de
Louis　Quinze。　　It　was　late　in　the　evening；　the　lamps　were　lighting；
and　as　Victoire　crossed　the　Pont　de　Louis　Seize；　she　stopped　to
look　at　the　reflection　of　the　lamps　in　the　water；　which　appeared　in
succession；　as　they　were　lighted；　spreading　as　if　by　magic　along
the　river。　　While　Victoire　leaned　over　the　battlements　of　the
bridge；　watching　the　rising　of　these　stars　of　fire；　a　sudden　push
from　the　elbow　of　some　rude　passenger　precipitated　her　pot　of
jonquils　into　the　Seine。　　The　sound　it　made　in　the　water　was
thunder　to　the　ear　of　Victoire；　she　stood　for　an　instant　vainly
hoping　it　would　rise　again；　but　the　waters　had　closed　over　it　for
ever。


〃Dans　cet　etat　affreux；　que　faire？
。　。　。　Mon　devoir。〃


Victoire　courageously　proceeded　to　Madame　de　Fleury's；　and　desired
to　see　her。

〃D'abord　c'est　impossiblemadame　is　dressing　to　go　to　a　concert；〃
said　Francois。　　〃Cannot　you　leave　your　message？〃

〃Oh　no；〃　said　Victoire；　〃it　is　of　great　consequenceI　must　see　her
myself；　and　she　is　so　good；　and　you　too；　Monsieur　Francois；　that　I
am　sure　you　will　not　refuse。〃

〃Well；　I　remember　one　day　you　found　the　seal　of　my　watch；　which　I
dropped　at　your　school…room　doorone　good　turn　deserves　another。
If　it　is　possible　it　shall　be　doneI　will　inquire　of　madame's
woman。〃〃Follow　me　upstairs；〃　said　he；　returning　in　a　few　minutes；
〃madame　will　see　you。〃

She　followed　him　up　the　large　staircase；　and　through　a　suite　of
apartments　sufficiently　grand　to　intimidate　her　young　imagination。

〃Madame　est　dans　son　cabinet。　　Entrezmais　entrez　donc；　entrez
toujours。〃

Madame　de　Fleury　was　more　richly　dressed　than　usual；　and　her　image
was　reflected　in　the　large　looking…glass；　so　that　at　the　first
moment　Victoire　thought　she　saw　many　fine　ladies；　but　not　one　of
them　the　lady　she　wanted。

〃Well；　Victoire；　my　child；　what　is　the　matter？〃

〃Oh；　it　is　her　voice！I　know　you　now；　madame；　and　I　am　not　afraid…
…not　afraid　even　to　tell　you　how　foolish　I　have　been。　　Sister
Frances　trusted　me　to　carry　for　you；　madame；　a　beautiful　pot　of
jonquils；　and　she　desired　me　not　to　stop　on　the　way　to　stare；　but　I
did　stop　to　look　at　the　lamps　on　the　bridge；　and　I　forgot　the
jonquils；　and　somebody　brushed　by　me　and　threw　them　into　the　river…
…and　I　am　very　sorry　I　was　so　foolish。〃

〃And　I　am　very　glad　that　you　are　so　wise　as　to　tell　the　truth；
without　attempting　to　make　any　paltry　excuses。　　Go　home　to　Sister
Frances；　and　assure　her　that　I　am　more　obliged　to　her　for　making
you　such　an　honest　girl　than　I　could　be　for　a　whole　bed　of
jonquils。〃

Victoire's　heart　was　so　full　that　she　could　not　speakshe　kissed
Madame　de　Fleury's　hand　in　silence；　and　then　seemed　to　be　lost　in
contemplation　of　her　bracelet。

〃Are　you　thinking；　Victoire；　that　you　should　be　much　happier　if　you
had　such　bracelets　as　these？　　Believe　me；　you　are　mistaken　if　you
think　so；　many　people　are　unhappy　who　wear　fine　bracelets；　so；　my
child；　content　yourself。〃

〃Myself！　　Oh；　madame；　I　was　not　thinking　of　myselfI　was　not
wishing　for　bracelets；　I　was　only　thinking　that〃

〃That　what？〃

〃That　it　is　a　pity　you　are　so　very　rich；　you　have　everything　in
this　world　that　you　want；　and　I　can　never　be　of　the　least　use　to
YOUall　my　life　I　shall　never　be　able　to　do　YOU　any　goodand
what；〃　said　Victoire；　turning　away　to　hide　her　tears；　〃what
signifies　the　gratitude　of　such　a　poor　little　creature　as　I　am？〃

〃Did　you　never　hear　the　fable　of　the　lion　and　the　mouse；　Victoire？〃

〃No；　madamenever！〃

〃Then　I　will　tell　it　to　you。〃

Victoire　looked　up　with　eyes　of　e