Fruitfulness

d beside the large one of mahogany, on which Marianne lay alo

hardly dared to stir for fear of waking

again expecting to become a mother, had finally induced Mathieu to accept Beauchene's amiable offer to place at his disposal the little pavilion in the Rue de la Federation, where the founder of the works had lived before building the superb house on the quay. An old foreman who had

umed Mathieu; "I wil

illumined the dim room. "Ah! there's the sun! And it's splendid weather-and Sunday to

I hadn't been sleeping either for the last twenty minutes; and I didn't move because I wanted you to lie in bed a little

w is to remain in this room all the morning, and spend the whole day with you and the c

rength and hope. Never had her heavy brown tresses flowed down more abundantly, never had her big eyes smiled with gayer courage. And sturdy and healthful as she was, wit

sheets, the mattress, and the bedstead itself, over which he slipped a cover. She vainly begged him not to trouble, saying that Zoe, the servant whom they had brought from the country, could very well do all those things. But he persisted, replying that the servant plagued him, and th

exclaimed; "here am I

lace, while she protested: "What an

w to light the fire properly

itional cheerfulness. The place was now a little paradise, said he; but he had scarcely fini

They are awake, you see! Oh! well, we ma

, shrill chirping, and ringing bursts of laughter could be heard. Then came a noise as of pillows and

xious, "answer them; tell them to come. The

bare feet, and they trotted along and laughed, with their brown hair streaming about, their faces quite pink, and their eyes radiant with candid delight. Ambroise, though he was younger than his brothers, marched first, for he was the boldest and most enterprising. Behind him came the twins, Blaise and Denis, who were less turbul

"it's dreadfully cold, you kn

ther, so that only his laughing face and fine curly hair could be seen. But at this the tw

make a little room! By your back,

ed and indignant. She had vainly attempted the assault, b

she might have the best place of all. Mathieu had at first felt somewhat anxious at seeing Marianne thus disturbed, but she laughed and to

arm," said Ambroise, who w

plain why it was they had made so much noise "Blaise said

r, who replied: "It isn't true. I did see a s

se, again laughing wildly. "I thre

hat he had seen. This unsupported testimony left the matter rather doubtful. But the whole brood looked so healthful and fresh in the bright sunshine that their father could not resis

t fun! w

the embraces of the children, "all the same, you know, I want to get up. I mustn't idl

le the warm breakfast milk steamed upon the table. The ground floor of the pavilion comprised a dining-room and a drawing-room on the right of the hall, and a kitchen and

a renewal of noisy mirth, for the youngsters were fond of his round, good-natured face. He had attended them all at their births, and treated them like an old friend

d morning, doctor. I'm much obliged to you for this bright sunshine, fo

passing this way, and thought I would

ear the table, while Mathieu explained t

e. However, there is no cause to worry. I see that she has a good appetite. When I find m

n the conversation, which the doctor himself resumed, following, no doubt, some train of thought which he did not explain: "I

her husband had given way to jealous fury. For a time, amid all their quarrels, they had continued leading their usual life of pleasure, but she now spent her days on a couch, while he neglected her

pectedly rising from their chairs, had concerted together with a glance, and now they opened their campaign. The worthy doctor all

ilway train, do the ra

aying: "Let them be! they are simply wishing me good day. And besides, I must bear with them, you know, since, as our friend Beauchene says, it is a little bit my fault if they a

hands and said to her that everything was going on beautifully, and that he was very pleased. The

unshine. The children had been dressed in readiness before sitting down to table, and it was scarcely more t

happens to be open one may espy deep yards crowded with drays and full of acrid vapor. The only sounds are the strident puffs of jets of steam, the dull rumbling of machinery, and the sudden rattle of ironwork lowered from the carts to the pavement. But on Sundays the factories do not work, and the district then falls into death-like silence. In summer time there is but bright sunshine heating the pavement, in winter some icy snow-laden wind rushing down the lonely streets. The population of Grenelle is said to be the worst of Paris,

e very centre of the city, passes before the Palais Bourbon, crosses first the Esplanade des Invalides, and then the Champ de Mars, to end at the Boulevard de Grenelle, in the black factory region. How majestically it spread out, what fine old leafy trees there were round that bend of

as very cold in the shade, all seemed golden and velvety in the stretches of bright light. There were a great many people out of doors-all the idle folks, clad in their Sunday best, whom the faintest sunshine draws in crowds to the promenades of Paris. Little Rose, feeling warm and gay, drew herself up as if to show the people that she was a big girl. She crossed the whole extent of the Champ de Mars without asking to be carried. And her three brothers strode along making the frozen pavement resound beneath their steps. Promenaders were ever turni

children, quieted by fatigue, were sitting round a little table, listening to a tale which Denis read from a story-book, when a visitor was announced. This proved to be Constance, who, after driving ou

inquired as she entered the room

t I have been out walking for the last

e apologized for not being able to call more frequently, and explained what a number of duties she had to discharge as mistress of her home. Mean

is mother, "don't you wish y

om met, and had as yet had no opportunity to quarrel. The four little savages of Chantebled felt

o, with her sharp eyes, was comparing her son with the other lads

. Nevertheless, the glance that Constance gave the others was full of irony, disdain, and condemnation. When she had first heard that Marian

children, sought another topic of conversation. She inquired after Beauchene. "And Ale

slept, no doubt, at Puymoreau, the other side of Chantebled, so as to be in th

w. Well, it's nice weat

ght really be when he claimed to have gone shooting. He availed himself so often of this pretext to absent himself from home that Constance w

out and take as much exercise as possible. He has a temperam

e colored when she caught sight of Madame Beauchene, so keenly was she impressed by that perfect model of wealth and distinction, whom she ever strove to imitate. Constan

eine here now, and all six children can play a little while together.

. "Oh! no, no!" said she. "He has to keep to a certain diet, you know, and he must not eat anything away

be extremely distinguished. Reine, on her side, had smiled at Maurice, whom she already slightly knew. She looked delightful that day in her gown of thic

nd kiss me, my dear! Oh! what a pretty young lady! Why,

rteen," Val

n passing to make inquiries, and declaring that both mother and children looked remarkably well, she relapsed into gloomy silence, scarcely listening to Marianne, who thanked her for hav

tle ones into the dining-room. We will see wha

ouble was. Morange's scheme of leaving the Beauchene works and entering the service of the Credit National, where he would speedily rise to a high and lucrative position, his hope too of giving Reine a big dowry and marrying her off to advantage-all the ambitious dreams of rank and wealth in which his wife and he had indulged, now sho

, on his side, he took to quite a bachelor life. He had been a gambler in his younger days, and had never fully cured himself of that passion, which now broke out afresh, like a fire which has only slumbered for a time. He spent night after nigh

ssible. And now she was really very ill, haunted too by an unreasoning, irremovable fear that it would all end in her death. Mathieu, who had seen her but a few months previously looking so fair and fresh, was am

s for a short time kept waiting, and during the interval Celeste, the maid, entered the room where the visitors sat near her mistress, who w

e is here. You know, madame, the woman I spoke to you about, Sophie Cout

of ordering Celeste to leave the room, for it seemed t

ntrust her with the matter now she would find a very good wet nurse

ant ways, but considerably polished by her frequent journeys to Paris. So far as her small keen eyes and pointed nose went her long face was not unpleasant, but its expression of good nature was marred by her hard mouth, her thin

?" Valentine inquired,

ly twenty. It seemed to me that I wasn't likely to make much money by remaini

fools and dupes. However, she feared that she might have said too much on the point, and so she added: "But one does what one can, eh, madame?

et nurses to the

ne. It's a very respectable place, where one runs no risk of being deceived-And so, if you like, madame, I will choose th

ventured to intervene, and began by explaining ho

e child of people who are not well enough off to keep a nurse in the house. And she takes these children to some of the rearers in

a little shop, the profits from which doubled their income, in such wise that they lived very happily and almost at their ease. Celeste, who frequently absented herself from her duties to spend hours gossiping in Madame Menoux's little shop, was forever being scolded for this practice; but in the present

spoken to me very highly of her. No doubt she has not such a good position as Madame Bourdieu, who has

, for reasons best known to herself, made her feel uncomfortable. He on his side certainly placed no con

" asked she, "why does not this Madame Menoux,

ady visitor, who, whatever course she might take herself, h

and sleep. And that room, too, overlooks a tiny courtyard where one can neither see nor breathe. The baby would not live a week in such a place. And, besides, Madame Menoux would not have time to attend to the child. She has never h

you speak of is not in poverty, and yet is reduced to this cruel separation. For my part, I should not be

rs, she replied: "Oh, Rougemont is such a very pretty place. And then it's not far from Bayeux, so that folks are by no means savages there. The air is so pure, too, that people come there

nderstood that there was a false ring in her voice. Besides, of what use was her usual patter about the salubrity of the region, since that lady, Ma

th to speak out. "No, no, I won't pledge myself in advance. I will send to see

ut the woman, she turned to Marianne, and a

ers. We have very decided opinion

should much like to do the same

rned by her obligingness in providing a nurse. She put all her spite into a glance which she shot at Marianne, who, thought she, was evidently some

comprising eggs, red mullet, game, and crawfish, with red and white Bordeaux wines and iced champagne. Such diet for Valentine and Marianne

rything was going wrong there. If he spent his time elsewhere it was, according to him, entirely his wife's fault. The place was becoming a perfect hell upon earth. And in everything, the slightest incident, the most common-place remark, he found an opportunity for jeers and gibes. These made Mathieu and Marianne extremely uncomfo

arcer and scarcer, in such wise that he now had difficulty in selling his shooting shares, so that his income from the property was dwindling every year. He made no secret of the fact

had begun to take an interest in the estate. "Are you really of opinion that it canno

ke to see such a miracle! The only crops that

he novelist, who of late had seldom called on the Seguins, and the other, much to Mathieu's dislike, proved to be Beauchene's sister, Seraphine, the Baroness de Lowicz. She looked at the young man in a bold, provoking, significant manner, and then, like Santerre, cast a sly glance of mocking contempt at Marianne and Valentine. She and the novelis

apitulated horror after horror, to the evident enjoyment of the others. She remembered having read his last book, that love story which had seemed to her so supremely absurd, with its theories of the annihilation of the human species. And she at last glanced at Mathieu to tell him how weary she felt of all the

feel tired." However, when Marianne begged her to kiss the children for her, she added: "Why,

ancor against his wife revived. The house was going to rack and ruin. She spent her days lying on a sofa. Since when had the governess taken leave to go out with the children without saying a

alentine be

of doors, able to breathe, and happy once more now that she was lea

ad, no doubt; but we must pity them,