culous to another,
such is life--but your journal will surely make a great sensation. As
you are capable of wishing to avoid your triumph, and as you were only
covered with rags when you were received, out of charity into this
house, where you wish to figure as the great lady, which does not suit
your shape for more reasons than one, we enclose in the present five
hundred francs to pay for your day-book, and prevent your being without
resources, in case you should be modest enough to shrink from the
congratulations which await you, certain to overwhelm you by to-morrow,
for, at this hour, your journal is already in circulation.

"One of your brethren,

"A REAL MOTHER BUNCH."

The vulgar, mocking, and insolent tone of this letter, which was
purposely written in the character of a jealous lackey, dissatisfied
with the admission of the unfortunate creature into the house, had
been calculated with infernal skill and was sure to produce the effect
intended.

"Oh, good heaven!" were the only words the unfortunate girl could
pronounce, in her stupor and alarm.

Now, if we remember in what passionate terms she had expressed her love
for her adopted brother, if we recall many passages of this manuscript,
in which she revealed the painful wounds often inflicted on her by
Agricola without knowing it, and if we consider how great was her
terror of ridicule, we shall understand her mad despair on reading this
infamous letter. Mother Bunch did not think for a moment of all the
noble words and touching narratives contained in her journal. The one
horrible idea which weighed down the troubled spirit of the unfortunate
creature, was, that on the morrow Agricola, Mdlle. de Cardoville, and an
insolent and mocking crowd, would be informed of this ridiculous love,
which would, she imagined, crush her with shame and confusion. This new
blow was so stunning, that the recipient staggered a moment beneath the
unexpected shock. For some minutes, she remained completely inert
and helpless; then, upon reflection, she suddenly felt conscious of a
terrible necessity.

This hospitable mansion, where she had found a sure refuge after so many
misfortunes, must be left for ever. The trembling timidity and sensitive
delicacy of the poor creature did not permit her to remain a minute more
in this dwelling, where the most secret recesses of her soul had been
laid open, profaned, and exposed no doubt to sarcasm and contempt.
She did not think of dem