autobiography of a pocket-handkerchief-第8节
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values of the day。 Old age； vexation； and this last most cruel blow； did
not fail of effecting that which might have been foreseen。 The vicomtesse
sunk under this accumulation of misfortunes； and became bed…ridden；
helpless； and querulous。 Every thing now devolved on the timid； gentle；
unpracticed Adrienne。 All females of her condition； in countries
advanced in civilization like France； look to the resource of imparting a
portion of what they themselves have acquired； to others of their own
sex； in moments of urgent necessity。 The possibility of Adrienne's being
compelled to become a governess； or a companion； had long been kept
in view； but the situation of Mad。 de la Rocheaimard forbade any
attempt of the sort； for the moment； had the state of the country
rendered it at all probable that a situation could have been procured。
On this fearful exigency； Adrienne had aroused all her energies； and
gone deliberately into the consideration of her circumstances。
｛Mont de Piete = traditional term for a municipal pawn shop operated
to help the poor｝
Poverty had compelled Mad。 de la Rocheaimard to seek the cheapest
respectable lodgings she could find on reaching town。 In anticipation of
a long residence； and； for the consideration of a considerable abatement
in price； she had fortunately paid six months' rent in advance； thus
removing from Adrienne the apprehension of having no place in which
to cover her head； for some time to come。 These lodgings were in an
entresol of the Place Royale； a perfectly reputable and private part of
the town； and in many respects were highly eligible。 Many of the menial
offices； too； were to be performed by the wife of the porter； according
to the bargain； leaving to poor Adrienne； however； all the care of her
grandmother； whose room she seldom quitted； the duties of nurse and
cook； and the still more important task of finding the means of
subsistence。
｛entresol = mezzanine； low…ceilinged area between between the first
and second floors｝
For quite a month the poor desolate girl contrived to provide for her
grandmother's necessities； by disposing of the different articles of the
trousseau。 This store was now nearly exhausted； and she had found a
milliner who gave her a miserable pittance for toiling with her needle
eight or ten hours each day。 Adrienne had not lost a moment； but had
begun this system of ill…requited industry long before her money was
exhausted。 She foresaw that her grandmother must die； and the great
object of her present existence was to provide for the few remaining
wants of this only relative during the brief time she had yet to live； and to
give her decent and Christian burial。 Of her own future lot； the poor girl
thought as little as possible； though fearful glimpses would obtrude
themselves on her uneasy imagination。 At first she had employed a
physician； but her means could not pay for his visits； nor did the
situation of her grandmother render them very necessary。 He promised
to call occasionally without fee； and； for a short time； he kept his word；
but his benevolence soon wearied of performing offices that really were
not required。 By the end of a month； Adrienne saw him no more。
As long as her daily toil seemed to supply her own little wants； Adrienne
was content to watch on； weep on； pray on； in waiting for the moment
she so much dreaded； that which was to sever the last tie she appeared
to possess on earth。 It is true she had a few very distant relatives； but
they had emigrated to America； at the commencement of the revolution
of 1789； and all trace of them had long been lost。 In point of fact； the
men were dead； and the females were grandmothers with English
names； and were almost ignorant of any such persons as the de la
Rocheaimards。 From these Adrienne had nothing to expect。 To her；
they were as beings in another planet。 But the trousseau was nearly
exhausted； and the stock of ready money was reduced to a single
napoleon； and a little change。 It was absolutely necessary to decide on
some new scheme for a temporary subsistence； and that without delay。
Among the valuables of the trousseau was a piece of exquisite lace； that
had never been even worn。 The vicomtesse had a pride in looking at it；
for it showed the traces of her former wealth and magnificence； and she
would never consent to part with it。 Adrienne had carried it once to her
employer； the milliner； with the intention of disposing of it； but the price
offered was so greatly below what she knew to be the true value； that
she would not sell it。 Her own wardrobe； however； was going fast；
nothing disposable remained of her grandmother's； and this piece of lace
must be turned to account in some way。 While reflecting on these dire
necessities； Adrienne remembered our family。 She knew to what shop
we had been sent in Paris； and she now determined to purchase one of
us； to bestow on the handkerchief selected some of her own beautiful
needle work； to trim it with this lace； and； by the sale； to raise a sum
sufficient for all her grandmother's earthly wants。
Generous souls are usually ardent。 Their hopes keep pace with their
wishes； and； as Adrienne had heard that twenty napoleons were
sometimes paid by the wealthy for a single pocket…handkerchief； when
thus decorated； she saw a little treasure in reserve； before her mind's
eye。
〃I can do the work in two months；〃 she said to herself； 〃by taking the
time I have used for exercise； and by severe economy； by eating less
myself； and working harder； we can make out to live that time on what
we have。〃
This was the secret of my purchase； and the true reason why this lovely
girl had literally expended her last sou in making it。 The cost had
materially exceeded her expectations； and she could not return home
without disposing of some article she had in her reticule； to supply the
vacuum left in her purse。 There would be nothing ready for the milliner；
under two or three days； and there was little in the lodgings to meet the
necessities of her grandmother。 Adrienne had taken her way along the
quays； delighted with her acquisition； and was far from the Mont de
Piete before this indispensable duty occurred to her mind。 She then
began to look about her for a shop in which she might dispose of
something for the moment。 Luckily she was the mistress of a gold
thimble； that had been presented to her by her grandmother； as her very
last birth…day present。 It was painful for her to part with it； but； as it was
to supply the wants of that very parent； the sacrifice cost her less than
might otherwise have been the case。 Its price had been a napoleon； and
a napoleon； just then； was a mint of money in her eyes。 Besides； she
had a silver thimble at home； and a brass one would do for her work。
Adrienne's necessities had made her acquainted with several jewellers'
shops。 To one of these she now proceeded； and； first observing through
the window that no person was in but one of her own sex； the
silversmith's wife； she entered with the greater confidence and alacrity。
〃Madame；〃 she said； in timid tones； for want had not yet made Adrienne
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
