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The following day, she presented herself early at the church so as to receive communion from the cure. She took it with the proper feeling, but did not experience the same delight as on the previous day. Madame Aubain wished to make an accomplished girl of her daughter; and as Guyot could not teach English or music, she decided to send her to the Ursulines at Honfleur.
And shrugging her shoulders, Madame Aubain continued to pace the floor as if to say: "I did not think of it. Besides, I do not care, a cabin-boy, a pauper! but my daughter what a difference! just think of it! Félicité, although she had been reared roughly, was very indignant. Then she forgot about it. It appeared quite natural to her that one should lose one's head about Virginia.
For a hundred francs a year, she cooked and did the housework, washed, ironed, mended, harnessed the horse, fattened the poultry, made the butter and remained faithful to her mistress although the latter was by no means an agreeable person. Madame Aubain had married a comely youth without any money, who died in the beginning of 1809, leaving her with two young children and a number of debts.
Then they both consulted about a hiding-place. Once she came in from the garden, all upset. During several months she remained inert in her room. Félicité scolded her gently; she must keep up for her son and also for the other one, for "her memory." "Her memory!" replied Madame Aubain, as if she were just awakening, "Oh! yes, yes, you do not forget her!"
A few days afterward a new sub-prefect was nominated, the Baron de Larsonniere, ex-consul in America, who, besides his wife, had his sister-in-law and her three grown daughters with him. They were often seen on their lawn, dressed in loose blouses, and they had a parrot and a negro servant. Madame Aubain received a call, which she returned promptly.
Their eyes met and filled with tears; at last the mistress opened her arms and the servant threw herself against her breast and they hugged each other and giving vent to their grief in a kiss which equalized them for a moment. It was the first time that this had ever happened, for Madame Aubain was not of an expansive nature.
Paul, who had become quite settled, brought his bride to visit his mother. But she looked down upon the customs of Pont-l'Evêque, put on airs, and hurt Félicité's feelings. Madame Aubain felt relieved when she left. The following week they learned of Monsieur Bourais' death in an inn. There were rumours of suicide, which were confirmed; doubts concerning his integrity arose.
This house, with its slate-covered roof, was built between a passage-way and a narrow street that led to the river. The interior was so unevenly graded that it caused people to stumble. A narrow hall separated the kitchen from the parlour, where Madame Aubain sat all day in a straw armchair near the window. Eight mahogany chairs stood in a row against the white wainscoting.
Then they rested on the arbour. Her mother had bought a little cask of fine Malaga wine, and Virginia, laughing at the idea of becoming intoxicated, would drink a few drops of it, but never more. Her strength returned. Autumn passed. Felicite began to reassure Madame Aubain.
Then they both consulted about a hiding-place. Once she came in from the garden, all upset. During several months she remained inert in her room. Felicite scolded her gently; she must keep up for her son and also for the other one, for "her memory." "Her memory!" replied Madame Aubain, as if she were just awakening, "Oh! yes, yes, you do not forget her!"
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