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Updated: June 12, 2025
She had decided for herself. Life! that was all she prayed for: for another's sake, not her own. Her own mother slept on, in the corner of the room, unconscious of the terrible verdict hanging in the balance. Madame Degardy quickly emptied into a cup of liquor the strange brown powder, mixed it, and held it to the girl's lips, pouring it slowly down.
The appearance among them of old Madame Degardy shifted the good-natured attack.
Her hand caught her bosom as if to stifle a sudden pain. That song had been the keynote to her new life, and it seemed now as if it were also to be the final benediction. All her spirit gathered itself up for a great resolution: she would not yield to this invading weakness, this misery of body and mind. Some one drew out of the shadows and came towards her. It was Madame Degardy.
Soon after he had gone, there was a noise of tramping about the tent, and then a suppressed cheer, which was fiercely stopped by Parpon, and the soldiers of the Household Troops scattered to their tents. "What's that?" asked Valmond, opening his eyes bewilderedly. "Your soldiers, sire," answered the dwarf. Valmond smiled languidly. Then he saw Madame Degardy and Elise.
"If she should see him!" said Valmond tentatively, for a sudden thought had come to him that the mother of these misfits of God was Madame Degardy. Parpon sprang to his-feet. "She shall not see him. Ah, you know! You have guessed?" he cried. "She is all safe with me." "She shall not see him. She shall not know," repeated the dwarf, his eyes huddling back in his head with anguish.
She was of the chosen few who could drink the cup of light and the cup of darkness with equally regnant soul. But it might lay her low in the very hour of Valmond's trouble. She must conquer it how? To whom could she turn for succour? There was but one, yet she could not seek Madame Degardy, for the old woman would drive her to her bed, and keep her there.
He did not disturb her, for she had no love for him, and he waited till she had gone. When he came into the room again he found Pomfrette in a sweet sleep, and a jug of tincture, with a little tin cup, placed by the bed. Time and again he had sent for Mme. Degardy, but she would not come.
They have to come to her; the great folks have to come to her!" So she meandered on, filling the jug. Later, in the warm dusk, they travelled up to Dalgrothe Mountain, and came to Valmond's tent. By the couch knelt Parpon, watching the laboured breathing of the sick man. When he saw Madame Degardy, he gave a growl of joy, and made way for her.
"If she should see him!" said Valmond tentatively, for a sudden thought had come to him that the mother of these misfits of God was Madame Degardy. Parpon sprang to his-feet. "She shall not see him. Ah, you know! You have guessed?" he cried. "She is all safe with me." "She shall not see him. She shall not know," repeated the dwarf, his eyes huddling back in his head with anguish.
Dear Mother of God, I love him, and I would lose my life for his sake. Sweet Mary, comfort thy child, and out of thy own sorrow be good to my sorrow. Hear me and pray for me, divine Mary. Amen." Her whole nature had been emptied out, and there came upon her a calm, a strange clearness of brain, exhausted in body as she was. For an instant she stood thinking. "Madame Degardy!
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