murad the unlucky and other tales-第20部分

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Madame　de　Fleury　immediately　wrote　to　the　lady　who　had　recommended
this　girl；　and　inquired　into　the　truth　of　the　pawnbroker's
assertions。　　The　lady；　who　had　given　Manon　a　false　character；　could
not　deny　the　facts；　and　could　apologise　for　herself　only　by　saying
that　〃she　believed　the　girl　to　be　partly　reformed；　and　that　she
hoped；　under　Madame　de　Fleury's　judicious　care；　she　would　become　an
amiable　and　respectable　woman。〃

Madame　de　Fleury；　however；　wisely　judged　that　the　hazard　of
corrupting　all　her　pupils　should　not　be　incurred　for　the　slight
chance　of　correcting　one；　whose　bad　habits　wore　of　such　long
standing。　　Manon　was　expelled　from　this　happy　little　community
even　Sister　Frances；　the　most　mild　of　human　beings；　could　never
think　of　the　danger　to　which　they　had　been　exposed　without
expressing　indignation　against　the　lady　who　recommended　such　a　girl
as　a　fit　companion　for　her　blameless　and　beloved　pupils。



CHAPTER　VII



〃Alas！　regardless　of　their　doom；
The　little　victims　play：
No　sense　have　they　of　ills　to　come；
No　care　beyond　to…day。〃GRAY。

Good　legislators　always　attend　to　the　habits；　and　what　is　called
the　genius；　of　the　people　they　have　to　govern。　　From　youth　to　age；
the　taste　for　whatever　is　called　une　fete　pervades　the　whole　French
nation。　　Madame　de　Fleury　availed　herself　judiciously　of　this
powerful　motive；　and　connected　it　with　the　feelings　of　affection
more　than　with　the　passion　for　show。　　For　instance；　when　any　of　her
little　people　had　done　anything　particularly　worthy　of　reward；　she
gave　them　leave　to　invite　their　parents　to　a　fete　prepared　for　them
by　their　children；　assisted　by　the　kindness　of　Sister　Frances。

One　dayit　was　a　holiday　obtained　by　Victoire's　good　conductall
the　children　prepared　in　their　garden　a　little　feast　for　their
parents。　　Sister　Frances　spread　the　table　with　a　bountiful　hand；
the　happy　fathers　and　mothers　were　waited　upon　by　their　children；
and　each　in　their　turn　heard　with　delight　from　the　benevolent　nun
some　instance　of　their　daughter's　improvement。　　Full　of　hope　for
the　future　and　of　gratitude　for　the　past；　these　honest　people　ate
and　talked；　whilst　in　imagination　they　saw　their　children　all
prosperously　and　usefully　settled　in　the　world。　　They　blessed
Madame　de　Fleury　in　her　absence；　and　they　wished　ardently　for　her
presence。

〃The　sun　is　setting；　and　Madame　de　Fleury　is　not　yet　come；〃　cried
Victoire；　〃she　said　she　would　be　here　this　eveningWhat　can　be　the
matter？〃

〃Nothing　is　the　matter；　you　may　be　sure；〃　said　Babet；　〃but　that　she
has　forgotten　usshe　has　so　many　things　to　think　of。〃

〃Yes；　but　I　know　she　never　forgets　us；〃　said　Victoire；　〃and　she
loves　so　much　to　see　us　all　happy　together；　that　I　am　sure　it　must
be　something　very　extraordinary　that　detains　her。〃

Babet　laughed　at　Victoire's　fears；　but　presently　even　she　began　to
grow　impatient；　for　they　waited　long　after　sunset；　expecting　every
moment　that　Madame　de　Fleury　would　arrive。　　At　last　she　appeared；
but　with　a　dejected　countenance；　which　seemed　to　justify　Victoire's
foreboding。　　When　she　saw　this　festive　company；　each　child　sitting
between　her　parents；　and　all　at　her　entrance　looking　up　with
affectionate　pleasure；　a　faint　smile　enlivened　her　countenance　for
a　moment；　but　she　did　not　speak　to　them　with　her　usual　ease。　　Her
mind　seemed　preoccupied　by　some　disagreeable　business　of
importance。　　It　appeared　that　it　had　some　connection　with　them；　for
as　she　walked　round　the　table　with　Sister　Frances；　she　said；　with　a
voice　and　look　of　great　tenderness；　〃Poor　children！　how　happy　they
are　at　this　moment！Heaven　only　knows　how　soon　they　may　be
rendered；　or　may　render　themselves；　miserable！〃

None　of　the　children　could　imagine　what　this　meant；　but　their
parents　guessed　that　it　had　some　allusion　to　the　state　of　public
affairs。　　About　this　time　some　of　those　discontents　had　broken　out
which　preceded　the　terrible　days　of　the　Revolution。　　As　yet；　most
of　the　common　people；　who　were　honestly　employed　in　earning　their
own　living；　neither　understood　what　was　going　on　nor　foresaw　what
was　to　happen。　　Many　of　their　superiors　were　not　in　such　happy
ignorancethey　had　information　of　the　intrigues　that　were　forming；
and　the　more　penetration　they　possessed；　the　more　they　feared　the
consequences　of　events　which　they　could　not　control。　　At　the　house
of　a　great　man；　with　whom　she　had　dined　this　day；　Madame　de　Fleury
had　heard　alarming　news。　　Dreadful　public　disturbances；　she　saw；
were　inevitable；　and　whilst　she　trembled　for　the　fate　of　all　who
were　dear　to　her；　these　poor　children　had　a　share　in　her　anxiety。
She　foresaw　the　temptations；　the　dangers；　to　which　they　must　be
exposed；　whether　they　abandoned；　or　whether　they　abided　by　the
principles　their　education　had　instilled。　　She　feared　that　the
labour　of　years　would　perhaps　be　lost　in　an　instant；　or　that　her
innocent　pupils　would　fall　victims　even　to　their　virtues。

Many　of　these　young　people　were　now　of　an　age　to　understand　and　to
govern　themselves　by　reason；　and　with　these　she　determined　to　use
those　preventive　measures　which　reason　affords。　　Without　meddling
with　politics；　in　which　no　amiable　or　sensible　woman　can　wish　to
interfere；　the　influence　of　ladies　in　the　higher　ranks　of　life　may
always　be　exerted　with　perfect　propriety；　and　with　essential
advantage　to　the　public；　in　conciliating　the　inferior　classes　of
society；　explaining　to　them　their　duties　and　their　interests；　and
impressing　upon　the　minds　of　the　children　of　the　poor　sentiments　of
just　subordination　and　honest　independence。　　How　happy　would　it
have　been　for　France　if　women　of　fortune　and　abilities　had　always
exerted　their　talents　and　activity　in　this　manner；　instead　of
wasting　their　powers　in　futile　declamations；　or　in　the　intrigues　of
party！



CHAPTER　VIII



〃E'en　now　the　devastation　is　begun；
And　half　the　business　of　destruction　done。〃
GOLDSMITH。

Madame　de　Fleury　was　not　disappointed　in　her　pupils。　　When　the
public　disturbances　began；　these　children　were　shocked　by　the
horrible　actions　they　saw。　　Instead　of　being　seduced　by　bad
example；　they　only　showed　anxiety　to　avoid　companions　of　their　own
age　who　were　dishonest；　idle；　or　profligate。　　Victoire's　cousin
Manon　ridiculed　these　absurd　principles；　as　she　called　them；　and
endeavoured　to　persuade　Victoire　that　she　would　be　much　happier　if
she　followed　the　fashion。

〃What！　　Victoire；　still　with　your　work…bag　on　your　arm；　and　still
going　to　school　with　your　little　sister；　though　you　are　but　a　year
younger　than　I　am；　I　believe！thirteen　last　birthday；　were　not
you？Mon　Dieu！　　Why；　how　long　do　you　intend　to　be　a　child？　and　why
don't　you　leave　that　old　nun；　who　keeps　you　in　leading…strings？I
assure　you；　nuns；　and　school…mistresses；　and　schools；　and　all　that
sort　of　thing；　are　out　of　fashion　nowwe　have　abolished　all　that
we　are　to　live　a　life　of　reason　nowand　all　soon　to　be　equal；　I
can　tell　you；　let　your　Madame　de　Fleury　look　to　that；　and　look　to
it　yourself；　for　with　all　your　wisdom；　you　might　find　yourself　in
the　wrong　box　by　sticking　to　her；　and　that　side　of　the　question。
Disengage　yourself　from　her；　I　advise　you；　as　soon　as　you　can。My
dear　Victoire！　believe　me；　you　may　spell　very　wellbut　you　know
nothing　of　the　rights　of　man；　or　the　rights　of　woman。〃

〃I　do　not　pretend　to　know　anything　of　the　rights　of　men；　or　the
rights　of　women；〃　cried　Victoire；　〃but　this　I　know：　　that　I　never
can　or　will　be　ungrateful　to　Madame　de　Fleury。　　Disengage　myself
from　her！　　I　am　bound　to　her　for　ever；　and　I　will　abide　by　her　till
the　last　hour　I　breathe。〃

〃Well；　well！　there　is　no　occasion　to　be　in　a　passionI　only　speak
as　a　friend；　and　I　have　no　more　time　to　reason　with　you；　for　I　must
go　home；　and　get　ready　my　dress　for　the　ball　to…night。〃

〃Manon；　how　can　you　afford　to　buy　a　dress　for　a　ball？〃

〃As　you　might；　if　you　had　common　sense；　Victoireonly　by　being　a
good　citizen。　　I　and　a　party　of　us　denounced　a　milliner　and　a
confectioner　in　our　neighbourhood；　who　were　horrible　aristocrats；
and　of　their　goods　forfeited　to　the　nation　we　had；　as　was　our　just
share；　such　delicious　marangues　and　charming　ribands！Oh；
Victoire；　believe　me；　you　will　never　get　such　things　by　going　to
school；　or　saying　your　prayers　either。　　You　may　look　with　as　much
scorn　and　indignation　as　you　please；　but　I　advise　you　to　let　it
alone；　for　all　that　is　out　of　fashion；　and　may；　moreover；　bring　you
into　difficulties。　　Believe　me；　my　dear　Victoire；　your　head　is　not
deep　enough　to　understand　these　thingsyou　know　nothing　of
politics。〃

〃But　I　know　the　difference　between　right　and　wrong；　Manon：
politics　can　never　alter　that；　you　know。〃

〃Never　alter　that！　there　you　are　quite　mistaken；〃　said　Manon。　　〃I
cannot　stay　to　convince　you　nowbut　this　I　can　tell　you：　　that　I
know　secrets　that　you　don't　suspect。〃

〃I　do　not　wish　to　know　any　of　your　secrets；　Manon；〃　said　Victoire；
proudly。

〃Your　pride　may　be　humbled；　Citoyenne　Victoire；　sooner　than　you
expect；〃　exclaimed　Manon；　who　was　now　so　provoked　by　her　cousin's
contempt　that　she　could　not　refrain　from　boasting　of　her　political
knowledge。　　〃I　can　tell　you　that　your　fine　friends　will　in　a　few
days　not　be　able　to　protect　you。　　The　Abbe　Tracassier　is　in　love
with　a　dear　friend　of　mine；　and　I　know　all　the　secrets　of　state
from　herand　I　know　what　I　know。　　Be　as　incredulous　as　you　please；
but　you　will　see　that；　before　this　week　is　at　end；　Monsieur　de
Fleury　will　be　guillotined；　and　then　what　will　become　of　you？　　Good
morning；　my　proud　cousin。〃

Shocked　by　what　she　had　just　heard；　Victoire　could　scarcely　believe
that　Manon　was　in　earnest；　she　resolved；　however；　to　go　immediately
and　communicate　this　intelligence；　whether　true　or　false；　to　Madame
de　Fleury。　　It　agreed　but　too　well　with　other　circumstances；　which
alarmed　this　lady　for　the　safety　of　her　husband。　　A　man　of　his
abilities；　integrity；　and　fortune；　could　not　in　such　times　hope　to
escape　persecution。　　He　was　inclined　to　brave　the　danger；　but　his
lady　represented　that　it　would　not　be　courage；　but　rashness　and
folly；　to　sacrifice　his　life　to　the　villainy　of　others；　without
probability　or　possibility　of　serving　his　country　by　his　fall。

Monsieur　de　Fleury；　in　conseque