CHAPTER V

      COMPENSATION

      Sunday,May27th

      Capitalcitieshaveonethingpeculiartothem:theirdaysofrestseemtobethesignalforageneraldispersionandflight.Likebirdsthatarejustrestoredtoliberty,thepeoplecomeoutoftheirstonecages,andjoyfullyflytowardthecountry.Itiswhoshallfindagreenhillockforaseat,ortheshadeofawoodforashelter;theygatherMayflowers,theyrunaboutthefields;thetownisforgottenuntiltheevening,whentheyreturnwithsprigsofbloominghawthornintheirhats,andtheirheartsgladdenedbypleasantthoughtsandrecollectionsofthepastday;thenextdaytheyreturnagaintotheirharnessandtowork.

      TheseruraladventuresaremostremarkableatParis.Whenthefineweathercomes,clerks,shopkeepers,andworkingmenlookforwardimpatientlyfortheSundayasthedayfortryingafewhoursofthispastorallife;theywalkthroughsixmilesofgrocersshopsandpublic-housesinthefaubourgs,inthesolehopeoffindingarealturnip-field.

      Thefatherofafamilybeginsthepracticaleducationofhissonbyshowinghimwheatwhichhasnottakentheformofaloaf,andcabbage"initswildstate."Heavenonlyknowstheencounters,thediscoveries,theadventuresthataremetwith!WhatParisianhasnothadhisOdysseyinanexcursionthroughthesuburbs,andwouldnotbeabletowriteacompaniontothefamousTravelsbyLandandbySeafromParistoSt.

      Cloud?

      Wedonotnowspeakofthatfloatingpopulationfromallparts,forwhomourFrenchBabylonisthecaravansaryofEurope:aphalanxofthinkers,artists,menofbusiness,andtravellers,who,likeHomershero,havearrivedintheirintellectualcountryafterbeholding"manypeoplesandcities;"butofthesettledParisian,whokeepshisappointedplace,andlivesonhisownfloorliketheoysteronhisrock,acuriousvestigeofthecredulity,theslowness,andthesimplicityofbygoneages.

      ForoneofthesingularitiesofParisis,thatitunitestwentypopulationscompletelydifferentincharacterandmanners.Bythesideofthegypsiesofcommerceandofart,whowanderthroughalltheseveralstagesoffortuneorfancy,liveaquietraceofpeoplewithanindependence,orwithregularwork,whoseexistenceresemblesthedialofaclock,onwhichthesamehandpointsbyturnstothesamehours.

      Ifnoothercitycanshowmorebrilliantandmorestirringformsoflife,noothercontainsmoreobscureandmoretranquilones.Greatcitiesarelikethesea:stormsagitateonlythesurface;ifyougotothebottom,youfindaregioninaccessibletothetumultandthenoise.

      Formypart,Ihavesettledonthevergeofthisregion,butdonotactuallyliveinit.Iamremovedfromtheturmoiloftheworld,andliveintheshelterofsolitude,butwithoutbeingabletodisconnectmythoughtsfromthestrugglegoingon.Ifollowatadistanceallitseventsofhappinessorgrief;Ijointhefeastsandthefunerals;forhowcanhewholookson,andknowswhatpasses,dootherthantakepart?

      Ignorancealonecankeepusstrangerstothelifearoundus:selfishnessitselfwillnotsufficeforthat.

      ThesereflectionsImadetomyselfinmyattic,intheintervalsofthevarioushouseholdworkstowhichabachelorisforcedwhenhehasnootherservantthanhisownreadywill.WhileIwaspursuingmydeductions,Ihadblackedmyboots,brushedmycoat,andtiedmycravat;Ihadatlastarrivedattheimportantmomentwhenwepronouncecomplacentlythatallisfinished,andthatwell.

      Agrandresolvehadjustdecidedmetodepartfrommyusualhabits.

      Theeveningbefore,IhadseenbytheadvertisementsthatthenextdaywasaholidayatSevres,andthatthechinamanufactorywouldbeopentothepublic.Iwastemptedbythebeautyofthemorning,andsuddenlydecidedtogothere.

      Onmyarrivalatthestationontheleftbank,Inoticedthecrowdhurryingoninthefearofbeinglate.Railroads,besidesmanyotheradvantages,possessthatofteachingtheFrenchpunctuality.Theywillsubmittotheclockwhentheyareconvincedthatitistheirmaster;theywilllearntowaitwhentheyfindtheywillnotbewaitedfor.

      Socialvirtues,are,inagreatdegree,goodhabits.Howmanygreatqualitiesaregraftedintonationsbytheirgeographicalposition,bypoliticalnecessity,andbyinstitutions!AvaricewasdestroyedforatimeamongtheLacedaemoniansbythecreationofanironcoinage,tooheavyandtoobulkytobeconvenientlyhoarded.

      Ifoundmyselfinacarriagewithtwomiddle-agedwomenbelongingtothedomesticandretiredclassofParisiansIhavespokenofabove.Afewcivilitiesweresufficienttogainmetheirconfidence,andaftersomeminutesIwasacquaintedwiththeirwholehistory.

      Theyweretwopoorsisters,leftorphansatfifteen,andhadlivedeversince,asthosewhoworkfortheirlivelihoodmustlive,byeconomyandprivation.Forthelasttwentyorthirtyyearstheyhadworkedinjewelryinthesamehouse;theyhadseentenmasterssucceedoneanother,andmaketheirfortunesinit,withoutanychangeintheirownlot.Theyhadalwayslivedinthesameroom,attheendofoneofthepassagesintheRueSt.Denis,wheretheairandthesunareunknown.Theybegantheirworkbeforedaylight,wentonwithittillafternightfall,andsawyearsucceedtoyearwithouttheirlivesbeingmarkedbyanyothereventsthantheSundayservice,awalk,oranillness.

      Theyoungeroftheseworthywork-womenwasforty,andobeyedhersisterasshedidwhenachild.Theelderlookedafterher,tookcareofher,andscoldedherwithamotherstenderness.Atfirstitwasamusing;afterwardonecouldnothelpseeingsomethingaffectinginthesetwogray-hairedchildren,oneunabletoleaveoffthehabitofobeying,theotherthatofprotecting.

      Anditwasnotinthatalonethatmytwocompanionsseemedyoungerthantheiryears;theyknewsolittlethattheirwonderneverceased.WehadhardlyarrivedatClamartbeforetheyinvoluntarilyexclaimed,likethekinginthechildrensgame,thatthey"didnotthinktheworldwassogreat"!

      Itwasthefirsttimetheyhadtrustedthemselvesonarailroad,anditwasamusingtoseetheirsuddenshocks,theiralarms,andtheircourageousdeterminations:everythingwasamarveltothem!Theyhadremainsofyouthwithinthem,whichmadethemsensibletothingswhichusuallyonlystrikeusinchildhood.Poorcreatures!theyhadstillthefeelingsofanotherage,thoughtheyhadlostitscharms.

      Butwastherenotsomethingholyinthissimplicity,whichhadbeenpreservedtothembyabstinencefromallthejoysoflife?Ah!accursedbehewhofirsthadthehadcouragetoattachridiculetothatnameof"oldmaid,"whichrecallssomanyimagesofgrievousdeception,ofdreariness,andofabandonment!Accursedbehewhocanfindasubjectforsarcasmininvoluntarymisfortune,andwhocancrowngrayhairswiththorns!

      ThetwosisterswerecalledFrancesandMadeleine.Thisdaysjourneywasafeatofcouragewithoutexampleintheirlives.Thefeverofthetimeshadinfectedthemunawares.YesterdayMadeleinehadsuddenlyproposedtheideaoftheexpedition,andFranceshadaccepteditimmediately.Perhapsitwouldhavebeenbetternottoyieldtothegreattemptationofferedbyheryoungersister;but"wehaveourfolliesatallages,"astheprudentFrancesphilosophicallyremarked.AsforMadeleine,therearenoregretsordoubtsforher;sheisthelife-guardsmanoftheestablishment.

      "Wereallymustamuseourselves,"saidshe;"welivebutonce."

      AndtheeldersistersmiledatthisEpicureanmaxim.Itwasevidentthatthefeverofindependencewasatitscrisisinbothofthem.

      Andintruthitwouldhavebeenagreatpityifanyscruplehadinterferedwiththeirhappiness,itwassofrankandgenial!Thesightofthetrees,whichseemedtoflyonbothsidesoftheroad,causedthemunceasingadmiration.Themeetingatrainpassinginthecontrarydirection,withthenoiseandrapidityofathunderbolt,madethemshuttheireyesandutteracry;butithadalreadydisappeared!Theylookaround,takecourageagain,andexpressthemselvesfullofastonishmentatthemarvel.

      Madeleinedeclaresthatsuchasightisworththeexpenseofthejourney,andFranceswouldhaveagreedwithherifshehadnotrecollected,withsomelittlealarm,thedeficitwhichsuchanexpensemustmakeintheirbudget.Thethreefrancsspentuponthissingleexpeditionwerethesavingsofawholeweekofwork.Thusthejoyoftheelderofthetwosisterswasmixedwithremorse;theprodigalchildnowandthenturneditseyestowardthebackstreetofSt.Denis.

      Butthemotionandthesuccessionofobjectsdistracther.SeethebridgeoftheValsurroundedbyitslovelylandscape:ontheright,Pariswithitsgrandmonuments,whichrisethroughthefog,orsparkleinthesun;ontheleft,Meudon,withitsvillas,itswoods,itsvines,anditsroyalcastle!Thetwowork-womenlookfromonewindowtotheotherwithexclamationsofdelight.Onefellow-passengerlaughsattheirchildishwonder;buttomeitisdeeplytouching,forIseeinitthesignofalongandmonotonousseclusion:theyaretheprisonersofwork,whohaverecoveredlibertyandfreshairforafewhours.

      Atlastthetrainstops,andwegetout.IshowthetwosistersthepaththatleadstoSevres,betweentherailwayandthegardens,andtheygoonbefore,whileIinquireaboutthetimeofreturning.

      Isoonjointhemagainatthenextstation,wheretheyhavestoppedatthelittlegardenbelongingtothegatekeeper;botharealreadyindeepconversationwithhimwhilehedigshisgarden-borders,andmarksouttheplacesforflower-seeds.Heinformsthemthatitisthetimeforhoeingoutweeds,formakinggraftsandlayers,forsowingannuals,andfordestroyingtheinsectsontherose-trees.Madeleinehasonthesillofherwindowtwowoodenboxes,inwhich,forwantofairandsun,shehasneverbeenabletomakeanythinggrowbutmustardandcress;butshepersuadesherselfthat,thankstothisinformation,allotherplantsmayhenceforththriveinthem.Atlastthegatekeeper,whoissowingaborderwithmignonette,giveshertherestoftheseedswhichhedoesnotwant,andtheoldmaidgoesoffdelighted,andbeginstoactoveragainthedreamofPairedandhercanofmilk,withtheseflowersofherimagination.

      Onreachingthegroveofacacias,wherethefairwasgoingon,Ilostsightofthetwosisters.Iwentaloneamongthesights:therewerelotteriesgoingon,mountebankshows,placesforeatinganddrinking,andforshootingwiththecross-bow.Ihavealwaysbeenstruckbythespiritoftheseout-of-doorfestivities.Indrawing-roomentertainments,peoplearecold,grave,oftenlistless,andmostofthosewhogotherearebroughttogetherbyhabitortheobligationsofsociety;inthecountryassemblies,onthecontrary,youonlyfindthosewhoareattractedbythehopeofenjoyment.There,itisaforcedconscription;here,theyarevolunteersforgayety!Then,howeasilytheyarepleased!Howfarthiscrowdofpeopleisyetfromknowingthattobepleasedwithnothing,andtolookdownoneverything,istheheightoffashionandgoodtaste!

      Doubtlesstheiramusementsareoftencoarse;eleganceandrefinementarewantinginthem;butatleasttheyhaveheartiness.Oh,thattheheartyenjoymentsofthesemerry-makingscouldberetainedinunionwithlessvulgarfeeling!Formerlyreligionstampeditsholycharacteronthecelebrationofcountryfestivals,andpurifiedthepleasureswithoutdeprivingthemoftheirsimplicity.

      Thehourarrivesatwhichthedoorsoftheporcelainmanufactoryandthemuseumofpotteryareopentothepublic.ImeetFrancesandMadeleineagaininthefirstroom.Frightenedatfindingthemselvesinthemidstofsuchregalmagnificence,theyhardlydarewalk;theyspeakinalowtone,asiftheywereinachurch.

      "Weareinthekingshouse,"saidtheeldestsister,forgettingthatthereisnolongerakinginFrance.

      Iencouragethemtogoon;Iwalkfirst,andtheymakeuptheirmindstofollowme.

      Whatwondersarebroughttogetherinthiscollection!Hereweseeclaymouldedintoeveryshape,tintedwitheverycolor,andcombinedwitheverysortofsubstance!

      Earthandwoodarethefirstsubstancesworkeduponbyman,andseemmoreparticularlymeantforhisuse.They,likethedomesticanimals,aretheessentialaccessoriesofhislife;thereforetheremustbeamoreintimateconnectionbetweenthemandus.Stoneandmetalsrequirelongpreparations;theyresistourfirstefforts,andbelonglesstotheindividualthantocommunities.Earthandwoodare,onthecontrary,theprincipalinstrumentsoftheisolatedbeingwhomustfeedandshelterhimself.

      This,doubtless,makesmefeelsomuchinterestedinthecollectionIamexamining.Thesecups,soroughlymodelledbythesavage,admitmetoaknowledgeofsomeofhishabits;theseelegantyetincorrectlyformedvasesoftheIndiantellmeofadecliningintelligence,——inwhichstillglimmersthetwilightofwhatwasoncebrightsunshine;thesejars,loadedwitharabesques,showthefancyoftheArabrudelyandignorantlycopiedbytheSpaniard!Wefindherethestampofeveryrace,everycountry,andeveryage.

      Mycompanionsseemedlittleinterestedinthesehistoricalassociations;theylookedatallwiththatcredulousadmirationwhichleavesnoroomforexaminationordiscussion.Madeleinereadthenamewrittenundereverypieceofworkmanship,andhersisteransweredwithanexclamationofwonder.

      Inthiswaywereachedalittlecourtyard,wheretheyhadthrownawaythefragmentsofsomebrokenchina.

      Francesperceivedacoloredsauceralmostwhole,ofwhichshetookpossessionasarecordofthevisitshewasmaking;henceforthshewouldhaveaspecimenoftheSevreschina,"whichisonlymadeforkings!"

      Iwouldnotundeceiveherbytellingherthattheproductsofthemanufactoryaresoldallovertheworld,andthathersaucer,beforeitwascracked,wasthesameasthosethatareboughtattheshopsforsixpence!WhyshouldIdestroytheillusionsofherhumbleexistence?

      Arewetobreakdownthehedge-flowersthatperfumeourpaths?Thingsareoftenestnothinginthemselves;thethoughtsweattachtothemalonegivethemvalue.Torectifyinnocentmistakes,inordertorecoversomeuselessreality,istobelikethoselearnedmenwhowillseenothinginaplantbutthechemicalelementsofwhichitiscomposed.

      Onleavingthemanufactory,thetwosisters,whohadtakenpossessionofmewiththefreedomofartlessness,invitedmetosharetheluncheontheyhadbroughtwiththem.Ideclinedatfirst,buttheyinsistedwithsomuchgood-nature,thatIfearedtopainthem,andwithsomeawkwardnessgaveway.

      Wehadonlytolookforaconvenientspot.Iledthemupthehill,andwefoundaplotofgrassenamelledwithdaisies,andshadedbytwowalnut-trees.

      Madeleinecouldnotcontainherselfforjoy.Allherlifeshehaddreamedofadinneroutonthegrass!Whilehelpinghersistertotaketheprovisionsfromthebasket,shetellsmeofallherexpeditionsintothecountrythathadbeenplanned,andputoff.Frances,ontheotherhand,wasbroughtupatMontmorency,andbeforeshebecameanorphanshehadoftengonebacktohernurseshouse.Thatwhichhadtheattractionofnoveltyforhersister,hadforherthecharmofrecollection.Shetoldofthevintageharveststowhichherparentshadtakenher;theridesonMotherLuretsdonkey,thattheycouldnotmakegototherightwithoutpullinghimtotheleft;thecherry-gathering;andthesailsonthelakeintheinnkeepersboat.

      Theserecollectionshaveallthecharmandfreshnessofchildhood.

      Francesrecallstoherselflesswhatshehasseenthanwhatshehasfelt.

      Whilesheistalkingtheclothislaid,andwesitdownunderatree.

      BeforeuswindsthevalleyofSevres,itsmany-storiedhousesabuttinguponthegardensandtheslopesofthehill;ontheothersidespreadsouttheparkofSt.Cloud,withitsmagnificentclumpsoftreesinterspersedwithmeadows;abovestretchtheheavenslikeanimmenseocean,inwhichthecloudsaresailing!Ilookatthisbeautifulcountry,andIlistentothesegoodoldmaids;Iadmire,andIaminterested;andtimepassesgentlyonwithoutmyperceivingit.

      Atlastthesunsets,andwehavetothinkofreturning.WhileMadeleineandFrancesclearawaythedinner,Iwalkdowntothemanufactorytoaskthehour.Themerrymakingisatitsheight;theblastsofthetrombonesresoundfromthebandundertheacacias.ForafewmomentsIforgetmyselfwithlookingabout;butIhavepromisedthetwosisterstotakethembacktotheBellevuestation;thetraincannotwait,andImakehastetoclimbthepathagainwhichleadstothewalnut-trees.

      JustbeforeIreachedthem,Iheardvoicesontheothersideofthehedge.MadeleineandFranceswerespeakingtoapoorgirlwhoseclotheswereburned,herhandsblackened,andherfacetiedupwithbloodstainedbandages.Isawthatshewasoneofthegirlsemployedatthegunpowdermills,whicharebuiltfurtheruponthecommon.Anexplosionhadtakenplaceafewdaysbefore;thegirlsmotherandeldersisterwerekilled;sheherselfescapedbyamiracle,andwasnowleftwithoutanymeansofsupport.Shetoldallthiswiththeresignedandunhopefulmannerofonewhohasalwaysbeenaccustomedtosuffer.Thetwosistersweremuchaffected;Isawthemconsultingwitheachotherinalowtone:thenFrancestookthirtysousoutofalittlecoarsesilkpurse,whichwasalltheyhadleft,andgavethemtothepoorgirl.Ihastenedontothatsideofthehedge;but,beforeIreachedit,Imetthetwooldsisters,whocalledouttomethattheywouldnotreturnbytherailway,butonfoot!

      Ithenunderstoodthatthemoneytheyhadmeantforthejourneyhadjustbeengiventothebeggar!Good,likeevil,iscontagious:Iruntothepoorwoundedgirl,giveherthesumthatwastopayformyownplace,andreturntoFrancesandMadeleine,andtellthemIwillwalkwiththem

      Iamjustcomebackfromtakingthemhome;andhaveleftthemdelightedwiththeirday,therecollectionofwhichwilllongmakethemhappy.

      ThismorningIwaspityingthosewhoselivesareobscureandjoyless;now,IunderstandthatGodhasprovidedacompensationwitheverytrial.

      Thesmallestpleasurederivesfromrarityarelishotherwiseunknown.

      Enjoymentisonlywhatwefeeltobesuch,andtheluxuriousmanfeelsnolonger:satietyhasdestroyedhisappetite,whileprivationpreservestotheotherthatfirstofearthlyblessings:thebeingeasilymadehappy.

      Oh,thatIcouldpersuadeeveryoneofthis!thatsotherichmightnotabusetheirriches,andthatthepoormighthavepatience.Ifhappinessistherarestofblessings,itisbecausethereceptionofitistherarestofvirtues.

      MadeleineandFrances!yepooroldmaidswhosecourage,resignation,andgenerousheartsareyouronlywealth,prayforthewretchedwhogivethemselvesuptodespair;fortheunhappywhohateandenvy;andfortheunfeelingintowhoseenjoymentsnopityenters