bold or coarse； 〃I have a thimble to dispose ofcould you be induced
to buy it？〃
The woman took the thimble and examined it； weighed it； and submitted
its metal to the test of the touchstone。 It was a pretty thimble； though
small； or it would not have fitted Adrienne's finger。 This fact struck the
woman of the shop； and she cast a suspicious glance at Adrienne's
hand； the whiteness and size of which； however； satisfied her that the
thimble had not been stolen。
｛touchstone = a variety of black stone used to test the purity of gold； by
the streak it leaves when rubbed on the stone｝
〃What do you expect to receive for this thimble； mademoiselle？〃 asked
the woman； coldly。
〃It cost a napoleon； madame； and was made expressly for myself。〃
〃You do not expect to sell it at what it cost？〃 was the dry answer。
〃Perhaps not； madameI suppose you will look for a profit in selling it
again。 I wish you to name the price。〃
This was said because the delicate ever shrink from affixing a value to
the time and services of others。 Adrienne was afraid she might
unintentionally deprive the other of a portion of her just gains。 The
woman understood by the timidity and undecided manner of the
applicant； that she had a very unpracticed being to deal with； and she
was emboldened to act accordingly。 First taking another look at the
pretty little hand and fingers； to make certain the thimble might not be
reclaimed； when satisfied that it really belonged to her who wished to
dispose of it； she ventured to answer。
〃In such times as we had before these vile republicans drove all the
strangers from Paris； and when our commerce was good；〃 she said； 〃I
might have offered seven francs and a half for that thimble； but； as things
are now； the last sou I can think of giving is five francs。〃
〃The gold is very good； madame；〃 Adrienne observed； in a voice half…
choked； 〃they told my grandmother the metal alone was worth thirteen。〃
〃Perhaps； mademoiselle； they might give that much at the mint； for there
they coin money； but； in this shop； no one will give more than five francs
for that thimble。〃
Had Adrienne been longer in communion with a cold and heartless
world； she would not have submitted to this piece of selfish extortion；
but； inexperienced； and half frightened by the woman's manner； she
begged the pittance offered as a boon； dropped her thimble； and made
a hasty retreat。 When the poor girl reached the street； she began to
reflect on what she had done。 Five francs would scarcely support her
grandmother a week； with even the wood and wine she had on hand；
and she had no more gold thimbles to sacrifice。 A heavy sigh broke
from her bosom； and tears stood in her eyes。 But she was wanted at
home； and had not the leisure to reflect on her own mistake。
CHAPTER VI。
Occupation is a blessed relief to the miserable。 Of all the ingenious
modes of torture that have ever been invented； that of solitary
confinement is probably the most cruelthe mind feeding on itself with
the rapacity of a cormorant； when the conscience quickens its activity
and feeds its longings。 Happily for Adrienne； she had too many positive
cares； to be enabled to waste many minutes either in retrospection； or in
endeavors to conjecture the future。 Farfar more happily for herself；
her conscience was clear； for never had a purer mind； or a gentler spirit
dwelt in female breast。 Still she could blame her own oversight； and it
was days before her self…upbraidings； for thus trifling with what she
conceived to be the resources of her beloved grandmother； were driven
from her thoughts by the pressure of other and greater ills。
Were I to last a thousand years； and rise to the dignity of being the
handkerchief that the Grand Turk is said to toss toward his favorite； I
could not forget the interest with which I accompanied Adrienne to the
door of her little apartment； in the entresol。 She was in the habit of hiring
little Nathalie； the porter's daughter； to remain with her grandmother
during her own necessary but brief absences； and this girl was found at
the entrance； eager to be relieved。
〃Has my grandmother asked for me； Nathalie？〃 demanded Adrienne；
anxiously； the moment they met。
〃Non； mademoiselle； madame has done nothing but sleep； and I was
getting SO tired！〃
The sou was given； and the porter's daughter disappeared； leaving
Adrienne alone in the ante…chamber。 The furniture of this little apartment
was very respectable； for Madame de la Rocheaimard； besides paying
a pretty fair rent； had hired it just after the revolution； when the prices
had fallen quite half； and the place had； by no means； the appearance of
that poverty which actually reigned within。 Adrienne went through the
ante…chamber； which served also as a salle a manger； and passed a
small saloon； into the bed…chamber of her parent。 Here her mind was
relieved by finding all right。 She gave her grandmother some
nourishment； inquired tenderly as to her wishes； executed several little
necessary offices； and then sat down to work for her own daily bread；
every moment being precious to one so situated。 I expected to be
examinedperhaps caressed； fondled； or praised； but no such attention
awaited me。 Adrienne had arranged every thing in her own mind； and I
was to be produced only at those extra hours in the morning； when she
had been accustomed to take exercise in the open air。 For the moment I
was laid aside； though in a place that enabled me to be a witness of all
that occurred。 The day passed in patient toil； on the part of the poor
girl； the only relief she enjoyed being those moments when she was
called on to attend to the wants of her grandmother。 A light potage； with
a few grapes and bread； composed her dinner； even of these I
observed that she laid aside nearly half for the succeeding day； doubts
of her having the means of supporting her parent until the handkerchief
was completed beginning to beset her mind。 It was these painful and
obtrusive doubts that most distressed the dear girl； now； for the
expectation of reaping a reward comparatively brilliant； from the
ingenious device to repair her means on which she had fallen； was
strong within her。 Poor child！ her misgivings were the overflowings of a
tender heart； while her hopes partook of the sanguine character of youth
and inexperience！
｛salle a manger = dining room； salon = living room； potage = soup｝
My turn came the following morning。 It was now spring； and this is a
season of natural delights at Paris。 We were already in April； and the
flowers had begun to shed their fragrance on the air； and to brighten the
aspect of the public gardens。 Mad。 de la Rocheaimard usually slept the
soundest at this hour； and； hitherto； Adrienne had not hesitated to leave
her； while she went herself to the nearest public promenade； to breathe
the pure air and to gain strength for the day。 In future； she was to deny
herself this sweet gratification。 It was such a sacrifice； as the innocent
and virtuous； and I may add the tasteful； who are cooped up amid the
unnatural restraints of a town； will best know how to appreciate。 Still it
was made without a murmur； though not without a sigh。
When Adrienne laid me on the frame where I was to be ornamented by
her own pretty hands； she regarded me with a look of delight； nay； even
of affection； that I shall never forget。 As yet she felt none of the malign
consequences of the self…denial she was about to exert。 If not blooming；
her cheeks still retained some of their native color； and her eye；
thoughtful and even sad； was not yet anxious and sunken。 She was
pleased with her purchase； and she contemplated prodigies in the way
of results。 Adrienne was unusually skillful with the needle； and her taste
had been so highly cultivated； as to make her a perfect mistress of all
the proprieties of patterns。 At the time it was thought of making an
offering of all our family to the dauphine； the idea of working the
handkerchiefs was entertained； and some designs of exquisite beauty
and neatness had been prepared。 They were not simple； vulgar；
unmeaning ornaments； such as the uncultivated seize upon with avidity
on account of their florid appearance； but well devised drawings； that
were replete with taste and thought； and afforded some apology for the
otherwise senseless luxury contemplated； by aiding in refining the
imagination； and cultivating the intellect。 She had chosen one of the
simplest and most beautiful of these designs； intending to transfer it to
my face； by means of the needle。
The first stitch was made just as the clocks were striking the hour of
five； on the morning of the fourteenth of April； 1831。 The last was
drawn that day two months； precisely as the same clocks struck twelve。
For four hours Adrienne sat bending over her toil； deeply engrossed in
the occupation； and flattering herself with the fruits of her success。 I
learned much of the excellent child's true character in these brief hours。
Her mind wandered over her hopes and fears； recurring to her other
labors； and the prices she received for occupations so wearying and
slavish。 By the milliner； she was paid merely as a common sewing…girl；
though her neatness； skill and taste might well have entitled her to
double wages。 A franc a day was the usual price for girls of an inferior
caste； and out of this they were expected to find their own lodgings and
food。 But the poor revolution had still a great deal of private misery to
answer for； in the way of reduced wages。 Those who live on the
frivolities of mankind； or； what is the same thing； their luxuries； have two
sets of victims to plunderthe consumer； and the real producer； or the
operative。 This is true where men are employed； but much truer in the
case of females。 The last are usually so helpless； that they often cling to
oppression and wrong； rather than submit to be cast entirely upon the
world。 The marchande de mode who employed Adrienne was as rusee
as a politician who had followed all the tergiversations of Gallic policy；
since the year '89。 She was fully aware of what a prize she possessed in
the unpracticed girl； and she felt the importance of keeping her in
ignorance of her own va