ble example of the daughter's conduct. For, as soon as you
form part of the institution, I am responsible for your salvation, and,
in case your delicacy should oblige you to leave Mme. de Bremont's, as
you might be some time without employment, the institution will allow
you, if satisfied with your zeal and conduct, one franc a day till we
could find you another place. You see, my dear daughter, that you have
everything to gain with us. It is therefore agreed that the day after
to-morrow you go to Mme. de Bremont's." Mother Bunch found herself in a
very hard position. Sometimes she thought that her first suspicions were
confirmed, and, notwithstanding her timidity, her pride felt hurt at the
supposition, that, because they knew her poor, they should believe
her capable of selling herself as a spy for the sake of high wages.
Sometimes, on the contrary, her natural delicacy revolted at the idea
that a woman of the age and condition of the superior could descend to
make a proposition so disgraceful both to the accepter and the proposer,
and she reproached herself with her first doubts and asked herself if
the superior had not wished to try her, before employing her, to see if
her probity would enable her to resist a comparatively brilliant offer.
Mother Bunch was naturally so inclined to think well of every one, that
she made up her mind to this last conclusion, saying to herself, that
if, after all, she were deceived, it would be the least offensive mode
of refusing these unworthy offers. With a movement, exempt from all
haughtiness, but expressive of natural dignity, the young workman raised
her head, which she had hitherto held humbly cast down, looked the
superior full in the face, that the latter might read in her countenance
the sincerity of her words, and said to her in a slightly agitated
voice, forgetting this time to call her "mother": "Ah, madame! I cannot
blame you for exposing me to such a trial. You see that I am very poor,
and I have yet done nothing to command your confidence. But, believe
me, poor as I am, I would never stoop to so despicable an action as
that which you have thought fit to propose to me, no doubt to assure
yourself, by my refusal, that I am worthy of your kindness. No, no,
madame--I could never bring myself to be a spy at any price."

She pronounced these last words with so much animation that her cheeks
became slightly flushed. The superior had too much tact and experience
not to perceive