登陆注册
5168500000170

第170章

PRESENTIMENTS.

Whilst the preceding events took place in Dr.Baleinier's asylum, other scenes were passing about the same hour, at Frances Baudoin's, in the Rue Brise-Miche.

Seven o'clock in the morning had just struck at St.Mary church; the day was dark and gloomy, and the sleet rattled against the windows of the joyless chamber of Dagobert's wife.

As yet ignorant of her son's arrest, Frances had waited for him the whole of the preceding evening, and a good part of the night, with the most anxious uneasiness; yielding at length to fatigue and sleep, about three o'clock in the morning, she had thrown herself on a mattress beside the bed of Rose and Blanche.But she rose with the first dawn of day, to ascend to Agricola's garret, in the very faint hope that he might have returned home some hours before.

Rose and Blanche had just risen, and dressed themselves.They were alone in the sad, chilly apartment.Spoil-sport, whom Dagobert had left in Paris, was stretched at full length near the cold stove; with his long muzzle resting on his forepaws, he kept his eye fixed on the sisters.

Having slept but little during the night, they had perceived the agitation and anguish of Dagobert's wife.They had seen her walk up and down, now talking to herself, now listening to the least noise that came up the staircase, and now kneeling before the crucifix placed at one extremity of the room.The orphans were not aware, that, whilst she brayed with fervor on behalf of her son, this excellent woman was praying for them also.For the state of their souls filled her with anxiety and alarm.

The day before, when Dagobert had set out for Chartres, Frances, having assisted Rose and Blanche to rise, had invited them to say their morning prayer: they answered with the utmost simplicity, that they did not know any, and that they never more than addressed their mother, who was in heaven.When Frances, struck with painful surprise, spoke to them of catechism, confirmation, communion, the sisters opened widely their large eyes with astonishment, understanding nothing of such talk.

According to her simple faith, terrified at the ignorance of the young girls in matters of religion, Dagobert's wife believed their souls to be in the greatest peril, the more so as, having asked them if they had ever been baptized (at the same time explaining to them the nature of that sacrament), the orphans answered they did not think they had, since there was neither church nor priest in the village where they were born, during their mother's exile in Siberia.

Placing one's self in the position of Frances, you understand how much she was grieved and alarmed; for, in her eyes, these young girls, whom she already loved tenderly, so charmed was she with their sweet disposition, were nothing but poor heathens, innocently doomed to eternal damnation.So, unable to restrain her tears, or conceal her horrors, she had clasped them in her arms, promising immediately to attend to their salvation, and regretting that Dagobert had not thought of having them baptized by the way.Now, it must be confessed, that this notion had never once occurred to the ex-grenadier.

When she went to her usual Sunday devotions, Frances had not dared to take Rose and Blanche with her, as their complete ignorance of sacred things would have rendered their presence at church, if not useless, scandalous; but, in her own fervent prayers she implored celestial mercy for these orphans, who did not themselves know the desperate position of their souls.

Rose and Blanche were now left alone, in the absence of Dagobert's wife.

They were still dressed in mourning, their charming faces seeming even more pensive than usual.Though they were accustomed to a life of misfortune, they had been struck, since their arrival in the Rue Brise-

Miche, with the painful contrast between the poor dwelling which they had come to inhabit, and the wonders which their young imagination had conceived of Paris, that golden city of their dreams.But, soon this natural astonishment was replaced by thoughts of singular gravity for their age.The contemplation of such honest and laborious poverty made the orphans have reflections no longer those of children, but of young women.Assisted by their admirable spirit of justice and of sympathy for all that is good, by their noble heart, by a character at once delicate and courageous, they had observed and meditated much during the last twenty-four hours.

"Sister," said Rose to Blanche, when Frances had quitted the room, "Dagobert's poor wife is very uneasy.Did you remark in the night, how agitated she was? how she wept and prayed?"

"I was grieved to see it, sister, and wondered what could be the cause."

"I am almost afraid to guess.Perhaps we may be the cause of her uneasiness?"

"Why so, sister? Because we cannot say prayers, nor tell if we have ever been baptized?"

"That seemed to give her a good deal of pain, it is true.I was quite touched by it, for it proves that she loves us tenderly.But I could not understand how we ran such terrible danger as she said we did."

"Nor I either, sister.We have always tried not to displease our mother, who sees and hears us."

"We love those who love us; we are resigned to whatever may happen to us.

So, who can reproach us with any harm?"

"No one.But, perhaps, we may do some without meaning it."

"We?"

"Yes, and therefore I thought: We may perhaps be the cause of her uneasiness."

"How so?"

"Listen, sister! yesterday Madame Baudoin tried to work at those sacks of coarse cloth there on the table."

"Yes; but in about an half-hour, she told us sorrowfully, that she could not go on, because her eyes failed her, and she could not see clearly."

"So that she is not able to earn her living."

"No--but her son, M.Agricola, works for her.He looks so good, so gay, so frank, and so happy to devote himself for his mother.Oh, indeed! he is the worthy brother of our angel Gabriel!"

同类推荐
  • The Financier

    The Financier

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy

    The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 瑶溪集

    瑶溪集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 寄卢载

    寄卢载

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 旧德堂医案

    旧德堂医案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 孽徒成妻,呆萌徒儿缠上身

    孽徒成妻,呆萌徒儿缠上身

    十岁生辰,她遇上他,救了他。尔后,祸事临身,他受爹娘所托带着她逃离。不过几日,她便成了他的徒,受他特有的清冷下的宠溺。她所要的一切,他都答应。“师父师父,小语要吃糖葫芦。”“喜欢便拿,不能多吃。”“师父,小语想要凭自己的能力当上你的徒弟。”“若这是你所想,那便努力吧。”“师父,小语输了,小语不能当你的徒弟了。”“小傻瓜,师父有说过赢了的人才能当师父的徒弟了吗?”他对她的好,她都看在眼里,记在心里。师父,从今往后,上天下地,六界之中,只要师父所愿,小语无论放弃什么,都会为师父达成心愿!
  • 神奇教练:马尔切洛·里皮

    神奇教练:马尔切洛·里皮

    2013年11月9日,一个值得全中国球迷记住的日子。广州恒大队荣登亚洲之巅。在这个激动的时刻,我们必须记住一个人的名字——里皮。里皮是足球历史上第一位先后赢取欧冠冠军和世界杯冠军,两项分别代表俱乐部和国家队最高荣誉和成就的主教练。在他23年的执教生涯中,几乎夺得了作为一名俱乐部教练能够想到的所取得的一切荣誉。的确,里皮作为教练所取得的伟绩已经达到了登峰造极的地步。但如果仅仅因为如此,你就认为他的足球生涯一帆风顺的话,那是极不准确的。本书翻开尘封的历史,将带领大家了解他之前的经历,走进里皮丰富多彩的职业生涯;本书深度展开一个人们难以看到的足球世界,与你分享大腕的足球人生。
  • 对风

    对风

    梦想成为画家的莫非在一所美术院校就读,在母亲的掩护下对身为警察的父亲谎称自己在读政法。一天,得知了真相的父亲非但没有责备他,反而请求他代替一位名叫常峰的画家协助调查一家艺术品集团。为了能名正言顺的追求梦想,莫非接受了父亲的请求。调查中,一件件艺术佳作暗藏玄机,一个个温文尔雅的艺术家疑点重重,层层迷团,亦真亦幻,仿佛有一股神秘的风在引导着他,帮他走近真相,他要迎向那股风,冲破迷雾,向日而生。本作品内容纯属虚构,如有雷同纯属巧合。本作品内容与特定团体、地区、宗教、人物无关,特此公告。
  • 我在现世做鬼差

    我在现世做鬼差

    二丫头做水鬼的时候做了一场善事,然后村民们很实在,给她建了一座庙。不仅不用做水鬼了,还借尸还魂,成为了初二女生,洛扶依!话说,这人和鬼她都做过,这神怎么做啊?不怕不怕,既然不知道,那就从一个鬼差开始做起吧!
  • 最强特种兵之战狼

    最强特种兵之战狼

    最强军中王牌-战狼大队,为民而战,为国而生,少言的英雄,在用拳头,砸碎敌人头骨的同时,向世界宣告:华夏民族的尊严,不容践踏!(这是一本男人的书,一本热血燃烧的军事小说!)
  • 三高病实用自我疗法(实用自我疗法系列)

    三高病实用自我疗法(实用自我疗法系列)

    生活水平的提高,工作节奏的加快和不健康的饮食习惯造就了大量的高血压、高血糖、高血脂患者,严重地影响着人们的身心健康。本书从读者最迫切的需求出发,分别论述了“三高”患者在诊断、预防、食疗、起居、运动、自疗、用药的各个细节以及自我监测等,让读者对“三高症”有全面的了解,做到诊治了然于心,防患于未然。全书以实用性和可操作性为指导,不仅适合所有高血压、糖尿病,高血脂患者及其家人阅读,而且对广大中年以上健康人群及早预防“三高”也会有非常切实的帮助。
  • 平淡生活

    平淡生活

    十八岁的优优婷婷玉立,不可方物,为摆脱地痞无赖的纠缠,只身一人来到北京,拳击台上一个并不强壮的男孩深深吸引了优优的目光,交错而过开始了优优漫漫的暗恋心旅!情杀、他杀、自杀、步步杀机,命如草芥;美色、权力、财富、贪婪,纯洁初恋奢华介入其中,你的人性是否泯灭!二零零肆年的夏天,海岩把一个花季少女变成一个如蛇如蝎,亦善亦恶的漂亮女人,是对是错,是喜是悲,独自体会。
  • 穿书之强取豪夺

    穿书之强取豪夺

    ①本书耽美向,慎入。②怀柔政策不管用?那便强取豪多之!
  • 穿越,作死,玩脱

    穿越,作死,玩脱

    乌鲁克外怒拐恩奇都的奇怪路人……影之国里蹂躏库丘林的魔鬼同学……燃烧的宫殿中与尼禄共舞的恶魔……剑栏之丘上帮莫德雷德挡枪的神秘人……一个穿越的逗逼因某些原因而不停转世搞事的故事。 前奏较长。 能找到本书的都是牛人。 书友群:688260303
  • 回乡之路

    回乡之路

    当大城市中的住房、教育、医疔“新三座大山”压在青年人身上时,以往被人们视为大后方的农村,能否给年轻人一条出路?“丁零零……丁零零……”讨厌的闹钟响了,把我从酣梦中刺醒。我蜷曲如虾米的身子变换了一个姿势,成“大”字摊在床上。缠人的瞌睡意犹未尽,像水蛇缠绕一般,让人迷迷糊糊睡意难退。人就是欠睡,像欠奶的孩子,总想着那一口。