us.
My feelings got to be gradually soothed, as I remembered the moment of
time that all are required to endure injustice and wrongs on earth.
Some such reflections are necessary to induce us to submit to the
mysterious reign of Providence, whose decrees so often seem unequal,
and whose designs are so inscrutable. By remembering what a speck is
time, as compared with eternity, and that "God chasteneth those he
loveth," the ills of life may be borne, even with joy.

The manner in which Desiree disposed of me, shall be related in another
number.

{another number = in the Graham's Magazine periodical version, not
divided into chapters, this paragraph closed the first of the four
installments in which the story was printed; in later book versions it
was changed to read "in the next chapter"}

CHAPTER VIII.

The reader is not to infer that Desiree was unusually mercenary. That
she was a little addicted to this weakness, is true--who ever knew a
commissionaire that was not? But she had her moments of benevolence, as
well as others, and had really made some sacrifice of her time, and
consequently of her interests, in order to serve Adrienne in her
distress. As for the purchase of myself, that was in the way of her
commerce; and it is seldom, indeed, that philanthropy can overcome the
habits of trade.

Desiree was not wholly without means, and she was in no hurry to reap
the benefit of her purchase. I remained in her possession, according to
my calculation, some two or three years before she ever took me out of
the drawer in which I had been deposited for safe keeping. I was
considered a species of corps de reserve. At the end of that period,
however, her thoughts recurred to her treasure, and an occasion soon
offered for turning me to account. I was put into the reticule, and
carried about, in readiness for any suitable bargain that might turn up.

{corps de reserve = reserve corps; reticule = a large pocketbook}

One day Desiree and I were on the Boulevards Italiens together, when a
figure caught the commissionaire's eye that sent her across the street
in a great hurry. I scarcely know how to describe this person, who, to
my simple eyes, had the appearance of a colonel of the late Royal
Guards, or, at least, of an attache of one of the northern legations.
He was dressed in the height of the latest fashion, as well as he knew
how to be; wore terrible moustaches, and had a rare provision of rings,
eye-glasses, wat