Une Vie, A Piece of String and Other Stories

raction in the life of

t, Julien would play s

and sipping brandy as h

it down beside the wind

he wind shook the windo

nally she would raise

white-caps on it. Then,

, she would r

do, Julien having take

fy his craving for aut

nious in the extreme, n

merest necessaries; a

baker to make her a lit

down this extra expens

to

rder to avoid recrimi

fered keenly at each

her husband. It appeare

d been in a family w

ad she not heard her mo

lien would now say: "

wing money away?" And

e's salary or on a no

e change into his pocke

rive

would sit and dream. Sh

nds idle, and forgettin

e romances of her girlh

But suddenly Julien's

ch her abruptly from he

, saying: "That is all

nds as she pli

heerful and always sin

t their color, and wer

hue. Jeanne would freq

tle maid would reply:

slightly and she w

he snow came. In one ni

s next morning were

gs, Jeanne was sitting

hile Rosalie, who had c

denly hearing behind he

ning her head: "Wh

ual: "Nothing, madame"

trem

on something else, wh

out the room. She call

she might have left th

" and she was reaching

n close beside her ma

ud

r face livid, her eyes

retched out, and her b

ard her. "What is the

ter?" s

y, did not move. She

as though she were i

wn on her back at ful

other a cry

ood, and almost distrac

, crying: "Ju

ant?" he repli

to tell him. "It i

two steps at a time,

poor girl had just be

a wicked look on his

the room, exclaimed:

Send me Ludivin

cended to the kitchen,

went into the drawing-r

r parents left, and a

man-servant running

ed with Widow Dentu, th

commotion on the stai

on, and Julien came in

back to

had witnessed some te

the fire, and as

d nervous, was pacing

angry, and did not re

hat do you intend to

, and looked at her hu

do not

into a rage, he excla

in the

bewildered, and sai

end, perhaps we could

who will pay the bill

e time, trying to fin

he said: "Why, the fath

he marries Rosalie,

icul

atience were exhausted,

do you know him--the f

then-

became excited: "But

ke that. It would be co

d we will go and find h

in ma

and resumed his pacing

tell the name of the ma

tell me--and, if he d

a woman and her illegi

't you un

lied: "Then he must be

out who it is, and then

th

annoyed again, and said

t course to take, an

pos

mple. I would give her

vil with

ant, was disgusted wit

is my foster-sister,

a mistake, so much th

n that account; and, if

up the

ploded: "And we should

d our position! And

protecting vice, harbo

t their foot inside o

f? You mus

calm. "I shall never

stay, my mother will

ing out the name of th

xasperation, banging

hat stupid ide

e went up to see the p

entu, was lying still i

se held the new-bor

ceived her mistress, s

and shaking with her

ided it by keeping he

rawing away the sheet,

her, weeping still

ing in the grate; the

not dare to speak of

and she took her ma

not matter, it will not

e nurse, and trembled a

r sorrow came to her

while suppressed

, and murmured softly i

fear, my girl." Then

Jeanne made

ry day, and each time R

ght of he

ut out to nurse

spoke to his wife, as

since she refused to

t one day, but Jeanne

s asking them to send t

her at the "Poplars."

olish as you are!" bu

o

tient was able to get

ai

ade her sit down and,

dfastly at h

girl, tell m

to tremble,

, mad

s it, th

rcome with confusion, a

as to hide her face. B

consoled her, saying:

irl. You were weak, bu

marries you, no one wi

e were suffering, and f

engage hersel

rstand perfectly that y

, that I speak kindly t

for your own good, for

ou, and because I wish

im, you see, and we wi

ploy you both, we will

ha

such a jerk that she

s and ran off as

Jeanne said to Julien

name of her betrayer.

at we can compel this

e

: "Oh! you know I do no

keep this girl. Keep h

ut

ss he appeared to be m

he way of never speak

in a rage, while she,

ntle and conciliating,

pt at night afte

nt irritability, her h

an customary si

e well and less sad,

some unknown fear, and

d to questi

ame more amiable, and

ame more cheerful. The

littering covering of

nor animals were to be

idence of life in the s

to the

eter fell still lower,

the dining-room was n

the wood--rubbed his ha

on't it, my dear?" He

nd Jeanne threw her arm

; perhaps I shall b

If you are ill you must

n to talk of

ien, for a wonder, had

w that it was burning

orehead and l

to be penetrated by t

and Jeanne shivered in

the fire and to look f

e piled on the bed. Not

d her lower limbs seeme

nervous an

to chatter, her han

t, her heart began to

es seemed to stop beat

rehension seized her,

. She never had felt su

r hold on life like thi

r last

ie," she thought

r, she jumped out of

, waited again, sh

t come. She was doubtl

ing can disturb. Jean

r bare feet, and gropin

y, found the door, o

rward, stumbled agains

ound that it was empty.

ept there. Much surpris

t in weathe

n to beat tumultuousl

downstairs again with

hed into his room fille

and longing to see

ciou

ng embers she perceived

usband's

they both started to

, horrified at this dis

en, at his wit's end, c

stering terror of see

him explaining, lying,

d the stairs aga

e darkness, at the risk

g her neck on the ston

by an imperious desire

, to see

ttom of the stairs she

ghtdress, and in bare

heard Julien moving a

order to escape him.

d called: "Li

en nor let him touch h

d into the dining-room

looked for a door of e

f avoiding him. She hid

oor, a candle in his

ff again like a hare, d

a trapped animal, and

oor into the garden a

gh

ow, into which she occa

her the energy of de

little on. She felt n

of her mind, and she r

n

avenue, crossed the w

off across

stars were shining li

in was light with a du

ite s

hardly breathing, not k

stopped on the edge o

nd crouched down, beref

we

r the silent, invisibl

s wrack at

time, her mind as inert

tremble, to tremble

er arms, her hands, h

bbed, pulsated wildly

uptly, sharp

fore her mental vision

their conversation,

t; then she went back,

he first came to the "

as shipwrecked, all

and the frightful fut

ir appeared before her.

over

he distance: "Here it

y!" It was Julien who

see him again. In the

ight sound, the indist

e to her feet with the

ding life farewell. Li

f the dying, the last w

battle:

of little mother came

ather on his knees bef

e felt all the pai

nto the snow; and whe

rrying a lantern, seiz

e to the brink, she mad

y would, for she could

, and then that she wa

loths; then she b

re, or was it a nightm

t she could not get up

e noise on the floor,

y a mouse, a little g

her followed it, then

tle, quick scamper. Je

d to catch the animal,

twenty, hundreds, th

imbed the bedposts, r

etely. And soon they

g over her skin, tickli

saw them running from t

r the sheets; and she

to try and catch them,

pt

d to escape, screamed,

s if strong arms enfold

but she

e. It must have been l

aching, but quiet. Sh

was not surprised to s

h a man whom sh

id not know, and thoug

no recollectio

she has regained consc

e big man resumed: "Co

y now. But do not talk

let her

ne that she remained i

ome by a heavy sleep a

t to remember anything

at the reality migh

e saw Julien, alone, s

ck to her, as if the cu

d been

n in her heart, and wan

erlets, jumped to the

too weak to

r, and she began to scr

lled on the floor. The

idow Dentu, then the b

ffing and

bed, and she immediatel

ng and be able

tched over her anxious

nne, my lit

f, not to hear them, an

ook up her position bes

to think of things that

holes in it, great wh

not been

gan to recall the facts

ste

son, the baron had com

What had he said? Di

And what should she do

would return to Rouen

ld days. She would be

tening to what was b

g without letting them

ason, patien

she found herself alo

tone: "Little Mother!"

. The baroness seized

e! My child, do

ut you must not weep;

en tell you why I ra

, you had a very

a. I had the fever aft

e the fever and

my de

I found Rosali

was delirious again a

ling, calm yourse

, continued: "I am qui

g wildly as I must have

I went to look for Juli

know what I was doing

w to throw mysel

rated, "Yes, darling,

y i

I found Rosalie in wit

er. You will take me b

we use

doctor had warned not

ed: "Yes,

patient: "I see that yo

father, he will

room and presently r

down beside the bed an

etly, in a weak voice,

cter, his harshness, hi

nfide

the baron saw that sh

o think, what to deter

rly, as he used to do w

"Listen, dearie, we mu

Try to put up with you

decision--pro

not stay here after I

a lower tone: "Whe

ny more," replied the b

to know." Then he conf

declared that she

baron, filled with ind

er, went to look for J

e come to ask you for

ter. You have been unfa

h is a dou

innocent, denied everyt

. What proof had they?

had brain fever? Had

elirium, at the very be

s time, when she was r

pretends that she saw h

o

eatened a lawsuit, bec

es, begged his pardon,

n, who refuse

t her husband had sai

d: "He is lying, papa

cting

ained taciturn and re

ing she asked to see Ro

she had left. Jeanne pe

ne go and

et excited when the do

e could form an opini

nerves all unstrung, a

e; I wish t

of her hand and sai

emotion may lead to se

e ence

though she had receiv

e first stirrings of li

stening to what was bei

d not sleep that night

ng in her, and was sad

might resemble him. Th

Little father," she s

w everything, and esp

and you know that you

en! You must go and get

rom telling a lie. The

you stay downstairs w

e that Julien does n

st came, looking fatte

sat down in an arm-c

s usual with his plai

nk we grow any thinner

ward the patient, he sa

we are soon to have a

time." And in a graver

untry; unless"--after a

ctive mother of a fam

to the

the room opened and R

sing to enter the room

d forward by the baron

room. She covered her

anding ther

saw her, rose to a sitt

er heart beating wildl

At length she said,

t--need--to question yo

o--to see your--your

was out of breath, she

might be like a confes

ttered little cries th

d her

r was gaining ground,

om her face, he threw

ying: "Spea

und, in the position as

the floor, and her fa

nd

"Come, my girl, listen

want to harm you, but

urr

looked at her and said

ien when I su

hrough her finge

nly began to cry in a c

accompanied th

ixed on the maid, said:

ng

came here," f

erstand. "Ever since

r since th

, ma

he came into

, ma

erflowing with quest

ipit

? How did he approach

When, how did you ever

r have

ands from her face, and

esire to s

? It was the day he di

my room. He had hidden

for fear of making a sc

hen I said nothing

claimed with a

your child--

ie so

, ma

ent. The only sound to

nd of the

, felt her tears also

ilently dow

he same father, as her

led with a dreary, slow

resumed in a changed, t

who has b

-from down there--from

n ag

d sunk down on the floo

nin

's heart. So on the ve

" he left her for this

to slee

wanted to know, and e

perfectly crushed, did

er away, carry her awa

hought that the moment

a littl

very wrong, my daught

easily. Consider the

ight. Now that you have

me la baronne will do s

d you a

d speaking, but the ba

s, raised her from the

like a package into th

ooking paler than his

do? They are all like t

ot be helped, and the

aknesses of our nature.

enceinte, never, mada

ocal custom. So, you s

ll the r

trembling with nervou

I care about her! It i

us, the way he has beha

ter a

excitedly, becoming mo

e betrayed my child, i

tch! and I will tell h

give him a ho

wly taking a pinch of s

s, and endeavoring to

, monsieur le baron, be

lse does. Do you know

with a sly good humor:

n. Your hand on your

stonishment before the

t as others did. Who k

plum like that? I tell

less happy, or less l

ed, he was much disturb

inned as much as any o

were in question. Wa

judge Julien's conduct

been abo

ruggling with her sobs

usband's escapades, f

whom love adventures a

y with wide-open eyes

Rosalie had said had w

heart: "As for me, I s

ed

and that was the only

lf for life to him,

r cherished plans, all

arriage, into this hol

ut, into this wretchedn

, like Rosalie,

lently open and Julien

He had caught sight of

d that something was

sight of the priest r

er?" he asked in a tr

a short while ago, did

remarks, and of what

ittle mother was weep

raised herself with

the one who had caused

he fact is, we know a

ou first entered this

your child, just as--a

h sorrow at this though

s and wep

ing, not knowing what

o the

give way like that,

roached the bed and pla

head. This seemed to s

his strong peasant's

to kindly consolation

e mysteri

tanding, continued: "

ow has come to you; b

happiness, since you wi

ort. In his name I impl

or. It will be a new bo

. Can you remain apart

hild yo

shed, mortified, exhau

er or resentment. Her

she seemed to be

ed incapable of resent

effort, murmured: "

he hand of the young m

hand in that of his wif

e them more closely.

manner, he said with a

eve me, that is the be

ent, separated immediat

his mother-in-law on

of the baron, who acq

n settled thus, and th

e a

dozed off, while the

in a lo

nd propounded his idea

head. He said in concl

l give this girl the B

a husband, a good, ste

y thousand francs we

l be more than eno

ng now, quite happy, w

had dried o

s settled. Barville i

it will be settled on

of it during

ittle mother's hand, s

ronne, do not disturb

rt i

Aunt Lison coming to

told her nothing; an

ua