“hefollowingyearshemehimnearheschoolpyingmarblessherushedupohim,hrewherarmsroundhim,andkissedhimsopassionaelyhahescreamed,infearoquiehim,shegavehimallhermoneyhreefrancsandwenycenimes!arealgoldmine,awhichhegazedwihsaringeyes

“aferhisheallowedherokisshimasmuchasshewished

“duringhenexfouryearsshepuinohishandsallhersavings,whichhepockeedconscieniouslyinexchangeforkissesaoimeiwashirysons,aanoherwofrancsagain,sheonlyhadwelvesousshewepwihgriefandshame,expiningbrokenlyhaihadbeenapooryearheneximeshebroughfivefrancs,inonewholepiece,whichmadeherughwihjoy

“shenolongerhoughofanyonebuheboy,andhewachedforherwihimpaience;someimeshewouldrunomeeherhismadeherhearhumpwihjoy

“suddenlyhedisappearedhehadgooboardingschoolshefoundhisoubycarefulinvesigaionhensheusedgreadiplomacyopersuadeherparensochangeheirroueandpassbyhiswayagainduringvacaionaferayearofschemingshesucceededshehadnoseenhimforwoyears,andscarcelyrecognizedhim,hewassochanged,hadgrownaller,beerlookingandwasimposinginhisuniform,wihisbrassbuonshepreendednooseeher,andpassedbywihouagnce

“shewepforwodaysandfromhaimelovedandsufferedunceasingly

“everyyearhecamehomeandshepassedhim,nodaringolifhereyeshenevercondescended2ournhisheadowardhershelovedhimmadly,hopelesslyshesaidome:heisheonlymanwhomihaveeverseenidon’evenknowifanoherexiss’

“herparensdiedsheconinuedheirwork

“oneday,oneneringhevilge,whereherhearalwaysremained,shesawchouquecomingouofhispharmacywihayoungdyleaningonhisarmshewashiswife

“hanighhechairmenderhrewherselfinoheriveradrunkardpassinghespopulledherouandookherohedrugsoreyoungchouquecamedowninhisdressinggownoreviveherwihouseemingoknowwhoshewasheundressedherandrubbedher;henhesaidoher,inaharshvoice:youaremad!peoplemusnodosupidhingslikeha’

“hisvoicebroughherolifeagainhehadspokenoher!shewashappyforalongimeherefusedremuneraionforhisrouble,alhoughsheinsised

“allherlifepassedinhiswaysheworked,hinkingalwaysofhimshebeganobuymedicinesahispharmacy;hisgaveherachanceoalkohimandoseehimcloselyinhisway,shewassillableogivehimmoney

“asisaidbefore,shediedhisspringwhenshehadclosedherpaheicsorysheenreaedmeoakeherearningsohemanshelovedshehadworkedonlyhashemighleavehimsomehingoremindhimofheraferherdeah

“igavehepriesfifyfrancsforherfuneralexpenseshenexmorningiwenoseehechouquesheywerefinishingbreakfas,siingopposieeachoher,faandred,imporanandselfsaisfied

“heywelcomedmeandofferedmesomecoffee,whichiaccepedhenibeganmysoryinaremblingvoice,surehaheywouldbesofened,evenoears

“assoonaschouqueundersoodhahehadbeenlovedbyhavagabond!hachairmender!hawanderer!’hesworewihindignaionashoughhisrepuaionhadbeensullied,herespecofdecenpeoplelos,hispersonalhonor,somehingpreciousanddearerohimhanlife,gone

“hisexasperaedwifekeprepeaing:habeggar!habeggar!’seemingunableofindwordssuiableoheenormiy

“hesoodupandbegansridingabouhemuered:canyouundersandanyhingsohorrible,docor？oh,ifihadonlyknowniwhileshewasalive,ishouldhavehadherhrowninoprisonipromiseyoushewouldnohaveescaped’

“iwasdumfounded;ihardlyknewwhaohinkorsay,buihadofinishmymissionshecommissionedme,’isaid,ogiveyouhersavings,whichamounohreehousandfivehundredfrancsaswhaihavejusoldyouseemsobeverydisagreeable,perhapsyouwouldpreferogivehismoneyohepoor’

“heylookedame,hamanandwoman,’speechlesswihamazemeniookhefewhousandfrancsfromouofmypockewrechedlookingmoneyfromeverycounrype

iesandgoldpiecesallmixedogeherheniasked:whaisyourdecision？’

“madamechouquespokefirswell,sinceiishedyingwoman’swish,iseemsomeimpossibleorefusei’

“herhusbandsaid,inashamefacedma

er:wecouldbuysomehingforourchildrenwihi’

“ianswereddryly:asyouwish’

“hereplied:well,giveiousanyhow,sinceshecommissionedyouodoso;wewillfindawayopuiosomegoodpurpose’

“igavehemhemoney,bowedandlef

“henexdaychouquecameomeandsaidbrusquely:

“hawomanlefherwagonhere—whahaveyoudonewihi？’

“nohing;akeiifyouwish’

“i’sjuswhaiwaned,’headded,andwalkedofficalledhimbackandsaid:

“shealsolefheroldhorseandwodogsdon’youneedhem？’

“hesaredamesurprised:well,no!really,whawouldidowihhem？’