murad the unlucky and other tales-第24部分

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recommended　to　her　by　Madame　de　Fleury；　especially　Victoire；　who
she　said　was　such　a　treasure　to　her；　that　she　would　not　part　with
her　on　any　account；　and　should　consider　her　as　a　daughter。　　〃I　tell
her　not　to　grieve　so　much；　for　though　she　has　lost　one　mother　she
has　gained　another　for　herself；　who　will　always　love　her；　and
besides　she　is　so　useful；　and　in　so　many　ways；　with　her　pen　and　her
needle；　in　accounts；　and　everything　that　is　wanted　in　a　family　or　a
shop；　she　can　never　want　employment　or　friends　in　the　worst　times；
and　none　can　be　worse　than　these；　especially　for　such　pretty　girls
as　she　is；　who　have　all　their　heads　turned；　and　are　taught　to
consider　nothing　a　sin　that　used　to　be　sins。　　Many　gentlemen；　who
come　to　our　shop；　have　found　out　that　Victoire　is　very　handsome；
and　tell　her　so；　but　she　is　so　modest　and　prudent　that　I　am　not
afraid　for　her。　　I　could　tell　you；　madame；　a　good　anecdote　on　this
subject；　but　my　paper　will　not　allow；　and；　besides；　my　writing　is
so　difficult。〃

Above　a　year　elapsed　before　Madame　de　Fleury　received　another
letter　from　Victoire：　　this　was　in　a　parcel；　of　which　an　emigrant
took　charge；　it　contained　a　variety　of　little　offerings　from　her
pupils；　instances　of　their　ingenuity；　their　industry；　and　their
affection；　the　last　thing　in　the　packet　was　a　small　purse　labelled
in　this　manner　…

〃Savings　from　our　wages　and　earnings　for　her　who　taught　us　all　we
know。〃



CHAPTER　XII



〃Dans　sa　pompe　elegante；　admirez　Chantilly；
De　heros　en　heros；　d'age　en　age；　embelli。〃DE　LILLE。

The　health　of　the　good　Sister　Frances；　which　had　suffered　much　from
the　shock　her　mind　received　at　the　commencement　of　the　revolution；
declined　so　rapidly　in　the　course　of　the　two　succeeding　years；　that
she　was　obliged　to　leave　Paris；　and　she　retired　to　a　little　village
in　the　neighbourhood　of　Chantilly。　　She　chose　this　situation
because　here　she　was　within　a　morning's　walk　of　Madame　de　Fleury's
country…seat。　　The　Chateau　de　Fleury　had　not　yet　been　seized　as
national　property；　nor　had　it　suffered　from　the　attacks　of　the　mob；
though　it　was　in　a　perilous　situation；　within　view　of　the　high　road
to　Paris。　　The　Parisian　populace　had　not　yet　extended　their
outrages　to　this　distance　from　the　city；　and　the　poor　people　who
lived　on　the　estate　of　Fleury；　attached　from　habit；　principle；　and
gratitude；　to　their　lord；　were　not　disposed　to　take　advantage　of
the　disorder　of　the　times；　to　injure　the　property　of　those　from
whom　they　had　all　their　lives　received　favours　and　protection。　　A
faithful　old　steward　had　the　care　of　the　castle　and　the　grounds。
Sister　Frances　was　impatient　to　talk　to　him　and　to　visit　the
chateau；　which　she　had　never　seen；　but　for　some　days　after　her
arrival　in　the　village　she　was　so　much　fatigued　and　so　weak　that
she　could　not　attempt　so　long　a　walk。　　Victoire　had　obtained
permission　from　her　mistress　to　accompany　the　nun　for　a　few　days　to
the　country；　as　Annette　undertook　to　do　all　the　business　of　the
shop　during　the　absence　of　her　companion。　　Victoire　was　fully　as
eager　as　Sister　Frances　to　see　the　faithful　steward　and　the　Chateau
de　Fleury；　and　the　morning　was　now　fixed　for　their　walk；　but　in　the
middle　of　the　night　they　were　awakened　by　the　shouts　of　a　mob；　who
had　just　entered　the　village　fresh　from　the　destruction　of　a
neighbouring　castle。　　The　nun　and　Victoire　listened；　but　in　the
midst　of　the　horrid　yells　of　joy　no　human　voice；　no　intelligible
word　could　be　distinguished；　they　looked　through　a　chink　in　the
window…shutter　and　they　saw　the　street　below　filled　with　a　crowd　of
men；　whose　countenances　were　by　turns　illuminated　by　the　glare　of
the　torches　which　they　brandished。

〃Good　Heavens！〃　whispered　the　nun　to　Victoire：　　〃I　should　know　the
face　of　that　man　who　is　loading　his　musketthe　very　man　whom　I
nursed　ten　years　ago　when　he　was　ill　with　a　gaol　fever！〃

This　man；　who　stood　in　the　midst　of　the　crowd；　taller　by　the　head
than　the　others；　seemed　to　be　the　leader　of　the　party；　they　were
disputing　whether　they　should　proceed　further；　spend　the　remainder
of　the　night　in　the　village　alehouse；　or　return　to　Paris。　　Their
leader　ordered　spirits　to　be　distributed　to　his　associates；　and
exhorted　them　in　a　loud　voice　to　proceed　in　their　glorious　work。
Tossing　his　firebrand　over　his　head　he　declared　that　he　would　never
return　to　Paris　till　he　had　razed　to　the　ground　the　Chateau　de
Fleury。　　At　these　words；　Victoire；　forgetful　of　all　personal
danger；　ran　out　into　the　midst　of　the　mob；　pressed　her　way　up　to
the　leader　of　these　ruffians；　caught　him　by　the　arm；　exclaiming；
〃You　will　not　touch　a　stone　in　the　Chateau　de　FleuryI　have　my
reasonsI　say　you　will　not　suffer　a　stone　in　the　Chateau　de　Fleury
to　be　touched。〃

〃And　why　not？〃　cried　the　man；　turning　astonished；　〃and　who　are　you
that　I　should　listen　to　you？〃

〃No　matter　who　I　am；〃　said　Victoire；　〃follow　me　and　I　will　show　you
one　to　whom　you　will　not　refuse　to　listen。　　Here！here　she　is；〃
continued　Victoire；　pointing　to　the　nun；　who　had　followed　her　in
amazement；　here　is　one　to　whom　you　will　listenyes；　look　at　her
well：　　hold　the　light　to　her　face。〃

The　nun；　in　a　supplicating　attitude；　stood　in　speechless
expectation。

〃Ay；　I　see　you　have　gratitude；　I　know　you　will　have　mercy；〃　cried
Victoire；　watching　the　workings　in　the　countenance　of　the　man；　〃you
will　save　the　Chateau　de　Fleury　for　her　sakewho　saved　your　life。〃

〃I　will；〃　cried　this　astonished　chief　of　a　mob；　fired　with　sudden
generosity。　　〃By　my　faith　you　are　a　brave　girl；　and　a　fine　girl；
and　know　how　to　speak　to　the　heart；　and　in　the　right　moment。
Friends；　citizens；　this　nun；　though　she　is　a　nun；　is　good　for
something。　　When　I　lay　ill　with　a　fever；　and　not　a　soul　else　to
help　me；　she　came　and　gave　me　medicines　and　foodin　short；　I　owe
my　life　to　her。　　'Tis　ten　years　ago；　but　I　remember　it　well；　and
now　it　is　our　turn　to　rule；　and　she　shall　be　paid　as　she　deserves。
Not　a　stone　of　the　Chateau　de　Fleury　shall　be　touched！〃

With　loud　acclamations　the　mob　joined　in　the　generous　enthusiasm　of
the　moment　and　followed　their　leader　peaceably　out　of　the　village。
All　this　passed　with　such　rapidity　as　scarcely　to　leave　the
impression　of　reality　upon　the　mind。　　As　soon　as　the　sun　rose　in
the　morning　Victoire　looked　out　for　the　turrets　of　the　Chateau　de
Fleury；　and　she　saw　that　they　were　safesafe　in　the　midst　of　the
surrounding　devastation。　　Nothing　remained　of　the　superb　palace　of
Chantilly　but　the　white　arches　of　its　foundation。



CHAPTER　XIII



〃When　thy　last　breath；　ere　Nature　sank　to　rest
Thy　meek　submission　to　thy　God　expressed；
When　thy　last　look；　ere　thought　and　feeling　fled；
A　mingled　gleam　of　hope　and　triumph　shed；
What　to　thy　soul　its　glad　assurance　gave　…
Its　hope　in　death；　its　triumph　o'er　the　grave？
The　sweet　remembrance　of　unblemished　youth；
Th'　inspiring　voice　of　innocence　and　truth！〃ROGERS。

The　good　Sister　Frances；　though　she　had　scarcely　recovered　from　the
shock　of　the　preceding　night；　accompanied　Victoire　to　the　Chateau
de　Fleury。　　The　gates　were　opened　for　them　by　the　old　steward　and
his　son　Basile；　who　welcomed　them　with　all　the　eagerness　with　which
people　welcome　friends　in　time　of　adversity。　　The　old　man　showed
them　the　place；　and　through　every　apartment　of　the　castle　went　on
talking　of　former　times；　and　with　narrative　fondness　told　anecdotes
of　his　dear　master　and　mistress。　　Here　his　lady　used　to　sit　and
readhere　was　the　table　at　which　she　wrotethis　was　the　sofa　on
which　she　and　the　ladies　sat　the　very　last　day　she　was　at　the
castle；　at　the　open　windows　of　the　hall；　whilst　all　the　tenants　and
people　of　the　village　were　dancing　on　the　green。

〃Ay；　those　were　happy　times；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃but　they　will
never　return。〃

〃Never！　　Oh　do　not　say　so；〃　cried　Victoire。

〃Never　during　my　life；　at　least；〃　said　the　nun　in　a　low　voice；　and
with　a　look　of　resignation。

Basile；　as　he　wiped　the　tears　from　his　eyes；　happened　to　strike　his
arm　against　the　chord　of　Madame　de　Fleury's　harp；　and　the　sound
echoed　through　the　room。

〃Before　this　year　is　at　an　end；〃　cried　Victoire；　〃perhaps　that　harp
will　be　struck　again　in　this　Chateau　by　Madame　de　Fleury　herself。
Last　night　we　could　hardly　have　hoped　to　see　these　walls　standing
this　morning；　and　yet　it　is　safenot　a　stone　touched！　　Oh；　we
shall　all　live；　I　hope；　to　see　better　times！〃

Sister　Frances　smiled；　for　she　would　not　depress　Victoire's
enthusiastic　hope：　　to　please　her；　the　good　nun　added；　that　she
felt　better　this　morning　than　she　had　felt　for　months；　and　Victoire
was　happier　than　she　had　been　since　Madame　de　Fleury　left　France。
But；　alas！　it　was　only　a　transient　gleam。　　Sister　Frances　relapsed
and　declined　so　rapidly；　that　even　Victoire；　whose　mind　was　almost
always　disposed　to　hope；　despaired　of　her　recovery。　　With　placid
resignation；　or　rather　with　mild　confidence；　this　innocent　and
benevolent　creature　met　the　approach　of　death。　　She　seemed　attached
to　earth　only　by　affection　for　those　whom　she　was　to　leave　in　this
world。　　Two　of　the　youngest　of　the　children　who　had　formerly　been
placed　under　her　care；　and　who　were　not　yet　able　to　earn　their　own
subsistence；　she　kept　with　her；　and　in　the　last　days　of　her　life
she　continued　her　instructions　to　them　with　the　fond　solicitude　of
a　parent。　　Her　father　confessor；　an　excellent　man；　who　never　even
in　these　dangerous　times　shrank　from　his　duty；　came　to　Sister
Frances　in　her　last　moments；　and　relieved　her　mind　from　all
anxiety；　by　promising　to　place　the　two　little　children　with　the
lady　who　had　been　abbess　of　her　convent；　who　would　to　the　utmost　of
her　power　protect　and　provide　for　them　suitably。　　Satisfied　by　this
promise；　the　good　Sister　Frances　smiled　upon　Victoire；　who　stood
beside　her　bed；　and　with　that　smile　upon　her　countenance　expired。
It　was　some　time　before　the　little　children　seemed　to　comprehend；
or　to　believe；　that　Sister　Frances　was　dead：　　they　had　never　before
seen　any　one　die；　they　had　no　idea　what　it　was　to　die；　and　their
first　feeling　was　astonishment；　they　did　not　seem　to　understand　why
Victoire　wept。　　But　the　next　day　when　no　Sister　Frances　spoke　to
them；　when　every　hour　they　missed　some　accustomed　kindness　from
her；when　pres