The Wandering Jew, Book IV.

a sort of ante-chamber on the first story. Being alone, the girl had mechanically approached a window which looked upon the convent garden, shut in by a half demolish

h the tresses of the pale countenance, which, now held close to the bars of the window, was suddenly, as it were, illuminated by the dazzling reflection of her splendid golden hair. At sight of that charming face, set in its admirable frame of red curls, Mother Bunch started involuntarily; the thought of Mdlle. de Cardoville crossed her mind, and she felt persuaded (nor was she, indeed, mistaken), that the protectress of Agricola was before her. On thus beholding, in that gloomy asylum, this young lady, so marvellously beautiful, and remembering the delicate kindness with which a few days before she had received Agricola in her luxurious little palace of dazzling splendor, the work-girl felt her heart sink within her. She believed Adrienne insane; and yet, as she looked attentively at her, it seemed as if intelligence and grace animated that adorable countenance. Suddenly, Mdlle. de Car

ionate voice, "Florine has told me in what a cruel situation

yes,

s dearer to me, and it is the rule of our hous

or, mother," answered the girl, with a

or so doing. We must thank the Lord, who has delivered you

satisfied my employers. If you please

, my dear daughter. You prefer,

, mother, that I could

has asked me to recommend to her a needle-woman by the day; introduced by me, you will certainly suit her. The institution will undertake to clothe you becomingly, and th

much more than I co

g till six in the evening; you will thus have still some off hours, o

the contrar

ady, named Mme. de Bremant, a person of the most steadfast piety. In her house, I hope, you wil

said the sewing-gi

iew. You will perfectly understand that, if it is our duty to give to masters and mistresses every possible security as to the morality of the persons that

just and of a wiser

bad conduct of a master or mistress may have the most baneful influence on the persons who serve them, or who come to work in t

th simplicity; "such designs merit t

hable. Should she, however, perceive, on the part of her employers, or on that of the persons who frequent the house, any irregularity of morals, any tendency to what would offend her mo

ch, timidly, for she began to find

our young people, notwithstanding their innocence and virtue, have not always sufficient experience to distinguish what may be injurious to their soul's health, we think it greatly to their interest that they should confide to us once a week, as a child would to her mother, either in person or by letter, whatever has chanced to occur in the house in which we have placed them. Then

ly insuring the morality of masters and servants resembled a vast spy system, brought home to the domestic hearth, and carried on by the members of t

ld not find there holy and pious examples. I believe Mme. de Bremont's house to be a pure and godly place; only I have heard (though I will not believe it) that Mme. de Bremont's daughter, Mme. de Noisy, who has lately come to reside with her, is not so exe

our salvation, and, in case your delicacy should oblige you to leave Mme. de Bremont's, as you might be some time without employment, the institution will allow you, if satisfied with your zeal and conduct, one franc a day till we could find you another place. You see, my dear daughter, that you have everything to gain with us. It is therefore agreed that the day after to-morrow you go to Mme. de Bremont's." Mother Bunch found herself in a very hard position. Sometimes she thought that her first suspicions were confirmed, and, notwithstanding her timidity, her pride felt hurt at the supposition, that, because they knew her poor, they should believe her capable of selling herself as a spy for the sake of high wages. Sometimes, on the contrary, her natural delicacy revolted at the idea that a woman of the age and condition of the superior could descend to make a proposition so disgraceful both to the accepter and the proposer, and she reproached herself with her first doubts and asked herself if the superior had not wished to try her, before employing her, to see if her probity wou

rience not to perceive the sincerity of the words. Thinking herself lucky that the young girl should put this construction upon the aff

ly confused-with

re of our members for the sake of watching over their morals. But certain persons-I see you are of the number, my dear daughter-have such fixed principles, and so mature a judgment, that they can do without our advice and gua

was not aware of the thousand devices of the monastic spirit,

re and more affectionate. "Too much tenderness cannot be shown to pious young women like you,

the

hild! how many times a m

's t

ince my first communion, eight years ago. I am hardly able, by wor

and clasping her hands with all the signs of painfu

o time," answered Mother Bunch, looking

are asked to recommend none but pious persons, who practise their religious duties. It is one of the indispensable conditions of our institution. It will, therefore,

s, for she was thus forced to abandon a cheering hope, "

at a person, already so worthy of interest, will one day deserve by her piety the lasting support of religious people. Adieu

moment she crossed the threshold, she said to her: "Follow the passage, go down a few steps, and knock at the second door on t

towards the windows of the next house, where she fancied she had seen Adrienne de Cardoville, she beheld the latter come from a door in the building, and advance rapidly towards the open paling that separated the two gardens. At the same instant, and to her great astonishm