THE LETTER.
Frances' agitation was so perceptible that Rose could not help exclaiming: "Good gracious, what is the matter?"
"Alas, my dear young ladies! I can no longer conceal it from you," said Frances, bursting into tears."Since yesterday I have not seen him.I expected my son to supper as usual, and he never came; but I would not let you see how much I suffered.I continued to expect him, minute after minute; for ten years he has never gone up to bed without coming to kiss me; so I spent a good part of the night close to the door, listening if I could hear his step.But he did not come; and, at last, about three o'clock in the morning, I threw myself down upon the mattress.I have just been to see (for I still had a faint hope), if my son had come in this morning--"
"Well, madame!"
"There is no sign of him!" said the poor mother, drying her eyes.
Rose and Blanche looked at each other with emotion; the same thought filled the minds of both; if Agricola should not return, how would this family live? would they not, in such an event, become doubly burdensome?
"But, perhaps, madame," said Blanche, "M.Agricola remained too late at his work to return home last night."
"Oh! no, no! he would have returned in the middle of the night, because he knew what uneasiness he would cause me by stopping out.Alas! some misfortune must have happened to him! Perhaps he has been injured at the forge, he is so persevering at his work.Oh, my poor boy! and, as if I did not feel enough anxiety about him, I am also uneasy about the poor young woman who lives upstairs."
"Why so, madame?"
"When I left my son's room, I went into hers, to tell her my grief, for she is almost a daughter to me; but I did not find her in the little closet where she lives, and the bed had not even been slept in.Where can she have gone so early--she, that never goes out?"
Rose and Blanche looked at each other with fresh uneasiness, for they counted much upon Mother Bunch to help them in the resolution they had taken.Fortunately, both they and Frances were soon to be satisfied on this head, for they heard two low knocks at the door, and the sempstress's voice, saying: "Can I come in, Mrs.Baudoin?"
By a spontaneous impulse, Rose and Blanche ran to the door, and opened it to the young girl.Sleet and snow had been falling incessantly since the evening before; the gingham dress of the young sempstress, her scanty cotton shawl, and the black net cap, which, leaving uncovered two thick bands of chestnut hair, encircled her pale and interesting countenance, were all dripping wet; the cold had given a livid appearance to her thin, white hands; it was only in the fire of her blue eyes, generally so soft and timid, that one perceived the extraordinary energy which this frail and fearful creature had gathered from the emergency of the occasion.
"Dear me! where do you come from, my good Mother Bunch?" said Frances.
"Just now, in going to see if my son had returned, I opened your door, and was quite astonished to find you gone out so early."
"I bring you news of Agricola."
"Of my son!" cried Frances, trembling all over."What has happened to him? Did you see him?--Did you speak to him?--Where is he?"
"I did not see him, but I know where he is." Then, perceiving that Frances grew very pale, the girl added: "He is well; he is in no danger."
"Blessed be God, who has pity on a poor sinner!--who yesterday restored me my husband, and to-day, after a night of cruel anguish, assures me of the safety of my child!" So saying, Frances knelt down upon the floor, and crossed herself with fervor.
During the moment of silence, caused by this pious action, Rose and Blanche approached Mother Bunch, and said to her in a low voice, with an expression of touching interest: "How wet you are! you must be very cold.
Take care you do not get ill.We did not venture to ask Madame Frances to light the fire in the stove, but now we will do so."
Surprised and affected by the kindness of Marshal Simon's daughters, the hunchback, who was more sensible than others to the least mark of kindness, answered them with a look of ineffable gratitude: "I am much obliged to you, young ladies; but I am accustomed to the cold, and am moreover so anxious that I do not feel it."
"And my son?" said Frances, rising after she had remained some moments on her knees; "why did he stay out all night? And could you tell me where to find him, my good girl? Will he soon come? why is he so long?"
"I assure you, Agricola is well; but I must inform you, that for some time--"
"Well?"
"You must have courage, mother."
"Oh! the blood runs cold in my veins.What has happened? why shall I not see him?"
"Alas, he is arrested."
"Arrested!" cried Rose and Blanche, with affright.
"Father! Thy will be done!" said Frances; "but it is a great misfortune.
Arrested! for what? He is so good and honest, that there must be some mistake."
"The day before yesterday," resumed Mother Bunch, "I received an anonymous letter, by which I was informed that Agricola might be arrested at any moment, on account of his song.We agreed together that he should go to the rich young lady in the Rue de Babylone, who had offered him her services, and ask her to procure bail for him; to prevent his going to prison.Yesterday morning he set out to go to the young lady's."
"And neither of you told me anything of all this--why did you hide it from me?"
"That we might not make you uneasy, mother; for, counting on the generosity of that young lady, I expected Agricola back every moment.
When he did not come yesterday evening.I said to myself : `Perhaps the necessary formalities with regard to the bail have detained him.' But the time passed on, and he did not make his appearance.So, I watched all night, expecting him."
"So you did not go to bed either, my good girl?"
"No, I was too uneasy.This morning, not being able to conquer my fears, I went out before dawn.I remembered the address of the young lady in the Rue de Babylone, and I ran thither."
"Oh, well!" said Frances, with anxiety; "you were in the right.