cousin betty-第76章

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been　legally　married　for　lack　of　thirty　francs；　the　lowest　figure　for
which　the　Notary；　the　Registrar；　the　Mayor　and　the　Church　will　unite
two　citizens　of　Paris。　Madame　de　la　Chanterie's　fund；　founded　to
restore　poor　households　to　their　religious　and　legal　status；　hunts　up
such　couples；　and　with　all　the　more　success　because　it　helps　them　in
their　poverty　before　attacking　their　unlawful　union。

As　soon　as　Madame　Hulot　had　recovered；　she　returned　to　her
occupations。　And　then　it　was　that　the　admirable　Madame　de　la　Chanterie
came　to　beg　that　Adeline　would　add　the　legalization　of　these　voluntary
unions　to　the　other　good　works　of　which　she　was　the　instrument。

One　of　the　Baroness'　first　efforts　in　this　cause　was　made　in　the
ominous…looking　district；　formerly　known　as　la　Petite　PologneLittle
Polandbounded　by　the　Rue　du　Rocher；　Rue　de　la　Pepiniere；　and　Rue　de
Miromenil。　There　exists　there　a　sort　of　offshoot　of　the　Faubourg
Saint…Marceau。　To　give　an　idea　of　this　part　of　the　town；　it　is　enough
to　say　that　the　landlords　of　some　of　the　houses　tenanted　by　working
men　without　work；　by　dangerous　characters；　and　by　the　very　poor
employed　in　unhealthy　toil；　dare　not　demand　their　rents；　and　can　find
no　bailiffs　bold　enough　to　evict　insolvent　lodgers。　At　the　present
time　speculating　builders；　who　are　fast　changing　the　aspect　of　this
corner　of　Paris；　and　covering　the　waste　ground　lying　between　the　Rue
d'Amsterdam　and　the　Rue　Faubourg…du…Roule；　will　no　doubt　alter　the
character　of　the　inhabitants；　for　the　trowel　is　a　more　civilizing
agent　than　is　generally　supposed。　By　erecting　substantial　and　handsome
houses；　with　porters　at　the　doors；　by　bordering　the　streets　with
footwalks　and　shops；　speculation；　while　raising　the　rents；　disperses
the　squalid　class；　families　bereft　of　furniture；　and　lodgers　that
cannot　pay。　And　so　these　districts　are　cleared　of　such　objectionable
residents；　and　the　dens　vanish　into　which　the　police　never　venture　but
under　the　sanction　of　the　law。

In　June　1844；　the　purlieus　of　the　Place　de　Laborde　were　still　far　from
inviting。　The　genteel　pedestrian；　who　by　chance　should　turn　out　of　the
Rue　de　la　Pepiniere　into　one　of　those　dreadful　side…streets；　would
have　been　dismayed　to　see　how　vile　a　bohemia　dwelt　cheek　by　jowl　with
the　aristocracy。　In　such　places　as　these；　haunted　by　ignorant　poverty
and　misery　driven　to　bay；　flourish　the　last　public　letter…writers　who
are　to　be　found　in　Paris。　Wherever　you　see　the　two　words　〃Ecrivain
Public〃　written　in　a　fine　copy　hand　on　a　sheet　of　letter…paper　stuck
to　the　window　pane　of　some　low　entresol　or　mud…splashed　ground…floor
room；　you　may　safely　conclude　that　the　neighborhood　is　the　lurking
place　of　many　unlettered　folks；　and　of　much　vice　and　crime；　the
outcome　of　misery；　for　ignorance　is　the　mother　of　all　sorts　of　crime。
A　crime　is；　in　the　first　instance；　a　defect　of　reasoning　powers。

While　the　Baroness　had　been　ill；　this　quarter；　to　which　she　was　a
minor　Providence；　had　seen　the　advent　of　a　public　writer　who　settled
in　the　Passage　du　SoleilSun　Alleya　spot　of　which　the　name　is　one
of　the　antitheses　dear　to　the　Parisian；　for　the　passage　is　especially
dark。　This　writer；　supposed　to　be　a　German；　was　named　Vyder；　and　he
lived　on　matrimonial　terms　with　a　young　creature　of　whom　he　was　so
jealous　that　he　never　allowed　her　to　go　anywhere　excepting　to　some
honest　stove　and　flue…fitters；　in　the　Rue　Saint…Lazare；　Italians；　as
such　fitters　always　are；　but　long　since　established　in　Paris。　These
people　had　been　saved　from　a　bankruptcy；　which　would　have　reduced　them
to　misery；　by　the　Baroness；　acting　in　behalf　of　Madame　de　la
Chanterie。　In　a　few　months　comfort　had　taken　the　place　of　poverty；　and
Religion　had　found　a　home　in　hearts　which　once　had　cursed　Heaven　with
the　energy　peculiar　to　Italian　stove…fitters。　So　one　of　Madame　Hulot's
first　visits　was　to　this　family。

She　was　pleased　at　the　scene　that　presented　itself　to　her　eyes　at　the
back　of　the　house　where　these　worthy　folks　lived　in　the　Rue　Saint…
Lazare；　not　far　from　the　Rue　du　Rocher。　High　above　the　stores　and
workshops；　now　well　filled；　where　toiled　a　swarm　of　apprentices　and
workmenall　Italians　from　the　valley　of　Domo　d'Ossolathe　master's
family　occupied　a　set　of　rooms；　which　hard　work　had　blessed　with
abundance。　The　Baroness　was　hailed　like　the　Virgin　Mary　in　person。

After　a　quarter　of　an　hour's　questioning；　Adeline；　having　to　wait　for
the　father　to　inquire　how　his　business　was　prospering；　pursued　her
saintly　calling　as　a　spy　by　asking　whether　they　knew　of　any　families
needing　help。

〃Ah；　dear　lady；　you　who　could　save　the　damned　from　hell！〃　said　the
Italian　wife；　〃there　is　a　girl　quite　near　here　to　be　saved　from
perdition。〃

〃A　girl　well　known　to　you？〃　asked　the　Baroness。

〃She　is　the　granddaughter　of　a　master　my　husband　formerly　worked　for；
who　came　to　France　in　1798；　after　the　Revolution；　by　name　Judici。　Old
Judici；　in　Napoleon's　time；　was　one　of　the　principal　stove…fitters　in
Paris；　he　died　in　1819；　leaving　his　son　a　fine　fortune。　But　the
younger　Judici　wasted　all　his　money　on　bad　women；　till；　at　last；　he
married　one　who　was　sharper　than　the　rest；　and　she　had　this　poor
little　girl；　who　is　just　turned　fifteen。〃

〃And　what　is　wrong　with　her？〃　asked　Adeline；　struck　by　the　resemblance
between　this　Judici　and　her　husband。

〃Well；　madame；　this　child；　named　Atala；　ran　away　from　her　father；　and
came　to　live　close　by　here　with　an　old　German　of　eighty　at　least；
named　Vyder；　who　does　odd　jobs　for　people　who　cannot　read　and　write。
Now；　if　this　old　sinner；　who　bought　the　child　of　her　mother；　they　say
for　fifteen　hundred　francs；　would　but　marry　her；　as　he　certainly　has
not　long　to　live；　and　as　he　is　said　to　have　some　few　thousand　of
francs　a　yearwell；　the　poor　thing；　who　is　a　sweet　little　angel；
would　be　out　of　mischief；　and　above　want；　which　must　be　the　ruin　of
her。〃

〃Thank　you　very　much　for　the　information。　I　may　do　some　good；　but　I
must　act　with　caution。Who　is　the　old　man？〃

〃Oh！　madame；　he　is　a　good　old　fellow；　he　makes　the　child　very　happy；
and　he　has　some　sense　too；　for　he　left　the　part　of　town　where　the
Judicis　live；　as　I　believe；　to　snatch　the　child　from　her　mother's
clutches。　The　mother　was　jealous　of　her；　and　I　dare　say　she　thought
she　could　make　money　out　of　her　beauty　and　make　a　/mademoiselle/　of
the　girl。

〃Atala　remembered　us；　and　advised　her　gentleman　to　settle　near　us；　and
as　the　good　man　sees　how　decent　we　are；　he　allows　her　to　come　here。
But　get　them　married；　madame；　and　you　will　do　an　action　worthy　of　you。
Once　married；　the　child　will　be　independent　and　free　from　her　mother；
who　keeps　an　eye　on　her；　and　who；　if　she　could　make　money　by　her；
would　like　to　see　her　on　the　stage；　or　successful　in　the　wicked　life
she　meant　her　to　lead。〃

〃Why　doesn't　the　old　man　marry　her？〃

〃There　was　no　necessity　for　it；　you　see；〃　said　the　Italian。　〃And
though　old　Vyder　is　not　a　bad　old　fellow；　I　fancy　he　is　sharp　enough
to　wish　to　remain　the　master；　while　if　he　once　got　marriedwhy；　the
poor　man　is　afraid　of　the　stone　that　hangs　round　every　old　man's
neck。〃

〃Could　you　send　for　the　girl　to　come　here？〃　said　Madame　Hulot。　〃I
should　see　her　quietly；　and　find　out　what　could　be　done〃

The　stove…fitter's　wife　signed　to　her　eldest　girl；　who　ran　off。　Ten
minutes　later　she　returned；　leading　by　the　hand　a　child　of　fifteen　and
a　half；　a　beauty　of　the　Italian　type。　Mademoiselle　Judici　inherited
from　her　father　that　ivory　skin　which；　rather　yellow　by　day；　is　by
artificial　light　of　lily…whiteness；　eyes　of　Oriental　beauty；　form；　and
brilliancy；　close　curling　lashes　like　black　feathers；　hair　of　ebony
hue；　and　that　native　dignity　of　the　Lombard　race　which　makes　the
foreigner；　as　he　walks　through　Milan　on　a　Sunday；　fancy　that　every
porter's　daughter　is　a　princess。

Atala；　told　by　the　stove…fitter's　daughter　that　she　was　to　meet　the
great　lady　of　whom　she　had　heard　so　much；　had　hastily　dressed　in　a
black　silk　gown；　a　smart　little　cape；　and　neat　boots。　A　cap　with　a
cherry…colored　bow　added　to　the　brilliant　effect　of　her　coloring。　The
child　stood　in　an　attitude　of　artless　curiosity；　studying　the　Baroness
out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye；　for　her　palsied　trembling　puzzled　her
greatly。

Adeline　sighed　deeply　as　she　saw　this　jewel　of　womanhood　in　the　mire
of　prostitution；　and　determined　to　rescue　her　to　virtue。

〃What　is　your　name；　my　dear？〃

〃Atala；　madame。〃

〃And　can　you　read　and　write？〃

〃No；　madame；　but　that　does　not　matter；　as　monsieur　can。〃

〃Did　your　parents　ever　take　you　to　church？　Have　you　been　to　your　first
Communion？　Do　you　know　your　Catechism？〃

〃Madame；　papa　wanted　to　make　me　do　something　of　the　kind　you　speak　of；
but　mamma　would　not　have　it〃

〃Your　mother？〃　exclaimed　the　Baroness。　〃Is　she　bad　to　you；　then？〃

〃She　was　always　beating　me。　I　don't　know　why；　but　I　was　always　being
quarreled　over　by　my　father　and　mother〃

〃Did　you　ever　hear　of　God？〃　cried　the　Baroness。

The　girl　looked　up　wide…eyed。

〃Oh；　yes；　papa　and　mamma　often　said　'Good　God；'　and　'In　God's　name；'
and　'God's　thunder；'　〃　said　she；　with　perfect　simplicity。

〃Then　you　never　saw　a　church？　Did　you　never　think　of　going　into　one？〃

〃A　church？Notre…Dame；　the　Pantheon？I　have　seen　them　from　a
distance；　when　papa　took　me　into　town；　but　that　was　not　very　often。
There　are　no　churches　like　those　in　the　Faubourg。〃

〃Which　Faubourg　did　you　live　in？〃

〃In　the　Faubourg。〃

〃Yes；　but　which？〃

〃In　the　Rue　de　Charonne；　madame。〃

The　inhabitants　of　the　Faubourg　Saint…Antoine　never　call　that
notorious　district　other　than　/the/　Faubourg。　To　them　it　is　the　one
and　only　Faubourg；　and　manufacturers　generally　understand　the　words　as
meaning　the　Faubourg　Saint…Antoine。

〃Did　no　one　ever　tell　you　what　was　right　or　wrong？〃

〃Mamma　used　to　beat　me　when　I　did　not　do　what　pleased　her。〃

〃But　did　you　not　know　that　it　was　very　wicked　to　run　away　from　your
father　and　mother　to　go　to　live　with　an　old　man？〃

Atala　Judici　gazed　at　the　Baroness　with　a　haughty　stare；　but　made　no
reply。

〃She　is　a　perfect　little　savage；〃　murmured　Adeline。

〃There　are　a　great　many　like　her　in　the　Faubourg；　madame；〃　said　the
stove…fitter's　wife。

〃But　she　knows　nothingnot　even　what　is　wrong。　Good　Heavens！Why　do
you　not　answer　me？〃　said　Madame　Hulot；　putting　out　her　hand　to　take
Atala's。

Atala　indignantly　withdrew　a　step。

〃You　are　an　old　fool！〃　said　she。　〃Why；　my　father　and　mother　had　had
nothing　to　eat　for　a　week。　My　mother　wanted　me　to　do　much　worse　than
that；　I　think；　for　my　father　thrashed　her　and　called　her　a　thief！
However；　Monsieur　Vyder　paid　all　their　debts；　and　gave　them　some　money
oh；　a　bagful！　And　he　brought　me　away；　and　poor　papa　was　crying。　But
we　had　to　part！Was　it　wicked？〃　she　asked。

〃And　are　you　very　fond　of　Monsieur　Vyder？〃

〃Fond　of　him？〃　said　she。　〃I　should　think　so！　He　tells　me　beautiful
stories；　madame；　every　evening；　and　he　has　given　me　nice　gowns；　and
linen；　and　a　shawl。　Why；　I　am　figged　out　like　a　princess；　and　I　never
wear　sabots　now。　And　then；　I　have　not　known　what　it　is　to　be　hungry
these　two　months　past。　And　I　don't　live　on　potatoes　now。　He　brings　me
bonbons　and　burnt　almonds；　and　chocolate　almonds。Aren't　they　good？
I　do　anything